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 46
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It was at first hoped that Capt. Grover would recover. He was taken to the hospital in the evening. But the shock was so severe that on the evening of the 10th he died about 9 o'clock. He lived however, to know that the victory was ours, and that his life had not been sacrificed in vain. Before going into the fight he seemed to have a foreboding of his fate, and so expressed him- self to a brother officer, telling him that if he fell to tell his wife that he "died at the head of his company, fighting for his coun- try." His brother officer advised him not to go into the fight if he felt thus. But the idea of shirking duty or avoiding exposure was spurned, and he fell while cheering on his command. He was buried by his men. One of them writes home next day, "I helped to bury our gallant little captain. I may well call him gallant, for a braver man never drew a sword."
A few days after, his business partner, S. W. Bowen, Esq., reached the front, and the body was exhumed and brought to Joliet, arriving here the 20th. Funeral services were had the next day at the Congregational church. The services were con- ducted by Mr. Kidd, assisted by the pastor of the Methodist and Baptist churches, at which there was a large attendance of our cit- izens, who deeply sympathized with his family and friends, while they also mourned the loss to the cause of so brave and accom- plished an officer. The Will county bar at its next meeting passed resolutions of respect, and Judge Parks pronounced an eloquent and just eulogy. The body was taken in charge by the masonic fraternity, and it was deposited in our beautiful Oakwood with masonic and military honors.
A tasteful monument of Joliet marble erected by the loving hands of Messrs. Odell & Jamison, marks the spot where sleep the ashes of the gallant Capt. D. G. Grover.
GEORGE W. ROUSE.
Among the many sacrifices that our county was called upon to make during the long years of the rebellion, none were more deeply felt outside the family circle, than that of Adjutant Rouse. He was the son of Collins Rouse, a well-known and highly re- spected citizen of Jefferson county, New York, and was born at Clayton in that county, March 21st, 1834. From his earliest
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years he was the marked child of the family, around whom gath- ered the warmest affections, and the fondest hopes of parents and friends. He early manifested those qualities of mind and dis- position which characterized his subsequent career, and so won the confidence and respect of all who knew him. He received a good common school and academic education, and thoroughly qualified himself for an active business life. He was always noted as a scholar, and in his home life, for quiet and gentlemanly behavior, and at the same time for exactness and thoroughness in everything he undertook.
At the age of sixteen, he connected himself with the Free Will Baptist church, and always honored his profession with a pure and consistent life. When twenty-two years old, he came west, and although an entire stranger, he found employment in a Chicago Banking House, the day after his arrival in that city. His busi- ness qualifications soon secured him an increase of salary. After remaining in Chicago a year or so, he came to Joliet and entered the banking house of Woodruff & Cagwin, and subsequently en- tered into the grain trade in company with O. H. Woodruff. In this business he was successfully engaged when he felt it his duty to enter the ranks of the defenders of an imperiled country. He enlisted as private in the 100th regiment in August 1862, and on the full organization of the regiment, he was selected by Col. Bartleson as his adjutant, a choice which gave universal satisfac- tion. This step was taken after calm deliberation, and from a deep sense of duty, and his letters home and to his friends in Joli- et during his army life, always breathed the spirit of a true pa- triot, ready to sacrifice life, if need be, for the salvation of the country. He shared the varying fortunes of the regiment, until after the battle of Chickamauga, when he was selected as inspec- tor, on the staff of the brigade commander, and it was in the dis- charge of his duty while inspecting the picket line before Atlanta, that he received the wound which proved mortal a few days after. He was struck by a solid shot below the knee, which nearly sev- ered the limb, and he seemed to bear the shock, of the wound and the amputation, so well, that it was confidently expected that he would recover. But these hopes were doomed to disappointment. He died at 12 o'clock, on the night of August 4th.
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The particulars of his dying moments are described by Lieut. Williams who watched with him during the night. He informed George that he probably would not live longer than until morning. He replied, " Do you really think so ?- well, I am ready. God has been very good in sparing me so long, and I feel that he will for Christ's sake save me at last." He then asked Lieut. Williams to pray with him, after which he sank into a se- rene sleep. After resting thus for a little time, he aroused once more, and with eyes beaming with the light of the coming glory, he said, " It is all right, Christ can save me, and my country needed me. I have no regrets that my life has thus ended. God bless my dear parents and friends." In a few moments, the gen- tle grasp by which he held the hand of his friend, relaxed, and at the same time he let go his hold on earthly life, and entered upon the reward of a christian hero, sans peur et sans reproche.
