History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 12

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 826

USA > Illinois > Clark County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 12
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 12

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Mexican War .- All readers of our history are acquainted with the events which led to the war between the United States and Mexico. It resulted from the "annexa- tion of Texas," as it was known, a former province of Mexico, and her admission as a

State into the Federal Union. Texas had re- volted, and for years her citizens had been carrying on a kind of guerrilla warfare with Mexico-a war attended with varied results, sometimes one party, and sometimes the other, being successful. The battle of San Jacinto was fought in 1836, and the Texans achieved a brilliant victory, capturing Santa Anna, then Dictator of Mexico, and killing or making prisoners his entire army. Santa Anna was held as a prisoner of war, and was finally released upon his signing a treaty ac- knowledging the independence of Texas. With all the treachery for which that Repub- lic has ever been noted, Mexico, in violation of every principle of honor, refused to recog- nize this treaty, and continued to treat Texas and the Texans as she had previously done. From this time on petitions were frequently presented to the Congress of the Umted States, praying admission into the Union. Mexico, however, endeavored to prevent this step, declaring that the admission of Texas into the American Union would be regarded as sufficient provocation for a declaration of war.

In the Presidential contest of 1844, between Henry Clay and James K. Polk, the annexa- tion of Texas was one of the leading issues before the people, and Mr. Polk, whose party (the Democrats) favored the admission of Texas, being elected, this was taken as a public declaration on the subject. After this, Congress no longer hesitated as to the grant- ing of the petition of Texas, and on the 1st of March, 1845, formally received the " Lone Star " into the sisterhood of States. In her indignation, Mexico at once broke off all di- plomatic relations with the United States, and called home her Minister. This, of itself, was a declaration of war, and war soon fol- lowed. Congress passed an act authorizing the President to accept the services of

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

50,000 volunteers (which were to be raised at once), and appropriated $10,000,000 for the prosecution of the war.

Illinois, in the apportionment, was required to furnish three regiments of infantry or ri- flemen, the entire force called for being drawn principally from the Southern and Western States, on account of their closer proximity to the scene of war. Gov. Ford, in obedience to the act of Congress, called for thirty full companies of volunteers of a maximum of eighty men, to serve for twelve months. The call was responded to with en- thusiasm, and in ten days thirty-five compa- nies had organized and reported, and by the time the place of rendezvous (Alton) had been selected, seventy-five companies were recruited, cach furious to go to the war. The Governor was compelled to select thirty com- panies-the full quota of the State-and the remaining forty odd companies were doomed to the disappointment of staying at home. A company made up in Crawford County was of this character. Before they reached the " muster place " the quota was filled, and they, with the other companies not needed, were furnished transportation to their homes at the expense of the Government.

The three original regiments were organ- ized as follows: First Regiment-John J. Hardin,* colonel; William B. Warren, lieu- tenant-colonel, and Wm. A. Richardson, ma- jor, with ten full companies rank and file. Second Regiment-William H. Bissell, colo- nel; J. L. D. Morrison, lientenant-co'onel, and Xerxes F. Frail, major; also ten full companies. Third Regiment-F. Foreman, colonel; W. W. Willey, lieutenant-colonel; and S. D. Marshall, major; with likewise ten companies. At the expiration of their term

of service (one year) the first and second regiments were organized for "during the war," many of the soldiers re-enlisting, and the discrepancies being filled by new recruits.

After the quota of Ilinois had been filled by the organization of the three regiments mentioned above, Hon. E. D. Biker, then a member of Congress from the Springfield district, induced the Secretary of War to ac- cept another regiment from this State, and thereupon the Fourth regiment was organized as follows: Elward D. Baker, colonel; John Moore, lieutenant-colonel, and Thomas L. Harris, major. This regiment, like the others, contained ten companies, rank and file. A number of independent companies, in addi- tion to these four regiments, were enlisted in the State during the war.

Under the second call for troops, a call known as the "Ten Regiments Bill," the First and Second Illinois regiments were re- organized. The Whigs, as a party, opposed the war with Mexico, and their opposition to the measure for additional troops and money, was bitter in the extreme. It was in opposi- tion to this bill that the Hon. Thos. Corwin, of Ohio, in the United States Senate, made the ablest speech of his life. In it he used the memorable words which have since be- come proverbial: "If I were a Mexican I would tell you, 'Have you not room in your own country to bury your dead men? If you come into mine, we will greet you with bloody hands, and welcome you to hospitable graves.'" But notwithstanding the opposi- tion to the bill it passed, and the war was fought out by which the United States ac- quired valuable territory.

