History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 75

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340

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271

EARLY MILITARY HISTORY.

numerous for formal or Christian burial, and were hud- dled hastily into common graves. The terror of this new enemy, which was the only one before which the hero Scott ever quailed, drove the refugees from the fort. They chose to face the possible danger of the tomahawk and scalping knife, rather than the ghostly pestilence that "walked at noon-day," striking the silent death-blow with unseen hand. The settlers accordingly returned precipitately to their deserted homes, and, by the 10th, Chicago was aban- doned to the pest-stricken garrison and the few stout- hearted residents who, in the interests of humanity, chose to remain, to assist in caring for the sick and burying the dead. August 3, Black Hawk's fugitives were surrounded and utterly routed at the mouth of · Bad Axe River, and the war was at an end. It is not the purpose here to give a full sketch even of the Black Hawk War, except so far as may be necessary to show the participation in it of Chicago soldiers. From the story as told, it is shown that every able-bodied citizen volunteered,* and nearly all in some capacity did service until the danger had passed away. Gholson Kercheval, Colonel Owen, and many others were kept busy in pro- viding for the wants of the homeless fugitives as they came in.

Gurdon S. Hubbard, still surviving, and residing in Chicago, did service in Colonel Moore's regiment of Illinois volunteers. He was at time living at Danville, although his business brought him frequently to Chi- cago. He was Second Lieutenant in Captain Alexan- der Bailey's company, and, according to the records, was mustered into the service May 23, 1832, and was mustered out June 23. The record would be incomplete without the roster of Captain Joseph Naper's company. It was raised during July, too late to take active part in the war. The members were all residents of Cook County, and many of them afterward residents of Chicago. The roster appears in the " Record of the Services of Illinois Soldiers in the Black Hawk War (1831-32) and in the Mexican War (1846-48)," by Isaac Elliott, Adjutant-General of the State of Illinois, pp. 149-50. In March, 1880, it was published in the Chicago Evening Journal, with the following letter :

To the Editor of the Chicago Evening Journal:

1 send you a list of the soldiers who volunteered from this county to go with General Scott in pursuit of Black Hawk. The most or these gentlemen are dead, but they have left descendents who constitute some of our most valuable citizens. There are many citizens of Chicago now living who had a personal acquaint- ance with nearly all of them. I have given the residence of those whom I know are now living. Probably others are living whose residence I do not know. This list has been sent to Washington and compared with the original. Many of them resided in that part of Cook County which is now DuPage County.

The Fourth Corporal is now the County Judge of DuPage County. and would be a good man for gentlemen of historical tastes to interview. JOHN WENTWORTH. CHICAGO, March 2, ISSO.

MUSTER ROLL of a Company of Mounted Volunteers in the Serv- ice of the United States, in defense of the Northern frontier of the State of Illinois, against the Sac und Fox Indians, from the County of Cook, in said State, in the year 1532, under the command of Captain Joseph Naper :

Joseph Naper, Captain, afterward member of Legislature.

Alanson Sweet, First-L.ientenant, now living at Evanston. Il1.

Sherman King, Second-Lieutenant. lived at Brush Hill, III.

S. M. Salisbury, First-Sergeant, afterward Cook County Commis- sioner, at Wheeling, 111.

John Manning, Second-Sergeant.

Walter Stowell, Third-Sergeant, afterward Postmaster, at Newark, HI.

John Naper, Fourth-Sergeant, lived at Naperville, brother of Jn- seph.

T. E. l'arsons, First-Corporal.

Lyman Butterfield, Second-Corporal.

(*) See roster of Kercheval's company.

I. P. Blodgett, Third-Corporal, father of Judge II. W. Blodgett. Robert Nelsoo Murray (Naperville), Fourth-Corporal, now County Judge.

PRIVATES.