Adjutant Rouse was one of the best of our young men,-pre- possessing in personal appearance and manners, affable and cour- teous to all-affectionate and faithful to his intimate friends, and of pure morals, and blameless life. Without being anything of a fop, he was remarkable for neatness and good taste in dress, and all matters of personal appearance, and for his orderly and methodical business habits ; and these qualities he carried with him into the service, and maintained under the most adverse circum- stances. And he was as clean of soul as of person. General Newton, commanding the brigade, said at the time of his death that he had lost his best officer : Truly-
" The good die first, Whilst we whose hearts are dry as summer's dust, Burn to the socket."
JOSEPH D. WALKER, ADJUTANT OF THE 39TH REGIMENT.
At the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, two young men, both of great promise, were pursuing the study of law in the office of E. C. Fellows, Esq., in Lockport. Both entered the three years' service in the fall of 1861-both fell on the field of battle ; one in the east, and one in the west. One, is the subject of the
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present sketch. The other, was Henry S. Clarke, of the 64th, of whom we shall have something to say presently.
The parents of Adjutant Walker resided in Lockport, and came originally from the north of Ireland.
Young Walker first entered the three months' service at Cairo, where, by his energy and enthusiasm, he organized a company of men from those who had gathered there, which was known as the "Prentiss Guards." After the expiration of the three months' ser- vice he enlisted for three years in the Yates Phalanx, of which reg- iment he was chosen sergeant major, and subsequently promoted adjutant.
He shared in all the vicissitudes of the regiment up to the day of his death. He was the first man to plant the stars and stripes on Fort Wagner, on Morris Island, and distinguished himself in every action in which the regiment was engaged.
In. the battle of May 16th, 1864, about one and a half miles from Fort Darling, he received the wound which terminated his career a few hours after. He was wounded by a musket ball in the bowels, while exposing himself upon our entrenchments, en- thusiastically encouraging his men, and holding them steady against the terrible assault of the enemy under Beauregard, who was trying to drive them from their entrenchments. He was car- ried back to his own tent, where he expired during the night. To a brother officer, who stood by his bed-side in the sad hour of his death he said : "Warner, I am fatally wounded, and know that I must die, but I have nothing to regret, I have done my duty." Lieut. Warner, to whom these words were addressed, says of him : "Of all the men I ever met in army life, Walker was the most enthusiastic in conduct and spirit, and I know that he looked for- ward with about equal pleasure to the prospect of death in the line of duty as a soldier, and the professional honors awaiting him, should he live to see peace restored."
Adjutant Walker was home on furlough in October, 1863, at which time he addressed a large meeting of the citizens of Wil- mington at the M. E. Church, in reference to the war, giving a graphic description of the operations on Morris Island, and the siege of Charleston, &c., and also telling the people what the "boys at the front," thought of the "fire in the rear." and of the "peace
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men." He was a ready and eloquent speaker, and during the presidential campaign preceding the war, had taken an active part in addressing political meetings in Will and other counties, advocating the republican cause with great zeal and eloquence.
The remains of Adjutant Walker were brought to Lockport, where funeral services were held, the ex-chaplain of the regiment officiating, assisted by the ministers of the place. The remains were then taken to Wilmington for burial, at the request of the family of the young lady to whom young Walker was affianced, and were received by the citizens en masse, with bands of music, and borne to their final resting place, on the banks of the Kan- kakee.
CAPTAIN GIDEON BERNIER.
was a native of Canada, of French parentage. He came to this place when eleven years of age, a mere boy, but with the energy and purpose of making his way in the world. But the war cloud over-shadowed his adopted country, when but eighteen years of age, and he at once determined to join the ranks of its defenders. He enlisted as private in Co. B, of the 20th regiment, re-enlisted as veteran, and followed its various fortunes all through its history. He was promoted on his own merits, to 2d, and then 1st lieuten- ant, and in June, 1865, to the captaincy of his company, and was mustered out with the regiment. He was however disabled in the service, and died from impaired health, consequent upon his many exposures in the service, February 5, 1871, at the age of twenty- seven, leaving a widow with three children. An instance of Ber- nier's characteristic bravery has been related in the history of McAllister's Battery. He was taken prisoner on that same day. At the time of his death, he was keeping a shoe store on Jefferson street.