Crawford County, as we have said, recruited a company, but were too late, or too slow in their movements, to be adınitted into the reg- iments allotted to the State. Of the men comprising this company we have but little data now, as the adjutant-general's report

* Killed at the battle of Buena Vista, Feb. 23, 1847, in the famous charge with Clay and McKee, of Kentucky. Wm. Weatherford was afterward elected colonel of the regiment.

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

gives but the names of those who actually participated in the war. Notwithstanding this company was not accepted, yet quite a number of men from the county went into the army from other sections. The names of these, however, could not be obtained. Some of them have moved away, others are dead, and not one is now known to be living here. But there are several Mexican soldiers living in the county, who, at the time of their en- listment lived in other counties, and other States, and have removed to this county since th ' close of that war.

The Rebellion .- The late war between the States next claims our attention. We do not design, how ver, to write its history, as there is, at present, more war literature extant than is read. But a history of Crawford County that did not contain something of its war record, would scarcely prove satisfactory to the general reader. It is a duty we owe to the soldiers who took part in the bloody struggle, to preserve, by record, the leading facts. Especially do we owe this to the long list of the dead, who laid down their lives that their country might live; we owe it to the maimed and mangled cripples who were torn by shot and shell; and, lastly, we owe it to the widows and orphans of those, who, for love of country, forsook home with all its en- dearments, exposing themselves to the hor- rors of war, and whose bodies now lie rotting in the land of " cotton and cane."

When the first call was made for volun- teers, it set the entire State in a blaze of ex- citement. Who does not remember the stir- ring days of '61, when martial music was heard in every town and hamlet, and tender women, no less than brave men, were wild with enthusiasm? Wives encouraged their husbands to enlist, mothers urged their sons to patriotic devotion, and sisters te .derly gave their brothers to the cause of their country. It was not unlike the summons ---

the fiery cross-of Rhoderic Dhu to his clan-

" Fast as the fatal symbol flies. In arms the huts and hamlets rise; From winding glen, and upland brown, They poured each hardy yeoman down."

But the citizens of Crawford County re- quire no reminder of those thrilling times. The names of their patriots are inscribed in characters that will stand as monuments in the memories of men, who, though dead long ago, yet will live, bright and imperishable as the rays of Ansterlitz's sun. Many who went forth to battle, came back to their homes shrined in glory. Many left a limb in the swamps of the Chickahominy; on the banks of the Rapidan; at Fredericksburg, along the Shenandoah, or in the Wilderness. Many still bear the marks of the strife which raged at Stone River, Chickamauga, on the heights of Lookout Mountain, where in the language of Prentice-

"_ they burst Like spirits of destruction, through the clouds, And 'mid a thousand hurtling missiles, swept Their foes before them, as the whirlwind sweeps The strong oaks of the forest."

And there were those who came not back. They fell by the wayside, in prison and in battle. Their memory is held in sacred keeping. Others dragged their wearied bodies home to die, and now sleep beside their ancestors in the quiet graveyard, where the violets speak in tender accents of woman- ly devotion and affection. Some sleep in un- known graves where they fell, but the same trees which shelter the sepulcher of their foe- men shade theirs also; the same birds carol their matins to both; the same flowers sweeten the air with their fragrance, as the breezes toss them into rippling eddies. Both are re- membered as they slumber there in peaceful, glorified rest.

While we weave a laurel crown for our own dead, let us twine a cypress wreath about the

IIISTORY OF CRAWFOLD COUNTY.

memory of those who fell on the other side, and who, though arrayed against us, were- OUR BROTHERS. Mistaken though they were, we remember hundreds of them over whose moldering dust we would gladly plant flowers with our own hands. Let us strike hands over the grave of Slavery, and be henceforth what we should ever have been-" brothers all."

From the adjutant-general's report of the State, together with facts gleaned from local records, we compile a brief history of Craw- ford County in the late war. The sketch is necessarily limited and doubtless imperfect but is complete as time and space will per- mit us to make it. A few words will be de- voted to each regiment drawing men from the county. The first in the list was Grant's old regiment (the Twenty-first), which was recruited in an early period of the war.

