Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Edgar County, Part 111

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell
Number of Pages: 876

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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

placed in charge of the Danville Circuit. Two years later he was ordained by Bishop Scott, and, in the next few years, held pastorates at various places in the central and eastern parts of the State. From 1867 to 1874 he was Presiding Elder of the Mattoon and Quincy Districts, and, for six years, held the position of President of the Board of Trustees of Chaddock College at Quincy, from which he received the degree of D.D. in 1881. In the second year of the Civil War he raised a company in Sangamon County, was chosen its Captain and assigned to the Seventy-third Illinois Volunteers, known as the "preachers' regiment"-all of its officers being ministers. In 1864 he was compelled by ill-health to resign his commission. While pastor of the church at Say- brook, Ill., he was offered the position of Post- master of that place, which he decided to accept, and was allowed to retire from the active minis- try. On retirement from office, in 1884, he removed to Chicago. In 1889 he was appointed by Governor Fifer the first Chaplain of the Sol- diers' and Sailors' Home at Quincy, but retired some four years afterward, when he returned to Chicago. Dr. Wallace was an eloquent and effective preacher and continued to preach, at intervals, until within a short time of his decease, which occurred in Chicago, Feb. 21, 1897, in his 84th year. A zealous patriot, he frequently spoke very effectively upon the political rostrum. Originally a Whig, he became a Republican on the organization of that party, and took pride in the fact that the first vote he ever cast was for Abraham Lincoln, for Representative in the Legis- lature, in 1834. He was a Knight Templar, Vice- President of the Tippecanoe Club of Chicago, and, at his death, Chaplain of America Post, No. 708, G. A. R.

WALLACE, William Henry Lamb, lawyer and soldier, was born at Urbana, Ohio, July 8, 1821; brought to Illinois in 1833, his father settling near La Salle and, afterwards, at Mount Morris, Ogle County, where young Wallace attended the Rock River Seminary; was admitted to the bar in 1845; in 1846 enlisted as a private in the First Illi- nois Volunteers (Col. John J. Hardin's regiment), for the Mexican War, rising to the rank of Adju- tant and participting in the battle of Buena Vista (where his commander was killed), and in other engagements. Returning to his profession at Ottawa, he served as District Attorney (1852-56), then became partner of his father-in-law, Col. T. Lyle Dickey, afterwards of the Supreme Court. In April, 1861, he was one of the first to answer the call for troops by enlisting, and became Colo-

nel of the Eleventh Illinois (three-months' men), afterwards re-enlisting for three years. As commander of a brigade he participated in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, in Feb- ruary, 1862, receiving promotion as Brigadier- General for gallantry. At Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh), as commander of Gen. C. F. Smith's Division, devolving on him on account of the illness of his superior officer, he showed great courage, but fell mortally wounded, dying at Charleston, Tenn., April 10, 1862. His career promised great brilliancy and his loss was greatly deplored. - Martin R. M. ( Wallace), brother of the preceding, was born at Urbana, Ohio, Sept. 29, 1829, came to La Salle County, Ill., with his father's family and was educated in the local schools and at Rock River Seminary; studied law at Ottawa, and was admitted to the bar in 1856, soon after locating in Chicago. In 1861 he assisted in organizing the Fourth Regiment Illi- nois Cavalry, of which he became Lieutenant- Colonel, and was complimented, in 1865, with the rank of brevet Brigadier-General. After the war he served as Assessor of Internal Revenue (1866-69); County Judge (1869-77) ; Prosecuting Attorney (1884); and, for many years past, has been one of the Justices of the Peace of the city of Chicago. ₺

WALNUT, a town of Bureau County, on the Mendota and Fulton branch of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad, 26 miles west of Mendota; is in a farming and stock-raising dis- trict; has two banks and two newspapers. Popu- lation (1890), 605; (1900), 791.

WAR OF 1812. Upon the declaration of war by Congress, in June, 1812, the Pottawatomies, and most of the other tribes of Indians in the Territory of Illinois, strongly sympathized with the British. The savages had been hostile and restless for some time previous, and blockhouses and family forts had been erected at a number of points, especially in the settlements most exposed to the incursions of the savages. Gov- ernor Edwards, becoming apprehensive of an outbreak, constructed Fort Russell, a few miles from Edwardsville. Taking the field in person, he made this his headquarters, and collected a force of 250 mounted volunteers, who were later reinforced by two companies of rangers, under Col. William Russell, numbering about 100 men. An independent company of twenty-one spies, of which John Reynolds-afterwards Governor -- was a member, was also formed and led by Capt. Samuel Judy. The Governor organized his little army into two regiments under Colonels Rector

