USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois : being a general survey of Cook County history, including a condensed history of Chicago and special account of districts outside the city limits : from the earliest settlement to the present time, volume I > Part 42
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An immense Union meeting was held at Metropolitan hall on the evening of April 15, called to voice the sentiments of the people. Norman B. Judd presided. Among the speakers were Elliott Anthony, R. S. Blackwell, I. N. Arnold, J. S. Rumsey, T. J. Sloan, A. D. Bradley, B. F. Millard, George W. Gage, S. M. Wilson, U. F. Linder and Owen Lovejoy. Mr. Linder delivered a speech of great power and eloquence. In fact, all of the speakers, under the inspiration of the hour. surpassed themselves. It remained with Owen Lovejoy, however, to unfetter the patriotism burning in the bosoms here and to give it vent in enthusiastic cheers and in the blazing spirit of war. He entered the hall while the speaking was in progress and was promptly called to the stand by the whole
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audience amid immense cheering. The Tribune of April 16 said : "Our brief limits can do no justice to his fervidly eloquent harangue, which characteristically passed through every range from telling hits and biting sarcasm to the most eloquent and pathetic pathos and beauty. At times his voice was drowned in tumults of ap- plause; at times the very breathing of the vast audience seemed hushed as he painted in feeling terms the evils of the times on which we have fallen. The speech of Mr. Lovejoy was followed most appropriately by the Star Spangled Banner sung in splendid style by Frank Lumbard, the vast audience swelling the chorus with an intensity of feeling and effect we have never seen equalled. . Chicago was the scene of vast excitement yesterday. Men gave themselves and the day up to the hearing and the discussion of the exciting news. It is most gratifying to note how little the varied political antecedents had to do with the all-prevalent and fervid glow of patriotic feeling. Men of all parties talked of the American flag and its honor as a common possession and heritage. Men of peace and ordinarily quiet and pacific citizens seemed to walk with fuller chests and to draw in long breaths, and as they heard this and that accession of exciting news spoke and acted as if in a war time. Men became intolerant all at once, and those who last week and in the time past have heard our institutions attacked and the aggressions of slavery defended, who have dared heretofore to quote the political and national gospel according to Jefferson Davis, sang small or not at all and were made to do little and say less that should indicate their sympathy with the assailants of the Stars and Stripes. The war footing was taken on suddenly.
Throughout all yesterday the city was brilliant with flags. They floated from the hotels, public buildings, newspaper offices, and from many of the stores. The newspaper offices were thronged all day, and the bulletins, issued as fast as the dispatches came, found eager perusal by thousands and passed from lip to lip. . . And foremost among those who are ready to dare all, brave all, sacrifice all, are the women of Chicago. . In this city there is much stir and consultation among our military men, and prep- arations for the immediate future are in progress."
On the evening of April 16, 1861, two companies of United States troops which had been stationed in Minnesota passed through Chicago on their way to Washington under command of Major Pemberton. So intense was the military spirit at this time that fully 10,000 cheering people turned out to see them as they marched through the streets from one depot to another. By April 17 the effervescent state of public feeling had to some extent given place to the determined sentiments of war. Immediately upon the fall of Fort Sumter all the fragmentary militia companies here began mustering volunteers and held daily, almost hourly, drills. Public meetings in all parts of the city and county, both of native and
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foreign born citizens, were held preparatory to active work in the field. The old United States Zouaves (Colonel Ellsworth's pride) were reorganizing under Captain Hayden. The Irish companies were filling up. The German Turners were nearly ready. The Union Cadets were almost the first to be prepared for their arms. The Highland Guards were drilling almost nightly under Captain McArthur. Their services were tendered to Governor Yates about April 16. Capt. Charles R. Baker left for Springfield Tuesday evening, April 16, for the purpose of inducing the authorities to accept his company of Chicago dragoons. The students at Bryant and Stratton's college began forming a company. Another com- pany was called to rendezvous at the Tremont house. All of the old companies were calling for recruits. The Tribune of April 18 said: "Chicago Volunteers .- Last night the city was alive with volunteer meetings. The coolest resolution, coupled with the most stirring enthusiasm, marked all the gatherings. Between 1,500 and 1,600 men are already on the muster rolls. Tonight there will be a general rendezvous at Bryan hall for further enlistment and to provide a fund for meeting the contingent expenses of the companies until the state shall make provisions for the same. The work must go on. Though Illinois has been drawn on for only six regiments, it is inevitable that the call will soon be doubled or trebled. There is no time for delay."
