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 46
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How extraordinary all that sounds now. What an astonishing
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difference of opinion concerning the war. It will not do to say that the editor of the Times did not speak his actual opinions, be- cause many sensible and prominent men here held similar extraor- dinary views, took and read the Times with relish, and regarded Lincoln's administration with grief and indignation and as a great wrong. How different is the following from the Tribune of June 5, 1863: "It is here charged that the President and every man who supports the war is against the Union and is a murderer. No paper published in the seceded states has ever uttered more false, disloyal or atrocious sentiments. General Burnside directs that no more such infernal issues should circulate in his department. But the Government, at the instance of a few frightened, weak-kneed Unionists and the bellowings of a drunken Copperhead mob, re- voked the order and humiliated its supporters. Is that the way to cultivate a loyal sentiment and to deserve the support of true men ? Is that the way to encourage the army and to put down the slave- holders' rebellion ? Perhaps it is, but we don't see it."
All the facts taken together indicate that the Secession or Cop- perhead element here was so strong as to make it advisable to revoke the order of suppression. Had it not been done, there would no doubt have been a riot, and, what is worse, the alienation of many of the war Democrats would have resulted. So while the suppresion order was just and deserved, its revocation was a matter of wisdom upon the ground of prudence and expediency-was really an act of sound diplomacy after the prompt execution of the suppression order had produced a salutary moral effect and had shown the Copperheads the claws and teeth of the Administration. In order to give additional momentum to the suppression order and to show more clearly to the people the fairness and moderation of the Administration, a large public meeting was held in the Courthouse square on the evening of May 4 by the advocates of the prevailing war policy. John L. Hancock presided and explained in a strong speech the necessity of the war to save the Union and the wisdom, as a war measure, of quelling treason or disloyalty at home. Speeches to the same effect were delivered by Senator Doolittle, of Wisconsin, and Col. Jemison, of Kansas. Resolutions favoring the arrest of persons and the suppression of newspapers guilty of violat- ing any law were passed. Many of the best Union men, rather than incur the ill-will of the Copperhead element, refrained from attend- ing this meeting. The large number of Copperheads here rendered this course one of sound wisdom.
During June, 1863, many wounded soldiers from Grant's army arrived here almost daily. The first meeting to establish a tempo- rary soldiers' home was held at the Scotch Presbyterian church (Dr. Robert Patterson) early in June, 1863, and was presided over by Thomas B. Bryan. Many ladies were present and interested. An adjournment was taken to Bryan hall, and there a committee
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was appointed to commence operations and report at a subsequent date. The Home was duly established. The prorogation of the Copperhead Legislature by Governor Yates on June 10, 1863, was hailed with delight by the Union men here. A big meeting held the next day indorsed his act. The speakers were Mark Skinner, Senator Mack, Adjt. Gen. Fuller and F. A. Eastman. During June many arrests of persons charged with resisting or beating the en- rolling officers were made. There was much excitement here in July, 1863, upon receipt of the news that General Lee had started to invade Maryland and Pennsylvania. Late in June the Tribune said, "The Crisis of the War .- We can hardly resist the conclu- sion that the next two weeks will prove the most thrillingly event- ful of the whole war and go far toward furnishing the solution of the strife the most gigantic that ever shook the world." On July 2 the Tribune said, "Probably never in the history of human war- fare was any present laden with a heavier burden than that on which our immediate future now waits. The entire armies of the Union and of the Rebellion are opposed to each other at five sev- eral points of contact-Port Hudson, Vicksburg, Rosecrans' new field, Pennsylvania, Richmond. If Port Hudson falls and Vicks- burg becomes ours and Rosecrans finishes the lesson of Stone River and Meade defeats Lee and Dix marches into Richmond, it will only be answering what loyal men are hoping and praying in each case." Scarcely had these lines been published than the an- swer came.
"It never rains but it pours" was the thought here when all the victories became known early in July, 1863. First came the news of Gettysburg, and while not decisive was inspiring; this was on the morning of the 7th. Soon after came the news that Prentiss had taken Helena from Price. At eleven o'clock A. M. came the news of the capture of Vicksburg. Such news had come before and all more or less distrusted the report, but soon came official confir- mation and then everybody gave themselves up to the free enjoy- ment of the glorious news. In the evening the bells rang merrily, cannon pealed and general jubilation and rejoicing pervaded the entire city. In the streets huge bonfires were built, and from the tops of several buildings splendid fireworks were exhibited.
