USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time > Part 76
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CHICAGO, August, 1842. REGIMENTAL ORDER NO. 5.
The commander of the Goth Regiment of the Illinois Militia of Cook County orders and directs that the officers appointed on
IS
.
W. MI. Larrabee
Ist Lieutenant. .
274
HISTORY OF CHICAGO.
the 16th of June and also on the 23d day of July, 1842, in the above regiment, and who have been sworn into office, proceed without de- lay to enrol their companies within their respective company dis- tricts, and be in readiness to attend the regimental drill and muster on the 7th day of September, 1842; and on the 14th of the same month a court martial will be held to assess fines on all delinquent officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates belonging to the 60th Regiment. By order of
J. B. BEAUBIEN, Colonel Commanding both Regiment Militia.
Order No. 6, which appeared in the same paper, was as follows:
HEADQUARTERS 60TH ILLINOIS MILITIA, CHICAGO, August 6, 1842.
The commander of the 60th Regiment of Illinois Militia hereby orders and directs that an election for one captain and one first and second lieutenant be held at Doty's tavern, Lyons and Summit pre- cinct, to form Company F district, on Saturday the 20th inst., at IO A. M., when and where all those subject to serve in the militia residing within the bounds of said district are required to attend, and select three judges and one clerk to keep the poll on oath, and The poll so taken and certified to be returned to the commander of the regiment so soon as the law .requires. The polls to be kept cpen until 6 P. M. By order of
J. B. BEAUBIEN,
Colonel Commanding both Regiment of Illinois Militia.
Later in the year, September 28, 1842, the following appeared in the Chicago Democrat:
IHEADQUARTERS 60TH REGIMENT ILLINOIS MILITIA. REGIMENTAL ORDERS NO. 12.
CHICAGO, September 26, IS.42.
The commander of said regiment orders and directs that an election be held in Company C, at the United States Hotel, in Chi-
A. Shuman
cago, on the 12th of October next, at 10 A. M. for captain of said company, in the place of A. S. Sherman, resigned.
Also, that an election be held in Company D, at the time afore- said, at the Lake House in Chicago for a second lieutenant of said company, in the place of D. Hatch, removed from the State.
Also that an election be held in Company B, at the Illinois Ex- change in Chicago, at the time aforesaid, for first lieutenant of said company, in place of E. L. Sherman, resigned.
All persons subject to militia duty within bounds of the respective companies aforesaid are required to meet at the places of their respective companies aforesaid, select their judges and clerks, who, being sworn according to law, will open the polls, receive the votes of all qualified electors within their respective companies, keep the polls open until 6 P. M., certify and return the same to the commander of said regiment. By order of
(Attest), Colonel both Regiment Illinois Militia.
B. S. MORRIS, Adjutant.
The location of nine of the earliest companies of the Sixtieth regiment is shown in the foregoing orders, viz .:
Company B; Chicago, South Side, place of election, Illinois Exchange, Lake Street, corner of Wells.
Company C; Chicago, West Side, place of election, Lake llouse, corner of West Randolph and West Water streets.
Company D; Chicago, North Side, place of election, United States Hotel, corner of Rush and North Water streets.
Company F; in Athens (now Lemont).
Company G; the present towns of Thornton, Bremen, Bloom, the south part of Ilyde Park, etc., being the southeast corner of Cook County.
Company II; the present towns of Lynns, Lake, north part of Ilyde l'ark, and other territory adjoining.
Company J: Barrington, l'alatine, Ilanover. Shaumburgh and adjacent territory, being the northwestern part of Cook County.
Company K; Lake View, Jefferson, Maine, Evanston ( then (irosse l'oint ) and adjacent territory in the northeastern part of the county.
Company L ; Proviso, Cicero, Leyden, Norwood, and other territory directly west of Chicago.
Nine companies were named, of which number three,
companies B, C and D, were Chicago companies. In alphabetical order the companies A and E do not ap- pear, and there is a discrepancy in the orders as to com- panies F and H ; Beaubien ordered an election to be held at Doty's tavern, Lyons and Summit, to elect offi- cers for Company F. Johnson ordered the election to be held for Company Fat Mckay's, at Athens, and for Com- pany H, at Lyons and Monroe.