SERGEANT HENRY S. CLARK,
was another young student who laid aside Chitty and Black- stone, and took up the musket at the call of his country, and was also called to lay down his life. He was the only son of Henry
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M. Clark, of Lockport, and was born at Steventown, New York, on the 12th day of February 1869, and was therefore but twenty-two years of age at the time of his enlistment in Co. E, of the Yates Sharp Shooters, afterwards known as the Sixty-Fourth regiment. He had received a classical education at M'Granville College, in the State of New York, and subsequently entered the office of E. C. Fellows, Esq., of Lockport, for the study of law. He had nearly completed his legal course at the time of his en- listment. He was an only son, the hope and stay of doting pa- rents, and the pride of loving sisters-the life of the little family circle which used to gather in such happy union in one of the modest homes of Lockport. But strong and silken as were the ties which bound him to that home, the call of the country was so imperative upon her sons, that he could not resist, and in Oc- tober of 1861, a month after his fellow-student, Walker, had joined the 39th, young Clark joined the company of Captain Grover. Going with his company to Springfield, where the or- ganization of the battalion was completed, he received the same appointment in the " Yates Sharp Shooters " which Walker had received in the " Yates Phalanx." But for his early death, his military record would have also been like that of his fellow stu- dent, in his being promoted adjutant.
He proved a most useful officer of the company. Having studied tactics, and practiced drill, he was to some extent quali- fied for the duties of his new position. But it was the fate of young Clark, to close his career sooner than did Walker. He followed the fortunes of the 64th until the battle of Corinth, on the second day of which he fell, receiving a mortal wound in the bowels which he survived but a few hours. His death occurred but a few days short of one year after his enlistment. He had visited his home in August, gladdening the hearts of his friends, and gratifying his own warm and impulsive affections with the sight of home, parents, sisters and friends, for the last time.
When wounded, he knew at once that it was mortal. The enemy were driving our forces at the time, and soon had posses- sion of the ground. Feeling that his life was fast ebbing away, he took from his pocket an envelope, and on it wrote these words :
" Dear father and mother and sisters, I am dying and a prisoner, my last thoughts are of you. H. S. CLARK."
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His failing strength hardly sufficed to write his name legibly, and as may be conjectured, the brief words were not written in his usually fine chirography ;- but the loved ones to whom it was addressed, could read the message but too well, and their busy fancy would picture the dear boy as he lay dying upon the bloody field of battle, and of victory-though he knew it not,- having spent his last modicum of physical strength in writing this tender message, taking a last look at earth and sky, and then without a murmur, yielding up his life for his country, to him who gave it. This soiled and blood-stained envelope, being the last message of the young hero, was carefully preserved by the rebel sergeant to whom he gave it, and who, being himself taken pris- oner a little after, gave it into the hands of a lieutenant in a Wisconsin regiment, who transmitted it to his friends, who still preserve it as a most precious relic. A few days after, Rev. Joel Grant, of Lockport, who was at Corinth, as chaplain of the 12th Illinois regiment, wrote thus to the afflicted father :
" H. S. CLARK-DEAR SIR :- Your son rests-not only as a soldier, but I think also as a Christian. I have had several conversations with him dur- ing the past summer, in which heexpressed a state of mind which interested me greatly. He admitted himself more thoughtful of spiritual matters since he came into the army-not less so-as is usually the case. He lived three hours after his wound, nearly all the time fully conscious that he could not live. Yet he contemplated his future calmly-spent much time in prayer-and I have no doubt found the mercy he needed."
To this I would add that a perusal of Sergeant Clark's letters to his family, has given the writer a high estimate of his moral, social and intellectual qualities, and led him to feel that in his early death, our county lost one of its most valuable young men. To his intelligent letters I have been partly indebted for the history of the 64th, in the first year of its career.
