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 7
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A new kind of " scalawag " is developed about these days by the necessities of the country, and the high bounties which are now being offered for recruits-a scalawag, which I think is en- titled to be considered the devil's master-piece-I mean the " bounty jumper." Substitute brokerage is also lively, and many are coining money out of the exigencies of the country.
As the terms " bounty jumper, " and "substitute broker " are not to be found in Webster's unabridged, it may not be amiss to define them for the benefit of those to whom they may not. be familiar. A "bounty jumper" was one who enlisted, and was sworn into the service, received his bounties from the govern-
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ment, and town and county, and then embraced the first opportu-" nity to desert, often going to another county or state, and repeat- ing the process. A "substitute broker " was one who procured men to enlist as substitutes for others who were liable to a draft,- or to fill out the quotas of towns and districts. He got his sub- stitutes wherever he could, and at as low a figure as possible,. and then sold them wherever he could get the highest bounty, or " the best price. The business might be conducted on a fair and honorable basis, and the broker might thus serve both the country and his customer, and he would be entitled to a fair remunera -. tion for his time and effort. On the other hand it is easy to see- how he might conduct the business to the injury of the country, by obtaining worthless men-those who would desert, mere bounty jumpers ; and by pocketing outrageous commissions he could also. wrong both parties to the transaction. He might also be in collu- sion with the bounty jumper. Of course in our county, the busi - ness was conducted in the most honorable manner ! But some- where-in some other county or state, the quotas were largely filled by worthless " scalawags, " against whose names in the muster- rolls stands the word-" deserted."
These substitutes were such slippery fellows that it became- necessary to keep them under guard. On one occasion in Janu- ary, a lot of them escaped from Joliet, by overpowering the guard. Some were retaken, but were probably never worth the trouble of recapture. One who had escaped on the cars, and who, it is said,. had "jumped the bounty " three times, got alarmed when the- train was near Summit, and apprehending probably that he would. be arrested at that point, jumped from the train. This proved to. be his last jump. Like Sam. Patch, he jumped one time too many, and jumped farther than he intended-jumped into eternity.
In July another sad piece of intelligence comes to us. We hear first of the wounding, and in a few days after of the death of. Adjutant Rouse, of the 100th, one of the finest young men that. went out from our county, or from any other.
August 20th, another meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held to provide further bounty for volunteers, under the call of Father Abraham, made July 1st, for 500,000 more. A bounty of $200 was voted to any person who should go as a volunteer substi-
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tute before the draft. The sum of 80,000 was appropriated to meet the same. A. J. McIntyre, B. F. Russell, George Wood- ruff and Robert Clow were appointed a commission to raise and disburse the same. The sum of $2,000 was also appropriated for the relief of destitute families of soldiers, to be disbursed by the same committee. At a regular meeting in September, the action was so amended as to make the bounty $325, and to include drafted men or their substitutes, and the further sum of $10,000 was ap- propriated, and a bounty of $100 was ordered to be paid to such veterans as re-enlisted under the calls made during the last winter and spring, and who were credited to the quota of Will county ; or to the widow and heirs of any such veteran as had died, or might die, before receiving such bounty.
Sept. 14th, Philip Filer received the appointment of paymas- ter in the volunteer service, and donned the army blue.
September 27th, 1864, commenced that long dreaded, long threatened operation-the draft for the sixth congressional dis- trict. The wheel of fortune, or misfortune, as you please to view it, commenced to turn at the provost marshal's headquarters in Young's block, beginning with LaSalle county. Renewed exer- tions are made to fill our quota before the draft shall reach our county.
Besides the moneys appropriated by the county board, the various towns in the county appropriated money for the purpose of filling up their several quotas. We give a summary of county and town appropriations :
The total of county appropriations was $235,908
The Town of Lockport appropriated. 7,284
Lockport Village Association appropriated 5,743
Town of Florence 10,075
Town of Troy
18,271
Town of Wheatland 66
9,340
Town of Joliet 66 40,000
Which makes the total amount raised in this county, for war purposes, by official
$326,621 action.
The official action of the Board of Supervisors, of which we have given a summary from time to time, renders, perhaps, any further mention superfluous. We will, however, say, that from the first special meeting, in April, 1861, to the close of the war, the board were always ready to do everything in their power to
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further the cause of the Union, both by the passage of resolutions sustaining the government and denouncing disunion, and in going to the extent of their legal powers in voting bounties and aid to soldiers' families, and in assessing necessary taxes.