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and Stephenson, Colonel Russell serving as second to the commander-in-chief, other mem- bers of his staff being Secretary Nathaniel Pope and Robert K. Mclaughlin. On Oct. 18, 1812, Governor Edwards, with his men, set out for Peoria, where it was expected that their force would meet that of General Hopkins, who had been sent from Kentucky with a force of 2,000 men. En route, two Kickapoo villages were burned, and a number of Indians unnecessarily slain by Edwards' party. Hopkins had orders to disperse the Indians on the Illinois and Wabash Rivers, and destroy their villages. He deter- mined, however, on reaching the headwaters of the Vermilion to proceed no farther. Governor Edwards reached the head of Peoria Lake, but, failing to meet Hopkins, returned to Fort Russell. About the same time Capt. Thomas E. Craig led a party, in two boats, up the Illinois River to Peoria. His boats, as he alleged, having been fired upon in the night by Indians, who were har- bored and protected by the French citizens of Peoria, he burned the greater part of the village, and capturing the population, carried them down the river, putting thein on shore, in the early part of the winter, just below Alton. Other desultory expeditions marked the campaigns of 1813 and 1814. The Indians meanwhile gaining courage, remote settlements were continually harassed by marauding bands. Later in 1814, an expedi- tion, led by Major (afterwards President) Zachary Taylor, ascended the Mississippi as far as Rock Island, where he found a large force of Indians, supported by British regulars with artillery. Finding himself unable to cope with so formida- ble a foe, Major Taylor retreated down the river. On the site of the present town of Warsaw he threw up fortifications, which he named Fort Edwards, from which point he was subsequently compelled to retreat. The same year the British, with their Indian allies, descended from Macki- nac, captured Prairie du Chien, and burned Forts Madison and Johnston, after which they retired to Cap au Gris. The treaty of Ghent, signed Dec. 24, 1814, closed the war, although no formal treaties were made with the tribes until the year following.

WAR OF THE REBELLION. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the executive chair, in Illinois, was occupied by Gov, Richard Yates. Immedi- ately upon the issuance of President Lincoln's first call for troops (April 15, 1861), the Governor issued his proclamation summoning the Legisla- ture together in special session and, the same day, issued a call for "six regiments of militia,"

the quota assigned to the State under call of the President. Public excitement was at fever heat, and dormant patriotism in both sexes was aroused as never before. Party lines were broken down and, with comparatively few excep- tions, the mass of the people were actuated by a common sentiment of patriotism. On April 19, Governor Yates was instructed, by the Secretary of War, to take possession of Cairo as an important strategic point. At that time, the State militia organizations were few in number and poorly equipped, consisting chiefly of independent com- panies in the larger cities. The Governor acted with great promptitude, and, on April 21, seven companies, numbering 595 men, commanded by Gen. Richard K. Swift of Chicago, were en route to Cairo. The first volunteer company to tender its services, in response to Governor Yates' proc- lamation, on April 16, was the Zouave Grays of Springfield. Eleven other companies were ten- dered the same day, and, by the evening of the 18th, the number had been increased to fifty. Simultaneously with these proceedings, Chicago bankers tendered to the Governor a war loan of $500,000, and those of Springfield, $100,000. The Legislature, at its special session, passed acts in- creasing the efficiency of the militia law, and provided for the creation of a war fund of $2,- 000,000. Besides the six regiments already called for, the raising of ten additional volunteer regi- ments and one battery of light artillery was authorized. The last of the six regiments, apportioned to Illinois under the first presidential call, was dispatched to Cairo early in May. The six regiments were numbered the Seventh to Twelfth, inclusive-the earlier numbers, First to Sixth, being conceded to the six regiments which had served in the war with Mexico. The regi- ments were commanded, respectively, by Colonels John Cook, Richard J. Oglesby, Eleazer A. Paine, James D. Morgan, William H. L. Wallace, and John McArthur, constituting the "First Brigade of Illinois Volunteers." Benjamin M. Prentiss, having been chosen Brigadier-General on arrival at Cairo, assumed command, relieving General Swift. The quota under the second call, consist- ing of ten regiments, was mustered into service within sixty days, 200 companies being tendered immediately. Many more volunteered than could be accepted, and large numbers crossed to Mis- souri and enlisted in regiments forming in that State. During June and July the Secretary of War authorized Governor Yates to recruit twenty- two additional regiments (seventeen infantry and five cavalry), which were promptly raised. On