LIEUT. MORRISON WORTHINGHAM,
was one of the early settlers of Joliet. Coming here a young man in 1836. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and carried on that buisness here many years. When the 100th regiment was raised he took an active part in enlisting Co. K, and was chosen 2d Lieut. He had already sent two sons into the war in the 20th regi-
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ment, the oldest of whom had been crippled at Shiloh. But al- though he might justly feel that he had contributed his full share to the cause, and might also claim exemption on the score of years- he determined to hazard his own life also. This he was called to surrender in the first serious engagement of the Will county regi- ment at Stone River.
Lieut. Worthingham was for many years a constant, active and official member of the Methodist church, of Joliet. Before enlisting he had been brought forward by his friends as a candi- date for the office of sheriff of the county, but he preferred to serve his country in the war for its preservation. He was forty- eight years old at the time of his death.
ALBERT S. RANDALL
died at Pittsburg Landing, April 3rd, 1862, from sickness, con- sequent upon exposure at the battle of Donaldson. He was the son of Hon. S. W. Randall, of Joliet, and was born in Erie, Pa., on Aug. 29, 1841, and was therefore but 20 years of age at the time of his enlistment in Co. F, of the Twentieth regiment of infantry. Enlisting June 13th, 1861, as a private, he was promoted corporal and afterward sergeant. At the time of his death he had been ap- pointed Division Post Master.
Young Randall was but a child when his father removed to Joliet, and was consequently one of our Joliet boys, brought up amongst us, and beloved and respected by all as a young man of much promise, being a good scholar and a fine speaker and well informed for his years. When on a visit home he wrote these words upon a fly leaf of one of his fathers books: "Should any- thing prevent my return to this kind home again, let none but my good deeds be remembered ; while my country was in danger, I could have no peace unless I shared her perils." ALBERT.
SERGT. GEO. W. HOLMES.
Sergeant Geo. W. Holmes, of Company G, 100th regiment, was born in the town of Gaines, Orleans county, N. Y., May 2nd, 1842, and came to this county with his parents, in 1852. At the time of his enlistment he resided in the town of Green Garden.
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He first entered the service as a private of Co. K, Fanrsworth's cavalry, ; (8th) of which company Eben J. Farnsworth of St. Charles, was captain. He enlisted in Sept., 1861, being at that time only 19 years of age. He accompanied his regiment to Washington city, reaching camp at Meridian Hill on the 17th day of October,
Holmes served with the regiment until the ensuing spring, when (March 20,) he was taken prisoner. His regiment, with other troops, had been making a reconnoissance in force, to the Rappahannock, and on the return, Holmes's horse became very lame, and could not keep up with the rapid march of the regi- ment. Being unwilling to abandon his horse and equipments, he fell behind the rear guard, and was "gobbled up" by the rebel cavalry and parolled·
This misfortune resulted in his coming home to his friends. He subsequently got his release from parole, and his discharge from the 8th cavalry to enlist in the 100th Illinois Infantry, at that time being organized in Will county. Entering company G, (Capt. Munger's) he was made corporal, and was subsequently promoted 1st sergeant.
After the battle of Stone River he was put upon the "Roll of Honor," instituted by Gen. Rosecrans. Just before starting out on the Atlanta campaign he was examined at Chattanooga for pro- motion as lieutenant in a colored regiment, and but for his un- timely death, would no doubt have received a commission.
LIEUT. CHARLES F. MITCHELL
of Co. A, 100th regiment, was the son of Franklin Mitchell, one of the early settlers of Joliet, who subsequently removed to Wil- mington, where Charles was born, Nov. 12, 1861. He had there- fore attained his majority but little more than a month, when he received the wound which terminated his life.
At the time of his enlistment he was in the employ of R. N. Waterman, a merchant of Wilmington. He had but recently finished a three years' course at Racine college, and stood, as it were, just at the entrance of a long life of usefulness, for which he was well fitted, both by natural endowments and education. But
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with all the ardor of youthful enthusiasm and self-forgetfulness, he joined the Will county regiment, to contribute his share in the struggle for national preservation. He was wounded in the first serious battle in which the regiment was engaged-that of Stone River. He received the wound on the last day of 1862, and died on the third day of 1863.
