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 44
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The special message of President Lincoln in March, 1862, rec- ommending gradual and compensated emancipation, was well re- ceived here. The Tribune favored freeing the slaves at once and arming them. When President Lincoln modified General Fre- mont's proclamation concerning the slaves in 1861, the Tribune opposed the President.
The Democratic Invincible Club, a partisan organization, had been established here many years before March, 1862. They held meetings every Tuesday night, and were outspoken against the war. Often the orators spoke entirely from the Southern stand- point. Rev. Wm. G. Brownlow ("Parson") was publicly received
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here April 9 and delivered one of his characteristic addresses in which he paid special attention to the Times. On April 14 there arrived here about 1,500 rebel prisoners from Island No. 10. Chi- cago men killed at Shiloh were to be brought here, so it was de- cided, and buried in a lot at Graceland donated by Thomas B. Bryan. The deaths of rebel prisoners at Camp Douglas prior to April 18 were 219. Henry C. Work's famous song "Kingdom Coming" was very popular at this time. Colonel Mulligan raised a battery here early in 1862 and received his guns-four 6-pound- ers on April 18. At this time the Scotch regiment under Col. D. Cameron was at Camp Douglas.
News of the battle of Shiloh was slow in reaching Chicago, but when it came the anxiety and suspense were intense. The Trib- une of April 10 said, "Our brave Western troops have achieved another glorious victory in Tennessee. The whole country from Maine to California is in a blaze of excitement. The valor of our men, the sacredness of our cause and the imperishable glory of the result-all conspire to make this a most memorable day." The Board of Trade promptly donated $5,000 and raised $975.50 addi- tional to care for the wounded. Nineteen physicians and over forty volunteer nurses (men) left for Cairo at five o'clock P. M., April 9, taking with them 104 boxes of hospital supplies. They chartered a special train and on the way down thoroughly organ- ized themselves for work. At Cairo the hospital boat "Louisiana" was placed at their command and on April 11 at 4 o'clock P. M., they reached Pittsburg Landing and immediately went to work. They distributed apples, butter, dessiccated vegetables, tapioca, brandy, bandages, tea, tin cups, oranges, lemons, eggs, brooms, bed ticks, pillows, socks, drawers, plasters, chambers, urinals, etc. The commission, upon their return, said: "We busied ourselves till after midnight in waiting upon these sad objects brought from the tents on the bank through the rain, groaning with pain at the motion, with filthy clothing, and wounds that had not been dressed since the day of the battle, many with limbs needing amputation, or balls not yet extracted from their bodies. Oh, how gratefully they received the soft beds, the clean shirts and drawers and the refreshing water and lemonade."
It was found necessary to build a prison in Camp Douglas for the close confinement and punishment of offenders. It was built of heavy oak, and the first story had no windows and was the dark room into which malefactors were placed when severe punishment was meted. This jail was called "White Oak" and in the end was something of a terror. Squads of rebel prisoners continued to arrive weekly or oftener and escapes were frequent. At this time there were about twenty-five rebel surgeons confined in Camp Douglas. They were permitted on daily paroles to visit the city for supplies, etc. News of the capture of New Orleans was re-
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ceived with joy. Members of the Chicago artillery, killed at Shi- loh, were brought here and with much ceremony buried at rose Hill. Before this there was organized here the Chicago Female Nurse's association. Rev. Dwight L. Moody, who had spent three weeks on the Shiloh battlefield described his experiences at Bryan hall in May. General Sigel visited Chicago in May, 1862, and was serenaded at the Tremont house; he spoke from the balcony.