All business was suspended. The board of trade adjourned at noon amid enthusiastic cheers. The courthouse bell rang out its joyful chimes. Flags appeared as if by magic everywhere. Every- body came down town and the streets were densely packed with the happy and shouting populace. The celebration continued far into the night. The Tribune was so delirious that it placed a light at every pane of glass, literally covered its building with banners, and from the roof let off a splendid lot of fire works. The clerks bril- liantly illuminated the Postoffice building-had over six hundred tapers. The Staats Zeitung made a beautiful display. The Jour-
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nal was brilliantly decorated. Warner hall, occupied by the Union League, and Michigan terrace were covered with flags and decora- tions. Fireworks were set off from the Tremont, Sherman and other hotels and from scores of private dwellings. The Tribune of July 8 said, "The Times alone amid all this widespread and gen- eral rejoicing was silent. Not a shout, not a cheer, not a bonfire, not even the expenditure of a tallow candle, at the Copperhead con- cern on Randolph street, to testify their joy at the downfall of the stronghold of the rebellion in the Southwest. So far as actions are indicative of opinions we might be led to think that they regretted the glorious achievement. It is a noticeable fact in the history of this day's rejoicing that the great majority of our citizens, even those who profess to follow the teachings of the treasonable Times, were sin- cerely gratified at the glorious news. It speaks volumes for the loyalty of the mass of the Democratic party as compared with that of their leaders."
On the night of July 8 Governor Yates was serenaded at the Tremont house. He appeared on the famous balcony and deliv- ered an eloquent speech that was received with vociferous cheers. In July the draft riots in New York caused Chicago to think of what might happen here. The enrollment of June, 1863, showed in the city 27,756 men liable to military duty, of whom 18,986 were first class or single men between the ages of twenty and forty-five and married men between the ages of twenty and thirty-five years. In the whole county including the city were 33,477 men lia- ble, with 22,541 of the first class as above. Many sick and wounded soldiers were here in July, 1863-over 300 at a time. The capture of Port Hudson July 15 was hailed with joy. In July Alderman Comisky introduced an ordinance in the Council making provision for raising $120,000 "to be paid as bounties to members of the volunteer companies organized to take the places of men who should be drafted as conscripts." There was much opposition to the draft, but the Germans generally favored the step. In July great preparations began all over the county to enlist men to avoid the draft. The Germans were particularly active and loyal. By the last of July they had five or six companies about complete.
Late in July, 1863, the ladies of Chicago projected the first great Fair for the benefit of the soldiers. The first meeting was held in Bryan hall, and at a subsequent meeting the following officers were chosen : Mrs. Hoge, president; Mrs. Tinkham, secretary ; execu- tive committee: Mesdames Robinson, Hosmer, Medill, Ambrose Foster, Charles Follansbee, James Bowen, I. N. Arnold, N. Lud- dington, E. Higgins, Franklin, J. C. Harris, Colonel Foster, Allen, Hoge, Livermore and E. A. Haddock. It was resolved to hold the Fair at Bryan hall in October and November, 1863. During June a total of 2,937 packages were shipped to the front and the hos- pitals by the Chicago Sanitary Commission. The Comisky ordi-
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nance above mentioned was amended so as "to appropriate $120,000 in bounties to married men who may be conscripted in case they serve, or to substitutes that may take their places in the army."
The Knights of the Golden Circle, or as they were called at a later date Sons of Liberty, were the extreme peace branch of the Democracy. In June, 1863, at a secret state meeting in Springfield they concluded to oppose the war, resist conscription, make peace with the South and acknowledge the Confederacy. At this meet- ing lodges in all parts of the State were represented. The Chicago lodge was in touch and harmony with the other lodges and with the objects of the order. But the Union victories in the field in June and July completely disconcerted their designs. Had the rebels won in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vicksburg, Port Hudson, Helena, etc., the order would have come out publicly with all their power for peace along the above lines. The certainty that the North was the stronger and would triumph in the end checked the order and in the end terminated its career.
On August 10, 1863, John A. Logan delivered here a powerful speech-so good that it was printed in pamphlet form and sent all over the State and the Union. The Tribune of August 14, 1863, said, "Deserters .- Within the last sixty days the commandant at Camp Douglas has returned to their regiments over four hundred deserters. Every night just before dark a squad of soldiers can be seen escorting these gentry to the depot whence they take passage for Cincinnati. On Wednesday night nineteen were so shipped, and yesterday another batch. These men were arrested by the Pro- vost Marshal of this district and his deputies." The following articles were sent to Vicksburg the week ending August 15, 1863, by the Chicago Sanitary Commission, all valued at about $9,000: 200 tons of ice; 1,000 bottles of lemon syrup; 200 barrels of soda crackers; 20 barrels of dry peaches; 20 barrels of dry apples ; 5,000 codfish; 50 caddies of green tea; 50 H. F. barrels crushed sugar; 50 ounces quinine; 50 barrels stock ale; 100 quar- ter barrels stock ale; 50 H. F. barrels of stock ale; 500 mosquito bars, 101/2 barrels of pickled cabbage; 225 palm leaf fans; and 2,000 bottles of concentrated milk. This is a sample of the splendid work done by the Commission at all the emergency calls of the war.
