Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 76

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1 > Part 76

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Following the regnlar program were games, contests, 'a ball game, races, etc., a baby show, the selection of the oldest couple and the oldest woman and the oldest man contest. A beautiful oak rocking-chair was awarded to Mr. and Mrs. John Workman of Curran, who were adjudged the oldest married couple on the grounds, having been married September 26, 1850. Mrs. Martha (Yates) Scott, a sister of the former War Gov- ernor, Richard Yates, and who had lived In San- gamon County since 1830, received a rocking chair as the oldest lady on the grouuds, and Uncle George Coon. was given a gold-headed umbrella as the oldest man, being ninety-two years old and having Ilved in' Sangamon County since 1825.

The officers were Benjamin A. Glger, Presi- dent. and Isaac R. Diller, Secretary.

FORTY-SECOND MEETING .- This meeting was

held at Clear Lake August 25, 1909. The two addresses of the moruing were address of wel- come by Miss Edua M. McDaniel, and the re- spouses by Presideut William Jayne. Good music was furuished throughout the day by the Rochester Cornet Band, whose selectlons were well received, and the Apollo Quartette of Springfield. This marked the fiftleth anniver- sary of the Old Settlers Society of Sangamon County, which was organized at the site of the Pulliam cabiu-the first house erected in San- gamon County-August 20, 1859. The next year the meeting was prevented by war, and for nine years the Old Settlers' organization lay dormant. Three years after the war, in 1868, a meeting was held on the grouud that is now Clear Lake.

At this meeting (1909) Judge Creighton, of Springfield, delivered an address In the after- noon. Que of the Interesting incidents of the day was the presence of Mr. George Coons, at- tended by his oldest son, James P. Coons, of New Berlin, the latter being an old man of 63 years old with gray hair and silver beard, while lils father was 93. The Junlor Mr. Coons' father-in-law, William Chilton, also of New Berlin, was still living at the age of 91 years, both Mr. Chilton and Uncle George Coons belng widowers. The elder Mr. Coons received a hand- some parlor chair in honor of being the oldest man on the ground. Mrs. Mary Ann Ducker, aged 91 years, carried off the prize for being the oldest woman present, also being presented with a parlor chair. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Darnall recelved two parlor chairs for being the oldest married couple. The great excitement of the afternoon was the baby show.

Dr. William Jayne served as President and Isaac R. Dlller, Secretary.

FORTY-TIIIRD MEETING .- The annual reunion of 1910 was held at Irwin's Park Angust 18th, of that year. The address of welcome was deliv- ered by Mrs. Johanna Lanhanı of Auburn, Chair- man Maxcy responding to the same In a breezy talk. Col. Wm. Baker, of Edinburg, was called on to show a few relles lie carried with him. One of the things which caused muehl comment was a hone which had been carried through the Revolutionary War by hils grandfather, Isaac Baker. It is supposed to be of petrified lilckory, and Is in good condition. Another of his relics was a gavel made from walnut. The wood, ac- cording to Col. Baker, came from a tree which he and Abraham Lincoln had planted and to

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

- which lie and Lincoln tied their boat on trips down the Mississippi. Prizes were awarded to the oldest married couple, the oldest man and woman, and for the best looking and best matched twins. Following thicse contests the remainder of the afternoon was devoted to a band concert.

Dr. William Jayne was again President for this year and Isaac R. Diller, Secretary.