The amount voluntarily raised in our county, for all purposes, and in all ways, was very large, but it cannot now be told. It was a day when men's hearts and purses were always open to the calls of the country, and to the needs of our soldiers. During the pendency of the draft, many of our citizens furnished substitutes. Some who were exempt, recognizing their obligations to the gov- ernment, did so. And when our government decided to make use of colored troops-even those who had been most bitterly opposed to the measure, most magnanimously showed their submission to the laws, by being quick to avail themselves of this mode of get- ting out of the draft. Even editors of democratic papers were willing to be represented in the army by men as black as the ace of spades, although it cost them $600. One of our young men was represented in the army by no less a personage than GEORGE WASHINGTON-at a cost of $800. That was a pretty hard load for one poor darkey to have to bear-the weight of his own name and that of a Woodruff besides !
At this time, too, as many, both black and white, who had gone as substitutes, did not prove very good soldiers, but embraced the first opportunity to desert-in fact turned bounty-jumpers- the government had to establish the rule, that the person who sent a substitute, should be responsible for his fidelity. Fortunately, however, there was no rule making the substitute responsible for his principal !
But despite all efforts, the "wheel " had to make a turn in Will county, before our quota was full. The machine moved slowly, as much time of the board was taken up in the mustering in of recruits and substitutes, Lockport and Homer were the towns that had a taste of the luxury. The relentless wheel turns round, and, one after another, names are drawn to the number of ninety-four. Among those who drew prizes were Alfred G. Row- ley, the supervisor of the town of Homer, and F. G. Harris, the enrolling officer of the district. Out of this number, one-half (47) were required to fill the quota of the district.
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Substitutes now reach the top price, $800 to $1,500, a sum which was quite beyond the reach of a poor man. The brokers, I suppose, pocketed the lion's share of the sum. They did not let their politics prevent them from going south and importing negroes as substitutes. Anything in human shape, black, white, or mixed, was in demand.
One of our clergymen-an ex-chaplain-a grey-haired old man, had occasion to go from Chicago to Galena about the time when the draft was imminent. Going aboard the train at night, and being very tired, he took a berth at once, and soon fell asleep. He was awakened after a time by the loud talking of some per- sons, and looking out of his berth, saw that several men had gath- ered around the stove, and were discussing politics in a loud and excited manner. They bitterly denounced the war and the draft, the government, and everything else, except the southern confed- eracy. Lincoln was a tyrant and a fool, and Jeff. Davis a gentle- man and a statesman, &c., &c. The good ex-chaplain stood this as long as he could, but at length, getting out of all patience, he jumped out of his berth, and strode up to the stove, and addressed them as follows: "Gentlemen, I have listened to your traitorous talk as long as I can endure it, and I am determined to hear no more." " Well," said one of them, " what are you going to do about it ? How will you stop it?" "I mean," replied the ex-chaplain, "to thrash every one of you." " Ha! ha !" said one, " you are a very angry old man." "No, I am not angry," he replied, " but I am determined to hear no more of your treason- able talk, and if there is no other way to stop it, I shall have to . thrash you." At this point, some one from the middle of the car cried out : "That's right, old man, pitch in, and I'll help you ; I'm tired of it, too." " And so am I," " and so am I," now came from different parts of the car, " that's right, give it to the traitors." The treason-shriekers, finding that the old man was so well backed up, concluded to disperse, and the ex-chaplain, having relieved himself of his righteous indignation, and skedaddled the rebels, went to his berth again, and slept the sleep of the just, without further molestation.
In the meanwhile, an exciting political campaign has been going on, and the impending draft was used as a powerful argu-
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ment against the re-election of Lincoln. But, to use his own homely illustration, the people decided it was no time to swap horses while fording the stream, and he was triumphantly re-elected. The friends of his election held a grand jubilee over the result at Young's hall, at which time a subscription was made for the bene- fit of the soldiers' families, amounting to over $3,000. The timely discovery of the Chicago conspiracy, was also a subject of great universal excitement at this time.