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July 22, the day following the defeat of the Union army at Bull Run, President Lincoln called for 500,000 more volunteers. Governor Yates im- mediately responded with an offer to the War Department of sixteen more regiments (thirteen of infantry and three of cavalry), and a battalion of artillery, adding, that the State claimed it as her right, to do her full share toward the preser- vation of the Union. Under supplemental author- ity, received from the Secretary of War in August, 1861, twelve additional regiments of in- fantry and five of cavalry were raised, and, by De- cember, 1861, the State had 43,000 volunteers in the field and 17,000 in camps of instruction. Other calls were made in July and August, 1862, each for 300,000 men. Illinois' quota, under both calls, was over 52,000 men, no regard being paid to the fact that the State had already furnished 16,000 troops in excess of its quotas under previ- ous calls. Unless this number of volunteers was raised by September 1, a draft would be ordered. The tax was a severe one, inasmuch as it would fall chiefly upon the prosperous citizens, the float- ing population, the idle and the extremely poor having already followed the army's march, either as soldiers or as camp-followers. . But recruiting was actively carried on, and, aided by liberal bounties in many of the counties, in less than a fortnight the 52,000 new troops were secured, the volunteers coming largely from the substantial classes - agricultural, mercantile, artisan and professional. By the end of December, fifty-nine regiments and four batteries had been dispatched to the front, besides a considerable number to fill up regiments already in the field, which had suf- fered severely from battle, exposure and disease. At this time, Illinois had an aggregate of over 135,000 enlisted men in the field. The issue of President Lincoln's preliminary proclamation of emancipation, in September, 1862, was met by a storm of hostile criticism from his political opponents, who-aided by the absence of so large a proportion of the loyal population of the State in the field-were able to carry the elec- tions of that year. Consequently, when the Twenty-third General Assembly convened in regular session at Springfield, on Jan. 5, 1863, a large majority of that body was not only opposed to both the National and State administrations, but avowedly opposed to the further prosecution of the war under the existing policy. The Leg- islature reconvened in June, but was prorogued by Governor Yates. Between Oct. 1, 1863, and July 1, 1864, 16,000 veterans re-enlisted and 37,000 new volunteers were enrolled; and, by the

date last mentioned, Illinois had furnished to the Union army 244,496 men, being 14,596 in ex- cess of the allotted quotas, constituting fifteen per cent of the entire population. These were comprised in 151 regiments of infantry, 17 of cavalry and two complete regiments of artillery, besides twelve independent batteries. The total losses of Illinois organizations, during the war, has been reported at 34,834, of which 5,874 were killed in battle, 4,020 died from wounds, 22,786 from disease and 2,154 from other causes-being a total of thirteen per cent of the entire force of the State in the service. The part which Illinois played in the contest was conspicuous for patriot- ism, promptness in response to every call, and the bravery and efficiency of its troops in the field-reflecting honor upon the State and its his- tory. Nor were its loyal citizens-who, while staying at home, furnished moral and material support to the men at the front-less worthy of praise than those who volunteered. By uphold- ing the Government-National and State-and by their zeal and energy in collecting and sending forward immense quantities of supplies-surgical, medical and other-often at no little sacrifice, they contributed much to the success of the Union arms. (See also Camp Douglas; Camp Douglas Conspiracy; Secret Treasonable Soci- eties.)

WAR OF THE REBELLION (HISTORY OF ILLI- NOIS REGIMENTS). The following is a list of the various military organizations mustered into the service during the Civil War (1861-65), with the terms of service and a summary of the more important events in the history of each, while in the field:

SEVENTH INFANTRY. Illinois having sent six regiments to the Mexican War, by courtesy the numbering of the regiments which took part in the war for the Union began with number Seven. A number of regiments which responded to the first call of the President, claimed the right to be recognized as the first regiment in the field, but the honor was finally accorded to that organized at Springfield by Col. John Cook, and hence liis regiment was numbered Seventh. It was mustered into the service, April 25, 1861, and remained at Mound City during the three months' service, the period of its first enlistment. It was subsequently reorganized and mustered for the three years' service, July 25, 1861, and was engaged in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Cherokee, Allatoona Pass, Salkahatchie Swamp, Bentonville and Columbia. The regi- ment re-enlisted as veterans at Pulaski, Tenn.,

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Dec. 22, 1863; was mustered out at Louisville, July 9, 1865, and paid off and discharged at Springfield, July 11.

