Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 37

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972

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On June 25, 1863, Colonel Smith was inor- tally wounded and died Sunday morning. June 28, in the thirty-sixth year of his age. His re- mains were brought to Rockford for burial and on the day of the funeral lay in state in front of the residence of his father-in-law, John Edwards.

Concerning Colonel Smith's patriotism, Dr. Goodwin, in preaching a memorial sermon, said : "Before deciding to enter the army, he made the question a subject of devout and earnest prayer, and the decision, when made,

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

was a religious consecration to the service of his country, expecting never to return, but to die on the field of battle."

FIFTY-SECOND ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

In September, 1861, Wesley Boyd organized a company, called the Winnebago Sharpshooters, of which he became captain. In October the company went into camp at Camp Geneva, and became Company E, of the Fifty-second In- fantry. The total number of enlistments in this company from this county, including veterans and recruits, was ninety-eight. There was one volunteer in Company F. The regiment was organized at Geneva, Kane County, by the Hon. Isaac G. Wilson, who was for many years a judge upon the Circuit bench.

FIFTY-FIFTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

In September, 1861, Rhenodyne A. Bird organ- ized a company with about eighty members, and September 9 they left for camp at Chicago, where they became a part of the Douglas Bri- gade, and were known as Company C of the Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteers. The total num- ber of enlistments in this company from Win- nebago County, including veterans and recruits, was 107 and there was one volunteer in Com- pany D.

VOLUNTEERS FOR THREE MONTHS' SERVICE.

In June, 1862, in response to calls for volun- teers for three months, two additional com- panies were organized and immediately entered the service at Camp Douglas in guarding Con- federate prisoners. One of these companies. the Winnebago County Guards, was largely com- posed of volunteers from the country towns, of which H. R. Enoch was chosen captain, and James B. Kerr first lieutenant.

SIXTY-SEVENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

There were 104 volunteers in this company, including recruits, of whoin eighty-three were from Winnebago County. They were known as Company C, of the Sixty-seventh Infantry. The Rockford City Guards entered this service, with Charles B. Hull as captain. The Guards were known as Company A, of the Sixty-seventh regi-

ment. They are credited with exactly 100 men, of whom sixty-three were from this county. There were four soldiers from Winnebago on the field and staff, and the non-commissioned staff, and one private each in Companies B and H. Winnebago County contributed to this regi- ment in the two companies a total of 153 men. These accessions made nine full companies which Winnebago County had sent into the serv- ice, besides many enlisted in other companies and batteries.

CAMP FULLER.

On July 16, 1862, Adjutant-General Fuller issued an order establishing camps for tem- porary rendezvous in several cities of the state. In the latter part of the month General Fuller visited Rockford and personally selected a site north of the city. Jason Marsh was placed in command, who named the camp in honor of the man who did more than any other citizen in making a glorious military record for the com- monwealth of Illinois. General Fuller was the central figure of the war power of Illinois ; the forger of her thunderbolts, the splendid de- fender of her sons. Gen. John C. Black once said to the writer that General Fuller was a greater man than Edwin M. Stanton, President Lincoln's great war secretary ; that he had Stan- ton's executive ability without his brutality. Camp Fuller was a camp of rendezvous for Lake, McHenry, Boone, Winnebago, Ogle, Car- roll, Stephenson and Jo Daviess counties. Four regiments were in camp at Camp Fuller : the Seventy-fourth, Ninety-second, Ninety-fifth and Ninety-sixth. All the regiments soon entered the service, and January 31, 1863, the barracks were sold at auction.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

In July, 1862, President Lincoln issued a call for 300,000 volunteers. In response to war meetings held in every township in Winnebago County the military spirit became the ruling passion of the people. On July 31 the board of supervisors met in special session and offered a bounty of $60 to each volunteer enlisting be- fore the 25th of August, and $40 for all subse- quent enlistments previous to September 15. next following. Winnebago

