USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois > Part 73
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The aristocracy so deprived the peo- ple, whose wives and daughters, through their brutality were forced to go to the field bare-headed and bare-footed, and be yoked to the plow with the donkey, that they never dreamed that the wretched boors would dare even to look in defiance toward the massive and stately castles whose noblemen proudly strode along the battlements in meas- ureless contempt for the helpless peas- antry below. But the pent up vials of vengeance of ages at last burst forth.
612
IHISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
These boors, these jacques, rose and like maddened hyenas, rushed upon their foes. Imbruted men, who for ages had been subjected to the most out- rageous wrongs, rose by millions against their oppressors, and wreaked upon them every atrocity which fiend-like ingenuity could devise. All the brutal and demon passions of human nature held high carnival, and it can truly be said France ran red with blood. But at length disciplined valor prevailed. Af- ter one-half of the peasantry of France had perished, the knighted noblemen, the aristocrats had resumed their sway, and the hellish bondage, worse than slavery, was again placed on the peo- ple. This war or rebellion of the Jacquerie is one of the most interesting and warning events of the past, yet it was all unheeded.
The oppression went on, growing more and more outrageous; the people were kept ignorant that they might not know of their wrongs; poor that they might not resent them. That the lords might live in castles, and be clothed in purple, and fare sumptuously, the people were doomed to rags, hovels and black bread. The peasant must not place the bit of dough on the ashes by the fire- side-he was compelled to have it baked at the bakery of his lord, and there pay heavy toll. He dare not scrape to- gether the few crumbs of salt from the rock of the ocean's shore, he must buy every partiele from his lord at an ex- horbitant price. "Servants obey your masters," was interpreted to apply to all save of noble birth; religion was con- verted into a method of subjecting the masses. As associates for lords the idea would have been considered as
contrary to reason. Louis XV, sur- rounded by one of the most dissolute courts in Europe, once said : "I can give money to Voltaire, Montesquieu or Fontanelle, but I can't dine or sup with these people." If the peasant, with his wife and child, toiling in the field, in cultivation of a few acres of land managed to raise 650 francs worth of crops during the year, 600 of it went to king, duke, seigneur, baron and and church, while the 50 francs was left to clothe and feed the emaciated family. Thomas Jefferson, in the year of 1775, wrote from Paris to a friend in Phila- delphia:
"Of 20,000,000 of people supposed to be in France, I am of the opinion that there are 19,000,000 more wretched, more accursed in every circumstance of human existence, than the most con- spicuously wretched individual in the whole United States."
It was this state of affairs that hrought on the wars of the French rev- olution, inaugurating the most terrific of all time's battles. Such combats earth never saw before, probably never will see again. Two worlds, as it were, came clashing together. Twenty mil- lions of people, trampled in the mire, rose ghastly and frenzied, and the flames of fendal castles, and the shrieks of haughty oppressors, appalled the world. All the combined aristocracy of Europe were on the other side to crush the demand of the people for the equal- ity of man. Russia, Austria, Prussia, England, Sweden and Spain-all the kings rallied their armies to the assist- ance of the aristocracy of France, to help them to subdue an uprisen people, who, believing in the right, marched
613
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
heroically onward to Valmy and Jem- appes, and to the victories of Marengo, Wagram and Austerlitz. But in the final vietories of the despots, aristo- cratic privilege again triumphed in Europe. In the mean time, a similar, though less bloody and terrifie, battle had taken place in England; the same ever-rising conflict between the united courtiers and cavaliers under Charles I, and the Puritans under Cromwell.
With prayer, fasting and hymn, the common people who had for ages been under the yoke of servitude, took to arms in defense of their rights, and many cavaliers bit the dust through their sturdy blows. But Charles II., returned to his throne, and again aris- tocracy triumphed. The oppressed were our Puritan fathers; again they were trodden under foot. Then it was that the heroic resolution was adopted to eross the ocean 3,000 miles, and there in exile establish and found a republic where all men in the eye of the law should be equal. The result is too well known to need rehearsal. How they fought their way through all the dangers of the sav- age new world, and succeeded in the object. How the aristocracy of Eng- land made the desperate effort to again bring the yoke to bear; to tax us with- out allowing us to be represented in parliament-to place the appointment of all important offices in the hands of the king, who would send over the sons of England's noblemen to be our gov- ernors and our judges, and who would fill all the posts of wealth, dignity and power with the children of the lords.
