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 5
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Oh ! in how many hearts, (both of those who went, and of those who stayed), that day, did these sad questionings come unbidden, and make the scene, despite the shouts and huzzahs, and the moving of flags and banners, and the music of bands, one of the most solemn import !
" All aboard," shouts the conductor, the last bell rings, the last farewell is said. Lips and hands have parted, many, many alas ! of which shall never again in this world, be pressed together; and the train moves out from the St. Louis Depot, and the " Will County Regiment," the 100th Illinois, is on its way to whatever the chances of war in a three years' campaign, shall bring.
Elsewhere we shall give a succinct account of this three years' campaign.
Again we hear from the 20th regiment, of the brilliant affair at Britton's Lane, so creditable to our heroes, though as usual our rejoicings are subdued by the list of casualties.
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And now we are watching with increased interest for each day's intelligence from the army, for we have greatly increased our ventures on the field of battle.
The month of September was one of great and varied interest in military affairs, on the field at large. Such was the dubious outlook, that our governor, on the 15th inst., issued his proclam- ation calling upon the people to organize a reserve force-a home guard-to be ready for any emergency that should arise. This was supplementary to the organizations which were recruiting. for the field. I believe that many of our citizens organized them- selves into volunteer companies, and met for drill in various halls and vacant rooms. I remember going once myself to Young's Hall, where the late Col. Smith was our drill-master. We had sticks for guns. At this meeting I learned how to shoulder arms (or rather sticks). I thought that was enough, and never went again. How much this contributed to the final issue I do not know. There has been no muster roll preserved of these compa- nies. I think they left but very " feeble foot-prints on the sands of time."
A splendid banner was presented by our ladies to Capt. Dan. O'Connor's company, the "Casey Guards," so called in honor of its godfather, Hon. Sam. K. Casey, and a most generous godfather he was, having given one thousand dollars as a bounty for recruits. This company became Co. D of the 90th regiment. Mrs. Fellows made the presentation speech.
The Board of Superviors met Sept. 8th. The war fund com- mittee, George Woodruff, Robert Clow, and D. U. Cobb, reported that they had borrowed the money as needed, and that all persons entitled to bounties under the provisions of the resolutions passed at the special meetings, had been paid. The amount drawn was $57,420, leaving a balance of $2,580 on hand for disbursements.
Oct. 14th, we got the tidings of another battle, this time at Corinth, in which the Union forces are victorious, and in which Will county is personally represented, and in which, alas ! she is again compelled to mourn the loss of valued lives, among them Capt. Grover, of the 64th. Mayor Bowen, his law partner, left immediately to procure the body, and returned with it the 20th, and the funeral was largely attended on the next day at the Con- 7
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gregational church. The bar passed the usual resolutions of respect-no mere formality-and the speech of Judge Parks on the occasion was an eloquent and feeling tribute to the memory of the deceased. The city of Lockport also lost one of her most promis- ing young men, Sergeant Henry S. Clark, of the same regiment.
Rev. Hooper Crews, of the Methodist church, having accepted of an appointment as chaplain to the 100th regiment, was presented by a few of our liberal-hearted citizens with a horse. And here let me say, that the reverend gentleman served the country and the regiment for more than a year in this capacity, making him - self greatly useful to the boys, who will never forget his kindness. But the infirmities of age compelled him to give up the arduous position, after a year's service.
During this month, some of our citizens, viz., Caswell, Morgan and Bush, who were trying to supply the wants of the 100th, in the way of notions, tobacco, eatables, and some other things which Uncle Sam did not include in the regular rations, had a rather unhappy experience, which I believe disgusted them with the call- ing of sutlers. The notorious guerrilla-gorilla, the sutlers thought him-John Morgan, had the impudence to disregard the dignified neutrality of Kentucky, and gobbled up a government train, to which our friends had attached their wagons, on the way out from Louisville to the 100th. Morgan confiscated all their goods, made a bonfire of the wagons, and appropriated the horses to his own use. Our friends returned, sadder, wiser, but not as they had hoped, richer men. I believe they don't like to hear anything about Morgan to this day.