Colonel Beaubien's muster, in compliance with order No. 5, given before, probably came off. There were de- linquents sufficiently numerous to bring out a notice in the Chicago Democrat of October 10, 1842, from A. H. Tappan, Constable and Collector, wherein he states that a list of fines assessed by the "Court of Enquiry and As- sessment for the 60th Regiment of Militia and the Inde- pendent Companies attached " had been placed in his hands for collection. The advertisement closes with the following: " It is hoped that every person within the bounds of the regiment subject to military duty will hold himself in readiness promptly to meet his fines."
The following officers of Chicago Militia companies, appear in the State records as elected and commission- ed, prior to 1847 and subsequent to 1842 :
The names of militia officers of Chicago, outside of those of independent companies attached, which appear elsewhere, are copied from the State records, and are as follows:
MILITIA OFFICERS FROM CHICAGO, COMMISSIONED FOR THE. 60TH REGIMENT OF ILLINOIS MILITIA, FROM IS42 TO 1847.
NAME.
RANK.
DATE OF RANK.
DATE OF COM- MISSION.
J. B. F. Russell.
Colonel .
June 2, '47 June 14, '47
D. Spencer Cady.
Lt .- Col .
June 11,'46 Jan. 31, '47
William L. Church.
Major . . June 11,'46|Jan. 31, '47
Richard P. Denker.
Major
Jan. 19, '50 Feb. 4, -'50
William H. Davis.
Colonel .
Apr. 14, '53 May 7, '53
James Donnelly.
Major ..
Apr. 14. '53 May 7, '53
James Donnelly.
Colonel .
Dec. 2, '54 Jan. 3. '55
James H. O'Brien.
Captain .
June 15, '42 Aug. 22, '42
Joseph Filkins. Captain
June 15,'42 Aug. 22, '42
J. B. Robinson
Captain .
June 15, '42 Aug 22, 42
S. B. Culver.
Ist Lieut June 15, 42 Aug. 22, 42
2d Lieut June 15, '42 Aug. 22,'42 J. R. Bush
Buckner G. Morris
Adjutant Apr. 14, 42 Oct. 15, 42
E. G. Kimberly.
Surgeon Sep. 15, '42 Oct. 15, '42 .
James Caldwell.
Captain Aug. I,
42 Oct. 15, '42
J. D. Campbell.
Ist Lieut Aug. I, '42 Oct. 15, 42
J. C. Smith.
2d Lieut Aug. 1, '42 Oct. 15, '42
Samuel Mckay
2d Lieut Sep. 12, '42 Dec. 9, 42
Russell Green
Captain . Oct. 12, '42 Dec. 9, 42
W. P. Holden. 2d Lieut Oct. 12, '42 Dec. 9. 42
Q'master Dec. 12, '42 Jan. 25. '43
P. W. Gates.
2d Lieut Aug. 5, 43 Oct. 25, 43
John Demsey
Ist Lieut Aug. 5, 43 Oct. 25, '43
I. Il. Sullivan.
Captain . Aug. 5, 43 Oct. 25, 43
Alvan Calhoun
Captain . Aug. 5, '43 Oct. 25, 43
S. A. Davis.
Ist Lieut Aug. 10, 43 Oct. 25, 43
D. D. Stanton
Ist Lieut .Aug. 5, 43; Oct. 25. 43
C. E. Peck.
2d Lieut Aug. 10, 43 Oct. 25, 43
Ist Lieut Aug. 8, '46
2d Lieut Aug. 8, '46
Captain . June 24, '46 Aug. 28,'46
John J. Russell.
Ist Lieut June 24, '46 Aug. 29,'46
James 11. Carpenter
Ist Lieut June 8, '46 Aug. 28, 46
Thomas B. Benton
ed Lieut June S, '46 Aug. 28,'46
Noble R. Ilays.
Captain . July 4, '46 .Aug. 28,'46
James Sherman
ed Lieut fuly 4,
46 .Aug. 25.'46
K. Smith.
3d I.jeut July 4. '46 Aug. 25. 46
E. B. Southerland.
Ist Lient July 4. '46 Aug. 28,'46
J. B3. Wier ..
Caplain . Mar. 14, 47 Apr. 14, 47
William B. Snowhook
Captain . Apr. 3. 47 Apr. 24, 47
Frederick Schafer.