The Atlanta campaign under Sherman has ended in the pos- session of that place by the Union forces, and its partial destruction, and the memorable march to the sea has commenced. Our 100th regiment does not join in this, but returns to Chattanooga, under Thomas, to watch Hood. The 90th and the 64th regiments, Bar- nett's battery, and what was left of the 20th, went on to the sea.
We soon hear of the battle of Franklin, one of the fiercest in which the 100th was engaged, and which resulted in our success, enabling our force to get back to Nashville safely within the sur- rounding fortifications. But the list of casualties is again a sad one for Will county, for at this fight Major Rodney S. Bowen, of Wilmington, received the wound of which he died soon after, Dec. 3d, 1864. The other casualties will be noted in the history of the 100th.
Soon, too, came the battles before Nashville, the 15th and 16th of December, which resulted in our entire success, and which closed up the list of battles in which the 100th was engaged. In these last, the regiment escaped with but one casualty ; Joseph Butcher, of Co. F, lost his left leg. He died subsequently at Nashville.
Dec. 20th, Father Abraham calls for 300,000 more, to finish up the work of suppressing the rebellion, and a draft is again expected, and meetings are again held in the various towns to devise ways and means to fill up the quotas.
But good news comes thicker and faster. Gen. Sherman goes through triumphantly to the sea, captures Savannah, and turns northward. Hood was so badly whipped at Nashville, that we hear no more from him.
The quota of the town of Joliet is ascertained to be sixty-eight, of which number forty-six have been furnished, leaving twenty-two to be drafted, unless substitutes are furnished.
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The evidence increases that we are approaching the beginning of the end. For the last six months, our forces have been success- ful at all points. The rebels want to negotiate. Sherman marches on. Grant holds Lee tight. Charleston, the womb of the rebel- lion, is taken. The rebels ask for an armistice. " Unconditional surrender," says Grant, and Lincoln, too. The price of substitutes begins to drop rapidly, and hair dye goes up! Joliet being only two or three behind on her quota, old fogies begin to dye their hair and whiskers again. Richmond falls. Everybody is jubilant. The backbone is broken at last !
The news arrived Sunday night. The bells are rung-every- body rushes to the streets to see where the fire is-hears the good news, and joins in the hurrah. The people rush to the public square. The flood-gates of gab are opened again. Norton, Bowen, Barber, Osgood, O'Connor, Tim.'Kelly, Zarley-everybody speaks. The band is out, and all day Monday nothing is thought of but the glorious news. Business is suspended. The two or three men still wanting to fill the quota are quickly found. The substitute broker's occupation is gone, and the bounty jumper has become an extinct " varmint." Joliet is out of the draft, but, better than all, no draft is needed, and no more recruits-for now the word comes -" Lee has surrendered !" Glory, glory, glory hallelujah !- the war is over! The backbone is not only broken, but ground to powder ! The boys will soon come marching home !- those who have survived the terrible four years !
Less than a week passes-when, hark ! another sound is in the air. Saturday morning, the 15th of April, the first news which meets us as we come down town is, that during the night, while we slept sweetly, joyfully, our beloved president-our own LINCOLN -has been assassinated, and lies stark and cold in the white house. The rebellion, in its death throes, has dealt one terrible last thrust. Swift as thought spreads the news. Men refuse to believe that it is possible. But every dispatch confirms it. It is, alas ! too true ! Men of all parties are struck dumb with grief and consternation. All business is, by spontaneous action, suspended. Men talk with bated breath and walk with measured steps. Offices and shops are closed. The city is draped in mourning. Simultaneously with the funeral services at Washington, services are held in our
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churches, which are also draped in mourning, and every patriotic heart feels itself smitten by the terrible blow.
"Oh, what a fall was there, my countrymen ! Then I, and yoa, and all of us fell down, Whilst bloody treason flourished over us."