Our very excellent friend and fellow-citizen, Calvin Knowlton, Esq., had an introduction to the notorious Col. Morgan about this time. Happening to be at Louisville, he was invited by a brother railroad official to take a trip to Nashville. Being a little curious to see how things looked at the front, he accepted the invitation, and took passage on a train, not apprehending any trouble, as our forces now had possession as far south as Nashville. But after they had got along nearly to Cave City, the engineer was obliged to stop the train, on account of a pile of ties which had been thrown on the track ; and no sooner had the train stopped than it was surrounded by a lot of men, who seemed to spring out of the
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ground, and who carried those ugly looking weapons called six- shooters, and who ordered the passengers to get out of the cars forthwith-an order which was obeyed without parley. Every man who had the misfortune to wear military clothes was taken prisoner. Everything except private property was confiscated. One officer had on a slouched hat and a duster, not being anxious to sport his shoulder-straps, and to his modesty in this respect, he owed his escape. The train was set on fire and burned up, except one old car and engine with which the citizens were allowed to return to Louisville. Col. Morgan was extremely polite, but he didn't care any more for railroad officials than anybody else. It is said that for a few moments the face of the superintendent of the Cut-Off was as long as it was broad, and did not exhibit its usual smile ! And some say that he even used that terrible oath, (which he has been known to use on one or two occasions), "I snum !"
Nov. 3d, we were called upon to bury another of our soldier boys-William M. Radcliff, of Co. F, 13th cavalry regiment, who died in St. Louis, Oct. 31st.
It must not be forgotten that all this time soldiers' aid societies are hard at work all over the county, to meet the demands upon them for comforts, for the camp and hospital, although few records have been preserved of their labors. The papers have frequent acknowledgments from the 20th and 100th, and from Danforth's cavalry company, and other organizations, of articles received and most welcome. In the town of Manhattan, the ladies met every Wednesday, at the house of Mr. Lawrence, and gave out work for the week, and made up boxes and barrels for the army and for the sanitary commission.
In the meantime, the 100th has been engaged in that tedious chase after Bragg through Kentucky, and, in the Signal, I find a letter dated Dec. 15th, which says : "Our regiment has been seriously reduced by sickness, desertion and death, We have now about 400 on duty. About 30 have died, 50 deserted, and the balance are in hospital or barracks, sick. What are left are tried and good men, and will give a good account of themselves. We are well satisfied with our one-armed colonel. In fact, we were
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very fortunate in the selection of all our officers. Our popular and efficient lieutenant colonel is now absent on sick leave."
By a notice in the same issue of the Signal, we learn that this sickness of the " popular and efficient lieutenant colonel " was fatal ! " Married, in Chicago, Dec. 16th, at the church of the New Jeru- salem, by Rev. Mr. Hibbard, Arba N. Waterman, Lieut. Col. of the 100th regiment Ill. Vol., and Miss Ella Hall, of Chicago." It is said that he met his fate with the courage of a soldier and the resignation of a christian.
Let it be said, that many left behind on the dreary march soon rejoined the regiment, some of whom are reported above as desert- ers, and, on the 26th of the same month, Surgeon Woodruff reports 600 as fit for duty.
And so, peacefully, though anxiously, die out the closing hours of 1862 in Will county. In Washington-in the white house- alone in his office, sits the man on whom a nation's eyes are fixed, reverently invoking the " gracious favor of Almighty God " upon the words which he has written-words which are destined to make the morning of 1863 forever memorable; which are to challenge the admiration of the world, and to strike the manacles from the limbs of four million slaves. While down in far Tennessee-on the banks of Stone River, night has pityingly closed down upon one of the bloodiest fields of the war, where
" The earth is covered thick with other clay, Which her own clay shall cover, heaped and pent, Rider and horse, friend, foe, in one red burial blent."
And our boys are there !
HOME RECORD.
CHAPTER II.
FROM JANUARY 1863, TO JULY 1865.
