USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I > Part 115
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CHICAGO MERCANTILE BATTERY. Recruited and organized under the auspices of the Mercan- tile Association, an association of prominent and patriotic merchants of the City of Chicago. It was mustered into service, August 29, 1862, at Camp Douglas, participated in the Tallahatchie and Yazoo expeditions, the first attack upon Vicksburg, the battle of Arkansas Post, the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Magnolia Hills, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge and Jackson (Miss.) ; also took part in Banks' Red River ex- pedition; was mustered out at Chicago, and received final payment, July 10, 1865, having traveled, by river, sea and land, over 11,000 miles.
SPRINGFIELD LIGHT ARTILLERY. Recruited principally from the cities of Springfield, Belle- ville and Wenona, and mustered into service at Springfield, for the term of three years, August 21, 1862, numbering 199 men and officers. It participated in the capture of Little Rock and in the Red River expedition, and was mustered out at Springfield, 114 strong, June 30, 1865.
COGSWELL'S BATTERY, LIGHT ARTILLERY. Organized at Ottawa, Ill., and mustered in, Nov. 11, 1861, as Company A (Artillery) Fifty-third Illinois Volunteers, Colonel Cushman command- ing the regiment. It participated in the
advance on Corinth, the siege of Vicksburg, the battle of Missionary Ridge, and the capture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, near Mobile. The regiment was mustered out at Springfield, August 14, 1865, having served three years and nine months, marched over 7,500 miles, and partici- pated in seven sieges and battles.
STURGES RIFLES. An independent company, organized at Chicago, armed, equipped and sub- sisted for nearly two months, by the patriotic generosity of Mr. Solomon Sturges; was mustered into service, May 6, 1861; in June following, was ordered to West Virginia, serving as body- guard of General Mcclellan; was engaged at Rich Mountain, in the siege of Yorktown, and in the seven days' battle of the Chickahominy. A portion of the company was at Antietam, the remainder having been detached as foragers, scouts, etc. It was mustered out at Washington, Nov. 25, 1862.
WAR, THE SPANISH - AMERICAN. The oppressions and misrule which had character- ized the administration of affairs by the Spanish Government and its agents for generations, in the Island of Cuba, culminated, in April, 1898, in mutual declarations of war between Spain and the United States. The causes leading up to this result were the injurious effects upon American commerce and the interests of American citizens owning property in Cuba, as well as the constant expense imposed upon the Government of the United States in the maintenance of a large navy along the South Atlantic coast to suppress fili- bustering, superadded to the friction and unrest produced among the people of this country by the long continuance of disorders and abuses so near to our own shores, which aroused the sympathy and indignation of the entire civilized world. For three years a large proportion of the Cuban population had been in open rebellion against the Spanish Government, and, while the latter had imported a large army to the island and sub- jected the insurgents and their families and sympathizers to the grossest cruelties, not even excepting torture and starvation itself, their policy had failed to bring the insurgents into subjection or to restore order. In this condition of affairs the United States Government had endeavored, through negotiation, to secure a miti- gation of the evils complained of, by a modifica- tion of the Spanish policy of government in the island; but all suggestions in this direction had either been resented by Spain as unwarrantable interference in her affairs, or proniises of reform, when made, had been as invariably broken.
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In the meantime an increasing sentiment had been growing up in the United States in favor of conceding belligerent rights to the Cuban insur- gents, or the recognition of their independence, which found expression in measures proposed in Congress-all offers of friendly intervention by the United States having been rejected by Spain with evidences of indignation. Compelled, at last, to recognize its inability to subdue the insur- rection, the Spanish Government, in November, 1897, made a pretense of tendering autonomy to the Cuban people, with the privilege of amnesty to the insurgents on laying down their arms. The long duration of the war and the outrages perpetrated upon the helpless "reconcentrados," coupled with the increased confidence of the insurgents in the final triumph of their cause, rendered this movement-even if intended to be carried out to the letter-of no avail. The proffer came too late, and was promptly rejected.
In this condition of affairs and with a view to greater security for American interests, the American battleship Maine was ordered to Havana, on Jan. 24, 1898. It arrived in Havana Harbor the following day, and was anchored at a point designated by the Spanish commander. On the night of February 15, following, it was blown up and destroyed by some force, as shown by after investigation, applied from without. Of a crew of 354 men belonging to the vessel at the time, 266 were either killed outright by the explosion, or died from their wounds. Not only the Ameri- can people, but the entire civilized world, was shocked by the catastrophe. An act of horrible treachery had been perpetrated against an American vessel and its crew on a peaceful mis- sion in the harbor of a professedly friendly na- tion.