P. F. W. Peck, died at Chicago, Uriah Paine (Naperville),

William Barber,

John Stevens,

Richard M. Sweet, Seth Westcott,

John Stevens, Jr.,

Henry T. Wilson (Wheaton),

Calvin M. Stowell, Christopher Paine,

John Fox, Basley Hobson,

Denis Clark, Josiah 11. Giddings

Caleb Foster,

Anson Ament,

Augustine Stowell,

Calvin Ament,

George Fox,

Edmund Harrison,

T. Parsons,

Williard Scott (Naperville),

Daniel Langdon,

Perez Hawley,

William Gault,

Peter Wicoffe.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COOK COUNTY MILITIA .- In 1829 the Legislature of the State of Illinois en- acted the following law regulating the militia of the State:

SECTION I. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That there shall be one regi- mental and one company muster, and one regimental muster of officers in each year; the company muster shall be held on the first Saturday in September, unless changed to some other day by order of the commandants of regiments or odd battalions, in which case sixty days notice of each change shall be given to the commandants of each company. Regimental drill musters shall be held on the Friday and Saturday next preceding the regimental musters. Hereafter, no brigade inspector shall be required to attend regi- mental or drill musters. .

SECTION 2. For the purpose of review of drill inspection, the brigadier-general may change the time fixed by law for regimental musters, by giving to the several commandants of regiments, or odd battalions, under their command, a notice to that effect, on or be- fore the first day of March in each year.

SECTION 3. Commandants of companies may receive any lawful excuse of non-commissioned officers or privates under their com- mand, for a failure to attend muster, or for not being properly equipped.

SECTION 4. No non-commissioned officer or private shall be fined more than one dollar for failing to attend any regimental muster nor more than fifty cents for failing to atttend any company muster.

SECTION 5. No persoo conscientiously opposed to doing military duty by reason of religious opinions, shall be compelled so to do in times of peace; I'rovided such person shall work two days in each year, on the public roads, in the district in which such person or persons may reside, in addition to the road labor now required of them, under the regulations prescribed in the second section of "An act for the relief of persons having conscientious scruples against bearing arms," or pay into the county treasury seventy-five cents. The first section of the act, entitled "An act for the relief of per- sons having conscientious scruples against bearing arms," approved February 6, IS27, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 6. So much of the act, to which this is an amendment, as required battalion musters to be held; so much of said act as fixes the time for holding regimental drill musters; so much thereof as allows compensation to division and brigade inspectors; so much thereof as requires two company musters to be held in each year, and prescribing the holding of the same; be and the same are hereby repealed. This act to be in force from and after its passage.

( Approved, January 9, 1829.)

The above law was certainly not calculated to bring the militia of the State to any great degree of efficiency, as it provided cheap ways and means whereby every soldier enrolled could be exempt from service. Under this general law a special act was passed by the Illinois Legislature in 1833, organizing the militia in Cook County. The act was as follows:

SECTION I. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois. represented in the General Assembly, that all the citizens of t'unk County liable to perform militia duty, shall organize themselves into a regiment, two battalions, and not less than four nor more than eight companies. After the election of colonel, which shall be held on the 20th day of March next, at the house of David Lorton, on the Desplaines River, in said county, and before the people separate, the colonel elect, and the people present, may divide the county off into two battalion districts, and not less than four nor more than eight company districts, and the militia present, when the bounds of the said battalions and companies are described in

272

HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

writing, shall proceed forthwith to elect two majors, and not less than four nor more than eight captains, and a first and second lieutenant to each company: Provided always, that none shall be eligible to the several offices herein provided for, unless he shall at the time of said election be a resident citizen in such battalion dis- triet, if a major, or in said company district if a captain or lieut- tenant ; nor shall any militiaman, not residing in the battalion or company district, be allowed to vote for any officer, so to be elected, but in all cases the militamen shall elect their own officers in their own districts.

SEC. 2. After the organization of the militia so to be made at the house of David Lorton, on the said 20th day of March next, the colonel elect shall give to each major, captain, and lieu- tenant, a certificate of election ; and if they cannot elect all their officers in one day, they may continue said election from day to day, not exceeding three days. After said elections shall be closed, and the results ascertained, the colonel shall cause each captain to furnish him within three days a company roll : Provided, that in no case shall any company be recognized as such, unless there be thirty-two privates in the same.

SEC. 3. The said colonel, when so elected, shall be allowed to receive, for the use of the militiamen of his regiment, two hundred . A barrel set in a spring which gushed from the bluff stand of the State arms, to wit : one hundred rifles and one hun- dred muskets with their accouterments. near Laughton's house was utilized as a punch bowl. Into it the brandy and lemons and sugar were poured, and from it the crowd drank to the Colonel elect, until the spring water again asserted its supremacy. The story is apocryphal ; but it is here repeated, neverthe- less, as one version of an o'er true tale. It is certain that on the occasion a larger majority of the citizens of Chicago got gloriousiy tipsy than at any other epoch in her history, before or since. The regiment at that time organized was, for a quarter of a century thereafter, known as the Sixtieth Regiment of Illinois Militia.