Our Military Lesson-Military Record of the Smiths-How 1863 Opened -The News from Stone River-Delegation goes there-Other News-Large Reinforcement leaves Joliet-S. B. and Union Leagues-War Meetings- Provost Marshal's Office Opened-Draft Threatened-Strange Effects-More War News-Fourth of July-Great Rejoicings-A Missing Boy Found-A Joliet Rebel-Supervisors Meet-Delegation to Chattanooga-News from Chickamauga-About the 100th-How "Billy" Humbugged the Rebs-We Feed our Enemies-Another Call-Good News-One Boy Home from Libby -Enrollment-Novel Excuse-Meeting of Supervisors-Bounty-War Meet- ings-Capt. Logan's Company-An Interesting Recruit-Barnett's Battery Veteranizes and Recruits-Another Call-Special Meeting of Supervisors- Col. Bartleson's Release-His Reception-The 20th Veteranizes-Reception- 100 Days' Men-More Funerals-Sad, Sad News-Substitute Brokers and Bounty Jumpers-Terms Explained-A Long Jump-More Sad News- 500,000 More-Supervisors Meet-Draft-County and Town Appropriations Substitutes-A Preacher on his Muscle-Election-Jollification-More Sad News-Another Call-Great Effort to Fill Quotas-The Beginning of the End -The Back Bone Broken at Last-Great Glorification-Hair Dye goes Up- Substitutes Drop-Saddest News of All-City Draped in Mourning-Obse- quies-The Boys Come Marching Home-Reception of the 100th-How we kept July 4th, 1865-Finale.
EN. SHERMAN concludes his book with some military les- sons which he derives from his war experience. Although the author of the present work is not a military man, and this history has not been written from a military stand-point, or for a military purpose, yet I cannot forbear drawing one military lesson from my investigations. And, lest I may forget it, or lest many of my readers may not have the patience to read this book to the end, and would therefore lose the lesson if I deferred it to the
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proper place, I will introduce it here. And I think by the way, this is a very shrewd move on my part, and might be profitably imitated by many writers, and perhaps by some preachers.
In the journal of a private soldier, I have found the statement that the severe losses in an Ohio regiment, on one occasion dur- ing the Atlanta campaign, was owing to the fact that the officer in command at the time was drunk, and led his men into a posi- tion where no sober man would have gone. The same private in noticing the assemblage of Generals in council near Resacca says, "I noticed that they nearly all took their bitters." I will not go further into particulars, but will say, that I have found abundant evidence that many of the difficulties in regiments, and many of the disasters of the war are traceable to whisky. It would be easy to fill a chapter with proofs of this statement. And I think that one of the greatest evils chargeable to the war, and to those who inaugurated it, is the increase of intemperance which it occasioned. We still groan under the taxes, and the financial embarrassments which have resulted, but what are these to the habits of intemper- ance begotten and confirmed by the war. I think no one will ques- tion the statement that the temptation to the use of stimulants was very strong in the army, and, the restraints of home and for- mer associations being removed, it was easy to yield; and hence many who had never drank whisky before, did so in the army, under the mistaken notion that it would ward off the effects of fatigue and exposure. The temptation was also strong to re- inforce the nerves with a little whisky when going into an engage- ment, a resource which might indeed render the person less sensi- ble of danger, but which would also make him more reckless and imprudent. Some of the boys tell a story on one of our captains, who had always been known as a staunch teetotaler at home, and who had resisted all invitations to drink, until the time came when he and his company had to face the music of whistling balls and plunging shot,-when seeing some of his men trying to "keep their spirits up by pouring spirits down," he was weak enough to ask for a little himself, with the apology, that he "felt a little un- well." As to how often he resorted to that expedient subsequently, history is silent.
I think, moreover, that however men may differ in their esti-
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mate of General Butler, either as a political or military man, all must admit that he showed great judgment, and patriotism as well, when being in command at Fortress Monroe, he issued his order prohibiting the introduction of liquors within his lines, mak- ing his own headquarters no exception to the rule, although all his life accustomed to the use of wines and brandy.
The reader has of course already anticipated my military les- son, but I will nevertheless formulate it. In time of war whisky and all its congeners, should be excluded under the severest penal- ties, from the army lines. So thoroughly am I convinced of the importance of this measure, that I am fully determined, that if I should ever be placed in the responsible position of Commander- in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the U. S., and should a war arise during my administration, (which may heaven avert,) I shall at the very outset, issue my proclamation, prohibiting under the severest penalties the introduction of whisky into the army lines, either under the name of contraband, commissary, tarax- icum, bitters, hospital stores, or any other name whatever ; or the having or using the same by any person in the service of the U. S., from the drummer boy up to the Lieut. General inclusive, under any pretense whatever. I am determined to do this, not- withstanding the present Lieut. General tells us of several occa- sions on which he took a glass of whisky. And this I shall do, not from any fanatical notions on the subject, but purely as a mili- tary measure, on which I shall invoke the "considerate judgment of mankind," and confidently expect "the gracious favor of Al- mighty God." And I hereby notify my political friends that it will be useless to urge that such a measure will be unpopular, and that, besides losing me some of my best generals, will hazard my chances of a re-election. Like the great Henry Clay I feel that it is better to be right than to be president.