There were hurried calls from the front for troops in May, 1862. The Ellsworth Zouaves, Light Guard and Home Militia were left alone to guard Camp Douglas. Soon they were joined by the An- derson Rifles under Captain Cole. The confiscation bill gave satis- faction here to all who favored the war. In May Cook county learned that one or two regiments for the three months' service would have to be raised. Promptly a big war meeting was called in Metropolitan hall on May 24. Mayor Sherman presided. Ad- jutant-General Fuller, from Springfield, explained the call. Wash- ington, the capital, was in danger. All organized bodies must be sent forward, and short time men must be raised to take their places. Within a few days a dozen recruiting offices were opened in the county. By May 30 Captain Bond had 35 enrolled ; Captain Van Buren, 35; Captain Hall, 34; Captain Manchester, 60; Cap- tain Caldwell, 34; the Signal Guards, 40; Captain Hallagren, 35; Captain Heilig, 40; Captain Freund, 12; Captain Turner, 40; Captain Dudley, 60, and others smaller numbers. Other war meetings were held. Order No. 3 of General Halleck forbidding fugitive slaves to enter his lines, was severely denounced by the Tribune and others. About 1,000 rebel prisoners were sent to Camp Douglas from Madison, Wis., so that the Nineteenth Wis- consin regiment could take the field.
Mulligan's battery was ready for the field June 2, 1862. By this date 496 rebel prisoners had died at Camp Douglas. Cook county was now being recompensed by the Government for the money spent in equipping the earliest companies sent to the field. A total of 310 families of soldiers were receiving assistance in June, 1862, from the County War Fund committee. The report showed that they had been paid regularly on borrowed money. Captain Round's Emmet Guards were ready June 7, 1862. The War committee of the Young Men's Christian association held regular meetings while the war continued and sent large quantities of papers, magazines and books to the various hospitals.
In June, 1862, Camp Douglas, which had been enlarged, em- braced 114 acres, but had at first only 87 acres. On June 8, 1862, there were 8,962 rebel prisoners confined there. About 2,000 more could be accommodated. Their rations consisted of potatoes, pork, beef, flour, beans, rice, coffee, sugar, molasses, vinegar, soap, can- dles-in all respects just the same as the Union soldiers there. They were required to exercise regularly and were permitted to
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play ball, pitch quoits, etc. Of the prisoners 5,717 had come from Fort Donelson; 736 from Shiloh; 1,809 from Island No. 10, and 700 from other places. The Scotch regiment and the Irish brigade left for the East early in June, 1862.
The Tribune of June 10, 1862, said, "A Day of Rejoicing .- Yesterday was a day of general rejoicing and jubilation over the glorious news from Memphis. Everybody was happy and over- flowed with joy at the downfall of that prison hole of secession in the Southwest. The rejoicing was doubly significant from the fact that probably not less than five hundred of our citizens were ex- pelled from Memphis by the Regulators. A still greater number had property and business interests there confiscated by the rebels. Many of our citizens were not only driven out, but were beggared by the sweeping confiscation. Hence their great joy at the over- throw of this nest of secession."
The Sixty-seventh regiment of three months' men under Col. R. M. Hough was placed on guard at Camp Douglas about June 10. The splendid letter of Governor Yates to President Lincoln in July, 1862, advocating a still more vigorous prosecution of the war, struck a responsive chord in many loyal hearts here. Green- backs began to make their appearance. When they first arrived the Democratic county treasurer refused to receive them in pay- ment of taxes. The Tribune of July 16, 1862, said, "One of 'Em. -The man in the city of Chicago who is most blatant and abusive in his talk of Republicans, designating them as "nigger worshipers," promoters of "nigger equality," etc., is, we are told by good author- ity, the father of at least five children by a negro woman-not a yellow woman, but a regular African with all the peculiarities of her race. And it is hinted by our informant that of these children four were sold into slavery by their father though the mother was free. Of such are the Secession Democracy." The Tribune of July 19, said, "Chicago is full of Secessionists-a startling but true assertion. There are Secessionists in our schools, in our churches, in almost every civic organization in Chicago. There is scarcely a hotel in the city that does not contain them. You will find them in every saloon, and in some of these holes it is fairly unsafe to proclaim yourself an unconditional Union man. You can find them on the street corners. It was not an insignificant boast nor an in- frequent one, made yesterday at the corner of Clark and Randolph streets, that, 'By God, Jeff Davis will be up here pretty soon and then we will fix things all right.' It is not unknown to everybody that a law office in this city is in the confidence of the Confederate Government and that it received funds to pay out to the Confederate surgeons at Camp Douglas. It may be a matter of news to some, but not to all, that regular meetings of Secessionists are held in this city, at which most treasonable sentiments are uttered, and at these festive orgies, healths to Jeff Davis and his crew are drunk, some-
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time with as much enthusiasm as to be audible to parties in the street."