In a letter to the Tribune, dated April 18, 1861, Mr. H. Cox asked if some step should not be taken to provide for the families of soldiers. The Chicago Light artillery under Col. Ezra Taylor had four brass pieces and two howitzers and were nearly ready. By April 17 the Washington Independent regiment under Col. Thomas Shirley had seven companies nearly filled. They were the Highland guards, Washington Light cavalry, Washington rifles, Chicago grenadiers, Lincoln rifles, Union rifles and Illinois rifles. The company raised at Bryant and Stratton's was tendered to the Governor April 17. The Tribune of April 19 said: "A move- ment is on foot, started by private citizens, to uniform and equip the Zouaves by private subscription. A wealthy, well-known citizen heads the list with $1,000." The Times of April 16 spoke of "His Excellency President Davis." This act kindled the wrath of the Union enthusiasts. Before April 18 Chicago bankers had sub- scribed over $500,000 to the state war fund to be used in carrying on expenses prior to the assembling of the Legislature.
The Tribune of April 19 had this to say of an immense double war meeting held here: "It would be impossible to describe the wild enthusiasm of the double meeting at Bryan and Metropolitan halls last evening, called to procure subscriptions for the immediate expenses of our volunteers. The money came down like rain, and the people rushed forward in unprecedented numbers at the various military headquarters to enroll themselves among the defenders
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of the flag. Lighted tar barrels illuminated the horizon, and the streets were alive till midnight with martial music and the shouting multitude. . . . The wires are burdened with dispatches offering men to the Governor. Democrats are struggling with Republicans and Republicans with Democrats, for places in the ranks. The cry is 'Still they come!' How different from the sluggish movements which preceded the war with Mexico, when three successive proc- lamations from Governor Ford failed to start a volunteer in Chi- cago, and when the civil authorities well nigh despaired of raising the Illinois quota. Then the consciences of the people were not enlisted. Now they are touched as with a live coal from off the altar of their country."
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On April 18 Capts. Charles W. Barker and Fred Harding re- turned from Springfield with the joyful news that their companies had been accepted by Governor Yates. Another immense war meeting was held at Bryan hall on the evening of April 18. Among the speakers were Judge Drummond, S. S. Hayes, ex-Governor Baker of New Hampshire, but in 1861 residing in Iowa, George W. Gage, Judge Gookins of Indiana, John Wentworth, I. N. Arnold, Philip Conley and Rev. Mr. Corning. A splendid series of resolutions was adopted, among which was the following : "Resolved, That the armed Southern rebellion against our beloved and cherished Union is without excuse or patriotism, an outcry against freedom and humanity, a most wicked and diabolical scheme to subserve selfish and ambitious ends, and that the traitors who have armed themselves and confederates against our govern- ment shall be conquered, disarmed and crushed out, cost what blood and treasure and time it may."
At this meeting $8,386 was subscribed in a few minutes to be used to meet current expenses in equipping the first Chicago com- panies. Among the subscribers were: John Wentworth, $500; R. M. Hough, $500; S. F. Gale, $500; J. L. Hancock, $500; Wal- ter L. Newberry, $500; and E. W. Willard, $500.
The same evening (April 18) a big neutral meeting was held at Metropolitan hall, among the speakers being Rev. Mr. Cox, Senator Bestor of Peoria, H. E. Seelye, Murray F. Tuley, G. A. Much, S. S. Hayes, Col. Thomas Shirley, C. G. Wicker and John A. Thompson. Modified or conciliatory resolutions were adopted. This meeting was not a credit to the participants, numbers of whom in after years were ashamed of the proceedings. The same evening an immense war and patriotic meeting was held in West Market hall by the Scandinavians. On the evening of April 17 a deputation of West Side Germans waited upon the editor of the Chicago Democrat and demanded that he display the Stars and Stripes from his office, as his was the only newspaper office in the city that had not already done so. He complied. The war meetings were so large and so numerous that the Wigwam was prepared for that
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service and renamed "National hall." By April 19 the fund to equip volunteers amounted to $36,000. The Board of Trade had subscribed $5,000 toward the fund, but private individuals of the board had given $5,000 more. It was announced April 19 that Washington Independent regiment, consisting of ten companies, had been accepted entire by the state. Captain Harding's company drilled at the old Board of Trade rooms. Men past .forty-five years talked of organizing a company of home guards. Captain Barker's company drilled at the Armory; his Dragoons numbered 120 by April 19. George Smith, the banker, subscribed $1,000 to the volunteer fund.