On hearing of the battle, and of the casualty to his son, Mr. Mitchell left at once for the front, but did not arrive until after his death and burial, in the spot selected for a cemetery by the Union authorities. There his remains were allowed to rest in one of our Union " sleeping places," it being utterly impossible at that time to procure a burial case at Nashville, so great had been the demand.
His superior officers speak of young Mitchell as having been one of the most promising officers of the regiment, and the com- munity in which he was born, and grew up to manhood, was deeply grieved at his early death.
WILLIAM HENRY MARSH,
was the oldest son of our well-known citizen, H. N. Marsh, Esq., was born in Joliet, August 15th, 1840. He was therefore one of the early sons of Joliet. When of sufficient age, he learned the art of printing in the office of the Republican, of which his father was for some time editor and proprietor.
At the breaking out of the war, he at once determined to join the ranks of the defenders of the Union. He enlisted in Co. K, of the 13th regiment, the first regiment organized under the first call for the three years' service, of which the lamented J. B. Wyman was colonel. This regiment was actively engaged in the state of Missouri in the early part of the war. Young Marsh shared with his regiment all its vicissitudes, including that terrible march from Western Missouri across the country to Helena, in which they endured such intense sufferings from heat, and thirst, and short rations, up to the attack made under Sherman on the rebel works at Chickasaw Bayou.
The 13th regiment had the post of honor in that ill-starred attack-a position which was considered equivalent to a death-
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warrant by Colonel Wyman, and which, indeed, it proved itself to be to him, and many a brave man.
In this heroic but fruitless attack, Wm. Henry was left se- verely wounded upon the field, and fell into the hands of the enemy, and was taken to a hospital in Vicksburg. It was his- good fortune to fall into the hands of persons who treated him kindly, but his life hung by a slender thread, as he was most des- perately wounded. He remained in their care about five months of great suffering, his friends meanwhile ignorant of his fate, al- though his father visited the vicinity, and made all possi- ble inquiry respecting him. When our army, in their operations around Vicksburg, came into possession of the city of Jackson, Miss., young Marsh was found there in a rebel hospi- tal, whither he had been removed just previous. He was found by his fellow townsman of the 20th regiment, who took him to his own regiment. He was then sent by our authorities to St. Louis, and thence to the hospital in Quincy, where he fell under the care of an old friend and neighbor, Dr. F. K. Bailey. He was but the mere wreck of his former self-a living skeleton, yet he now improved very much in health, and was ultimately able to return home; and for some time he moved slowly about our streets, and his friends hoped for a full recovery.
But his wounds broke out afresh, and a speedy decline fol- lowed, and after suffering uncomplainingly for a time, his suf- ferings were terminated by death, July 6th, 1865. During his last hours his mind wandered, and he seemed to be living over again that terrible scene at Chickasaw Bluffs. His last words were, "take me from the field !" God heard the prayer of the dy- ing martyr, and took him-took him from the field of earthly strife and suffering, to a soldier's rest in heaven.
CHARLES PARKER SPENCER. .
A feeling of mingled grief, sympathy and indignation wells up from the heart as we write this name-grief that so noble a young man should be sacrificed, sympathy with the friends who yet mourn his loss-and indignation against the originators of that rebellion which made such costly sacrifices necessary. Charles Parker Spencer was born August 12th, 1838, at - -, and was a
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little over twenty-five years of age at the time of his death. The last four years before his enlistment were spent in Oberlin Col- lege, and he was about ready to graduate, when he felt it his duty to join the ranks of those who were fighting for the defense of freedom and the Union.
Coming home from college in the summer of 1862, while the 100th regiment was being organized, he enlisted as a private in Co. E, and was at once elected corporal, which rank he held at the time of his death, although he was doing the duty of a sergeant. He participated in all the varied fortunes of his regi- ment, always to be found at the post of duty, until that fatal day, the 18th of September, when he fell upon the field. One of his comrades, J. W. Goodenow, writing to his friends a few days after his fall, says," There was not a man in the company who was better beloved, or who will be so sadly missed." His captain, W. W. Bartlett, writing to his bereaved friends, says,-" Your noble boy was killed in the desperate charge we made on the enemy Sept. 19th. He was in the front rank fighting bravely, and was hit by a musket ball in the forehead, and died instantly. We were ordered soon after, to fall back, and never recovered the ground, and consequently had no chance to bury the dead."
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