The Union Defence committee called a mass meeting at Bryan hall on July 19, 1862, for the purpose of devising measures to meet the last call for volunteers. They asked the Board of Trade, the Mercantile association, Young Men's association, Young Men's Christian association and the Common Council for assistance. An extra session of the County Board was also called. The meeting assembled and Thomas B. Bryan presided. He delivered the open- ing speech, and was followed by Doctor Tiffany, H. G. Miller, Robert S. Wilson, J. Y. Scammon, George Steele, E. C. Larned, J. C. Van Arman, Rev. W. W. Patten, and others. Mr. Scammon said he had already given $50,000 and his only son for the war, but would give $50,000 more. George C. Cook offered $200 bounty for the first two volunteers. Eliphalet Wood and J. H. McVicker made similar offers. George Manierre, chairman of the committee on resolutions, introduced them with a strong speech and they were unanimously adopted. The speech by E. C. Larned was especially eloquent and loyal. At its conclusion J. G. Lumbard sang "Three Hundred Thousand More," with thrilling effect. One verse was as follows:
"If you look upon our valleys where the growing harvests shine, You may see our sturdy farmer boys fast forming into line; And children from their mothers' knees are pulling at the weeds, And learning how to reap and sow to meet their country's needs ; And a farewell group stands weeping at every cottage door; We are coming, Father Abraham-three hundred thousand more."
The resolutions adopted recommended a county tax to be used as a bounty to raise volunteers-$200,000 asked for, $100 to each volunteer. T. J. Sloan of Sloan's Commercial college announced that he and others had just raised two full companies for the war. J. H. Read & Co., druggists, subscribed $500; J. L. Hancock, $500; A. C. Hesing said he was willing to take the field at the head of a company or a regiment of colored troops. The same evening a big meeting in the courthouse square was addressed by George C. Bates, Robert S. Blackwell, William C. Goudy, Robert Collyer, U. F. Linder, E. G. Asay and Gilbert C. Walker. Still another meet- ing at Metropolitan hall was addressed by John Knox, U. F. Lin- der, and William K. McAllister. The war people were terribly in earnest, but the volunteers were slow in coming forward, because definite bounty was not yet offered.