Captain . Sep. 20, '47 ()ct. 8, '47
Richard P. Denker
Ist Lieut Sep. 20, 47 Oct. 8, 47
Charles Kotz.
2d lieut Sep. 20, 47 Oct. 8. 47
J. V. Sanger
Captain Ang. ID, 43 ()ct. 25, 43
,
James H. Carpenter.
Thomas B. Penton
William 11. Davis.
David Hatch
J. B. BEAUBIEN,
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EARLY MILITARY HISTORY
The following officers of Chicago Militia companies appear on the State records as elected and commissioned prior to 1842, and subsequent to 1840:
NAME.
RANK.
DATE OF RANK.
DATE OF COMMISSION.
S. J. Lowe.
Captain
..
July IS, 1840 Dec. IS, 1841
A. S. Sherman ..
Captain (Co. C). July IS, IS40 Dec. IS, IS4I
W. H. Davis ..
Captain
July 18, 1840 Dec. IS, IS41
D. Spencer Cady.
Captain
July 18, 1840 Dec. 18, 1841
Francis Watkins ..
Ist Lieut.
July IS, 1840 Dec. 18, 1841
G. A. Beaumont.
Ist Lieut.
July IS, IS40 Dec. IS, 1841
Hugh T. Dickey.
Ist Lieut
July 18, 1840 Dec. IS, IS41
Ezra L. Sherman ..
Ist Lieut. (Co. B) July 18, 1840 Dec. 18, 1841
Thomas Hoyne
2d Lieut
July 18, 1840 Dec. IS, IS41
George R. Dyer. . .
2d Lieut.
July 18, 1840 Dec. 18, IS4I
Sylvester Marsh
2d Lieut.
July 18, 1840 Dec. IS, IS41
David Hatch.
2d Lieut. (Co. D)|July 18, 1840 Dec. IS, 1841
The Sixtieth, as the reader already knows, was the first militia regiment organized in Cook County. It continued its existence as a militia State organization until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion in 1861. Its first Colonel, J. B Beaubien, held command, except at such times as he chose temporarily to abdicate, until 1847, at which time he became Brigadier-General of Second Brigade, Sixth Division, Illinois Militia,* and J. B. F. Russell was commissioned Colonel.
Following are the names of early officers of the Six- tieth Regiment not identified as residents of Chicago:
NAME.
RANK.
DATE OF RANK.
DATE OF COMMISSION.
P. B. Spaulding
Captain.
June 15, 1842 Aug. 22, 1842
Joseph Adams.
Captain.
June 15, 1842 Ang. 22, 1842
Ebenezer Moore.
Ist Lieutenant. .
June 15, 1842 Ang. 22, 1842
G. S. Browning.
Ist Lieutenant. .
June 15, 1842 Aug. 22, 1842
Benjamin Hall.
Ist Lieutenant ..
June 15, 1842 Aug. 22, 1842
Herman Crandall.
Ist Lieutenant ..
June 15 1842 Aug. 22, 1842
R. F. Cluff.
2d Lieutenant. .
June 15, 1842
Ang. 22, IS42
Milton Flaskett.
2d Lieutenant ..
June 15, 1842 Aug. 22, 1842
P. N. Culver.
2d Lieutenant. .
June 15, 1842
Ang. 22, 1842
Seth W. Adams
2d Lieutenant ..
June 15, IS42
Ang. 22, 1842
John Sevinry.
Captain
July 23, IS42 Feb. 4, 1843
G. G. Smith.
Ist Lieutenant. .
July 23, 1842 Feb. 4, 1843
John B. Cowi
2d Lieutenant ..
June 24, 1846 Aug. 28, 1846
Joel S. Shinian.
.. |3d Lieutenant. .
June 24, 1846 Aug. 28, 1846
· Further lists of officers connected with the regiment during its existence appear in sketches of the inde- pendent companies which were attached to it, and in later years made up the organization.