The successive steps leading to actual hostili- ties were rapid and eventful. One of the earliest and most significant of these was the passage, by a unanimous vote of both houses of Congress, on March 9, of an appropriation placing $50,000,000 in the hands of the President as an emergency fund for purposes of national defense. This was followed, two days later, by an order for the mobilization of the army. The more important events following this step were: An order, under date of April 5, withdrawing American consuls from Spanish stations; the departure, on April 9, of Consul-General Fitzhugh Lee from Havana; April 19, the adoption by Congress of concurrent resolutions declaring Cuba independent and directing the President to use the land and naval forces of the United States to put an end to
Spanish authority in the island; April 20, the sending to the Spanish Government, by the Presi- dent, of an ultimatum in accordance with this act; April 21, the delivery to Minister Woodford, at Madrid, of his passports without waiting for the presentation of the ultimatum, with the departure of the Spanish Minister from Washing- ton; April 23, the issue of a call by the President for 125,000 volunters; April 24, the final declara- tion of war by Spain; April 25, the adoption by Congress of a resolution declaring that war had existed from April 21; on the same date an order to Admiral Dewey, in command of the Asiatic Squadron at Hongkong, to sail for Manila with a view to investing that city and blockading Philippine ports.
The chief events subsequent to the declaration of war embraced the following: May 1, the destruction by Admiral Dewey's squadron of the Spanish fleet in the harbor of Manila; May 19, the arrival of the Spanish Admiral Cervera's fleet at Santiago de Cuba; May 25, a second call by the President for 75,000 volunteers; July 3, the attempt of Cervera's fleet to escape, and its destruction off Santiago; July 17, the surrender of Santiago to the forces under General Shafter; July 30, the statement by the President, through the French Ambassador at Washington, of the terms on which the United States would consent to make peace; August 9, acceptance of the peace terms by Spain, followed, three days later, by the signing of the peace protocol; September 9, the appointment by the President of Peace Commis- sioners on the part of the United States; Sept. 18, the announcement of the Peace Commissioners selected by Spain; October 1, the beginning of the Peace Conference by the representatives of the two powers, at Paris, and the formal signing, on December 10, of the peace treaty, including the recognition by Spain of the freedoni of Cuba, with the transfer to the United States of Porto Rico and her other West India islands, together witlı the surrender of the Philippines for a con- sideration of $20,000,000.
Seldom, if ever, in the history of nations have such vast and far-reaching results been accom- plished within so short a period. The war, which practically began with the destruction of the Spanish fleet in Manila Harbor-an event which aroused the enthusiasm of the whole American people, and won the respect and adıniration of other nations-was practically ended by the surrender of Santiago and the declaration by the President of the conditions of peace just three months later. Succeeding
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events, up to the formal signing of the peace treaty, were merely the recognition of results previously determined.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS REGIMENTS .-- The part played by Illinois in connection with these events may be briefly summarized in the history of Illi- nois regiments and other organizations. Under the first call of the President for 125,000 volun- teers, eight regiments-seven of infantry and one of cavalry-were assigned to Illinois, to which was subsequently added, on application through
' Governor Tanner, one battery of light artil- lery. The infantry regiments were made up of the Illinois National Guard, numbered consecutively from one to seven, and were practically mobilized at their home stations within forty-eight hours from the receipt of the call, and began to arrive at Camp Tanner, near Springfield, the place of rendezvous, on April 26, the day after the issue of the Governor's call. The record of Illinois troops is conspicuous for the promptness of their response and the com- pleteness of their organization --- in this respect being unsurpassed by those of any other State. Under the call of May 25 for an additional force of 75,000 men, the quota assigned to Illinois was two regiments, which were promptly furnished, taking the names of the Eighth and Ninth. The first of these belonged to the Illinois National Guard, as the regiments mustered in under the first call had done, while the Ninth was one of a number of "Provisional Regiments" which had tendered their services to the Government. Some twenty-five other regiments of this class, more or less complete, stood ready to perfect their organi- zations should there be occasion for their serv- ices. The aggregate strength of Illinois organi- zations at date of muster out from the United States service was 12,280 -- 11,789 men and 491 officers.