FORTY-FOURTHI MEETING .- The annual reunion of the Society for 1911 was held in New Berlin Wednesday, August 2nd. The weather was ideal, and the attendance large, the citizens of New Berlin claiming the crowd exceeded any other ever gathered In their village. The Committee of Arrangements had spared no effort to insure the comfort of the visitors, and had employed two bands for the occasion-the Capital City Band playing in the park where the speaking was held, while the New Berlin Cornet Band was located at the Wabash Park where attractions were fur- nished for the younger generation. The morning exercises opened with a band concert, followed by prayer by Rev. A. B. Carson of New Berlin. Mayor Edward Roesch of New Berlin delivered the address of welcome, which was re- sponded to in behalf of the Old Settlers by Vice President James H. Maxcy as spokesman for President Thomas Wilcox. Uncle Tom was pres- ent and busy extending the hospitalities of the occasion. The principal address of the morning was made by ex-Governor Richard Yates, whose grandfather, Henry Yates, came to Sangamon connty in May, 1831, following the "Deep Snow," and shortly afterwards settled in Island Grove Township. A roll of twenty-nine "Snow Birds" was reported, including William P. Carson who was born December 15, 1830, the day the snow began falling, and Mrs. Malvina (Sattley) Miller, born In this county in 1819, and Mrs. Catherine (Bergen) Jones, who was born in 1817 and came to Sangamon Connty In 1828 with her father, Rev. John G. Bergen, later the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield. Several of these have distinct recollections of the snow, while, of course, to most it is merely a matter of famlly tradition. At this meeting steps were taken to permanently mark the site of the first cabin bullt in the county by Robert Pulliam in 1817, and also place a memorial tablet on the Court House, commemorating that event. Pres- Ident Wilcox appointed a "Memorial Committee" consisting of Dr. William Jayne (chairman),

Samuel Carpenter, IIenry Trumbo and George H. Yocum, the four "Snow Bird" Vice Presidents of the Old Settlers' Society. The committee have already started to secure the necessary funds and hope to unveil the tablet on October 20th, which was set as Old Settlers' Day at the time of the organization of the Society. In the after- noon the prizes were awarded to the oldest man and oldest woman on the grounds, as well as the oldest born in Sangamon County. Miss Elizabeth Duncan, of Loami, who was born August 6, 1811, was the winner of the ladies' prize, bearing her age of 100 years remarkably well. In fact, many women of elghty looked even older. Miss Dnn- can came to Sangamon County in 1831, has lived an active and useful life and bids fair to con- tinue as a centenarian for years to come. Mr. John G. Park was given the prize as the oldest man at 89 bnt later Mr. James F. Hickman ar- rived, aged 9212 years, and was also given a prize. Joel H. Ellis aged 83, and Mrs. Wealthy M. J. Purvines, SO, the latter a granddaughter of Rev. Peter Cartwright, were the oldest native born present. The afternoon addresses were de- livered by Hon. B. F. Caldwell and Judge Thomas F. Ferns. Col. Willlam T. Baker added a short old settlers' talk and the baby show and athletic events followed. No accidents marred the gathering and this reunion will long be re- membered for its pleasant features. The officers of the society for the present year are Thomas Wilcox, President, and Isaac R. Dlller, Secre- tary. (The dedication of the Pulliam tablet at the Court house in Springfield was carried out.)

CHAPTER XLII.

INDIAN AND MEXICAN WARS.

THE PART BORNE BY CITIZENS OF SANGAMON COUNTY IN VARIOUS WAR STRUGGLES-WINNE- NAGO WAR SCARE OF 1827-THE BLACK HAWK WAR OF 1831-32-PROMINENT MEN FROM SANGA- MON COUNTY WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT CON- FLICT-CAREER OF GEN. JAMES D. HENRY-IN- JUSTICE TO WHICH HE WAS SUBJECTED THE MEXICAN WAR-COL. E. n. BAKER AND OTHER PROMINENT SOLDIERS FROM SANGAMON COUNTY-

CHARLES H. VAN DA WALKER

JOHN L. VAN DA WALKER JOHN L. VAN DA WALKER, JR.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

PRINCIPAL BATTLES IN WIIICH THE FOURTH ILLINOIS REGIMENT TOOK PART.

(By Wllllam J. Butler.)

In the center of the wondrous pralries of Illl- nols lles the rich and level soil of Sangamon County. Many of the men who were either born here or came at such an early age In life as to he Identified with county history, have become famous the world over, and their re- nown, not only as statesmen hut as soldiers, has often fixed the attention of the civilized world on the county and Springfield. Its military his- tory stands as a refutatlon of the saying that "great warriors never come from the plains."