I have in contemplation one other measure, namely, to allow the utmost facility to the introduction of whisky into the lines of the enemy. I am not sure that I could expect the blessing of Heaven upon such a measure, but I am sure it would be the most brilliant strategy. If my Attorney General shall think the measure con- stitutional, I shall extend the prohibition to Congress.
Having disposed of my military lesson, I wish to bring in one
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more matter here for which I may not find a more appropriate place. Elsewhere I have spoken of what some families did in fur- nishing volunteers for our armies. But there is one family whose record in this respect is very remarkable and ought to be noticed.
I refer to the Smith family. Any one who has the honor of an acquaintance with the Smiths, would of course anticipate as much. For this is one of the cases in which the French saying, " noblesse oblige," is peculiarly pertinent. For what family so ancient, or so prominent in our history, from the time of its great founder in this country, Captain John Smith, of Virginia, in 1607, down to Jo. Smitlı, the mormon ! Such an ancestry, and such a record, would compel the representatives of this family, in the days of which we write, to acts of self-sacrifice and patriotic devotion. Hence, we are not surprised to find that the name of some member of this family is on the muster roll of every company of our regiments in every branch of the service. Thomas, George, William, Isaac, Israel, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Adam, Jeremiah, Abraham, Heze- kiah, Ezekiel, Job, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Paul, and Barnabas, and Timothy, and so on through the entire catalogue of known surnames, sacred and profane, even to Patrick and Bar- ney, are to be found, some one or more of them, in every organ- ization. Our own county, I am happy to say, furnished its full share of representatives from this family. And among the Smiths conspicuous above all, and everywhere, as we might also expect, was the name of the great founder of the family-the well-known JOHN SMITH. His military record is unsurpassed by any member of the family, and of course by any other individual of any name. I shall not attempt to trace it in full ; we have not the time or space. Suffice it to say, that he enlisted in at least a dozen bat- teries, and in almost every company of the 156 infantry and the 17 cavalry regiments furnished by our state. Indeed, he seems to have been well nigh ubiquitous. Sometimes, it is true, he inter- polated an initial letter in order to conceal his identity, and several times he passed himself off for a Dutchman, calling himself John Schmidt, and once, with the aid of burnt cork, he smuggled him- self into a colored regiment. He veteranized many times. He was in battles without number, and was discharged for wounds
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and disability almost every month. He deserted at least a dozen times. He was once in military prison at Vicksburg, and sen- tenced to the Dry Tortugas (a cruel fate, is he was one of the thirsty Smiths !) He was killed outright at Shiloh, Donaldson, Stone River, and Chickamauga, and died once of wounds received at Chattanooga, and many times of disease and exposure, and was once drowned in the Mississippi. After all these casualties, he was transferred (as he surely had a right to be) to the invalid corps, and, being taken prisoner on the Atlanta campaign, he closed his career amid the horrors of Andersonville! Should any member of the family wish to drop a tear over the grave of their distin- guished relative, John Smith, they will find it numbered 10,849. Let it not be considered any disparagement to his memory, that his name once or twice appears among the brigadier and major generals, for not unfrequently in our army good men were placed in command. I ought, in justice to the family, to add, that his brother, " Bill Smith," was hardly less conspicuous. Indeed, they were " par nobile fratrum," and should be held in grateful remem- brance by the country they did so much to save. Should anyone hereafter undertake to compile the family history of THE SMITHS, they are at liberty to use these facts, collected with so much labor, and which are entirely reliable.
Having got my military lesson off my hands, and discharged my duty to the Smith family, I resume the narrative of home events.
The year 1863 opened with the emancipation proclamation of Father Abraham. I find, on looking over the files of the Signal, that " Cal " did not like it. A good many did not. Others think that it was the turning point of our national destiny ; the saving measure of the administration-the supreme act of our govern- ment which placed it en rapport with the divine purposes, and thus secured our ultimate triumph.