FIRST REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS (orig- inally Illinois National Guard) was organized at Chicago, and mustered into the United States service at Camp Tanner (Springfield), under the command of Col. Henry L. Turner, May 13, 1898; left Springfield for Camp Thomas (Chickamauga) May 17; assigned to First Brigade, Third Division, of the First Army Corps; started for Tampa, Fla., June 2, but soon after arrival there was transferred to Picnic Island, and assigned to provost duty in place of the First United States Infantry. On June 30 the bulk of the regiment embarked for Cuba, but was detained in the har- bor at Key West until July 5, when the vessel sailed for Santiago, arriving in Guantanamo Bay
on the evening of the 8th. Disembarking on the 10th, the whole regiment arrived on the firing line on the 11th, spent several days and nights in the trenches before Santiago, and were present at the surrender of that city on the 17th. Two companies had previously been detached for the scarcely less perilous duty of service in the fever hospitals and in caring for their wounded comrades. The next month was spent on guard duty in the captured city, until August 25, when, depleted in numbers and weakened by fever, the bulk of the regiment was transferred by hospital boats to Camp Wikoff, on Montauk Point, L. I. The members of the regi- ment able to travel left Camp Wikoff, September 8, for Chicago, arriving two days later, where they met an enthusiastic reception and were mustered out, November 17, 1,235 strong (rank and file) -- a considerable number of recruits having joined the regiment just before leaving Tampa. The record of the First was conspicuous by the fact that it was the only Illinois regiment to see service in Cuba during the progress of actual hostilities. Before leaving Tampa some eighty members of the regiment were detailed for engineering duty in Porto Rico, sailed for that island on July 12, and were among the first to perform service there. The First suffered severely from yellow fever while in Cuba, but, as a regiment, while in the service, made a brilliant record, which was highly complimented in the official reports of its com- manding officers.
SECOND REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER IN- FANTRY (originally Second I. N. G.). This regi- ment, also from Chicago, began to arrive at Springfield, April 27, 1898-at that time number- ing 1,202 men and 47 officers, under command of Col. George M. Moulton; was mustered in between May 4 and May 15; on May 17 started for Tampa, Fla., but en route its destination was changed to Jacksonville, where, as a part of the Seventh Army Corps, under command of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, it assisted in the dedication of Camp Cuba Libre. October 25 it was transferred to Savannah, Ga., remaining at "Camp Lee" until December 8, when two battalions embarked for Havana, landing on the 15th, being followed, a few days later, by the Third Battalion, and sta- tioned at Camp Columbia. From Dec. 17 to Jan. 11, 1899, Colonel Moulton served as Chief of Police for the city of Havana. On March 28 to 30 the regiment left Camp Columbia in detach- ments for Augusta, Ga., where it arrived April 5, and was mustered out, April 26, 1,051 strong (rank and file), and returned to Chicago. Dur-
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ing its stay in Cuba the regiment did not lose a man. A history of this regiment has been written by Rev. H. W. Bolton, its late Chaplain.
THIRD REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER IN- FANTRY, composed of companies of the Illinois National Guard from the counties of La Salle, Livingston, Kane, Kankakee, McHenry, Ogle, Will, and Winnebago, under command of Col. Fred Bennitt, reported at Springfield, with 1,170 men and 50 officers, on April 27; was mustered in May 7, 1898; transferred from Springfield to Camp Thomas (Chickamauga), May 14; on July 22 left Chickamauga for Porto Rico; on the 28th sailed from Newport News, on the liner St. Louis, arriving at Ponce, Porto Rico, on July 31; soon after disembarking captured Arroyo, and assisted in the capture of Guayama, which was the beginning of General Brooke's advance across the island to San Juan, when intelligence was received of the signing of the peace protocol by Spain. From August 13 to October 1 the Third continued in the performance of guard duty in Porto Rico; on October 22, 986 men and 39 offi- cers took transport for home by way of New York, arriving in Chicago, November 11, the several companies being mustered out at their respective home stations. Its strength at final muster-out was 1,273 men and officers. This regiment had the distinction of being one of the first to see service in Porto Rico, but suffered severely from fever and other diseases during the three months of its stay in the island.
FOURTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, com- posed of companies from Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Jackson, Jefferson, Montgomery, Richland, and St. Clair counties; mustered into the service at Spring- field, May 20, under command of Col. Casimer Andel; started immediately for Tampa, Fla., but en route its destination was changed to Jackson- ville, where it was stationed at Camp Cuba Libre as a part of the Seventh Corps under command of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee; in October was transferred to Savannah, Ga., remaining at Camp Onward until about the first of January, when the regi- ment took ship for Havana. Ilere the regiment was stationed at Camp Columbia until April 4, 1899, when it returned to Augusta, Ga., and was mustered out at Camp Mackenzie (Augusta), May 2, the companies returning to their respective home stations. During a part of its stay at Jacksonville, and again at Savannah, the regi- ment was employed on guard duty. While at Jacksonville Colonel Andel was suspended by court-martial, and finally tendered his resigna-
tion, his place being supplied by Lieut .- Col. Eben Swift, of the Ninth.
FIFTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER IN- FANTRY was the first regiment to report, and was mustered in at Springfield, May 7, 1898, under command of Col. James S. Culver, being finally composed of twelve companies from Pike, Chris- tian, Sangamon, McLean, Montgomery, Adams, Tazewell, Macon, Morgan, Peoria, and Fulton counties; on May 14 left Springfield for Camp Thomas (Chickamauga, Ga.), being assigned to the command of General Brooke; August 3 left Chickamauga for Newport News, Va., with the expectation of embarking for Porto Rico-a previous order of July 26 to the same purport having been countermanded; at Newport News embarked on the transport Obdam, but again the order was rescinded, and, after remaining on board thirty-six hours, the regiment was disem- barked. The next move was made to Lexington. Ky., where the regiment-having lost hope of reaching "the front"-remained until Sept 5, when it returned to Springfield for final muster- out. This regiment was composed of some of the best material in the State, and anxious for active service, but after a succession of disappoint- ments, was compelled to return to its home sta- tion without meeting the enemy. After its arrival at Springfield the regiment was furloughed for thirty days and finally mustered out, October 16, numbering 1,213 men and 47 officers.
SIXTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER IN- FANTRY, consisting of twelve companies from the counties of Rock Island, Knox, Whiteside, Lee, Carroll, Stephenson, Henry, Warren, Bureau, and Jo Daviess, was mustered in May 11, 1898, under command of Col. D. Jack Foster; on May 17 left Springfield for Camp Alger, Va .; July 5 the regiment moved to Charleston, S. C., where a part embarked for Siboney, Cuba, but the whole regiment was soon after united in General Miles' expedition for the invasion of Porto Rico, landing at Guanico on July 25, and advancing into the interior as far as Adjunta and Utuado. After several weeks' service in the interior, the regiment returned to Ponce, and on September 7 took transport for the return home, arrived at Springfield a week later, and was mustered out November 25, the regiment at that time consist- ing of 1,239 men and 49 officers.
SEVENTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY (known as the "Hibernian Rifles"). Two battalions of this regiment reported at Spring. field, April 27, with 33 officers and 765 enlisted men, being afterwards increased to the maxi-
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mum; was mustered into the United States serv- ice, under command of Col. Marcus Kavanagh, May 18, 1898; on May 28 started for Camp Alger, Va .; was afterwards encamped at Thoroughfare Gap and Camp Meade; on September 9 returned to Springfield, was furloughed for thirty days, and mustered out, October 20, numbering 1,260 men and 49 officers. Like the Fifth, the Seventh saw no actual service in the field.
EIGHTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY (col- ored regiment), mustered into the service at Springfield under the second call of the Presi- dent, July 23, 1898, being composed wholly of Afro-Americans under officers of their own race, with Col. John R. Marshall in command, the muster-roll showing 1,195 men and 76 officers. The six companies, from A to F, were from Chi- cago, the other five being, respectively, from Bloomington, Springfield, Quincy, Litchfield, Mound City and Metropolis, and Cairo. The regiment having tendered their services to relieve the First Illinois on duty at Santiago de Cuba, it started for Cuba, August 8, by way of New York; immediately on arrival at Santiago, a week later, was assigned to duty, but subse- quently transferred to San Luis, where Colone, Marshall was made military governor. The major part of the regiment remained here until ordered home early in March, 1899, arrived at Chicago, March 15, and was mustered out, April 3, 1,226 strong, rank and file, having been in service nine months and six days.
NINTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY was organized from the counties of Southern Illinois, and mustered in at Springfield under the second call of the President, July 4-11, 1898, under com- mand of Col. James R. Campbell; arrived at Camp Cuba Libre (Jacksonville, Fla.), August 9; two months later was transferred to Savannah, Ga .; was moved to Havana in December, where it remained until May, 1899, when it returned to Augusta, Ga., and was mustered out there, May 20, 1899, at that time consisting of 1,095 men and 46 officers. From Augusta the several companies returned to their respective home stations. The Ninth was the only "Provisional Regiment" from Illinois mustered into the service during the war, the other regiments all belonging to the National Guard.