May 2nd, Lincoln's remains pass through Joliet on the way to Springfield. Great crowds assemble here, as everywhere, to catch a glimpse of the casket which liolds the precious dust. Only a few however can do so. Most must be content to look upon the car in which they lie. Although the train is to arrive at midnight, at least 5,000 people assembled to meet it. The depot was beauti- fully draped with the national colors, and with evergreens and mourning emblems, and such mottoes as these, "Over the aslies of the illustrious dead, we consecrate ourselves anew to the cause of truth, justice and freedom." " Reverently the prairie state re- ceives the ashes of her noblest son. " "Champion, Defender and Martyr of Liberty. "
A beautiful arch spanned the track, draped in black and white, and trimmed with evergreen's, flags and flowers, and surmounted with a cross of evergreens. The train arrived at twelve-minute guns were fired, the church bells tolled, and the multitude stood in reverential silence, with uncovered heads, while the band played a solemn dirge. Just as the train was approaching, a brilliant meteor shot across the heavens, apparently falling over the funeral car. After a half hour's stop, the train with its sa- cred burden passes on to receive similar homage at every station. At Wilmington, in our county, the depot was beautifully decora- ted, and bore this motto-"Martyr, yet Monarch !"
Our record opened with the death and funeral obsequies of DOUGLAS, one of the most gifted citizens of our nation, an hon- ored and influential senator. Called from the country he loved, when it was just entering the dark and stormy days of the rebel- lion, he gave out in his parting words a clarion ring for the Union, and the enforcement of the laws. We close with the death and funeral obsequies of LINCOLN, no less honored, and perhaps more deeply loved. He was permitted to guide the na- tion through the four dark and terrible years of the rebellion ; to
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see the authority of the government re-established, and our flag waving in triumph over the rebel capital and Fort Sumter,-and to know that his great work was done. And so, " with malice to- ward none, and with charity toward all"-he went to his reward -the greatest martyr of the nineteenth century-" the noblest Roman of them all !"
And now, our streets are full again wih soldiers returning from their long and weary campaigns. But oh! with what thinned ranks do they come! And while we rejoice at their return, and at the success which has crowned their toils and sufferings, we mourn for those that have been left behind on so many bloody battle fields. The contribution to our county, to the great holo- caust, has been more than five hundred. Let us always grate- fully, reverently remember them, and let us believe, that
if there be on this earthly sphere,
A boon, an offering heaven holds dear,
'Tis the last libation liberty draws, From the heart that bleeds and breaks in her cause."
THE ONE HUNDREDTH -- THE WILL COUNTY REGIMENT, had a public reception, Saturday, July 1st, at the court house square. It was a grand demonstration. A most hearty and thankful wel- come was given to the bronzed and scarred veterans ;- the survi- vors of Levernge, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Rocky Face, Resacca, Adairsville, Dallas, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville !
They were received by the Mayor and Council, with the music of bands, the firing of cannon, and the shouts and huzzahs of the assembled thousands. The members of the Soldiers Aid Society in their sanitary uniform, and many other ladies lined the streets through which they marched, and welcomed thiem with smiles and the waving of flags and handerchiefs. A reception speech was made by Joliet's silver-tongued orator, Judge Parks, which was re- sponded to by Col. Waterman, An adjournment was then made to Young's Hall, which was tastefully decorated, and where a rich and bountiful repast had been provided, and was dispensed by the FAIR, always ready to welcome the BRAVE.
July Fourth was celebrated by a grand union picnic, 'which
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was held in the park south of the city. Hon. Sam. K. Casey, was president of the day, assisted by twenty-four vice-presidents. Rev. Mr. Jewett of the Methodist, and Rev. Mr. Kidd, of the Congregational church, acted as Chaplains. Dennis E. Sibley, of the 100th, read the declaration of Independence, and T. L. Breck- enridge, was orator of the day. Our Joliet bard, C. H. Macom- ber, Esq., welcomed our returned soldiers in poetic and patriotic numbers. Major S. G. Nelson, of the 100th, and Major Dan. O'Connor, of the 90th, were the chief marshals. A free dinner was given to all returned soldiers. And thus we celebrated the birth-day of our nation in 1776, and its deliverance from threaten- ed dismemberment in 1865.
Other regiments, companies and battery's came home during the summer, and were gladly welcomed ; and one after another the Will county soldiers, the survivors of the long and cruel civil war, having given from one to four of the best years of their lives, to the work of saving the Union, doffed the army blue which they had worn so proudly and so long, and once more quietly took their places in the various walks of civil life ;- GLAD, that their fighting days were over,-glad, that all over our broad land, "grim-visaged war had smoothed his wrinkled front ;"-glad, that all the clouds which had so long lowered over our beloved country were-
" Now in the deep bosom of the ocean buried; That their bows were bound with victorious wreaths; Their bruised arms hung up for monuments ; Their stern alarums changed to merry meetings, Their dreadful marches to delightful measures."