While this was the most important item in the national aspect, the most interesting event to many families in Will.county was the battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone River, in which our regiment was engaged. The telegraph brings us speedy news of the engage- ment. We know that it has been a bloody one, lasting several days, bridging over the old year and the new, making New Year's 8
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day, 1863, a sad holiday to many a heart; and we watch with deep anxiety for the list of casualties. We do not have to wait long ; soon the lists of killed and wounded reach us, when we find that Lieut. Charles F. Mitchell, of Wilmington, (a son of one of our oldest settlers), and Lieut. Worthingham, of Joliet, (one of our old settlers of 1835), and John Hopkins, from one of the old families of Homer, and six others of the 100th regiment, are among the number killed.
Our worthy citizens, Charles Weeks, O. W. Stillman, and Otis Hardy, of Joliet, and A. W. Bowen and Franklin Mitchell, of Wilmington, start at once for the scene. Dr. McArthur, also, under an appointment from Gov. Yates, was there. We reserve all further matters connected with it for the history of the 100th.
Almost at the same time we hear of the fierce assault-barren of results, except the death and disabling of many a brave soldier -- made at Chickasaw Bayou, near Vicksburg, and our fellow citi- zen, H. N. Marsh, Esq., was doomed to hear the painful news that his son, Wm. H. Marsh, was among the wounded, and in the hands of the enemy.
About this time, also, we hear of the following casualties, in Co. C, 4th cavalry, to men from our county, in a skirmish near Colliersville, Tenn. : Sergeant John Avery, Corp. Geo. N. Smith, of Wilton, H. E. Benner, Joliet, and Marion Cooper, of Florence, taken prisoners.
During the month of February, our army came near having a large reinforcement from Joliet. Master Webb, aged 12, Master Camp, aged 15, and Master Walker, aged 15, left the city early in the week to join the army. They had become, like some others . of us, impatient at the delay of our forces in breaking the backbone of the rebellion, and unlike some of us grumblers, they had deter- mined to put their own shoulders to the wheel, and bring the war to a speedy close. Unfortunately for the cause, parental authority interfered, and they were brought back from Cairo, and the back- bone was not broken.
During the spring of 1863, congress passed the conscription act. The measure was of course unpopular with those who sympathized with the rebellion, and perhaps with some others. There was con- siderable apprehension of resistance. It was said that the secret
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society of the south, known as "Knights of the Golden Circle," had their branches in the northern states, and were rendering all the aid and comfort possible to the confederacy. The friends of the government, believing that similar means might be used to advantage in sustaining the government, and in enforcing the laws, organized secret societies, having in view this result. All over the north, and also in portions of the south, such societies were formed, and drew into their lodges the loyal men of all par- ties. They were first organized under the name of the S. B. These cabalistic letters, which for a time excited great wonder and no little fear, were ascertained to stand for "Strong Band," nothing more nor less. This organization was soon, however, superseded by the "Union Leagues." These societies were bitterly denounced by a portion of the people and of the press, and regarded as very dangerous to our liberties. But I think that they were not only very harmless, but that they did much good in strengthening the government, and encouraging the armies in the field. I had the honor of belonging to one, and I am sure that one, was a very inno- cent affair. We had frequent meetings, and secret signs and pass- words, and a kind of semi-military organization, and imposing ritual and ceremonials. We solemnly promised to be true to the Union, and to the boys in blue. We ate a cracker, took a pinch of salt, and drank a little water-positively nothing stronger-and then went through with some other flummery, which I have forgotten ; and we also spent some time in drill. Many of us bought revolvers, but I am quite sure we never intended to use them, except in self- defense ; and I doubt if some of us would have done so even then. For the only time in my life I owned a fire-arm, and I absolutely got so courageous that I dared to fire it, and so skillful that I could hit a barn door-if it was a large one! I kept this for a few weeks, slept with it under my pillow for a few nights-(or rather tried to sleep)-and then got so disgusted with the thing that I traded it off at Barrett's for some other, more innocent kind of hardware. This is about all that I remember about these secret leagues, except that our fellow-citizen, T. L. Breckenridge, Esq., was the " high-cock-a-lorum " of our lodge.
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