SEC. 4. The Governor is hereby authorized, whenever in his discretion he shall deem it necessary, to deliver to the colonel of Cook County the complement of arms mentioned in the preced- ing section of this act ; but the colonel, before he shall receive said arms, shall execute to the Governor a bond, in the penal sum of $3,200, conditioned that the said arins shall be at all times here- after forthcoming to the order of the Governor ; after which, each captain shall execute a bond in the penal sum of $16 for each gun, to the colonel, conditioned that said gun shall be at all times hereafter forthcoming to the order of the colonel ; and each private, before he shall receive from his captain any of the said arms, shall give him a receipt for the gun, describing it, conditioned that if he fails or refuses to return it to the order of his captain, he will pay, or canse to be paid to his said captain, the sum of $16 as a penalty for such failure or refusal : Provided always, that the said arms, or any of them, be lost in battle, or by any unavoidable accident, the said bonds, or receipts, to that extent, shall be null and void: Pro- vided also, that the said colonel shall be allowed to execute the bond herein required of him in the Clerk's office of the county com- missioner's court, with sureties to be approved by the Clerk thereof, payable to the Governor of this State for the use of the people ; which bond shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State within sixty days. after which certificate of said colonel's bond, by the said Cie:k. the quota of arms herein allowed to said county of Cook shall be delivered to the order of said colonel, who shall make equal distribution of them among the captains, who shall dis- tribute them to those who have no arms in the several companies, as shall be equal and just : Provided, that the cost of transportation of said arms shall be paid by the county requiring them.

SEC. 5. The provisions of this act, so far as it confers the power on the Governor to deliver State arms to the militia of this State, as provided in this act, shall be general. All bonds to be taken under the provisions of this act, shall be conditioned for the return of the arms in good order.

(Approved February 22, 1833.)

The organization under the provisions of the fore- going law was not completed until more than a year after its passage. In the spring of 1834, by order of the Military Commandant of the State an election was held at the house of David Lorton, (Laughton) on June 7, 1834. The law was by no means popular. A large part of the community were adverse to training on gen- eral principles. and did not care to be bothered with the responsibility of enrolled soldiery which involved the custody of arms and the payment of fines in case of fail- ure to perform the required drill duty at the time speci- fied. The non-military party were in a large majority, and, as they could not ignore a quasi election under the law, determined to elect if possible a colonel after their own heart. The day appointed for their election brought such a crowd of citizens as had never been assembled in Cook County before. Laughton's tavern,* the place appointed, was situated some twelve miles from Fort Dearborn, near the present suburb of Riverside, on what was known for many years as the

. The house was ourned by Bernardus H. Laughton, and kept by Stephen J. Scutt-" Early Chass ... .. ...

Southwestern Plank Road-now Ogden Avenue. All the able-bodied citizens of Chicago attended; and they went prepared for a short, sharp and decisive campaign. In addition to ordinary commissary stores of crackers, cheese, dried beef, etc., a large supply of strong bever- ages was taken along to strengthen the soldiery in case of a prolonged contest. A part of the outfit was, ac- cording to an aged chronicler, " one keg of brandy, four packages of loaf sugar, and sixteen dozen lemons." The election was entirely a one-sided affair, and was quickly over. The anti-militia party were triumphant. The successful candidate for the Colonel was the chiv- alrous, good-natured, Jean Baptiste Beaubien, then the most popular man in Cook County and one who it was believed could be depended upon for lax dicipline and light fines in time of peace. The election was celebrat- ed with all the hilarity that the occasion demanded.