From earllest times Sangamon County has poured forth Its men and its money In unstinted measure. Its early military history has largely disappeared In a mist of tradition, there helng. no authentic records previous to the second cam- paign of the Black Hawk War. Certain it is, however, that early residents of Sangamon County (elther before or after they hecame resl- dents) took part in the Battle of Tippecanoe ; the War of 1812; the Winnebago War of 1827; the Black Hawk War of 1831-32, and Florida War.

The fire-side tales of the fathers, who par- ticipated in these wars must have greatly aroused and Instilied the spirit of patriotism in the hearts of their children who listened, for ever afterward, at every call to arms, Sangamon County has stood first In the number of volun- teers offered In proportion to the number allotted. The ardor of this miiltary ambition has never waned, and, as a great regular army recruiting station, Springfield ranks above any other clty of Its size.

Anyone who would appreciate the early mili- tary history of Sangamon County must remem- ber its setting. During this period Springfield, the only town of considerable size, was, itself, but a small country viliage, while the other towns were mere hamlets, a collection of a few houses with only a store or two. In summer, out along the long, ionely, dusty, hot road, or amid the oppressive heat of the vlliage street, about the deserted store in the afternoon or along the almost impassahle winter roads, In the dreariness of the snow-hound winter village, time dragged wearlly. No daily newspapers brought news of the outside world. No racing locomotive rushed through the town, and only

two or three times a week the coach brought occasional letters from friends.

In such surroundings the life of the local mlll- tary company was concerned not only with mlll- tary affairs, but was inter-woven with the social life of the community. The company was com- posed of the active young and middle-aged men of the viclulty, in which the hest citizens of the community took an active interest, and the mlii- tary company was sure to he called upon in ali puhlic or social functions of any size. In early days a military company not only furnished lts own uniforms, hut sometimes its own garments. The various companies' uniforms differed, each being chosen after long and heated discussion by the inemhers.

.From the traditions, letters and other more or less authentic sources, we know that the early inllitary ilfe of Sangamon County consisted of a local company, meeting at more or less regular Intervals as suited the Captain, or as occasion called for lt, driillng now and then, and taking part in public functions as a military escort, hut most often participating In soclai functions, either as guest or host.

WINNEBAGO WAR SCARE OF 1827 .- Willle thus keeping alive the military spirit of the county, the Winnebago War of 1827 found them. To this call to arms, and for protection of the homes In the northern part of the State from Indian jeopardizations, the company nohly re- sponded, hut the tale Is only told In generallties, and exact and authentle records are entirely iost. Likewise, the patriotic response of the county to the call for the first Black Hawk cam- palgn of 1831 is hidden In the obscurity of gen- eralities, no authentle record having been made, or, if made, preserved.

BLACK HAWK WAR.

The Winnebago War of 1827 and the Black Hawk War of 1831-32 are closely connected hy reason of the periods when they occurred and the causes which brought them about. In the generalities that characterize the information of the Winnebago War and the first campalgn of the Biack Hawk War In 1831, we find that Col. Thomas M. Neale recruited for the Winnebago War, from Springfield and Sangamon County and adjacent territory, one company of cavalry and four companles of infantry. These com-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

panies contained many Springfield and Sanga- mon County men, hut the records do not furnish their names, except that James D. Henry was Adjutant of the regiment and, at the time of enlisting, was Sheriff of the county. The San- gamon County members marched with the regi- ment to Peoria and thence towards Galena, hut hefore arriving at the scene of hostilities, the Indians had surrendered and, the campaign heing ended, the volunteers returned to their homes.