County again promptly did her duty, and raised eight of the

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

ten companies of the Seventy-fourth regiment. Company G was organized in Ogle County, and Company I in Stephenson County. The regi- ment was mustered into the service September 4, 1862. The first field officers were: Jason Marsh, of Rockford, colonel; James B. Kerr, of Roscoe, lieutenant-colonel; and Edward F. Dutcher, of Oregon, major. Anton Nieman, of Chicago, an officer of military education, was its first adjutant. On September 30, 1862, the regiment reported for duty at Louisville, Ky., where the Army of the Ohio, afterward known as the Army of the Cumberland, was then being organized under Gen. Don Carlos Buell. On October 1 a brigade organization was effected, and the Seventy-fourth, with the Seventy-fifth and Fifty-ninth Illinois, the Twenty-second In- diana, and the Fifth (Pinney's) Wisconsin Bat- tery, formed the Thirtieth Brigade, Ninth Di- vision, Fourteenth Corps. Col. Philip Sidney Post, of the Fifty-ninth Illinois, had command of the brigade, Gen. O. M. Mitchell of the divi- sion, and General Gilbert of the corps, the whole comprising, with other troops, a com- mand under Gen. A. McD. McCook, designated the right wing. On October 24, 1862, the army, then at Bowling Green, was reorganized, under Gen. W. S. Rosecrans, and was afterward known as the Army of the Cumberland. The regiment participated in the following battles : Perryville, October S, 1862; Stone River, De- cember 31, 1862; Mission Ridge, November 24- 25, 1863: Rocky Face, May 9, 1864; Resaca, May 14, 1864; Calhoun, May 17, 1864; Adairs- ville, May 18, 1864; Dallas, May 25 to June 25, 1864; Lost Mountain, June 16, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864 ; Atlanta, July 22, 1864 ; Jonesboro, September 1, 1864; Lovejoy, September 2, 1864 ; Spring Hill, November 29, 1864; Franklin, No- vember 30, 1864; Nashville, December 15-16, 1864. Winnebago County contributed 793 vol- unteers to the Seventy-fourth. This was almost exactly one-quarter of the whole number of recruits raised by the county during the four years of the war. This fact made the regiment in a sense the special pride of the citizens. On June 10, 1865, the Seventy-fourth, then number- ing 343 officers and men, was mustered out of the service at Nashville, Tenn., and arrived in Rockford nineteen days later. The veterans hold annual reunions, but time has thinned their ranks. In 1903 an excellent history of the

Seventy-fourth regiment was published by a committee consisting of John H. Sherratt, Hos- mer P. Holland and John W. Beatson.

During the early part of the war there were eight enlistments in the Eighth Infantry, twenty in the Forty-sixth, one in the consolidated For- ty-seventh, one in the Forty-eighth, one in the Forty-ninth, thirteen in the Fifty-first, three in the Fifty-fourth, two in the Sixty-ninth, and eight in the Seventy-first. There were fifty-six volunteers in Batteries A, B, E, H and I of the First Regiment Light Artillery, and twenty-one in the Second Artillery.

NINETIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

Major Patrick Flynn was a representative son of Erin, who espoused the cause of his adopted country with a lover's devotion. He fought her battles with the characteristic ardor of his race. He was born in Mayo, Ireland, May 11, 1831, came to Rockford in 185S, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1862, when President Lincoln issued a call for 300,000 volunteers. Major Flynn enlisted about 300 men in Winne- bago, Boone and Stephenson counties. He or- ganized the Mulligan Guards, named in honor of the famous Col. James Mulligan, of the Twen- ty-third Illinois, known as the Irish Brigade. The late Dean Butler, priest of St. James' Catli- olic church, of Rockford, was chaplain of Mul- ligan's Brigade. Later the major's company dropped the name of Mulligan Guards and was designated as Company A, Ninetieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and assigned to the Fif- teenth Army Corps. There were in this com- pany ninety-three volunteers from Winnebago County. There were also six enlistments from the county in other companies of the regiment.