Its childhood, under the lax discipline of its over in- dulgent and big-hearted Colonel, showed a somewhat spontaneous growth, untrammeled and unpestered with the rigors of military discipline, except at intervals so rare as to render them novel episodes in the otherwise free and easy existence. There is mention of but one regimental muster of the Sixtieth in its early days in the military annals of the time, and the date, or even the year when it transpired, is undetermined. The rather unmilitary but hospitable speech of the good-natured Colonel on dismissing his command is well remembered by old settlers and often quoted. The recollections of K. K. Jones concerning it were given in a letter which appeared in the Chicago Tribune sometime in 1876 or 1877. The letter is as follows :

"In the year '41 or '42 an attempt was made to organize the militia, and those liable to military were warned out. Ex-Sheriff Sam Lowe had been commissioned as one of the Captains, and was full of military zeal. but the people were determined to ' bust ' the whole arrangement somehow. Captain Lowe's company met inside Fort Dearborn, which was then but recently abandoned by the regular troops. The men liable to do military duty did not de- sire to train, but we boys did, and we fell into the ranks promptly. Presently along comes the Captain, taking down the names, age, occupation, and hearing excuses, if any. When the Captain came to me, he said, with great emphasis: 'Are you eighteen?' . N-n-n-o-o Sir.' ' Stand aside.' And thus he served all the boys who were willing, and had only those in the ranks who looked upon the whole thing as a nuisance, and were decidedly unruly. The Captain threatened to put some of them under arrest, and was fast losing his temper. when five recruits marched on to the parade ground, took the left of the line and saluted withont a wink or a smile As Falstaff says, 'such a lot.' Every one was uniformed on his own hook, and regardless of any regulations, ancient or modern. It is impossible for me to describe the scene that followed. The militia broke ranks and gathered around that army and shouted and laughed and clapped their hands. The Captain was mad, and at last succeeded in getting his company in line, made a speech as to their and his duty. . All this time the hive sconts, all well- known young men, stood like statues and looked gravely at the Captain; who, white with passion, ordered a corporal (C. K. Vander- cook) to take charge of that squad, and drill them hard and fast. Van is still living, and you just ask him who did the drilling; the Corporal, or that fantastical squad. He will promptly answer. ' That squad came out ahead every time.' Four of the squad are now dead, and the other is still an honored citizen of Chicago.

273

EARLY MILITARY HISTORY.

This burlesque put the town in great good humor, and, as was in- tended, ' knocked the spols off ' of any more militia trainings in Chicago. The next day was battalion drill, and a new company of fantastics numbering about one hundred, took the place of that squad, and, as no questions were asked, we boys joined, and were at Colonel Beaubien's first and last regimental parade. .

At the close of that regimental parade Colonel Beaubien made the boys a speech about as follow : ' Boys, you have been good soldiers to-day, so we will all go down to my friend George Chackfield's and take some whisky. George, he got some good. I try it this morning.''

At the time of the organization of the Militia of Cook County, in 1834, the county embraced what is now Will, DuPage, McHenry, and. Lake counties, and for many years, until Chicago had grown to be quite a vil- lage, the Chicago quota of militia attached to the regi- ment consisted of but a single company. For the four years succeeding the election of Colonel Beaubien it does not appear that there was any effort made to formally complete the organization by the election of subor- dinate field officers, or the organization of companies. Until 1838 the Colonel enjoyed his title and held auto- cratic and undivided command over his unenrolled and uncounted cohorts. The records of the State Adjutant General show the first full regimental staff, and the offi- cers of the first Chicago company which formed a part of the regiment, with dates of commissions and rank, to have been as follows :

REGIMENTAL AND STAFF OFFICERS.

NAME.

RANK.

DATE. OF RANK.

DATE OF COMMISSION.

John B. Beaubien. .

Colonel

June 7, 1834 May 13, 1835

Seth .Johnson.

Lt .- Colonel

. ..

May 1, 1838 Feb. 19, 1840

Seth T. Otis

Major

May 1, 1838 Feb. 19, 1840

George Raymond ...

Adjutant

June I, IS35 Feb. 19, 1840

Josiah Salisbury

Quartermaster .

June 1, IS38 Feb. 19, IS40

Charles Dyer

Surgeon

June 1, 183S Feb. 19, 1840

Valentine A. Rover Julius Wadsworth ... Chicago Company.

Asst. Surgeon.