In April, 1831, Black Hawk, who had heen one of the leaders in the Winnehago War, opened hostilities again, and the whole northwestern part of the State resonnded with the clamor of war. This part of the State, as far south as St. Clair and including Sangamon County on the east, was called upon for volunteers to re- port mounted and equipped, in fifteen days' time from May 27, 1831, at Beardstown on the Illi- nois River. More than twice the number of men called for responded, and the Governor accepted the service of the whole 1,600 men.

One of the regiments largely recruited from Sangamon County elected James D. Henry, of Sangamon Connty, Colonel; Jacob Fry, Lieu- tenant Colonel, and John T. Stuart, of Spring- field, Major. On June 25th, the State force com- hined with six companies of regular troops, and the Indians, finding themselves greatly out-num- hered, retired across the Mississippi.

On a secondand peremptory invitation Black Hawk and ahont thirty chiefs entered into a treaty on June 30th of that year, agreeing that "No one or more (of the Indians) shall ever be permitted to recross said river (Mississippi) to their usual place of residence, nor any part of their hunting ground east of the Mississippi, without permission of the President of the United States or Governor of the State of Illinois."

On the signing of this treaty the volunteers were dishanded and returned to their homes; and thus ended, without hlood-shed, the first campaign of the Black Hawk War.

BLACK HAWK RAID OF 1832 .- Notwithstanding this treaty, Black Hawk again crossed the Miss- issippi, April 6, 1832, and though ordered hy General Atkinson to return, refused. April 16th, Governor Reynolds called for 1,000 mounted vol- unteers from the central and sonthern part of the State, to rendezvous at Beardstown on the 22d day of the same month. In response 1,800 men met at Beardstown and were organized into a hrigade of four regiments and an "odd," a

"spy" and a foot hattalion. The Fourth Regi- ment included the company of which Abraham Lincoln was Captain, the company heing largely composed of Sangamon Connty men.

Maj. James D. Henry, who had been in com- mand in the campaign of the previous year, was elected commander of the spy hattalion composed of three companies, one of which was Captain John Dawson's Company, in which a number of Sangamon County men were eniisted. The odd hattalion consisted of two parts: one, under Major Long, consisted of a Company commanded hy Jacoh Ehey, largely composed of Sangamon County men, and another under Captain Japhet A. Ball, composed entirely of Sangamon County men. In addition to the above there were eight companies not attached to any regiment, but serving with the same hrigade. One of these was Capt. L. W. Goodan's Company, composed almost entirely of Springfield men.

On the 27th day of April the army left camp near Beardstown and marched to the Mississippi River at or near the present town of Oquawka. Thence they marched to the mouth of Rock River where they were mnstered into the United States service, and were joined hy 400 regulars, and from thence advanced up the river to the lo- cation of the present town of Dixon, where they found two battalions, consisting of 275 mounted men from counties north and west of Sangamon, under command Majors Stillman and Bailey. Stillman was from Sangamon County, hut his hattalion was not. He had been ordered to pro- ceed to where the Indians were located and "coerce them into suhmission." On the morn- ing of the 14th, he proceeded to Sycamore Creek with his command and dismounted for the pur- pose of passing the night. Here they were at- tacked hy a party from Black Hawk's camp, some three miles distant, and in what was known as the battle of Stillman's Run, were defeated. This occurred, as claimed in Black Hawk's hiog- raphy, after he sent three hraves with a flag of truce to arrange for a peace parley-the flag- hearers being captured and two of another party of five accompanying them heing killed. The at- tack hy the Indians that followed produced a panic in the Stiliman hattalion, the camp was hroken up and many of the rangers fled in dis- order to Dixon twenty-five miles distant, some of them never stopping until they reached their homes at a greater distance.

The next morning raw heef was issued to the

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

907

troops without bread or salt, and the whole army, by a forced march, advanced to the scene of battle. The dead were found frightfully muti- lated and were at once buried. Major Henry with his troops scoured the country for mlles around, but the enemy could not be found and the entire force fell back to Dixon.