EIGHTH INFANTRY. Organized at Springfield, and mustered in for three months' service, April 26, 1861, Richard J. Oglesby of Decatur, being appointed Colonel. It remained at Cairo during its term of service, when it was mustered out. July 25, 1861, it was reorganized and mustered in for three years' service. It participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Port Gibson, Thompson Hill, Raymond, Champion Hill, Vicks- burg, Brownsville, and Spanish Fort; re-enlisted as veterans, March 24, 1864; was mustered out at Baton Rouge, May 4, 1866, paid off and dis- charged, May 13, having served five years.

NINTH INFANTRY. Mustered into the service at Springfield, April 26, 1861, for the term of three months, under Col. Eleazer A. Paine. It was reorganized at Cairo, in August, for three years, being composed of companies from St. Clair, Madison, Montgomery, Pulaski, Alexander and Mercer Counties; was engaged at Fort Donel- son, Shiloh, Jackson (Tenn.), Meed Creek Swamps, Salem, Wyatt, Florence, Montezuma, Athens and Grenada. The regiment was mounted, March 15, 1863, and so continued during the remainder of its service. Mustered out at Louis- ville, July 9, 1865.

TENTH INFANTRY. Organized and mustered into the service for three months, on April 29, 1861, at Cairo, and on July 29, 1861, was mustered into the service for three years, with Col. James D. Morgan in command. It was engaged at Sykeston, New Madrid, Corinthi, Missionary Ridge. Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Rome, Kenesaw, Chattahoochie, Savannah and Bentonville. Re- enlisted as veterans, Jan. 1, 1864, and mustered out of service, July 4, 1865, at Louisville, and received final discharge and pay, July 11, 1865, at Chicago.

ELEVENTH INFANTRY. Organized at Spring- field and mustered into service, April 30, 1861, for three months. July 30, the regiment was mustered out, and re-enlisted for three years' service. It was engaged at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Tallahatchie, Vicksburg, Liver- pool Heights, Yazoo City, Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. W. H. L. Wallace, afterwards Brigadier-General and killed at Shiloh, was its first Colonel. Mustered out of service, at Baton Rouge, July 14, 1865; paid off and discharged at Springfield.

TWELFTH INFANTRY. Mustered into service for three years, August 1, 1861; was engaged at

Columbus, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Lay's Ferry, Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, Kenesaw, Nickajack Creek, Bald Knob, Decatur, Ezra Church, Atlanta, Allatoona and Goldsboro. On Jan. 16, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted as veter- ans. John McArthur was its first Colonel, suc- ceeded by Augustus L. Chetlain, both being promoted to Brigadier-Generalships. Mustered out of service at Louisville, Ky., July 10, 1865, and received final pay and discharge, at Spring- field, July 18.

THIRTEENTH INFANTRY. One of the regiments organized under the act known as the "Ten Regi- ment Bill"; was mustered into service on May 24, 1861, for three years, at Dixon, with John B. Wyman as Colonel; was engaged at Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Jackson, Mis- sionary Ridge, Rossville and Ringgold Gap. Mustered out at Springfield, June 18, 1864, hav- ing served three years and two months.

FOURTEENTH INFANTRY. One of the regiments raised under the "Ten Regiment Bill," which anticipated the requirements of the General Government by organizing, equipping and dril- ling a regiment in each Congressional District in the State for thirty days, unless sooner required for service by the United States. It was mustered in at Jacksonville for three years, May 25, 1861, under command of John M. Palmer as its first Colonel; was engaged at Shiloh, Corinth, Meta- mora, Vicksburg, Jackson, Fort Beauregard and Meridian; consolidated with the Fifteenth Infan- try, as a veteran battalion (both regiments hav- ing enlisted as veterans), on July 1, 1864. In October, 1864, the major part of the battalion was captured by General Hood and sent to Andersonville. The remainder participated in the "March to the Sea," and through the cam- paign in the Carolinas. In the spring of 1865 the battalion organization was discontinued, both regiments having been filled up by,recruits. The regiment was mustered out at Fort Leaven- worth, Kan., Sept. 16, 1865; and arrived at Springfield, Ill., Sept. 22, 2865, where it received final payment and discharge. The aggregate number of men who belonged to this organization was 1,980, and the aggregate mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, 480. During its four years and four months of service, the regiment. marched 4,490 miles, traveled by rail, 2,330 miles, and, by river, 4,490 miles-making an aggregate. of 11,670 miles.