The first volunteers 'of Cook county left here on Sunday night. April 21. The Tribune of April 22 contained the following notice : "The train on the Illinois Central road which left at 10 o'clock last night carried off seven hundred men-comprising a fine body of troops, armed and equipped for active service, however immediate : The Light artillery of Capt. James Smith, the Lincoln rifles under Captain Michalozy, Captain Clybourn's company, Captain Hard- ing's company, the United States Zouaves under Captain Hayden, and the Union Cadets under Captain Kowald. . . . The scene at the station was a thrilling one as the hour for departure drew near. Parents crowded about to bid good-bye to sons, wives to take leave of husbands, sisters to brothers, lovers parted, friends exchanged farewells. It was bringing the war home-the departure of these troops. An immense concourse of spectators were present, who gave them a parting cheer as the long train of twenty-six cars, drawn by two engines, moved slowly out along the pier."
The remainder of this regiment was to be sent forward within two weeks. April 21 was the busiest Sunday Chicago had ever experienced. All day the streets echoed with the tread of troops, the voices of the bugles and the roll of the drums. The head- quarters of Gen. R. K. Swift and of the war committee was on Wells street between Lake and South Water. General Swift com- manded the troops that left Sunday night, April 21, for Spring- field. Roger Fowler was appointed commissary general here and Colonel Baldwin brigade inspector. The following day (Monday) was as stirring as Sunday. Troops paraded the streets almost con- stantly. The excitement caused all the courts to adjourn. Solo- mon Sturges offered to arm and equip at his own expense a com- pany of eighty sharpshooters. Henry Farnam, J. Y. Scammon and the Chicago Gas Light company each gave $1,000 to the war fund. New companies were springing up all over the city. Cap- tain Barker's Chicago dragoons and the Rumsey guards under Captain Kellogg left for Springfield April 22. A company of engineers, sappers and miners began enlisting at the surveyor's office. Four companies of a Reserve corps were nearly organized by April 22. Company A of the Highland guards, commanded
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by Captain Raffen, became the color company of the Washington regiment. The Union rifles, a German sharpshooting organization, were ready April 23. The Irish citizens were busy. At North Market hall on April 20, in one and a half hours, 325 names were enrolled for an Irish regiment. Recruiting stations for this or- ganization were opened in many places throughout the city and county. Captain Mulligan was active in recruiting and organizing it. He later became its colonel. It formed the famous "Mulligan's brigade." The first Cook county troops to take the field were sent to Cairo, Illinois, to guard that section from a threatened attack.
At a preliminary meeting of ladies held April 22 at Bryan's hall, thirty of them, married and single, volunteered as nurses, to be ready when called upon. The Chicago Medical society passed a resolution to give to the families of absent soldiers medical service gratis. At this time organized provision to care for sick and wounded soldiers was taken. The committee of safety were A. H. Burley (president), E. I. Tinkham (vice-president), James Lang (vice-president), Samuel Hoard (secretary and treasurer), E. H. Haddock, W. T. Mather, Julian S. Rumsey, Thomas B. Bryan, L. P. Hilliard and Orrington Lunt. A crack Zouave regiment was commenced by George E. Gage, W. T. Barron, A. F. Chadbourn. L. P. Bradley, John Van Arman, John M. Loomis, Frank T. Sher- man, F. W. Buckingham and others. By April 23 there was strong talk of the necessity of a vigilance committee to hold in check Southern sympathizers. In his message to the Legislature April 23, 1861, Governor Yates recommended the organization of ten regiments and the appropriation of $3,000,000-all for war pur- poses. Tuesday, April 23, was as busy a day in military affairs here as were Sunday and Monday. Casper Butz, who had served in the Baden revolution of 1848, and Charles Torbahl began recruiting a German battalion April 23. The companies before and after April 23 began leaving for Springfield, often without ceremony and without notice. By April 24, according to the Tribune of that date, nineteen full companies had left Chicago for Cairo and Springfield, but quite a large number of them had come here from adjacent counties. The Chicago Home guards, by April 23, consisting of men over age, numbered 140 and were commanded by Capt. C. E. Thompson. By this date companies commanded by the following captains were either entirely filled or nearly so: Shambeck, Rolsh- ansen, Lippert, Becker, Putz, Mattern, Poull, George Schneider of the Staats Zeitung, Van Horn and Hersch. The Swiss citizens were organizing a reserve corps, and some half dozen other com- panies, without commanders as yet, were nearly ready. Thus Chicago and Cook county, though bitterly opposed, criticised and insulted by local Southern sympathizers, were doing their full duty to aid the Government to save the Union. On April 23 about 1,000 ladies assembled at Bryan hall to complete an organization to carry