New levies of men bad by this time been called by Governor Reynolds, some to meet on the 3d of June of Beardstown and others on the 10th of June at Hennepin. The term of en- listment for the army at Dixon having expired, the men asked to be discharged, but tbe Gover- nor appealing to their patrlotlsm, they agreed to remain twelve or fifteen days longer, and the companies were re-organized into the Fiftiz Regi- ment of Whiteside's brigade under Col. James Johnson, one part being ordered to Ottawa for the defense of that place and the other remaining at Dixon to guard the stores.

On May 19tb the whole army marched up the river in pursuit of the Indians, but on tbe even- ing of the same day news was received of the massacre of several wbites on Indian Creek not far from Ottawa. The Indians were followed until the trail showed that they had divided and left that region for the nortb. The troops then marched to the mouth of Rock River and was discharged on tbe 27th and 28th of May, tbis practically ending the first campalgn of 1832.

In addition to the troops called to meet ou the 3d and the 10th of June, the Governor called for 1,000 more men, and these were recruited from the disbanded regiments for a term of twenty days, or until the reenforcements from the new levy should arrive. This regiment was eniisted without difficulty and organized by tbe election of Jacob Fry as Colonel, and James D. Henry as Lieutenant Colonel. It consisted, among others, of Capt. Elijah Iles' Company, very largely composed of Sangamon County men and among otbers from Sangamon County was Abraham Lincoln, who enlisted as a private on the same day that he and the company, of which be was Captain, were mustered out.

After the organization of the companies under the levies of June 3d and 10tb, it was agreed that the principal officer of each brigade should be chosen by the troops of the respective brigades.

The brigades were organized June 16th and Col. James D. Henry was elected General of the Third Brigade, consisting of 1,200 men. The commanders of the other brigades were Alex-

ander Posey of the First and Milton K. Alex- ander of the Second. Each brigade was com- posed of three regiments, commanded by officers of their own selection, but no rolls of the regi- mental field and staff, nor of the staffs of the different brigade commanders bave been found, though they are supposed to exist among the rec- ords in the War Department at Washington. James Collins was elected commander of the regiment in General Henry's Brigade, which was composed mostly of troops from Sangamon Coun- ty, and William Miller was elected Major of the same regiment.

While the general history of the "Black Hawk War" will be found quite fully treated in Vol- ume I of this work (the "Historical Encyclopedla of Illinois," pp. 608 to 615). On account of tbe prominent part taken in that struggle by Geul. James D. Henry and otber citizens of Sangamon County after the Stlilman Run disaster, the fol- lowing extracts taken in somewbat condensed form from J. C. Power's "History of Early Set- tlers of Sangamon County," will be found of in- terest :

"Many weeks were spent in trying to find the main body of Black Hawk's warriors, who were all the time working their way furtber north, hoping to elude their pursuers. The army was countinually undergoing changes. July 15, 1832, found Gen. Henry, Gen. Alexander and Major Dodge far up in Wisconsin, at a place called Fort Winnebago. Some Winnebago chiefs came in and reported that Black Hawk was encamped on Rock River. The three officers above named held a council and decided to march directly for the Indian camp, hoping to take them by sur- prise. Gen. Alexander soon announced that his men refused to go, and Major Dodge that his horses were too much disabled to go, but a body of men soon after arrived from Galena to join his battalion, which made his effective force 120 men. Gen. Henry's brigade was by this tlme reduced to between five and six hundred men, with only 450 horses. Wbile making ar- rangements to start, Gen. Henry discovered that his own men, influenced by association with those of Gen. Alexander, were on the point of open mutiny. Lieut .- Col. Jeremiah Smith, of one of his regiments, presented a written protest, signed by all the officers of his regiment, ex- cept Col. Fry, against the expedition. Gen. Henry quletly but firmly ordered the men under arrest for mutiny, assigning a body of soldlers