FIRST ILLINOIS CAVALRY was organized at Chi- cago immediately after the President's first call, seven companies being recruited from Chicago, two from Bloomington, and one each from Springfield, Elkhart, and Lacon; was mustered in at Springfield, May 21, 1898, under command of
Col. Edward C. Young; left Springfield for Camp Thomas, Ga., May 30, remaining there until August 24, when it returned to Fort Sheridan, near Chicago, where it was stationed until October 11, when it was mustered out, at that time con- sisting of 1,158 men and 50 officers. Although the regiment saw no active service in the field, it established an excellent record for itself in respect to discipline.
FIRST ENGINEERING CORPS, consisting of 80 men detailed from the First Illinois Volunteers, were among the first Illinois soldiers to see serv- ice in Porto Rico, accompanying General Miles' expedition in the latter part of July, and being engaged for a time in the construction of bridges in aid of the intended advance across the island. On September 8 they embarked for the return home, arrived at Chicago, September 17, and were mustered out November 20.
BATTERY A (I. N. G.), from Danville, Ill., was mustered in under a special order of the War Department, May 12, 1898, under command of Capt. Oscar P. Yaeger, consisting of 118 men; left Springfield for Camp Thomas, Ga., May 19, and, two months later, joined in General Miles' Porto Rico expedition, landing at Guanico on August 3, and taking part in the affair at Gua. yama on the 12th. News of peace having been received, the Battery returned to Ponce, where it remained until September 7, when it started on the return home by way of New York, arrived at Danville, September 17, was furloughed for sixty days, and mustered out November 25. The Battery was equipped with modern breech-load- ing rapid-firing guns, operated by practical artil- lerists and prepared for effective service.
NAVAL RESERVES .- One of the earliest steps taken by the Government after it became ap- parent that hostilities could not be averted, was to begin preparation for strengthening the naval arm of the service. The existence of the "Naval Militia," first organized in 1893, placed Illinois in an exceptionally favorable position for making a prompt response to the call of the Government, as well as furnishing a superior class of men for service-a fact evidenced during the operations in the West Indies. Gen. John McNulta, as head of the local committee, was active in calling the attention of the Navy Department to the value of the service to be rendered by this organization, which resulted in its being enlisted practically as a body, taking the name of "Naval Reserves"- all but eighty-eight of the number passing the physical examination, the places of these being promptly filled by new recruits. The first de-
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tachment of over 200 left Chicago May 2, under the command of Lieut .- Com. John M. Hawley, followed soon after by the remainder of the First Battalion, making the whole number from Chi- cago 400, with 267, constituting the Second Bat- talion, from other towns of the State. The latter was made up of 147 men from Moline, 58 from Quincy, and 62 from Alton-making a total from the State of 667. This does not include others, not belonging to this organization, who enlisted for service in the navy during the war, which raised the whole number for the State over 1,000. The Reserves enlisted from Illinois occupied a different relation to the Government from that of the "naval militia" of other States, which retained their State organizations, while those from Illinois were regularly mustered into the United States service. The recruits from Illinois were embarked at Key West, Norfolk and New York, and distributed among fifty-two different vessels, including nearly every vessel belonging to the North Atlantic Squadron. They saw serv- ice in nearly every department from the position of stokers in the hold to that of gunners in the turrets of the big battleships, the largest number (60) being assigned to the famous battleship Ore- gon, while the cruiser Yale followed with 47; the Harvard with 35; Cincinnati, 27; Yankton, 19; Franklin, 18; Montgomery and Indiana, each, 17; Hector, 14; Marietta, 11; Wilmington and Lan- caster, 10 each, and others down to one each. Illinois sailors thus had the privilege of partici- pating in the brilliant affair of July 3, which resulted in the destruction of Cervera's fleet off Santiago, as also in nearly every other event in the West Indies of less importance, without the loss of a man while in the service, although among the most exposed. They were mustered out at different times, as they could be spared from the service, or the vessels to which they were attached went out of commission, a portion serving out their full term of one year. The Reserves from Chicago retain their organization under the name of "Naval Reserve Veterans," with headquarters in the Masonic Temple Build- ing, Chicago.
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