INDEPENDENT COMPANIES UP TO 1847 .- During the summer and fall of 1842, when the foregoing orders were issued, and the muster of the Cook County Militia occurred, there was a revival of the military spirit which resulted in the organization of the first independent militia companies of Chicago. There had been, prior to this date, one or two ephemeral organizations of which only the names are preserved. In 1837, the Chi- cago American asked : "What has become of the Dragoon Company?" The question suggests the prior existence of such a company, although no record ap- pears elsewhere concerning it. The same paper, August 12, 1839, asks: "What has become of the Chicago City Guards?" The answer is, as in the former case; nobody knows what has become of them, and nobody would have known that they had ever existed had not the Ameri- can missed them and attempted a futile hunt for their remains. December 8, 1841, a correspondent in the American wrote:
" I am a little surprised that a city as populous and as pub- lic spirited in all other respects as Chicago is, should so long remain destitute of one or more independent military companies.
. Cieneral Beaubien's staff was announerd in the Chicago Democrat nl May 13, 1847, as follows: Grunge Davis, Brigade Inspector; J. H. Kinzie, Quarter- master: Peter Page, Aid-de-Camp, with rank of Major respectively.
That a city, numbering at least six thousand inhabitants, has not even one uniformed company is lamentable. In Ottawa there are two companies, and in Joliet one."
The same correspondent further discoursed on the military situation in the American of December 13, 1841. He said:
" The formation of a dragoon company would be much too ex- pensive, for each member would be required to furnish himself with a good horse. An artillery company would not meet our wants; it being an arm of the service that moves with the heaviness of its own eighteen or twenty-four pounders. I would therefore recommend a light infantry company. As to the uniform; it is a matter of fancy or taste. A neat gray uniform need not cost each member over Szo; a felt hat or cap, with plate scales, and tassels with plumes, SIO. This is the full amount that would be required, ex- cept the officers, who would have to furnish themselves with epau- lets, swords and sashes. The arsenal accouterments are furnished by the State upon requisition."
The following editorial appeared in the American of April 12, 1842.
" ILLINOIS MILITIA-This title we dare say, sounds somewhat oddly. It is rather a new thing for this portion of the State, at all events. The idea of an Illinois training has not probably been con- templated by many of our citizens. Besides, the militia system gener- ally has been so burlesqued; there have been so many invincibles in the field that not a few have looked upon the matter as long ex- ploded. Such views may, perhaps, be properly entertained when there is no danger of war, but they surely cannot be when a few months, nay, perhaps weeks, may possibly present us with scenes and sounds very different from those to which nearly all of us have been accustomed. The sword is already more than half-drawn from its scabbard. This matter has been suggested to us by the fact that militia officers are engaged in enrolling our citizens, and that the twenty-seventh of the present month is training day."
December 12, in the Daily American appeared the following:
" ATTENTION, COMPANY !
"The gentlemen of this city desirous of forming themselves into an Independent Volunteer Company of Light Infantry will meet at the City Hotel on Friday evening next, at seven o'clock.
" MANY CITIZENS."
This meeting resulted in an attempt to organize a company. March 14, 1842, there appeared in the Daily American the following notice:
"ATTENTION, COMPANY !- The members of the Washington Guards will meet at the court-room on Randolph Street next Tues- day evening, the 15th, at seven, and it is hoped that others who feel interested in the good cause will come and assist, and also those who wish to join. BY ORDER OF THE COMMITTEE."
April 2, 1842, notice appeared in the American as follows :
" The Washington Guards will meet at the court-room, corner of Wells and Randolph streets, on Saturday, April 2, for company drill. A general attendance of members and those wishing to join is requested. H. TOWNSEND, Secretary.
"A. H. PALMER, Instructor."
It does not appear that the Washington Guards be- came sufficiently organized at that time to be recognized on the State records as an independent company. From such mention as can be found, it appears that there had been in Chicago, prior to the summer of 1842, three in- dependent military companies, viz .: a dragoon com- pany, prior to 1837 ; the Chicago City Guards, prior to August 12, 1839, and the Washington Guards, in exist- ence April 2, 1842. Quite soon after that date two in- dependent companies were formed ; one of infantry, the Montgomery Guards, and a cavalry company, first re- corded on the books of the State Adjutant-General as the Chicago Cavalry. The Montgomery Guards may have succeeded the Washington Guards ; at any rate it was the first independent infantry company that had sufficient vitality to become historical. It survived the Mexican War, and the long period of peace succeeding, even to the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, at which time it was ready as ever since its organization
.