Many years after those stirring scenes, in November, 1900, Major Flynn related his expe- riences in securing enlistments in the well- known Mulligan Guards. These were given in a paper read before a campfire of Nevius Post. The major said :

"On July 14, 1862, Charles L. Williams, then mayor of Rockford; Rev. J. P. Donelan, pastor of St. James' Catholic church; W. G. King, Judge Church, Hon. William Lathrop, Hon. Wait Talcott, Dr. R. P. Lane and Laurence Mc- Donald called on me and suggested that I assist in raising an Irish company of volun- teers. The idea was not displeasing to me, but,

abram the Hoffman

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

having a wife, I deemed it proper to first con- sult her in reference to the suggestion. She shared my patriotic feelings, or, rather, I shared hers, and the result was that I soon entered heartily into the undertaking. Only a few re- main of those young men who signed the muster roll at that time. They are Andrew Phinney and Hugh McMahon, of Burritt, who was said to be the youngest sergeant in the brigade. The young Irishmen of Rockford became enthu- siastic in the defense of their country, and in the remarkably short period of sixteen days 140 men enlisted. One more name which I was anxious to add to the list of these young heroes is that of Joseph P. Whalen, of Argyle town- ship, who especially distinguished himself at the battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863. He deserves special mention, being struck by rebel bullets no less than three times, and so disabled in his limbs to this day that his effort to move about is extremely painful. We expected to be attached to the Twenty-third Illinois, which had achieved a brilliant reputa- tion in the west and in Virginia, and whose young commander was James A. Mulligan. The company was named the Mulligan Guards in his honor. On August 31 we were mustered into the service of the United States at Camp Douglas, Chicago, and became Company A, of the Ninetieth Illinois, of which Colonel O'Meara became the commanding officer. There were also volunteers which I recruited in Com- pany I. The regiment was then detailed for a time to guard prisoners at Camp Douglas. Ru- mors were rite for a time that the Knights of the Golden Circle were planning an attempt to liberate the rebel prisoners under our care. The rumors were not without foundation, though the attempt was not made at that time. Had it been, the Ninetieth would have proven itself loyal to the country that sheltered its members in their exile. In those days domestic enemies, which were known as copperheads, were a source of much annoyance."

In the same paper Major Flynn vividly de- scribed the battle of Missionary Ridge. His allusion to the death of Lieut. James Conway, of Company A, breathes the fervor and elo- quence of his race. Rare indeed is a soldier's death more impressively told than in these words :

"The next morning the Fifteenth Corps moved along the valley under the Lookout Mountain

range toward Chattanooga. On the morning of the 25th it was in line for the desperate strug- gle that day commemorates as the battle of Missionary Ridge. The regiment lost its colonel, the brave O'Meara; its lieutenant-colonel was shot through the body, and Lieut. James Con- way, of Company A, of this city, was shot through the heart. When found after the sun went down, he was in a kneeling position, liis sabre in his right hand, his revolver in his left, his face to the enemy and his virtuous eyes turned to heaven, as though fully satisfied of the sacred justness of the cause for which he was yielding up his life, he was anxious to meet the benignant glance of lis Creator. Impressed with a knowledge of a duty nobly done, this brave young officer knelt at the shrine of infinite mercy, and while the words of hope were yet warm upon his quivering lips, his soul went forth into the presence of the Almighty Father. There 100 out of 370 heroes were beaten down in the bloody rain of rebel bullets. Being rank- ing officer, I took command of the Ninetieth that day."

Major Flynn served his company as captain from August, 1862, until March, 1863, when he was promoted to major and continued with his regiment until he was wounded, August 28, 1863, at the battle of Missionary Ridge. He was mustered out of service in June, 1865.

EIGHTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY.