FIFTEENTH INFANTRY. Raised under the "Ten Regiment Act," in the (then) First Congressional District; was organized at Freeport, and mus-

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tered into service, May 24, 1861. It was engaged at Sedalia, Shiloh, Corinth, Metamora Hill, Vicksburg, Fort Beauregard, Champion Hill, Allatoona and Bentonville. In March, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted as veterans, and, in July, 1864, was consolidated with the Fourteenth Infan- try as a Veteran Battalion. At Big Shanty and Ackworth a large portion of the battalion was captured by General Hood. At Raleigh the Veteran Battalion was discontinued and the Fifteenth reorganized. From July 1, to Sept. 1, 1865, the regiment was stationed at Forts Leaven- worth and Kearney. Having been mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, it was sent to Springfield for final payment and discharge-having served four years and four months. Miles marched, 4,299; miles by rail, 2,403, miles by steamer, 4,310; men enlisted from date of organization, 1,963; strength at date of muster-out, 640.

SIXTEENTH INFANTRY. Organized and mus- tered into service at Quincy under the "Ten-Regi- ment Act," May 24, 1861. The regiment was engaged at New Madrid, Tiptonville, Corinth, Buzzards' Roost, Resaca, Rome, Kenesaw Moun- tain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Savannah, Columbia, Fayetteville, Averysboro and Bentonville. In December, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted as veterans; was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 8, 1865, after a term of service of four years and three months, and, a week later, arrived at Spring- field, where it received its final pay and discharge papers.

SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY. Mustered into the service at Peoria, Ill., on May 24, 1861; was engaged at Fredericktown (Mo.), Greenfield (Ark.), Shiloh, Corinth, Hatchie and Vicksburg. In May, 1864, the term of enlistment having expired, the regiment was ordered to Springfield for pay and discharge. Those men and officers who re-enlisted, and those whose term had not expired, were consolidated with the Eightlı Infan- try, which was mustered out in the spring of 1866.

EIGHTEENTH INFANTRY. Organized under the provisions of the "Ten Regiment Bill," at Anna, and mustered into the service on May 28, 1861, the term of enlistment being for three years. The regiment participated in the capture of Fort McHenry, and was actively engaged at Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth. It was mustered out at Little Rock, Dec. 16, 1865, and Dec. 31, thereafter, arrived at Springfield, Ill., for pay- ment and discharge. The aggregate enlistments in the regiment, from its organization to date of discharge (rank and file), numbered 2,043.

NINETEENTH INFANTRY. Mustered into the United States service for three years, June 17, 1861, at Chicago, embracing four companies which had been accepted under the call for three months' men; participated in the battle of Stone River and in the Tullahoma and Chatta- nooga campaigns; was also engaged at Davis' Cross Roads, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Resaca. It was mustered out of service on July 9, 1864, at Chicago. Originally consisting of nearly 1,000 men, besides a large number of recruits received during the war, its strength at. the final muster-out was less than 350.

TWENTIETH INFANTRY, Organized, May 14, 1861, at Joliet, and June 13, 1861, and mustered into the service for a term of three years. It. participated in the following engagements, bat- tles, sieges, etc .: Fredericktown (Mo.), Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Thompson's Planta- tion, Champion Hills, Big Black River, Vicks- burg, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta. After marching through the Carolinas, the regiment. was finally ordered to Louisville, where it was inustered out, July 16, 1865, receiving its final discharge at Chicago, on July 24.

TWENTY-FIRST INFANTRY. Organized under the "Ten Regiment Bill," from the (then) Sev- enth Congressional District, at Mattoon, and mustered into service for three years, June 28, 1861. Its first Colonel was U. S. Grant, who was in command until August 7, when he was com- missioned Brigadier-General. It was engaged at Fredericktown (Mo.), Corinth, Perryville, Mur- freesboro, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Jonesboro, Franklin and Nashville. The regiment re-enlisted as veterans, at Chattanooga, in February, 1864. From June, 1864, to December, 1865, it was on duty in Texas. Mustered out at San Antonio, Dec. 16, 1865, and paid off and discharged at Springfield, Jan. 18, 1866.

TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY. Organized at Belleville, and mustered into service, for three years, at Caseyville, Ill., June 25, 1861; was engaged at Belmont, Charleston (Mo.), Sikestown, Tiptonville, Farmington, Corinth, Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, New Hope Church, and all the battles of the Atlanta campaign, except Rocky Face Ridge. It was mustered out at Springfield, July 7, 1864, the vet- erans and recruits, whose term of service had not expired, being consolidated with the Forty-second Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Edgar County, Part 111

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Number of Pages: 876

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell
Number of Pages: 876