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on a systematic plan of preparing lint and bandages for the hospital department of the army. Forty-nine of them volunteered to become nurses. Senator Douglas on his way home from Washington made several speeches-one at Columbus and one at Indianapolis-and in each vigorously advocated the prosecution of the war for the Union. One of the duties of the committee of safety was to stop shipments of contraband to the South. By April 24 Mulligan's brigade comprised about 500 men; they received $400 from the citizens' committee for equipment. Captains Fuller and Snyder had companies about ready by April 26. Several of the companies of the "Yates Phalanx" were started about this time. The "Ten Regiment Bill" passed the Legislature May 2, and $2,000,000 was appropriated to cover war expenses. The ten regiments were for state service, and were in addition to the six regiments raised under President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers. Capt. Chas. R. Walsh was elected colonel of the Irish (Mulligan's) brigade, ac- cording to the Tribune of May 2, 1861. Capt. E. L. Brand had recruited a company by April 24. The colored men of the city held a public meeting April 24 and passed resolutions of regret that they were not permitted to enlist and fight for the flag and freedom. A company of sailors was well advanced by April 25. The companies of Captains Kellogg and Cooper left for the front April 24. On April 25 Senator Douglas was invited to address the Illinois Legislature. He did so and made a ringing and elo- quent Union speech. The Tribune reporter wrote: "The effect of this most powerful oratorical effort was electric. The whole house rose to their feet and gave cheer after cheer for Douglas, for the Union and for the Stars and Stripes." A big war meeting was held at Lemont on April 23, H. M. Singer serving as chairman. Strong Union resolutions, offered by B. F. Brown, were adopted. A whole company was enrolled on this occasion, though the town had only about 400 inhabitants.
By April 26 Van Arman's company was half filled; the Irish brigade was 600 strong; Captain Slaughter's rifle corps was well advanced; Colonel Peaslee's "Yates Phalanx" regiment was nearly completed ; Captain Bross' company was almost ready ; the Shields guards were ready-both companies A and B; the Sturges rifles, under Capt. James Steele, were complete; a fusileer company was nearly filled; a full company was raised April 25 at a public meet- ing at Canal and Mitchell streets-George W. Spofford presided at this meeting ; Henry Deal was elected captain of the Seaman's bri- gade; at a war meeting held in Palatine April 24 and addressed by J. B. Bradwell, thirty men were recruited : the ladies here organ- ized soldiers' sewing societies; boxes of delicacies and medicines were sent to the Cook county boys at Cairo; the gunsmiths of Chicago were overrun with work; all tailors were busy making uniforms and hatters making Zouave caps; one house had made
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3,000 cartridge boxes; the stock of guns and pistols in the city · had been exhausted before April 26. At this date exchange was at 10 per cent premium, and gold at 15 to 16 per cent premium selling. On April 27 the Sturges rifles were armed with Sharp's rifles, at the expense of Mr. Sturges. The two companies of Shields guards were commanded respectively by Capts. James Quirk and Daniel Quirk. They were ready April 27. Capt. M. C. J. Stolbrand commanded the Scandinavian company which was ready April 29. By May 1 the activity in military affairs at Chi -. cago had apparently not abated in the least.
Senator Douglas upon his arrival here May 1, 1861, was given a great ovation by all Chicago, regardless of party. His emphatic and vigorous course in support of the war for the Union wiped out all bitterness here against him. He delivered another of his powerful speeches for the Union. The Tribune of May 2, 1861, said: "Three weeks ago there was not a full military company in the city, even for holiday purposes. Today Chicago has thirteen companies in actual service, with a reserve corps of twenty-five full companies ready to march at the tap of the drum-twenty-five exclusive of the Home guard and Van Arman's regiment, not yet complete. These companies will average, rank and file, ninety men each-a total of 3,420. If any large city has done better in propor- tion to population we would be glad to know its name."