A splendid cavalry company, organized in September, became Company M, of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry. John Austin, of Rockford, was chosen captain; A. J. Martin, first lieuten- ant; John Austin, of Ogle County, second lieu- tenant. Winnebago County contributed to this company, during the entire war period, 113 vol- unteers. Enlistments in other companies of this regiment, with unassigned recruits, brought the total number of enlistments in this county to 213.

THE NAVAL SERVICE.

Winnebago County contributed a few volun- teers to the naval service. Volney D. Woodruff, John L. Clark, George Potter, and John A. Fer- guson were members of the West Gulf Blockad- ing Squadron. John McDermaid, now a resi- dent of Rockford, who enlisted in an eastern

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

state, enjoys the distinction of having been a participant in the engagement in which the Con- federate ram Albermarle was destroyed. This unique historic event occurred October 27, 1864, on Roanoke River, in North Carolina, by a detail of twelve men, under command of Colonel Cush- ing.

A SPARTAN MOTHER.

The story of Mrs. H. B. Merchant's devo- tion to her country is probably without parallel. Her husband had died several years before and she was dependent for support upon her eleven sons. When the war broke out she bade the elder ones farewell and they went away. As the need for men grew greater the younger ones enlisted until finally all of the eleven were fight- ing for the stars and stripes. With two excep- tions they all served in Illinois regiments.

Mrs. Mary Brainard saw the hard side of war life, working many a long night over the dying soldiers, and writing the last letters home for those who were too weak to do it for them- selves. Mrs. Brainard left Rockford in Septem- ber of 1862, going with the Seventy-fourth Illi- nois volunteers as a nurse, under Colonel Marsh. In a short time she was made nurse and head matron of the hospital at Lebanon, Kentucky, where she spent the winter, and then went to the hospital at Lewisville as head nurse and matron. She spent the summer there in charge of the officers' hospital, but during the fall was taken seriously sick with malarial fever and was sent home. During the time of her nursing she was not under the Sanitary Commission, as were most of the nurses, but was in the government employ. Because of her faithful work she was awarded a pension by a special act of Congress. Mrs. Brainard died suddenly October 7, 1905.

The late Dr. Thomas Kerr was, for a time, a member of the Christian Commission, under appointment of President Lincoln. After his return from the field he delivered a number of lectures, the proceeds of which were devoted to the war relief fund.

SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY.

The Soldiers' Aid Society of Rockford was organized August 27, 1861. It represented the different religious organizations in the city, united on the broad ground of Christian patri-

otism, to labor with one mind and heart for those who had enlisted in the service of their country. The officers were : Mrs. Thomas Kerr, president ; Mrs. Jane Smith, vice-president ; Miss Juliette Wheat, secretary; Miss Melissa Moffat, treasurer; Miss Anna P. Sill, corresponding secretary. A statement published January 4, 1862, showed that a great work had been done during the first year of the war.

COUNTY WAR APPROPRIATIONS.

On January 4, 1862, H. R. Enoch, the county treasurer, made a public statement of county money expended for the relief of the families of volunteers. The total sum for the preceding eight months, from May to December, inclusive, was $4,259.

WAR BOUNTIES.

At the regular session of the supervisors in December, 1863, the board of supervisors had raised the bounty to $100 for all who would enlist between December 1 and January 5. This bounty was in the form of a county bond draw- ing 7 per cent. interest and transferable at pleasure.

The last year of the war drained the loyal states of its available militia. President Lin- coln's call for 500,000 men in the summer of 1864 was a severe test of loyalty, but all de- mands were met by Winnebago County. On Sep- tember 15, 1864, the board of supervisors passed a resolution offering a bounty of $300 to volun- teers in the county who had enlisted since Sep- tember 5, or who might thereafter enlist. On October 1 it was officially announced that Win- nebago County was out of the draft, and that under the last call for volunteers, more than 300 had been raised.

COST OF THE WAR.