The medical purveyor of the Army stationed here sent to the fields and hospitals immense quantities of drugs. About August 18 from 6,000 to 8,000 rebel prisoners arrived here for Camp Doug- las; they were guarded by the First Michigan sharpshooters ordered here for that purpose; among the latter was a company of Indians. The Copperhead branch of the Common Council passed a resolu- tion requesting the enrolling officers to submit to them copies of the rolls, but were refused. Many of the rebel prisoners here late in August were Morgan's guerrillas. A considerable subscription for the sufferers of Lawrence, Kansas, was raised here. The Soldiers'
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Home, for the week ending August 29, furnished to soldiers 1,134 meals and 351 lodgings; there were 544 arrivals and 513 depart- ures. The Home was located at 45 Randolph street.
Delegates to the Convention of ladies called to arrange the Great Northwest Fair, assembled in Bryan hall September 2, 1863. It was the largest assemblage of ladies ever convened in the North- west up to that time, and was magnificent in its personnel and ap- pearance. Complete preliminary arrangements for the Great Fair were made. By September 10 the Lawrence relief fund amounted to $2,169. In September there was organized a Freedman's Aid committee. The soldiers allotment receipts for several months in 1863 amounted to $49,263; of this sum $48,269 had been paid to soldiers' families. In September news of the battle of Chicka- mauga again roused the county to a fighting pitch. At this time residents of Chicago who wished to see their rebel friends in Camp Douglas were permitted to do so upon taking the oath of allegiance. On September 10, 1863, the Common Council appropriated $120,- 000 "to be expended in procuring volunteers to take the place of poor men of families who might be drafted from Chicago." The people of Chicago thought the enrollment of 28,000 men for this city was too large, when the highest vote ever polled was only about 23,000. Permission to examine the rolls was asked of President Lincoln, but he referred the inquirers to Governor Yates, who in turn referred them to Adjt .- Gen. A. C. Fuller. The latter instructed Col. James Oakes, provost marshal, to afford the inquirers every facility consistent with the public service to discover errors in the rolls. The rolls were placed before the inquirers, but did not sat- isfy them and more correspondence was had with President Lin- coln. Mayor Sherman and Comptroller Hayes led the inquiry. During the month of September, 1863, the Soldiers' Home fur- nished 4,805 meals and 1,412 lodgings. There were 965 arrivals and 952 departures. Rebel prisoners from Cumberland Gap and Chattanooga arrived here in September. By October 4 there were 5,780 of them at Camp Douglas. On October 5 twenty colored recruits left to join the Rhode Island Black brigade. About this time Governor Yates authorized the formation of a colored regi- ment in Illinois. The Germans in two months from August 15 to October 15 raised six and a half companies for a regiment under Colonel Knobelsdorf. The people of Jefferson met October 14 at the town house and organized a Soldiers' Aid society. Mrs. William P. Gray was elected president; Mrs. William Dymond and Mrs. Augustus Boyington, vice presidents; Miss Almira Si- mons, secretary ; and Mrs. John Gray, treasurer.
There were in Camp Douglas on October 18, 6,075 rebel prison- ers, nearly half of whom had belonged to the Guerrilla Morgan's command. At this time there were many Southerners here, en- deavoring by all sorts of schemes to liberate their friends or rela-
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tives from the Camp. About this time twenty-five of them escaped. The call for 300,000 more men in October spurred the county to redoubled action.