The Twenty-first Illinois Infantry was or- ganized at Mattoon, and was sworn into the State Service by Captain U. S. Grant, May 15, 1861, for three months, and on the 28th of June following it was mustered into the United States service for three years by Capt. Pitcher, of the United States Army, with U. S. Grant as colonel. He was com- missioned brigadier-general on the 6th of August, and Col. J. W. S. Alexander sue- ceeded him as colonel of the Twenty first. He fell at the battle of Chiekamanga, Sep- tember 20, 1863, at the head of the gallant old regiment. George W. Peek was pro- moted lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-first, but was discharged September 19, 1862, on account of ill-health.

Company I of this regiment was recruited in Crawford County, and was officered as fol- lows: George W. Peck, captain; Clark B. Lagow, first lieutenant, and Chester K. Knight, second lieutenant. Capt. Peck was promoted to lieutenant-colonel September 2, 1861, and Lieut. Knight became eaptain, and

was mustered out November 16, 1864. Lieut. Lagow resigned in consequence of having been selected by Gen. Grant as a member of his staff. He served in this capacity, partici- pating in all of Gen. Grant's hard campaigns and desperate battks from Belmont until he left the Western Department to take com. mand of the Army of the Potomac, when, owing to a long continued attack of rheu- matism, and an injury received from his horse falling under him at Iuka, he was compelled to resign. He was promoted from captain to colonel of volunteers, and then to colonel in the regular army for distinguished services rendered previous to the siege of Vicksburg. During the siege Gen. Grant wanted to use some steamers below the city, and could only get them there by passing down the river di- rectly under the guns of the Confederate bat- teries. This, he said, was such a desperate undertaking, he would not detail any one to the duty, but called for volunteers to man the fleet. Col. Lagow, being of the number who volunteered, and one of Gen. Grant's tried officers, was given command of the ex- pedition-if such it could be called. He boldly stood upon the deck of the flag steamer while they ran the terrible gauntlet, in face of the enemy's concentrated batteries raining shot and shell upon them. His ves- sel was so riddled with shot that it had to be abandoned in front of their batteries, but he and the men surviving the terrible fire sue- ceeded in boarding another boat. Col. La- gow came through the ordeal without serious injury, and saved the other boats, somewhat damaged, but not beyond repair, as their sub- sequent use demonstrated to the army. For this brilliant exploit he was brevetted briga- dier-general of volunteers.

The Twenty-first served in Missouri until the spring of 1862, when it was ordered to Corinth, Miss., and upon the evaluation of that place was engaged in several expedi-

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

tions in the State. It participated in the Buell-Bragg race to Louisville, Ky., where it arrived September 27, 1862, and was engaged in the battle of Perryville on the 8th of Oc- tober, after which it returned to Nashville, Tenn., via Crab Orchard and Bowling Green, Ky. After participating in several trifling skirmishes it took an active part in the battle of Murfreesboro, doing gallant service, and losing more men than any other regiment en- gaged. It was with Roseerans' army from Murfreesboro to Chattanooga, and bore an honorable part in the bloody battle of Chick- amanga, September 19th and 20th, 1863, los- ing its colonel killed; its lieutenant-colonel also being wounded, the command of the regiment devolved on Capt. Knight. After the battle of Chickamauga it was on duty at Bridge- port, Ala., during the fall and winter of 1863, as a part of the First Brigade, First Divis- ion of the Fourth Army Corps. Its hard fighting was over, and after the close of the war it was on duty in Texas, until mustered out of the service at San Antonio, December 16, 1865, when it returned to Illinois, and on the 18th of January, 1866, it was paid off and discharged at Camp Butler.

· The Thirtieth Illinois Infantry was indebt- ed to Crawford County for Company D, which went into the service with the follow- ing officers: Thomas G. Markley, captain; Michael Langton, first lieutenant, and George E. Meily, second lieutenant. This company was unfortunate in officers. Capt. Markley was killed in the battle of Belmont Novem- ber ?, 1861; Lieut. Langton was promoted captain in his place, and resigned October 22, 1862; Lieut. Meily was promoted captain April 12, 1863, and was killed May 16th fol- lowing; Patterson Sharp was promoted eap- tain June 13, 1863, and was mustered out of the service July 8, 1865. First Lieut. W. D. Hand was promoted captain July 10, 1865, but mustered out as first lieutenant; Martin