Hence the war of the Revolution. We, the people, conquered, and estab- lished our government, independent of
all the world, plaeing as corner-stone of the edifice, that "all men are born free and equal, and are alike entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Then coming down to the great conflict of America, the Rebellion, it was a continuanee of that irrepressible con- flict which has shaken the world to its uttermost depths for ages. It was based upon slavery, that which has caused the shedding of oceans of blood, and making millions of widows and or- phans.
The Constitution under which we are bound together, is, in its spirit and le- gitimate utterance, doubtless one of the most noble documents ever produced by the mind of man, and even now, when the advancement of a century has dawned upon its use, not a paragraph requires changing to make it true to humanity. But yet, ingloriously and guiltily. we consented to use one phrase susceptible of a double meaning, "held to labor." So small, and apparently so insignificant, were the seeds sown, from which such a harvest of misery has been reaped. In the North, these hon- est words meant a hired man or an ap- prentice. In the South, they were taken to mean slavery, the degradation and feudal bondage of a race. A privi- leged class assumed that the constitution recognized it, and the right of property in human beings. This class endeav- ored to strengthen and extend their aristocratie institution, which was dooming ever increasing millions to life-long servitude and degradation. All wealth was rapidly accumulating in the hands of these few who owned their fellow man as property. The poor whites, unable to buy slaves, and con-
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
sidering labor which was performed by them degrading, were rapidly sinking into a state of frightful misery. The sparse population which slavery al- lowed, excluded churches, schools and villages. Immense plantations of thon- sands of acres, tilled by as many slaves, driven to work by overseers, consigned the whole land to but few. The south- ern country generally presented an ap- pearance of desolation which Christian- dom no where else could parallel. The slaveholders claimed the right to extend the institution over new territory, and the conflict of free labor and slave labor began, as it was impossible for those men, with the sentiment of equal- ity could live on peaceful terms with those who claim aristocratie privileges. From the year 1790, the strife grew hotter and hotter every year. The questions arising kept congress, both the senate and house, in one incessant scene of warfare. There could be no peace in the land until this aristocratic element was effectually banished.
The Hon. Mr. Iverson, of Georgia, speaking of the antagonism of the two systems, aristocracy and equality, said, in the senate of the United States, Dec. 5, 1860:
"Sir, disguise the fact as you will, there is enmity between the northern and southern people, which is deep and enduring, and you can never eradicate it -never! Look at the spectacle exhibited on this floor? How is it? There are the northern senators on that side; here are the southern senators on this side. You sit upon your side silent and gloomy; we sit upon our side with knit brows and portentous scowls. Here are two hostile bodies on this floor, and it is but
a type of the feeling which exists be- tween the two sections. We are enemies as much as if we were hostile states. We have not lived in peace. We are not now living in peace. It is not ex- pected that we shall ever live in peace."
Hon. Mr. Mason. of Virginia, in con- tinuation of the same debate said: "This is a war of sentiment and opinion, by one form of society, against another form of society."
This feeling continued to grow stron- ger. One incessant cry became, " Ab- jure your democratic constitution, which favors equal rights to all men, and give us in its place an aristocratic constitu- tion, which will secure the rights of a privileged class." They insisted that the domestic slave trade should be nurtured and the foreign slave trade opened, saying in the coarse and vulgar language of one of the most earnest advocates of slavery! "The north can import jackasses from Malta, let the south, then, import niggers from Africa."
The reply of the overwhelming ma- jority of the people of the United States was decisive. Lincoln was elec- ted and inaugurated, despite the eon- spiracy to prevent it.
Volumes could be, and have been written upon these actions, but they are well known. We will merely men- tion the most prominent features, tran- spiring until the havoc of war actually set in.