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

to escort them back to Gen. Atkinson. Col. Smith begged permission to consult a few mo- ments with the officers, and in less than ten miu- utcs they were all at the General's quarters, pleading for pardon and pledging themselves to return to duty. Gen. Henry replicd in a few dignified and kindly remarks, and all returned to their duty. Gen. Alexander's men marched back, and the others started in pursuit of the enemy, under the direction of competent guides. Three days' hard marching brought them to Rock River. Here three Winnebagoes gave in- telligence that Black Hawk was further up the river. Preparations were made for a forced march the next morning, and Dr. Elias Merri- man, of Springfield, in company with W. W. Woodbridge, of Wisconsin, and chief Little Thunder, for a guide, were started about dark that evening to convey dispatches down the river to Gen. Atkinson. They had gone but a few miles to the southwest when they fell into a fresh broad trail of the enemy endeavoring to escape. Little Thunder hastened back in terror to the camp to warn the Indians that their efforts to deceive the commanding General were detected. They were all arrested by Major Murray McConnel, of Jacksonville, and taken to the tent of Gen. Henry, and confessed that they had come into camp and given false information to aid the Indlans in their retreat. On the next morning, July 19, a forced march commenced in pursuit of the Indians. On the third day, about four o'clock in the afternoon, the advance guard was fired upon by the savages secreted in the grass. The fight continued until dark, and the men lay on their arms until morning, when it was discovered that the Indians had crossed the Wisconsin River during the night. Sixty- eight Indians were left dead on the field, and twenty-five were found dead along the line of march. Only one white man was killed and eight wounded. This has always been known as the battle of the Wisconsin.

"The next day Gen. Henry found his men too much worn down by fatigue and want of food to pursue the retreating Indians. After two days march he joined Gen. Atkinson at Blue Mounds, with the regulars, and Alexander's and Posey's brigades. It was soon apparent to Gen. Henry and his officers that General Atkinson and all the regular officers were deeply mortified at the success of the militia, who they did not intend should have any credit in the war. After

two days' preparation, the whole force, uuder direction of General Atkinson, took up their line of march, July 25th, in pursuit of the In- dians. Crossing the Wisconsin River, and strik- ing the trail of the Indians, the regulars were put in front, Dodge's battalion and Posey's and Alexander's brigades camc next, and Gen. Henry, with hls command, was placed in the rear, in charge of the baggage. All partles clearly under- stood this to be an insult to Gen. Henry and his brave volunteers for having found, pursued and defeated Black Hawk aud hls warriors, while the regulars, and Alexander's brigade who had refused to accompany Henry, were taking their ease at a long distance from the scene of danger. Gen. Heury's brigade keenly felt the insult, and claimed the right to be placed in front, but the General himself never uttered a word of com- plaint, and his men, following his noble example, quietly trudged on in the rear. After a week of weary marching, at ten o'clock on the morn- Ing of August 2nd, the army reached the bluffs of the Mississippi River, which, at that point, was some distance from the stream. Black Hawk had arrived at the stream a day or two before, and the Indians were crossing as fast as they could. On the first day of August the steamboat. "Warrior," which had been employed to con- vey supplies up the river for the army, was coming down, and notwithstanding the Indians displayed a white flag, the captain affected to believe it was only a decoy, gave them fifteen minutes to remove their women and children, when he fired a six-pound cannon, loaded with canister into thelr midst, followed by a severe fire of musketry. In less than an hour twenty- three Indians were murdered-it might almost be said, in cold blood. Black Hawk now turned all his energies to reach the opposite bank of the river. With that object in view he sent twenty warriors to the high bluff. When Gen. Atkinson reached the bluffs on the morning of August 2nd, his men were greeted by firing from behind trees. The tall grass made it Impossible to learn anything of the force they had to con- tend with. According to instructions from Black Hawk, when ali became engaged, they were to retreat to a point three miles up the river. Dodge's battalion led in the chase after tlie twenty Indlans, followed by the regulars and Alexander's and Posey's brigades, all under the immediate direction of Gen. Atkinson. In the hurried pursuit Gen. Henry was called on for a

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 76

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 864

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864