Early in October the ladies met and fully prepared for the Great Northwestern Fair. It was decided to open October 27 and con- tinue to November 7. Mayor Sherman declared the opening day a holiday. A regular program was fixed for each day. The open- ing was celebrated with a grand parade three miles in length. The opening address was made by Thomas B. Bryan. The Fair was unique and in every way successful. The total receipts at the end of the last day amounted to $51,850.01. The largest receipts were $6,786.18 on November 5, and the lowest $3,005.47 on the open- ing day. The dining room receipts amounted to $6,074.27. The average daily attendance was 5,090. Miss Anna Dickinson was paid $600 for two lectures which netted the Fair $1,100. When every thing had been sold the Fair netted over $78,000. The Tribune of November 7 said, "No other Fair held for benevolent purposes has ever yielded similar results. It has been an enterprise that has doubly blessed and honored its originators, mangers, and the people upon whose unflinching loyalty all its profuse drafts were honored. It is quite time to give credit due for such a result. And first, it is not to be arrogated as a Chicago institution. We may well feel a pride for the way in which our city has cradled and fostered the scheme. We cannot forget that on its altar were laid contributions attesting the kindred sympathy of all our Northern States. With this splendid result the whole people are to be credited and their great offering of sympathy and aid to the army and the Union and to Freedom will shine long after the turf has smoothed our scarred battle-fields and peace has turned our cannon foundries to the uses of her mechanic's art. Chicago is honored, in that it has thus been made temporarily a focus of loyalty."
A big fire at Camp Douglas on November 11 destroyed six thou- sand feet of barracks valued at $3,500. About this time the board of trade took steps to erect in Rosehill cemetery a monument to Union soldiers. Late in November came the welcome news of the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. Steps to build a permanent Soldiers' Home were taken November 30 by the ladies, at the head of whom were Mesdames Hoge, Hosmer, Sherman, Wadsworth, Lang, Bird and Fuller. There was much apathy shown here in November and December, 1863, concerning the en- listment of volunteers. Great efforts to secure the release of the rebel prisoners in Camp Douglas were made at this time. Mr. Bushnell alone had $36,000 belonging to them. For $1,200 a guard was bribed to permit a squad of about a dozen to escape. On De- cember 2 seventy-eight of them escaped through a tunnel. The most were recaptured-many of them in the down-town hotels. Thomas B. Bryan was elected president of the Permanent Soldiers' Home
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association. From August, 1863, to December, 1863, Colonel DeLand, commandant at Camp Douglas, arrested and returned about six hundred stragglers and deserters. The enrollment lists of each ward were posted up therein for inspection in December, 1863. The Common Council appropriated on behalf of the city a bounty of $75 for each volunteer, and the County Board appropri- ated 25 bounty for each volunteer in the city and $100 for each outside of the city. The Ladies' Relief society for soldiers' fami- lies was organized December 13. Mrs. A. H. Hoge was elected president ; Mrs. E. I. Tinkham, vice president; Mrs. C. A. Lamb, secretary ; Mrs. H. D. Smith, treasurer ; executive committee, Mes- dames A. H. Hoge, R. I. Tinkham, C. A. Lamb, H. D. Smith, Eben Higgins, D. P. Livermore and Goodrich.
It was seen about the middle of December that much greater efforts would have to be made to evade the draft. Accordingly the County Board passed resolutions calling for war meetings in all parts of the county and city, and recommended systematic and vig- orous work. This course met the approval of all Unionists and soon in all directions stirring war meetings were held and recruits secured. The County Board ordered a three mill tax to raise the "Cook County Bounty Fund." On December 11 a bounty of $112 for every volun- teer outside of Chicago, and $28 for every one within the city limits, was paid by the county. Late in December the County Board passed resolutions asking the State authorities to permit Cook county soldiers in the field to vote at the Presidential election of 1864. Two Supervisors voted against this resolution. But the bounty offered by the city and county combined was not sufficient to cause rapid enlistments. Accordingly at a big meeting held De- cember 16, of which Thomas B. Bryan was chairman and at which fiery and urgent speeches were delivered by Rev. O. H. Tiffany, E. Van Buren, Col. Hasbrouck Davis, George A. Meech, Edward Jussen, John Wentworth, Colonel Mann and others, a private sub- scription of $25,200, to be used as additional bounty, was raised in a few minutes. Ten men gave $1,000 each and twenty-two gave $500 each. After the meeting this subscription continued to grow. About 7,000 rebel prisoners were at Camp Douglas De- cember 17. From about September 15 to December 15, over 10,500 horses were purchased here for the army. An average of $120 was paid for each horse. By December 21 about 700 vol- unteers had been secured under the last call. A new camp at Wright's Grove was named Camp Potter. Camp Fry was still there. Adjt. Gen. Fuller in December officially stated that Cook county prior to October 1, 1863, had furnished 10,455 men for the war. This list did not include the three months' volunteers. On January 1, 1864, there were about 6,500 rebels in charge of about 1,800 Union soldiers. By January 4, 1864, there had been re- cruited here seventy-two colored volunteers for the Illinois colored
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regiment ; they were organized into a company and were ready January 7. About 945 soldiers' families were on the relief rolls in January, of whom about 900 were paid weekly allowances. The effective fund for soldiers' families, etc., during 1861 and 1862 was $117,809.70, of which $5,722.63 went to the Sanitary Com- mission ; $19,815.31 was spent for arms; $72,683.09 was paid to sol- diers' families ; leaving on hand $19,535.98.