276
HISTORY OF CHICAGO.
in 1842 to fight the battles of its country. It has the longest record of any company in the city, was the first to organize, and never ceased its organization until it went out in the glory of actual warfare during the Re- bellion. It was an Irish company, as the names of the first officers would show. They were. as appears from the official roster at Springfield, as follows : Captain, Patrick Kelley : First Lieutenant, W. B. Snowhook; Sec- ond Lieutenant, Henry Cunningham ; Third Lieutenant, Michael O'Brien.
The Chicago Cavalry was also organized in the early spring of 1842. Its first officers commissioned were : Captain, Jesse Leavenworth ; First Lieutenant, Isaac N. Arnold; Second Lieutenant, James Y. Sanger ; Third Lieutenant, S. B. Cobb ; Cornet, S. N. Davis.
These two earliest independent companies of Chi- cago were attached to the Sixtieth Regiment of Illinois Militia. Both companies appeared in their new uni- forms on July 4. 1842. The Chicago Cavalry headed the procession, and the Montgomery Guards were pre- sented a flag on that occasion. The Chicago American, July 5, gives an account of the presentation ceremonies, as follows :
"On presenting the standard to the company Dr. Egan thus addressed the company: 'Vientlemen of the Montgomery (inards,- you have honored me in receiving at my hands the banner-accept it. It is the first that has been presented in our new city, may it be the last to suffer in defeat. Behold ! it unfurls to the breeze the name of the illustrious Montgomery; it wakes up glorious associa- tions of the chivalrous dead. It points as a beacon light 'to the shadowy Tuture. Remember ! humble as you are now, the dis- jointed times may call upon some spirit from amongst your ranks to shed his blood for a nation's rights and to leave behind him a name like that which now floats upon the breeze above you. He was but one of the many sons of Erin's Isle that planted the seed of liberty in a foreign land, and watered it with his blood. History points equally to the torrid regions of the fiery South: the snow-clad hills of Canada; the sunny valleys of France; and the orange groves of Spain-and each bears testimony in our favor. Let the spirit that actuated such, inspire you, and hover over this banner as an heir- loom from father-land-a talisman to lead you on to glory. Re- member your country has claims on you yet-she bids you be united and firm in support of your own rights, and yield an equality to all. She bids you spurn the oppressor, by whatsoever name he may be called, and to walk upright, for the eye of the stranger is upon you. Farewell and remember your God, your country, and your rights.
"Capt. Kelley replied as follows :
"'We receive this banner gratefully at our hands. We pledge ourselves to keep its ample folds floating in the breeze until we shall have the honor to say that we, the Montgomery Guards, have added fresh laurels to our adopted country. We shall ever be ready to meet the enemy first in action and last out. The British flag, it is true, has dotted the globe, but it has marked it with cruelty and oppression ; but the star-spangled banner is hailed everywhere as the harbinger of freedom, the hope of the oppressed and the terror of tyrants. The sympathies of the whole world are following its course as it ploughs the ocean in search of distant climes, and un- born millions will yet bless the hour when it was unfurled to wage unceasing war upon the oppressors of mankind.' "
In Norris's directory 1844 three independent com- panies are named as then existing in Chicago.
The Chicago Guards: J. B. F. Russell, Captain; W. M. Larrabee, First Lieutenant; F. A. Howe, Jr., Second Lieutenant.
The Chicago Cavalry: J. Y. Sanger, Captain; S. N. Davis, First Lieutenant: C. E. Peck, Second Lieutenant; J. G. Wicker, Third Lieutenant; J. L. Howe, Cornet; C. L. P. Hogan, Orderly Sergeant.
The Montgomery Guards: P. Kelley, Captain; W. B. Snowhook, First Lieutenant; H. Cunningham, Second Lieutenant: M. O'Brien, Third Lieutenant.
At this epoch the military spirit sensibly waned. The city directory of 1845 names no military organiza- tions. May 21, 1845. the Chicago Democrat inquires: "Where are the Chicago Cavalry, City Guards, and
Montgomery Guards? We should have to look to them for defense in case of the invasion of our city, and we should like to know their condition." The breaking out of the Mexican War the next year, revived the mili- - tary spirit, and brought these companies again into prominence. Neither of them failed to furnish many Mexican soldiers, although the companies remained in Chicago.