On the 7th of Nov., 1860, it was known that Abraham Lincoln was elec- ted president of the United States, and was to enter upon his duties on the 4th day of the following March. In the meantime the executive government
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
615
was virtually in the hands of the slave power. James Buchanan, the president, had been elected to the office, openly pledged to pursue the general policy the slave-holders enjoyed. The cabinet where all slave-holders and slave-mas- ters. The United States navy was scattered all over the face of the several oeeans, leaving only two war-vessels for the defense of the country; the treasury was left barren; the army was so seat- tered in remote fortresses in the far west, as to leave all the forts where they would be needed, defenseless; the U. S. arsenals were empty, the secretary of war sending their guns to the slave states, where bands of rebels were organized and drilling, prepared to re- ceive them. One hundred and fifteen thousand arms, of the most approved pattern, were transferred from Spring- field, Mass., and from Watervleit, N. Y., together with a vast amount of can- non, morter, balls, powder and shells were also forwarded to the rebels.
On the 18th of Feb., 1861, the inaug- uration of Jefferson Davis, as president of the Southern Confederacy, took place at Montgomery, Ala. Four days later the collector of eustonis, appointed by the Confederate government in Charles- ton, S. C., issued the manifesto that all vessels, from any state out of the Con- federacy, would be treated as foreign vessels, and subject to the port dues, and other charges established by the laws of the Confederate States. Thus by a stroke of the pen, the immense - commerce of the northern states was declared to be foreign commerce, be- neath the guns of the forts which the United States had reared, at an expense of millions of dollars.
Already a number of states had pass- ed the ordinance of secession.
On the 4th of March, 1861, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated president, and assumed official duties.
At half-past four o'clock on the morn- ing of the 12th of April, 1861, the rebels opened fire upon Fort Sumter, and, after enduring terrifie bombardment from all sides, the heroic defenders abandoned it, and were conveyed to New York. Fort Sumter was the Bunker Hill of the civil war. In both cases, a proud aristocracy were deter- mined to subject this country to its sway. In both cases the defeat was a glorious victory.
On the next Monday, April 15, Presi- dent Lincoln issued a call for 3 months' service of 75,000 volunteers. The effeet . was electrical. Within 15 days it is es- timated that 350,000 men offered them- selves in defense of our national flag.
Thus the civil war had burst upon the United States, with almost the sud- denness of the meteor's glare. It was, however, but like the eruption of the volcano, whose pent-up fires had for ages been gathering strength for the final explosion. The conspirators had for years been busy preparing for the conflict. In the rebel convention, which met in South Carolina to con- sumate the conspiracy, Mr. Inglis said: "Most of us have had this subject under consideration for the last 30 years." Mr. Keitt said: "I have been engaged in this movement ever since I entered political life." Mr. Rhett said: "It is nothing produced by Mr. Lin- coln's election, or the non-execution of the fugitive slave law. It is a matter which has been gathering for 30 years."
616
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
But more need not be said; the result is too well known. Call followed call in quick succession, the number reached the grand total of 3,339,748. The calls were as follows:
April 15, 1861, for three months. 75,000
May 4, 1861, for five years. 64.748
July, 1861, for three years .. 500,000
.July 18, 1862, for three years 300,000
Angust 4, 1862, for nine months. 300,000
June. 1863, for three years. 300,000
October 17, 1863, for three years. 300,000
February 18, 1864, for three years 500,000 July 10, 1864, for three years. 200,000 July 16. 1864, for one, two and three years. 500,000 December 21, 1864, for three years. 300,000
Total 3,339,748
Greene county was not in the rear of her sister counties of the state in pour- ing out men and money to sustain the cause of the Union, furnishing 1,371 men to the United States army. Of these, 195 were killed, or died of wounds or discase, during their term of service.
In 1862, a war tax was levied in Greene county, for the purpose of pro- viding a fund for the support of the families of the volunteers, who might be in need of the necessaries of life, and at the January term of the county court, the sum of $1,555 was placed in the hands of commissioners for distri- bution in the quarters where most needed.