On January 1, 1866, Adjutant-General Haynie issued a circular letter to the authorities of each county in the state, requesting a statement of the amount of money paid by counties, cities and villages. Winnebago County contributed $434,038.25. The several townships and the city of Rockford raised $65,964.13. These sums make a grand total of $500,002.38. This amount was expended for bounties, transportation, subsist-

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

ence, general expenses, soldiers' families and interest.

Winnebago County contributed, 3,187 soldiers to the volunteer service of the Union during the Civil war. This was twenty-five more than its quota.

PRISONERS OF WAR.

The adjutant-general's report devotes fifteeu full pages to the list of Illinois soldiers who died in Andersouville prisou. Among those who survived the horrors of that prison pen from this couuty were : Captaiu Lewis F. Lake, a member of Taylor's Battery, who had been cap- tured at the battle of Atlanta; Lieutenaut An- drew Phinney and Roger Brown. Dr. Selwyn Clark and Dr. Clinton Helm were confined iu Libby prison. H. C. Scovill, for many years city clerk, was a prisoner ten months at Macon, Ga. He eulisted in an Ogle County compauy. Wil- liam L. Mesick, of Company E, First Illinois Light Artillery, a Rockford boy, was left on the field of Guntown, Miss., for dead, and afterward turued up at Andersonville prison. A funeral sermou was preached for himu in Rockford. He recovered his health in a measure, and lived more than thirty years.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.

Illinois is the cradle of the Grand Army of the Republic. The founder was Dr. Benjamin Frankliu Stephenson, a surgeon of the Four- teenth Illinois Infantry. He was assisted in this work by Rev. W. J. Rutledge, a Methodist clergyman and a chaplain of the same regiment. During the war these comrades had discussed a brotherhood of survivors, and after the close of their army service, these veterans, assisted by others, collaborated in preparing a ritual for the proposed organization. Two printers of Decatur, Isaac Coltrin and Joseph Prior, who had served in the army, were employed to set the type for the ritual. The first post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized by Dr. Stephen- son, assisted by Captain John S. Phelps, at Decatur April 6, 1866, the fourth anniversary of the first day's battle of Shiloh. There were twelve charter members. The last survivor, Christian Reibsame, of Bloomington, died in 1914.

The first national encampment of the Graud

Army of the Republic was held, pursuant to a call issued by Dr. Stephenson, at Indianapolis, Nov. 20, 1866. General Stephen A. Hurlbut, of Belvidere, was honored with election as first commander-in-chief. The second encampment was held in Philadelphia, January 15, 1868, when auother distinguished sou of Illinois, General John A. Logan, was chosen commander-in-chief.

NEVIUS POST.

G. L. Nevius Post of Rockford was organized June 1, 1866. The charter members were: W. D. E. Andrus, John F. Squier, Frank Peats, J. G. Manlove, Jr., and Evans Blake. The latter two still survive. General Stephen A. Hurlbut, of Belvidere, was the installing officer, and the or- ganization was effected in the office of William Lathrop, 304 West State street, where Mr. Squier was a law studeut. There was considerable delay, however, in receiving the charter from the state department, which bears date of October 3, 1866. The names on the charter do not correspond exactly with those mustered into the post in June. They are: W. D. E. Andrus, Henry Creveling, John B. Sine, John T. Washburn, P. C. Campbell and S. Thomas Beddoes. The charter bears the signature of General Palmer as department commander. It is framed and hung in the ante-room at Memo- rial Hall. The original number of the post was 124, but at the eleventh encampment, held in. January, 1877, it was recorded as Post No. 1, aud thus its priority was established. All posts- previously organized had disbanded.

Nevius Post is named in honor of Garrett L ... Nevius, colonel of the Eleventh Illinois Infantry,. who was killed May 22, 1863, while leading his regiment in a charge at the memorable siege of Vicksburg. -

PLACES OF MEETING.