A few of the old Chicago Zouaves joined Colonel Ellsworth's New York regiment. He left New York for the front April 29. The thirteen companies in actual service were as follows :
Chicago Light Artillery. Captain Smith
Chicago Dragoons .Captain Barker
Chicago Light Infantry. Captain Harding
Rumsey Guards .. Captain Kellogg
Union Cadets (German) . Captain Kowald
Lincoln Rifles (Hungarian) . Captain Michalozy
Washington Light Cavalry (German) .
Captain Tobowhertz
Highland Guards. . Captain Raffen
Zouave Company A Captain Hayden
Zouave Company B. Captain Clybourn
Zouave Company C. Captain Conner
Zouave Company H. . Captain Inness
Union Rifles Captain Cooper
The above companies averaged fully ninety men each. Early in May, 1861, a large war meeting was held in the Presbyterian church at Dunton, on which occasion there was present a full com- pany under Captain Heeler, recruited in Palatine, Dunton and Barrington. William H. Dunton was chairman and Ira Clark sec- retary. William Bross, from Chicago, addressed the assemblage. Gen, James H. Lane of Kansas delivered a strong Union speech in National hall (the Wigwam) on May 5. There was complaint from Chicago at this time that the companies of Captains Smith. Michalozy and Kowald had been assigned to detached duty and had
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not been placed in one of the early Illinois regiments. By May 5 many of the companies that had been formed were disbanded, because it was reported that they would not be needed. By May 6 the Irish brigade numbered 864 men; they voted not to disband. In May Solomon Sturges offered the Government six steam tugs, one of which, the "McQueen," was the best on the lakes. The Sturges rifles were accepted directly from Washington by Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, and went into camp at Cottage Grove, on the spot which soon afterward became Camp Douglas. The German Jaeger regiment had four companies ready by May 10. Edward Hamilton of Chicago invented a breech-loading rifle can- non which was tested on the lake shore in May. The first death of a Chicago volunteer was that of George Matthie, who died at Camp Yates, Springfield, about May 11. Many of the Illinois volunteers at Springfield, finding they could not be accepted for the Illinois regiments, entered the Union army in Missouri. Six companies of the German Jaeger regiment were complete by May 14; Col. Frederick Hecker was its commander. Its captains thus far were Van Horn, Lange, Knobelsdorf, Becker, Marschner and Endres. At this date, also, the Yates Phalanx regiment had 900 . men ready under Col. W. S. Peaslee. The captains of its nine complete companies were Cooper, Ranstead, Vaughan, Light, Dud- ley, Slaughter, Snyder, Lambert and Barry. Norman B. Judd left for Berlin May 14. Col. J. A. Mulligan, who had gone to Wash- ington in the interest of the Irish brigade, wired to Chicago May 17 that the brigade had been accepted by the President. Great was the rejoicing. Capt. J. M. Loomis was recruiting a company at this time. Capt. H. D. Booth was raising another. There still was much complaint at the alleged discrimination against Cook county troops. The Tribune said: "The citizens of Chicago would like to know why the discrimination against their volunteers has as- sumed the character of a relentless persecution. They would like to know whether this fault lies principally at the door of the Governor or the adjutant general. They would like to know how it happens that with all the expenditure of money and all the enlistment of men in this city, barely three Chicago companies have wormed their way into the service of the United States through the avenue of the executive chamber of Illinois. They would like to know why the first companies on the ground at Cairo (Captain Michalozy's and Captain Kowald's), after being mustered into the service of the United States by Captain Pope, have been excluded from any place either in the first or second levy of six regiments. They would like to know some reason for the jealousy that exists at Cairo against Captain Smith's artillery and Captain Barker's dragoons. No less than 4,700 men have been raised in this city, drilled and tendered to the Government. Of this number 252 have run the gauntlet at Springfield so as to get into the service of the United States in regimental order."
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Late in May, 1861, the Irish brigade went into barracks in the old Kane brick brewery building on West Polk street. Early in June the board of Supervisors of Cook county appropriated $30,000 for the equipment and sustenance of the Irish brigade and Hecker's Jaeger regiment. The Tribune of June 12 said: "Our city is all astir with military preparations. We have now far more troops in the city than at any time since the war began. In addition to our from twenty to thirty home companies the home guard, and other volun- teer corps, who will await the future exigencies of the war, we have here, formed and forming, three fine regiments, all of whom have been accepted by the Government and are pushing forward their preparations with all celerity."
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