In this emergency the Board of Trade came bravely to the rescue. Previous to July 19, 1862, they had given about $10,000 to the war. Now they resolved to raise a battery and appropriated $10,- 000 with which to raise the volunteers. They subscribed $5,121 in a few minutes the first evening-July 21. By July 23, the sub- scriptions amounted to $17,000 and 172 volunteers were enrolled-
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more than enough for the battery. This was accomplished so quickly, that the Board resolved to raise a whole regiment and im- mediately began work. A dozen or more fragmental companies were promptly turned over to the Board of Trade regiment. Cap- tains Williams and Robinson furnished nearly two companies. The Young Men's Christian association, upon certain conditions and through the influence of J. V. Farwell and J. C. Wright, tendered five companies for the regiment. All this gave assurance of the speedy completion of a full regiment in addition to the battery. The County Board passed the asked-for $200,000 ordinance and or- dered the levy of a five mill tax for war purposes. By July 25 the Board of Trade fund amounted to $29,000. Other immense war meetings were held July 26. The speakers were O. H. Tiffany, I. N. Arnold, Colonel Farnsworth, Joseph Knox, Colonel Eastman, Rev. W. H. Ryder, Daniel McIlroy, Michael McAuley, S. B. Perry, Grant Goodrich, E. C. Larned, R. S. Blackwell, William Bross, Henry Greenebaum, W. S. Cameron, J. S. Wilson, George C. Bates, Elliott Anthony, U. F. Linder, Daniel Brainard, Lambert Tree, J. C. Van Arman, E. G. Asay, W. Campbell, Dr. Davis and Judge Gookins. Mr. Sloan agreed to furnish six full companies if the Mercantile association would furnish the other four. So easily was the first Board of Trade regiment raised, that the Board determined to raise a second one. About July 23, 1862, a band of rebel prisoners at Camp Douglas, assisted by Secessionist friends here, broke out and escaped, but nearly all were finally recaptured. The Tribune of July 25 said :
"There is a fact vividly brought up by the affair at Camp Doug- las. It points most clearly to an active rebel element in this city. The whistles and signals heard in the vicinity of the camp through- out the night, the attempted assault upon a Federal officer just be- low the camp early in the evening, are to be added to the other facts. If there is evidence implicating the citizens of Chicago in acts tending to incite and aid outbreaks at Camp Douglas let us have the needed light on the subject. It is not enough for Col. J. H. Tucker to point to a pile of letters in his possession, seized and intercepted by his officers and men and avow that 'in those letters exists damning evidence against many of our first citizens,' and that at such exposure of the writers and actors 'the city would stand appalled' and the development 'fall like a thunderbolt'-we want to have that appallment take place. It is precisely that thunderbolt we would call down. He is recreant to his trust and false to the country whose commission he bears, if he withhold the evidence against these home traitors at this juncture. Let it be sent to the Secretary of War at once. What have thev been doing-these Chicago men and women sympathizers with treason? Go to the Provost Marshal's office at Camp Douglas and see a wagon load of arms and ammunition smuggled in by their agency to the rebels.
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It is time that this should cease. We would invoke no frenzied mob to drag sleek lawyers and smug bankers and simpering dillet- tanti to their doom at the lamp posts; least of all would we make tender women, however venturous their treason, the victims of pop- ular fury ; but we ask that all the evidence against them be brought to light and men and women, rich and poor, high and low, punished as traitors unsparingly."
Of the county tax of $200,000 it was proposed to pay $60 to each recruit, which, with the $40 of Government bounty, would give each volunteer $100. On July 21 there was deposited here $2,500,- 000, brought from Cincinnati to escape possible capture by the rebel army which threatened that city. In July, 1862, a draft was threatened. Late in July the Common Council ordered, at a cost not to exceed $30,000, about 1,000 stand of arms and a battery of artillery for home defense. In July the recruiting was lively in the extreme. Nearly fifty would-be captains applied to the adjutant general for authority to raise companies. The express companies here offered half pay to those of their employes who would enlist. Authority to enlist men was given to nearly all applicants, but they were informed that unless they could fill their companies within ten days the men would be merged with other squads. Among the men recruiting at this time were John A. Bross, W. P. Knight, John Reid, A. S. Chadbourne, E. L. Brainard, D. Whittle, Stock- ton and Chester, Underwood and Sexton, Holbrook and Mowry, J. E. Burk, Joseph Scates, Jr .. G. W. Smith, J. R. Morgan, M. R. Hawley, Evarts Van Buren, O. H. Miller, Jesse Ball, H. W. Handy, Sylvester Titsworth and N. W. Wright. By the last of July the Board of Trade had raised its battery and its first regiment and was well advanced in its second regiment. Governor Yates was re- ceived here July 30 with a salute of fifty guns. He was serenaded and delivered a strong speech. Hon. John Sherman of Ohio, who happened to be in the city, was present and was called out. In his speech he used these words: "I regard the present chief magis- trate (Lincoln) of the nation as a pure, patriotic and honest man ; but he is unfortunate in some degree as to his surroundings; he has not yet caught the spirit which should animate him in the prose- cution of this gigantic war. We have used honeyed words and con- ciliatory terms heretofore, but now this must be ended. Now we must use more potent instruments-every means which God has put into our hands-bond and free, white and black." Time showed that he was wrong and Lincoln was right. Had not the latter used just the policy he did, he would not have received the sup- port of war Democrats, without whose help the rebellion would not have been crushed nor the Union saved. Governor Kirkwood of Iowa also made a speech on this occasion. Owen Lovejoy delivered a speech of rare power. War meetings were held in all parts of the county-Palatine, Evanston, Blue Island and Thorn-
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ton leading. A Union Typographical battalion was started. In- tense effort was made, and the cry at every war meeting was, "Arm the slaves! Fight, confiscate and emancipate!"