At a meeting of the county court, held in March, 1862. the following preamble and order was made and spread upon the records of that court:
"Whereas, many of the brave and worthy citizens of this county, who have volunteered and are now patriotically fighting the battles of our common country, have left families in
our midst, many of whom are dependent np- on the charities of their neighbors for the common necessaries of life:
It is ordered, That for the support of such families, the sum of $150 be appropriated out of the county funds, not otherwise appropri- ated. Hiram Keach, Dr. J. Hardtner and W. 1. Davis are constituted a committee for the proper distribution of the same; and are or- dered to report their proceedings herein, at the next .June meeting of this court."
Appended is given a roster of the gal- lant sons of Greene county who partici- pated in the war, compiled from the official report of the adjutant-general of the state, and corrected by parties liv- ing in the county. A history of some of the regiments having been given in connection with the history of Jersey county, in this volume, is omitted in this connection, as needless.
SEVENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY. COMPANY F. Private: John White.
NINTII (CONSOLIDATED) INFANTRY.
COMPANY G. Private: Thomas O'Reilly. TWELFTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY. COMPANY A. Private: Henry Jackson. FOURTEENTHE ILLINOIS INFANTRY. Adjutant: Robert P. MeKnight. COMPANY B. Private: A. T. Whittemore. COMPANY D. Captains:
Thomas J. Bryant, James E. Williams, Carlos C. Cox. Lientenants: Robert P. MeKnight, James E. Williams. C.C. Cox, Thomas A. Weisner.
Sergeants:
William R. Love,
Richard D. Bibb.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Corporals: Thomas A. Weisner, Reuben E. Weisner,
John II. Hogan, Robert Jarvis, Joseph C. Carroll, Thomas .A. Millhouse. William II. Wilson. Privates:
James W. Altune,
Jacob Bowman.
W. S. Clark,
(. B. ('ash,
John Cunningham,
Samuel Culbertson,
John Dunn.
George 11. Davidson,
Jasper Dennis,
W. H. Davidson.
Almarine Farmer, James Kelly,
W. A. Lakin. Michael Lynch,
J. N. Montgomery.
B. F. Myringer,
F. M. Mytinger,
George McDonald,
1. N. Melton,
Samuel Monder,
James Neece,
Thomas Patterson.
Corporals:
Isaac N. Melton. Chas. Brown.
Walter O. Watson,
James M. Baring.
Musician: Isaac P. Barton. Privates:
James Altune.
Eugene C'arroll.
J. H. Cannedy.
Patrick Canon.
John Conley, Daniel M. Cox.
Henry C. Cox, John Dunham,
J. J. Evans,
W. Il. Elson,
A. Farmer,
A. Grisworld. -
Roswell Harden.
W. L. Halbert,
1. W. Henderson, J. S. Hill.
James Neece, E. C. Neece,
William Neece, saml. Pitman,
John II. Pitman,
J. P'. Pinegar,
(. D. Taylor, G. B. Wylder.
COMPANY F.
Privates:
Charles Court, William Wilson. W. H. Dawson. W. Il. Elson, Seymour Wirts. COMPANY H. Private: Christopher C. Wright.
COMPANY K. Privates: W. D. Close, Julius Eldred. Lorenzo A. Wells.
VETERAN BATTALION 14th AND 15th INFANTRY. Major, ('arlos ". Cox. Commissary Sergeant: Isaac Melton. COMPANY A. Private: John A. Kilpatrick. COMPANY B. Privates: Geo. W. Thompson. Seymour E. Wirts. COMPANY D. Captain: Carlos C. Cox. Sergeants:
Jos. C. Carroll. David Baker.
Ellis Neere.
E. S. Reynolds,
Michael Rowen.
T. J. Short,
Cornelius Scott,
G. B. Wilder,
Bluford Wylder,
Robert Wylder.
Robert Walker,
Henry Backus,
David Baker.
J. M. Baring.
John L. Bell.
D. M. Cox.
Eugene L. Carroll.
J. H. Cannedy.
James .1. Evans,
John Heiner,
W. L. Halbert.
James L. Ilill,
John Jeffries.
John A. Mytinger.