Glad ! glad ! above all, that now, everywhere, from farthest Maine to the Rio Grande; from the ice bound rocks of Alaska, to the orange groves of Florida ; and from the Chesapeake to the Golden Gate ; the flag of the Union waved unchallenged, and that now, nowhere, east or west, north or south, beneath its ample folds, could the all beholding sun, LOOK DOWN UPON A SINGLE SLAVE!
PART SECOND.
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES.
CHAPTER I.
HISTORY OF THE TWENTIETH REGIMENT.
. FROM JOLIET TO JACKSON, TENN. JUNE 1861, TO AUGUST 1862.
Regiment leaves Joliet-En route-Arrives at Alton-Camp Experiences -Accident-Irregular rations-Goes to St. Louis-Is Armed-Goes to Cape Girardeau-Experiences-Expeditions-A. J. Sanger as a Spy-Goes to Birds Point-Returns to Cape-Starts for Fredericktown-The Elder has a Prayer Meeting-Fredericktown-A Reliable Contraband-The Battle-Incidents- How the 20th Behaved in its First Battle-Thanked by Gen. Grant-Returns to Birds Point-Winter Quarters-Expeditions-Has Visitors from Joliet- Difficulties in Regiment-New Year's Calls-Masquerade-Old Birds' Honey -Reconnoisance-Starts for Fort Henry-In;the Fort-Goes to Donaldson- Battle-Casualties-Incidents-Col. Marsh's Report-Gen. Wallace's Report -About the Battle-Afterwards-Starts for the Tennessee River-A Slip Betwixt the Cup and Lip-Savannah-Pittsburgh Landing-Battle of Shiloh -Casualties-Advance to Corinth-Goes to Jackson, Tenn .- Difficulties Again-Capt. Hildebrant-Negro Hunters-A Pass Through Camp-General Logan.
HE events which preceded and attended the organization of the 20th regiment, have already been given in chapter first of our " home record, " and need not here be repeated. The original enlistment was commenced under the first call for 75,000 for the three months' service, but before the regiment was fully or- ganized, our government had become satisfied that more than three months and more than 75,000 men would be required to subdue the insurrection, and it was mustered in May 14th, for
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three years, unless sooner discharged. Only thirty of the number that had gathered together from the district, declined to go for three years, and their places were soon supplied. The full roster and muster roll of the two companies, and others from the county, will be found in Part Fourth. During the preliminary organiza- tion, Dr. A. L. McArthur, had charge of the camp as surgeon, as- sisted by Dr. Bailey. At the final muster in, Dr. Christopher Goodbrake of Clinton county, was made surgeon, and Dr. F. K. Bailey of this city, assistant surgeon, and the Rev. Chas. Button, the pastor of the Baptist church in Joliet, was made chaplain.
On the 18th day of June, the regiment received the long- looked for orders from Gov. Yates, and at 5 p. m., bade good-bye to Camp Goodell, marched to the depot where the entire city, and multitudes from the surrounding country, had assembled to bid them good-bye and God-speed, and at 7:20 o'clock they were on their way to Alton. The boys met with a complete ovation all along the route. At every station the depots and platforms were crowded with men, women, and children, who greeted them with cheers, hand-shakes, "God bless you's," and boquets. From every farm house the train was signaled with waving of handkerchiefs and swinging of hats. At Monticello, a whole female seminary greeted the boys, and made them regret that they could not stop there awhile.
The train arrived at Alton at noon of Wednesday, and the regiment immediately went into camp. But land seemed to be so scarce at Alton that they could not secure an eligible camp. The place to which they were assigned, consisted of hills and gullies, some bushes and innumerable stumps. They were exposed to the burning sun by day, with shady groves in sight, from which they were shut out, to tantalize them, while the water with which they were supplied, did not deserve the name. The contrast with Camp Goodell, with its shady oaks and magnificent spring of pure cold water, was a striking one, and the men thought the place must have been selected on the principle that the sooner they were inured to the hardships of soldiering, the better. Others said that they were placed there because the owner of the land (one Buck- master) wanted the land grubbed of its stumps. Indeed, the boys had this for their catechism :
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