A resolution of the Board of Trade on August 3, 1862, caused an inquiry as to the presence of traitors in Chicago. A committee appointed to investigate reported that Colonel Tucker claimed not to be in possession of sufficient evidence to warrant action against suspects. Early in August, when the call for 600,000 more men was announced, the Tribune said: "The country will hail with joy this new call. It means that the work of every citizen from this time until the end of the war is to save the Republic. The whole trade of the country is to be war until the last rebel suc- cumbs. There is to be no shrinking now. Six hundred thousand men! What joy it will carry throughout the lines of our army to know that in ten days time their shattered regiments are to be filled up, that our fighting force is to be more than one million strong with another million ready to follow if need be. The war has begun in earnest, and henceforth the enemies of the country will not be spared nor sheltered."
The draft was threatened early in August and dozens of cowards . and disloyalists began to leave for Canada. Disloyalty was ram- pant here in August. On August 3 a Secessionist tore down a Union flag at 557 Wabash avenue. In all parts of the city disloyalty was openly and often furiously manifested. Numerous personal encounters occurred. Exempt citizens began to form a company of home guards. The Tribune of August 6, 8 and 10 said: "The cowards' hegira for Canada still continues, and people are leaving daily for that region, which is soon likely to be populated with sneaks. Why cannot martial law be proclaimed here at once until after the draft and stop the cowards? . . . "The Cowards .- Two hundred and fifty cowards left by the Central line and lake for the Canadas on Monday, we understand to avoid the draft. A woman ought to be stationed at every landing place in Canada to horsewhip them back. Shame on the sneaks!" "Sneaks .- Seven hun- dred cowards left on the evening train of the Michigan Central Wednesday night for Canada. At Ainsworth station (South Chi- cago) four wagon loads of sneaks, leaving the city to avoid the draft, took passage for Her Majesty's dominions." "Chicago is at last under martial law and the exodus of cowards and sneaks is henceforth to be stopped. Every man hereafter must stand by his post will he nill he. For nearly a week our city has presented the disgraceful spectacle of full-grown, able-bodied men slinking off to Canada like whipped curs, by rail and lake, with no apparent method of stopping them. The prompt and stern action of the War Department, however, has put a period to this hegira."
In August, 1862, Dr. Levi D. Boone, ex-mayor of Chicago, was arrested for furnishing money to rebel prisoners at Camp Douglas
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contrary to orders, and was confined at the camp, but later managed to explain what he had done, to the partial satisfaction of the authorities, and was released. In August the enrollment of all persons liable to do military duty was carried into effect. The draft was fixed to begin August 15 unless the quota was full by that date. Many persons bound for Canada were arrested-nineteen were taken August 8 at Hyde Park, where they had gone to board the train. Men going East were required to have passes.
There was much indignation expressed here in August, 1862, over the court-martial of Col. John B. Turchin. He was called a martyr and was tendered an immense and enthusiastic reception upon his arrival here August 19. Colonel Turchin in the end was made a brigadier general and the court-martial was set aside. The charge against him was disobedience of orders for failing to protect the property of rebels in his district in Alabama.