W. F. Neece,
Samuel Pitman,
John II. Pitman,
J. 1'. Pinegar, C. D. Taylor,
.1. J. Worcester. W. O. Watson,
George B. Wylder.
COMPANY F. Captain: Thos. A. Weisner. Corporal: Julius Eldred,
W. D. Close,
Private: Alonzo Wells. A history of the 14th infantry is given in the history of Jersey county, in this volume, to which the reader is referred. SIXTEENTH INFANTY. COMPANY (. Privates: Samuel Kemmis, Mathew Proude.
Charles Brown,
John Conley,
Patrick C'annon,
John Durham, John Griswold,
Roswell Harden.
J. W. Henderson,
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
COMPANY E. Private: Thos. Davenport. EIGHTEENTH INFANTRY. COMPANY D. Corporal: J. W. Bleakley. COMPANY E. Private: Gallant A. Bonswell. COMPANY G. Lieutenant: Edward M. Bates. Sergeant: Peter Williams, Corporals:
(. S. C'otter, Thos. Watson. Musician: F. V. Close. Privates: Francis Biehin, (. B. Ely,
John Ryan, Henry Wells.
NINETEENTH INFANTRY. Private: Bernard Walbery. TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY. Qartermaster Sergeant: David (. Barrow. TWENTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY. COMPANY K. Private: Thos, O'Reilly.
TWENTY - EIGHTH CONSOLIDATED INFANTRY. COMPANY A. Private: Alfred Rodgers.
COMPANY C. Private: Isaac Allen.
COMPANY D. Private: B. F. Wright. COMPANY E. Private: Patrick Brannon. COMPANY K. Private: James Quackenbush.
TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY. COMPANY K. Private: Frank Foils. THIRTIETH INFANTRY. COMPANY I. Private: Samuel Drake. THIRTY-SECOND INFANTRY. Colonel : George 11. English. Assistant Surgeon: John J. Gilmer. Commissary Sergeant: John E. Barnard. COMPANY A. Privates:
Charles T. Backus, E. D. Scott,
John Gerry.
JIenry Melville,
M. I. M. Sessler,
L. II. Turk.
COMPANY B.
J. B. Brewer.
J. M. Galbraith,
R. J. Stewart.
COMPANY C.
A. J. Ostrum,
R. A. Rushen.
COMPANY D.
Captains:
George II. English,
Daniel McLennan,
Jefferson Dunn.
First Lieutenants:
Daniel McLennan,
Thomas A. Smith,
Francis M. Walton.
Second Lieutenants:
S. S. Sampson,
Jefferson Dunn.
James Gibbons.
A
Sergeants:
Thomas .A. Smith,
Josephus Moore,
Robt. A. Smith,
S. S. Patterson.
Corporals:
John A. Reeves,
Richard Tyas,
Dwight Reynolds,
John E. Barnard,
Richard A. Hall,
A. J. Wilder.
Musicians:
Frederick Dick,
Frank Sackston.
Privates:
Francis M. Allen,
Thomas Barnett,
llenry (. Boring,
Samuel Brasher,
Charles W. Boring,
Thomas Bagwell,
James Black,
John Brown,
R. I. Carlton, J. M. Cooper,
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 621
Charles C'arroll,
John Clardy.
J. N. Cole,
D. W. Calaway,
G. B. ('rane.
Jefferson Dunn,
S. D. Edwards,
James Gibbins,
J. M. Gearheart,
W'm. Heaton,
.A. J. lFill,
.Jonathan Jordan,
Willis Jackson,
J. M. Jackson,
Edward Keating,
Chas. Lynch,
Augustus Lewis,
John Lenard,
Peter Lee.
W. 11. Melvin.
T. J. Melton,
William McNeil.
John Medford,
J. G. McBride,
J. J. Norris,
John Oar.
W. B. l'iper.
M. II. Robbins.
G. M. Raney.
Levi Stringer.
Newton Spradley,
(. R. B. Thomas.
1. M. Sanders, J. II. Taylor,
S. S. Temple.
Joseph VanMeter,
G. W. Wylder,
F. M. Walton.
Frederick Dick,
R. A. Hall.
W. T. Pickett,
Stephen Rives,
Dwight Reynolds,
II. R. Barnett,
Wm. P. Caapen,
R. J. Carlton.
Edward (lary.