L. James was promoted to second lieutenant, but mustered out July 17, 1865, as sergeant.

The Thirtieth Infantry was organized at Camp Butler, August 28, 1861, and moved at once to Cairo, where it was assigned to the brigade of Gen. John A. M Clernand. It was sent on an expedition to Columbus, Ky., in October, and November 7th it took part in the battle of Belmont, where it performed gallant service, capturing the celebrated Watson's New Orleans battery. In February it moved up the Tennessee River, and was at Forts Henry and Donelson. As a part of Logan's brigade, it participated in the siege of Corinth. It served in Mississippi until late in December, when it was ordered to Memphis, Tenn., where it arrived January 19, 1863. Here it formed a part of Leg- gett's brigade, Logan's division, and MePher- son's corps. In February it was ordered to Louisiana, but in the latter part of April it returned to Mississippi, taking part in sev- erał skirmishes, and on the 16th of May it participated in the battle of Champion Hills, losing heavily. It erossed Black River with the army, and arrived in the rear of Vicks- burg May 19, 1863. It was actively engaged in the siege of Vicksburg until June 23d, when it moved to Black R ver, under Gen. Sherman, to watch the Confederate Gen. Johnson. After the fall of Vicksburg, it re- mained in camp until August 29th, when it removed to Monroe, La., but soon returned and was on duty in Mississippi the remain- der of the year.

It was mustered in January 1, 1864, as a veteran organization, and continued on duty in Mississippi until the 5th of March, when it left Vicksburg on veteran furlough, and ar- rived at Camp Butler on the 12th; on the 18th of April it left for the front, and pro- ceeded to Tennessee, serving in that State and Alabama until the opening of the Atlanta) Campaign, in which it took an active part.

IHISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

It participated in the several engagements around Atlanta, and on the 4th of October it went in pursuit of Gen. Hood, returning No- vember 5th to camp. It accompanied Sher- man's army in its march to the sea, taking part in that famous campaign. It went to Wash- ington April 29, 1865, by way of Richmond, participating in the grand review May 24th, at Washington, and June 11th it left for Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out of the service, and returned to Camp Butler for final discharge.

The Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry, was the next regiment to which the county con- tributed. Company D was drawn princi- pally from Crawford, and went into the service with the following commissioned officers: Alexander G. Sutherland, captain; James Moore, first lieutenant, and Robert Plunkett, second lieutenant. Captain Sutherland re- signed April 15, 1864, and Robert Duckworth was elected captain, but also resigned Sep- tember 18, 1865. Lieut. Moore resigned May 29, 1863, and Nicholas Glaze was promoted to first lieutenant and mustered out as ser- geant September 14, 1864. Robert Stewart was promoted to first lieutenant and was mustered out with the regiment March 20, 1866. Lieut. Plunkett was mustered out at the end of first three years.

The Thirty-eighth was organized at Camp Butler in September, 1861, and soon after was ordered to Missouri, and wintered at Pilot Knob. In March, 1862, at Reeves Station, the Twenty-first, Thirty-third and Thirty- eighth Illinois, the Eleventh Wisconsin In- fantry; the Fifth, Seventh and Ninth Illinois Cavalry, the First Indiana Cavalry and the Sixteenth Ohio Battery, were formed into the Division of Southeast Missouri under com- mand of Brigadier-General Steele. The first brigade of this force was commanded by Col. Carlin of the Thirty-eighth Illinois, and con- sisted of the Twenty-first and Thirty-eighth

Illinois Infantry, Fifth Cavalry and the Six- teenth Ohio Battery. On the 21st of April the command moved into Arkansas, but in May the Twenty-first and Thirty-eighth were or- dered back to Missouri, and thence proceeded to Mississippi, arriving before Corinth during the last days of the siege. It remained in Mississippi until August when it joined Buell's army and took part in the chase of Bragg to louisville. Returning, it participated in the battle of Perryville, capturing, with its brigade, an ammunition train, two caissons and about one hundred prisoners, and was honorably mentioned in Gen. Mitchell's re- port of the battle. It followed in pursuit of Bragg as far as Crab Orchard, Ky., and then returned to Nashville, arriving November 9th. It advanced with its brigade from Nashville December 26th and took an active part in the battle of Stone River, in which it sustained a loss of thirty-four killed, one hundred and nine wounded, and thirty-four missing. It remained at Murfreesboro until in June, 1853, being in the meantime transferred to the Twentieth Army Corps. It was at Liberty Gap, and on the 25th of June, it was ordered to relieve the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania, which was hotly pressed by the enemy. The Thirty-eighth charged across a plowed field under a heavy fire, and drove the enemy from their works and captured the flag of the Second Arkansas. In a skirmish the next day the regiment lost three men killed and nineteen wounded. It remained in active service during the summer and bore a promi- nent part in the battle of Chickamauga in which it lost 180 men killed, wounded and missing, out of 301 who went into the battle. It went to Bridgeport, Ala., October 25th, where it went into winter quarters. February 29, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted, and in March, came home on veteran furlough. At the expiration of its furlough it returned to Nashville, and on the 17th of May it entered