The payment of bounty, which had been limited by the County Board to January 15, 1864, was by them extended to March 7. John H. Bross, of Chicago, became colonel of the Illinois colored regiment. The colored company eighty-eight strong left for Quincy January 10, and soon afterward thirty more joined them. As this company departed they sang "John Brown" as they marched through the streets. By January 11 bounties had been paid to 622 volunteers under the last call, though 912 had actually enlisted here and 250 more were at St. Charles; total, 1,162. During the severe cold weather early in January, 1864, there was much suffering among the soldiers at the camps. About 300 from Camp Fry were for a while quartered in Metropolitan hall. Fac-similes of the Emancipation Proclamation were sold for the benefit of the Sol- diers' Home. Early in 1864 the three year regiments began to come home on "veteran furlough." By January 20, 1864, 1,062 volunteers had been paid bounties. Of the outside towns Jefferson was ahead with 15, Niles next with 12. About this time nearly all the big merchants here gave one day's profits of their stores to the relief fund. Many business establishments of Chicago se- cured contracts to furnish Government supplies-beef, bacon, mess- pork, hams, beans, rice, hard bread, corn meal, medicines, harness, etc.
On January 30, W. R. Messick was arrested, charged with being a rebel spy. Residents were implicated in his efforts to effect the escape of rebel prisoners. By February 1, 1864, 1,372 recruits under the last call had been paid bounties. The Cook county quota under the calls of 1861 was 4,036; under the calls of 1862 was 2,761, and under the calls of 1863 was 7,375, total 14,172. On October 1, 1863, the county was officially credited with having fur- nished 10,455, leaving a deficit of 3,717. To meet this deficit about 1,600 had been recruited by February 5, 1864. The call of Febru- ary for 500,000 more men was hailed with joy by the Union men here, as it meant such an increase in the army as to crush the rebel- lion in a short time. Soldiers in considerable numbers passing through Chicago were compelled to scatter over the city in order to secure accommodations. To remedy this state of things the high- minded here in seven days' time erected between Randolph and Washington on the lake shore a building 50x200 feet and named it "Soldiers' Rest." Here thousands were provided at one time with a warm meal or meals and a place to sleep. As high as 3,000
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men could be accommodated at once. It was a Godsend and should have been thought of before. The soldiers called it "Soldiers' Paradise." There was preaching there every Sunday. By Febru- ary 9 bounties had been paid to 1,616 volunteers, and about 300 more were ready to receive bounties.
About the middle of February, 1864, the County Board ordered that veterans as well as new recruits should be paid the county bounty. An additional county war tax was levied. The quotas under the calls of 1861 and 1862 were assessed according to popu- lation, but the quotas of 1863 were made upon the basis of the first class enrollment-twenty to thirty-five years. Chicago was unfortunately situated. She had about 4,000 aliens who had voted here, but who became exempt when wanted for the army. They were unfairly counted when the Cook county quotas were fixed. By January 1, 1864, the Northwest Sanitary Commission had shipped to the soldiers a total of 28,618 boxes of supplies. County orders were at a discount in February, 1864, so that the Board was obliged to give an order for $112 for each $100 bounty paid. These orders were receivable for county taxes. By February 18, 1864, 1,930 recruits had been paid bounties. These recruits were assigned as follows: Chicago 1,749, Jefferson 31, Niles 12, Evans- ton 16, Elk Grove 8, Bremen 6, Wheeling 9, Lemont 6, Lyons 8, Bloom 14, Lake View 1, Calumet 4, Barrington 15, Thornton 2, Rich 2, Lake 3, New Trier 6, Leyden 7, Proviso 3, Cicero 5, Worth 7, Palatine 5, Palos 4, Northfield 4, Orland 2, Maine 1; total 1,930. The first enrollment gave 33,552 subject to draft in Cook county. Of these 2,996 were dropped from the rolls, but 4,883 had been added, making the number subject to draft in February, 1864, 35,439. It was a common occurrence for the new Soldiers' Rest to furnish meals to a whole regiment at one time. Previous to February, 1864, there were several hospitals scattered in Camp Douglas, but then all were concentrated in one two-storied building 116x160 feet, each story 131/2 feet high. Camp Fry at Wright's
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