CHICAGO IN THE MEXICAN WAR .- Neither the offi- cial records nor the newspapers of the day ; the mem- ories of the old soldiers of the Mexican War still sur- viving, nor all that can be gathered from those sources of information, give the full history of Chicago and Cook County during the years of the Mexican War. The newspapers caught such local news as was, at the time, interesting; the Adjutant-General's office at Springfield took, apparently, as much cognizance of that war as the law demanded and little more. From its records it would be impossible to tell how many men Illinois furnished, how many went from Cook County, or how many from Chicago. Neither could the number of companies raised in Chicago be ascertained, nor the names of the men who enlisted, nor the companies to which they were assigned, nor any other historic fact of local or individual importance. This is written after a careful examination of all the published reports, and a cursory examination of the records at Springfield.
Nevertheless, from the only three reliable sources for historic information known-the State records, the newspapers, and the memory of the soldiers-it is be- lieved that most concerning the period that pertains to the history of Chicago and Cook County has been res- cued from oblivion.
From the newspapers of Chicago the following ex- tracts are given ; showing in a quite disjointed way the war atmosphere which pervaded the city during 1846 :
January 6-A. Garrett, Mayor, invited the citizens of Chicago to attend "a meeting at the court-house on Friday, January 8, to take into consideration the best method of defending our city in case of war."
January 13-Hon. John Wentworth, wrote from Washington under date of December 23, the following paragraph : "One of the military committee complains greatly that our State has made no returns of its militia. Whose business is this? If our Legislature has an ex- tra session, it ought to re-organize our militia as the first thing. There ought to be a company with officers of its own choice in every precinct, with power to have two where the precinct is very large. The same of the wards of our city. Then there ought to be a separate body of inspection officers chosen by the precinct offi- cers for each county. In case of a war, there must be a strong military post at Chicago. In the capacity of our Government to hold the fort at Mackinac, or in the capacity of that fort to command the straits we should not place too much dependence."
Democrat, January 13-" The war meeting called for the Sth was postponed, in the absence of a large delegation of leading citizens then at Rockford, attend- ing a railroad meeting in the interest of the Galena & Chicago road."
Democrat, May 26-"Congressional act passed May 13 authorized the President to accept volunteers to the maximum number of 50,000. Approved May 22. 1846."
Democrat, May 30-" Corporal Sullivan, son of j. H. Sullivan, of this city, in the midst of the late battle Monterey ? after firing at a company of the enemy, rushed in upon them, seized a lieutenant by the collar, disarmed him and delivered him a prisoner to Lieuten- ant Graham. He also captured a cannon from the
277
EARLY MILITARY HISTORY.
enemy, rolled it out in the road and turned it over to an officer of the 5th Infantry. Napoleon would have pro- moted him on the field."
Democrat, June 3-" T. L. Dickey commanded a company from LaSalle County in the Mexican War."
Democrat, June 30-A. Garrett writes a letter of half a column. He states that he was appointed chairman of the citizen's committee to aid and assist in raising and equipping volunteers under the requisition of the Govern- ment. That it required no small exertion and consider- able means to raise and uniform the first two companies, and that in order to do this it became necessary for a individuals, of whom he was one, to subscribe an un- unlimited amount for uniforming, as the Government had made no immediate effort for this object. After this had been accomplished, a latter was received from Governor Ford stating his desire that there should be another company raised in Chicago. " Knowing the great difficulty experienced in raising, uniformning and transporting the first two companies to the State rendez- vous, I offered to advance the funds myself for a third company, provided it could be raised-not otherwise." He then speaks of his first success in raising thirty-five recruits, but found that C. H Larrabee had authority to raise a company for Santa Fé. Larrabee finally decided not to go, but the effort to raise two companies at the same time prevented Mr. Garrett from raising the quota required, within the ten days allowed him by the Gov- ernor. He succeeded in recruiting fifty-eight men. A full company was required : sixty-four privates, eight non-commissioned, three commissioned officers and two musicians.
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