June 1, 1838, Feb. 19, 1840

Paymaster

June 1, 1838 Feb. 19, 1840

David Hunter

Captain

April 23, 1838 Feb. 19, 1840 April 23, IS3S Feb. 19, 1840

John M. Van Osdell. 2d Lieutenant. . April 23, 1838 Feb. 19, 1840 Henry L. Kucker ... 2d Lieutenant. . April 25, IS35 Feb. 19, 1840

It would appear from the above that a second regi- mental election was held May 1, 1838, and a company election held in Chicago April 28, 1838, the date of rank heing recorded on the date of election. It does not appear that the commissions, except that of Colonel Beaubien, were issued until nearly two years after the elections; a sad reflection on the laxity of martial spirit and military pride in Chicagoans at that time. The re- ceiving of the commissions and the partial organization of the regiment in February, 1840, came opportunely. Soon after, a detachment of the regiment was ordered by the Governor to perform guard duty at the execu- tion of John Stone, the first murderer convicted and executed in Cook County. He had been convicted of the crimes of rape and the subsequent murder of his victim, a Mrs. Thompson; the crimes having been committed in the present town of Jefferson, Cook County. He was tried at the May term of court, con- victed, and sentenced to be hung May 29. An appeal was made to the Supreme Court, with motion for a new trial. The motion was refused, but, pending the deci- sion, a reprieve was granted, postponing the time of execution to July to, at which time the culprit was hung. The command of the regiment on this occasion was, hy public notice from Colonel Beaubien, given to Lieutenant-Colonel Seth Johnson. The notice transfer- ring the command appeared in the Chicago American of July 8, 1840, and read as follows:

MILITARY MILITIA ORDER NO. I. Headquarters,

CHICAGO, July 6, IS40.

Until further orders, the command of the 60th Regiment of Illinois Militia is transferred to Lieutenant-Colonel Seth Johnson, of the same regiment. He will be obeyed and respected accord- ingly. By order,

J. B. BEAUBIEN, Colonel Commanding. GEORGE RAYMOND, Adjutant.

On the same paper appeared the following:

MILITARY ORDER NO. 2. Headquarters, CHICAGO, July 7, IS40.

In compliance with Regimental Order No. 1, issued July 6, 1840, Lieutenant-Colonel Seth Johnson assumes command of the 60th Regiment Illinois Militia, and directs that an election be held at the Mansion House, Chicago, for the purpose of electing four captains, four first 'lieutenants, and two second lieutenants in the above regiment. By order,

SETH JOHNSON, Lt .- Colonel Commanding. GEORGE RAYMOND, Adjutant.

In an account of the execution which appeared in the Chicago American of July 17, 1840, the services of the militia were noticed as follows: " The prisoner was hung Friday afternoon (July 10 , three miles from the city, near the lake shore. At the request of the Sheriff, nearly two hundred citizens assembled on horseback, with sixty armed militiamen, under command of Col- onels Johnson and Beaubien, and Captain Hunter. Colonel Johnson appeared in full uniform and much credit is due to him and Captain Hunter for their active and successful services in maintaining quiet and order upon this occasion." How long after the execution of Stone Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson held command is not a matter of record. It appears from a regimental order published in the Daily American of August 10, 1842, that Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson at that date still held command. The order was as follows:

HEADQUARTERS 60TH REGIMENT.

CHICAGO, May 28, 1842. REGIMENTAL ORDERS NO. 2.

For the further organization of the 60th Regiment of Illinois Militia in Cook County, the commandant of said regiment hereby orders an election to be held at the several places herein specified, on the 15th of June, IS42, for the purpose of electing one captain, one second lieutenant, for each company district laid off as fol- lows:

Athens precinct will form Company F district. The election will be at Mckay's.

York and Thornton precincts will form Company G district. The election will be held at N. Rexford's.

Lyons and Monroe precincts will form Company H district. The election will be at Spencer's.

Hanover and Barrington precincts will form Company I dis- trict. The election will be held at Christopher Branham's.

Grosse Point and Lake precincts will form Company K district. The election will be held at Shrigley's North Branch llotel.

Desplaines and Salt Creek precincts will form Company L dis- trict. The election will be held at Wilcox's.

The polls will open in each company district at the above named places at 9 o'clock A. M., on the 15th of June, 1842, and will continue open to receive votes until sunset, and all electors must vote viva voce. Three judges of election and one clerk must be chosen and sworn in for each poll, as in ordinary elections. Na person shall be eligible to a command in the militia in this State who is not a citizen of the United States, and has not resided in the proper bounds at least ten days. By order of

SETH JOHNSON, Lieutenant-Colonel. both Regiment Cook County Militia. GEORGE RAYMOND, Adjutant.

Not long after. Colonel Beaubien re-assumed com- mand and determined to have a muster. Whether it was the same before mentioned, or not, is not certain. The order appeared in the Chicago Democrat and was as follows:

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History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 75

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340