By August 7, 1862, the following recruits had recently been raised here: By Chandler, 140 men; Holbrook, 116; Williams, eighty-two; Cooley, 101; James, Jr., fifty-six; Bruning, twenty-five; Murphy, twenty-one; Kelly, twenty-nine; Weihe, twelve; Greenhut, forty-five; Breman, thirty-three; Whittle, sixty-two; Brainard, sixty ; Bross, eighty; Underwood, eighty; Casey, forty; Horton, about 100; Smith, twenty-five; Morgan, fifty-three ; G. S. Hubbard, about 400; Swarthout, fifty; Hughes, eighty; Prior, seventy-two; Hall, forty-two; Spaulding, about a dozen; Chester, eighty; Board of Trade battery, 160 strong-in all about 1,878 men. Previous to 4 o'clock P. M., August 8, 1862, the War Fund committee of the County Board had paid $60 to each of 700 volunteers-total, $42,000. It was found necessary, owing to the occupation of Camp Douglas by the rebel prisoners, to form other camps for the Union recruits. Camp Hancock was located a few hundred yards south of Camp Douglas. A big camp was at Wright's Grove on the North Side. Capt. C. P. Bradley was acting provost marshal. The exempt battalion of home guards numbered 412 by August 9. By August 11 Board of Trade subscriptions amounted to $48,779. The Tribune of August 16 said: "Sheriff Hesing yesterday mustered in 101 volunteers in the little towns of Palatine and Barrington in this county. They are all farmer boys. Palatine and Barrington will have hardly enough men left to take care of the women and children."
A big war meeting in the interest of the Irish legion was held at Bryan hall, the leaders being Father Dunne and Thomas J. Kin- sella. In August the Jews of Chicago subscribed $6,000 and pledged $4,000 more for a Jew company to be organized. The new Gatling gun, invented by Dr. R. J. Gatling of Indianapolis, was exhibited here August 13. The captains of the First Board of Trade regiment were Stockton, James, Sexton, Holbrook. Curtiss, Prior, French, Williams, Haynie and Reid. By August 15, when
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the draft was to begin, there had been recruited here under the last call about 3,700 men, of whom probably two-thirds were from Cook county. The Second Board of Trade regiment was about ready and the Third was commenced. So great was the demand for bread in August from the large numbers of rebel prisoners and Union recruits in this vicinity that the bakers ran short and con- tinued to be so for several days. The Palatine company under Captin Sutherland was named Bradwell guards to signalize the fact that J. B. Bradwell had done much to raise it. The Railroad regiment, composed largely of railway employes, was started here in July, 1862. By August 19 the first two Board of Trade regi- ments were ready for the field and the third has seven companies recruited. By August 19 the $200,000 county war bonds had been sold to C. C. Parks & Co. of Chicago, bankers, and G. S. Robbin. & Sons of New York, at a little above par. Col. F. A. Starring became commander of the First Board of Trade regiment. In August the soldiers here were paid in greenbacks. The First Board of Trade regiment became the Seventy-second Illinois. Capt. W. B. Holbrook's men received the stand of colors offered by Gilbert Hubbard & Co. and the $100 offered by C. H. Walker, by becoming the first company organized for the First Board of Trade regiment. This command left Camp Hancock, near Camp Douglas, on August 23 for the South and were given a beautiful and cere- monious send-off. The Second Board of Trade regiment became the Eighty-eighth Illinois, the Railroad regiment became the Eighty-ninth Illinois, and the Irish regiment became the Ninetieth. Dr. Stanley was arrested on the North Side in August on account of his expressed Secessionist sentiments. The secrets and purposes of the Knights of the Golden Circle were published here in August. James H. Stokes became captain of the Board of Trade battery, and C. G. Cooley of the Mercantile battery. Recruits were being sent to all the old regiments in the field.
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