Milliand Co. Jones,

101

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

upon the campaign in Georgia, which termi- nated with the fall of Atlanta. It was engaged principally in escort duty, with frequent skirmishes, until in June, 1865, when it em- barked for New Orleans, and in July it went to Texas, where it served until its muster out December 31, 1865. It was then ordered to Springfield, Ill., where it was paid off and dis- charged.

The Sixty-second Illinois Infantry drew a company from Crawford, as well as a couple of its field officers. Stephen M. Meeker, the major of the Sixty-second, was promoted lieutenant-colonel August 13, 1863, and Feb- ruary 3, 1865, was discharged. Guy S. Alex- ander, who entered the service as second lieutenant of Company F, was promoted to first lieutenant, then to captain, and under the consolidation of the Sixty-second was pro- moted to major of the new organization.

Company D of the Sixty-second contained a few men from this county, while Company F was principally made up here. Company F went into the service with the following com- missioned officers: Jesse Crooks, captain; James J. McGrew, first lieutenant, and Guy S. Alexander, second lieutenant. Captain Crooks died October 7, 1864, and December 16th, Lieutenant Alexander was promoted to captain. Upon the promotion of Captain Alexander, George B. Everingham, who had risen to second and then to first lieutenant, was, on the 5th of May, 1865, promoted to captain, and transferred to the consolidated regiment as captain of Company F. Lieu- tenant MeGrew resigned September 11, 1862, and Guy S. Alexander promoted in his place. George F. Dollihan was promoted from second lieutenant to first, and transferred, and James Moore, John E. Miller and Wash- ington T. Otey were promoted to second lieutenants.

The Sixty-second was organized at Anna, Illinois, in April, 1862, and was at once or-

dered to Chiro. May 7th it moved to Paducah, and in June to Columbus, Ky., and from thence to Tennessee. It remained in Tennessee until ordered into Mississippi. On the 20th of December, Van Dorn captured Holly Springs, and among his prisoners were 170 men of the Sixty-second, including the major and three lieutenants. These were paroled, but all the records and papers of the regiment were destroyed. April 15, 1863, the regiment was brigaded with the Fiftieth Indiana, Twenty-seventh Iowa and the First West Tennessee regiments, in the second brigade of the Third Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. It was on duty in Mississippi and Tennessee until the 24th of August, when it was ordered to Arkansas, where it served until January, 1864. It then re-enlisted as veterans, and on the 25th of April moved to Pine Bluff, remaining there until August 12th, when it came home on veteran furlough. At expira- tion of its furlough it returned to Pine Bluff, where it arrived November 25, 1864. Here the non-veterans were mustered out and the veterans consolidated into seven companies, and remained on duty at Pine Bluff. July 28, 1865, it was ordered to Fort Gibson, in the Cherokee Nation, and served in the Dis- trict of the frontier until March 6, 1866, when it was mustered out of service at Little Rock and sent home for final pay and discharge.

The Sixty-third Illinois Infantry also drew a company from Crawford County. Company G was enrolled with the following commis- sioned officers: Joseph R. Stanford, cap- tain; W. B. Russell, first lieutenant, and W. P. Richardson, second lieutenant. Captain Stanford was promoted to major, June 14, 1865, and mustered out with the regiment on the 13th of July. Lieutenant Russell re- signed February 4, 1863; Second Lieutenant Richardson was promoted to adjutani, De- cember 16, 1862. George W. Ball was made first lieutenant upon the resignation of Lieut.

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Russell, and died May 24. 1864, when Charles G. Cochran became first lieutenant, and on the promotion of Capt. Stanford, was made cap- tain in his place. Ilarvey G. Wycoff was made first lieutenant, but mustered out as ser- geant, July 13, 1865, with the regiment. George B. Richardson was promoted to sec- ond lieutenant, and resigned December 26, 1863; Benj. B. Fannam was also promoted to second lieutenant, but mustered out as ser- geant.

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 12

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 826

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 826