G. T. Smith.
COMPANY E.
First Lieutenant:
John P. Campbell.
Second Lieutenant:
Jolin W. Lee.
Sergeant:
J. G. Gilmer.
Corporals:
Martin Hughes, Andersou Reanghr,
Privates:
William Allen,
Patrick ('arroll.
Vinton Allen.
Robert ('ather,
Chas. Atwood,
Wesley ('ather,
Elisha Barrett.
Henry Huffman,
Michael Boling,
I. B. Ileadriek,
I. I. Holmes,
J. W. Lee,
M. W. Moore.
J. R. Robinet,
Daniel Reedy,
T. F. Wills,
Edward Williams,
James Watson,
Theo. N. Watts,
Edwin A. Woodman,
Thos. W. Roberts.
THIRTY-SECOND ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
This gallant regiment was organized at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Ill., by Col. John Logan, and mustered into
the service of the United States, Dec. 31, 1861, with the following staff offi- cers: John Logan, colonel; John W. Ross, lieutenant-colonel; W'm. Hunter, major; James F. Drish, adjutant; Chas. A. Morton, quartermaster; W. S. Ed- gar, surgeon; and A. C. Vanderwater, chaplain. Co. D. was almost wholly made up of volunteers from Greene county, beside others seattered through the various other companies.
On the 28th of Jan., 1862, it moved for the seat of war, by way of Cairo and Bird's Point, and on the 9th, ar- rived at Fort Henry. Here it was as signed a place in the 1st Brig., 4th Div., the latter under command of Gen. S. A. Hurlbut. From here it proceeded to Pittsburg Landing, where it arrived on the 15th of March, and went into camp. The regiment bore a conspieu- ous and honorable part in the battle of Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862, losing some 40 killed, and 200 wounded .; Lieut .- Col. Ross, mortally wounded; Lieut. J. S. Riee, killed; Lieut. John Laboy- teaux, killed; Lieut. C. A. Eames, killed; and Lieut. John York, killed. It was also engaged in the advance on Co- rinth, and pursuit to Cold Water, Miss., and returned to Lagrange. and from there to Memphis, arriving at the latter place, July 21. On the 13th of Sept., was ordered to Bolivar, and on the 20th to Grand Junction, but were forced to retire to Bolivar, from the latter place, by an overwhelming force of the enemy, and on the 4th of Oct., was ordered to Corinth, to reinforce General Roseerans. The next day, at the erossing of the Hatchie, they met a force of the enemy five times their own number, and engag- ing them, were victorious over them;
38
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
this is called the battle of Matamora. The 32d did good service, losing 7 killed, and 29 wounded. They returned to Bolivar, the next day, where they re- mained until Nov. 3, when they moved to Lagrange. On the 8th, making a forced march southward, they surprised and captured over 100 cavalry at Lamar, and routed the enemy at that place. They were marched to within four miles of Holly Springs, by way of Lumpkin's Mill, and Yacona creek, but finding the former place in the hands of the enemy, and themselves on half rations, they retraced their steps. On their arrival at Lumpkin's Mill they commenced to subsist on the country, and Jan., 1863, again moved to Holly Springs, by this time again in our hands. They did considerable marching now, moving upon the enemy wherever he was found, cutting off supplies, etc., until in March, when they were ordered to Memphis, where they remained until May 11, when they were removed to Young's Point, La., and on the 15th joined the division 10 miles below Vicksburgh. The next day they were sent to Grand Gulf, where they remained as garrison until June 12, when that point was abandoned, when they returned to the lines about Vicksburg, where they par- ticipated in the siege operations until the 27th of June, when Col. Logan was ordered with the 32d Illinois and 114th Ohio, and a section of artillery, to com- mand the post at Warrenton. On the 4th of July they were ordered to join their brigade, and on the 5th, started with Gen. Sherman's column toward Jackson. This was the most trying march the regiment made, as they were tired and worn out during the siege.
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