The first place of meeting of Nevius Post was over Hope & Clow's hardware store, now 320 West State street. In 1869 the post room was removed to Concert Hall, South Main street, where meetings were held until 1871, when War- ner's Hall, State and Main streets, was secured. In 1881 Horsman Hall on West State street was leased for one year. In 1882 the post returned to Warner's Hall, where it remained until 1890. In that year headquarters were leased in the

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Price block on South Wyman street. Since June, 1903, Memorial Hall has been the home of the post.

The officers in September, 1866, were: W. D. E. Andrus, commander; Henry Creveling, senior vice commander ; John B. Sine, adjutant; John T. Washburn, quartermaster ; Peter C. Campbell, officer of the day; S. Thomas Beddoes, officer of the guard. In November, 1866, another list of officers appears, as follows: W. D. E. Andrus, commander ; Henry Creveling, senior vice com- mander ; C. G. Manlove, adjutant ; John T. Waslı- ourn, quartermaster ; D. S. Clark,. surgeon; E. Smith, officer of the day; S. Thomas Beddoes, officer of the guard.

POST COMMANDERS.

Captain W. D. E. Andrus was succeeded as post commander by John F. Squier, who served the first term of 1867. He was succeeded by Frank F. Peats, who served one term of six months. George Chapman was elected for the first term of 18GS. He was succeeded by Thomas G. Lawler, who served until 1871, when Franklin M. Needham was elected. In 1872 Thomas G. Lawler was elected com- mander and continuously re-elected until 1908. Commanders since the death of Colonel Law- ler have been: 1908-1909, M. A. Norton; 1910- 1911, Robert Oliver; 1912, Lewis F. Lake; 1913, A. M. Hoffman; 1914, Edward Ridgley ; 1915, William P. Buck; 1916, Robert Oliver.

Nearly a score of comrades have served as post adjutant. The present incumbent, E. P. Thomas, has served continuously since 1898.

The post now has 258 members. There are also four honorary members : A. D. Early, E. H. Keeler, A. H. Sherratt and R. K. Welsh. The late O. F. Barbour was also an honorary mem- ber.

Four state encampments of the Grand Army have been held in Rockford. The first was held January 30, 1874, in Wood's hall, the third floor of the building occupied by the' C. F. Henry clothing store. The second was held January 25, 1882, when Thomas G. Lawler was elected department commander. The third encampment convened May 15, 1894, and the fourth May 15, 1904.

MEMORIAL DAY ORATORS.

Memorial day has been observed every year in Rockford since it was instituted by order of

General John A. Logan, May 5, 18GS. The first observance was on May 30. There is no news- paper record of the event. Tradition, however, supplies the gap. Eighteen comrades assembled informally, and on their march to the West side cemetery, halted in front of the residence of Rev. D. M. Read, a Universalist clergyman, and drafted him as their first Memorial day orator. For some years thereafter it was the custom to have an oration delivered at West side and Cedar Bluff cemeteries on the same day of each year. For some years thereafter it was the cus- tom to have an oration delivered at West side and Cedar Bluff cemeteries on the same day. of each year. In 1869 Rev. T. C. Clendenning deliv- ered the address on the West side and Rev. D. M. Reed, in Cedar Bluff. In 1870 General Thomas O. Osborne, of Chicago, spoke on the West side and Hon. R. F. Crawford, of Rockford on the East side. The record to 1878, inclusive, is as follows : 1871, East side, Dr. Thomas Kerr; West side, Rev. James Baume; 1872, East side, Mayor Seymour G. Bronson ; West side, General A. L. Chetlain ; 1873, East side, General Stephen A. Hurlbut ; West side, Rev. J. M. Caldwell ; 1874, East side, General Smith D. Atkins; West side, Mrs. S. M. I. Henry ; 1875, East side, Rev. Frank P. Woodbury ; West side, Rev. D. M. Reed ; 1876, East side, Hon. John Budlong; West side, Rev. Samuel Fallows; 1877, East side, General John A. Logan ; West side, William Marshall and Ex- Governor John L. Beveridge; 1878, East side, Major N. C. Warner; West side, General Allen C. Fuller.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 37

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 972

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972