USA > Illinois > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws > Part 9
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This sentiment gradually gained ground as the time approached for the election of members of the Legislature of 1822-3. The plan was to call a convention to change the constitution, provision® for which must be made by the Legislature. The election of mem- bers turned largely upon this question. The Legislature met, . when it was found that the Senate had the requisite two-thirds in favor of a convention, but the other house had a majority less than two-thirds, and on a joint ballot the slavery men would lack one vote. But fortune favored the scheme. Our county of Pike was luckily in a condition to carry them through the difficulty. She had a contested seat in the lower branch. The contestants were
*To the Illinois Senators, Messrs. Thomas and Edwards, belong the credit or discredit, whichever it may be, of originating that celebrated compromise meas- ure, it having been moved in the Senate by Mr. Thomas as a compromise between the two contending parties in that memorable contest.
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Nicholas Hanson and John Shaw. The slavery men desired to re-elect Jesse B. Thomas, a pro-slavery man, to the United States Senate. Hanson would vote for him, and the contested seat was given to him, and by his vote Thomas was returned to the Senate. But Hanson would vote against a convention; so the contested seat question was re-considered, Hanson unseated, and with Shaw's vote the convention question was carried. It will thus be seen that political trickery is not entirely an invention of the present day.
But the people were yet to be heard from. In August, 1824, the election took place. The vote stood as given below:
Total vote cast. .11,764
For a convention. 4,965
Against convention. 6,799
Majority against. 1,834
This was one of the most exciting and well fought political bat- tles in which the people of Illinois were engaged. The writer of this, then a boy in a distant State, well remembers the intense feeling manifested throughout the Union in the result of the con- test. At the beginning, the prospect looked highly favorable for the success of the measure. The leading advocates of a convention were bold and defiant; and it cannot be denied that they num- bered in their ranks a majority of the most prominent men of the State. They counted both the United States Senators, ex-Gov. Ninian Edwards-himself a host-and Judge Thomas, an active and able politician. They also had in, their ranks Gov. Bond, . Lieut .- Gov. Kinney, Elias K. Kane, formerly Member of Congress, and nearly all the Judges, State and Federal-Brown, Phillips, John and Thomas Reynolds, McRoberts and Smith. Governor Coles, Judge Lockwood, and Congressman Daniel P. Cook, headed the opposition. Coles was a Virginian, and had manumitted his slaves in Illinois. But one of the most untiring and effective workers and organizers in their ranks was Rev. John M. Peck, a Baptist minister from New England, afterward editor of the Watchman, at Rock Spring, and author of several valuable historical works.
There were five newspapers then in Illinois. Of these, three were in the interest of freedom, the Edwardsville Spectator, edited by Hooper Warren; the Shawneetown Gazette, conducted by Henry Eddy, and one at Vandalia, conducted by Wm. H. Brown
BAKER
ILLINOIS INSTITUTE FOR DEAF AND DUMB, AT JACKSONVILLE.
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. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
and David Blackwell. The two advocating a convention were located at Kaskaskia and Edwardsville.
Thus these repeated attempts to repeal, or annul the sixth sec- tion of the ordinance of 1787, were frustrated-first, by the action of the nation's best statesmen in Congress ; and lastly, by the good sense of the people themselves.
Hancock had a few voters at that day-August, 1824; but probably none two years before, when the contested election case occurred. It may be that the officers and soldiers stationed at Fort Edwards exercised the privilege of voting. If so, we find no record of it in Pike county. And if so, their vote may have had a greater weight than they knew, in determining that agitating question for the State.
LITERARY MEN.
Among the most prominent literary men of the early days in. Illinois, may be mentioned Judge James Hall, a Philadelphian, who came to the State in 1818. He settled at Shawneetown, and soon became associate editor with Henry Eddy of the Gazette. He afterwards originated the Illinois Magazine at Vandalia, which he conducted with ability, and which he, about 1834, removed to Cincinnati, under the title of Western Monthly Magazine. Judge Hall was a voluminous writer, and contributed to the literature of the West many works of fiction and border histories, among which was a " Life of Gen. Harrison."
Gov. John Reynolds was a writer of considerable note in his time. He contributed many border sketches to the literature of the day, and also an interesting volume of the history of his " Own Times," which abounds in ineidents, reminiseenees and character- istic sketehes of the prominent men of the State.
John Russell, of Bluffdale, was another literary man among the pioneers. He was a Vermonter by birth; was a quiet and retired farmer on the bluffs of the Illinois river, in Greene county. He was a frequent contributor to Hall's and other periodicals, and afterward edited a paper in Greene county. Mr. Russell devoted much attention to French literature and manners in the Missis- sippi valley, spending several years as a teacher among them in Louisiana. Some of his sketelies have gone into the standard school books of the country.
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
These three, with Rev. John M. Peck, and the editors of the papers heretofore mentined, may be ranked as the chief literary men in the State in its earlier days. There were others perhaps equally able, whose names do not now ocenr to us.
CONSTITUTIONS.
The Constitution under which the State was admitted into the Union in 1818, remained in force until 1848, when a new one was adopted, which did away with many. of the most objectionable features of the former. This continued in force until August, 1870, when the present one went into effect.
Under these three Constitutions, and the laws enacted in accord- ance therewith,-some of them unsound, ill-digested and impolitie, -the State has in sixty-two years made unparalleled advancement in population and material and moral power. Note her popula- tion :
In 1800, its population was about 3,000.
In 1810, it had increased to 12,283.
On its admission into the Union in 1818, it was estimated at 45,000.
By the census of 1830, it had gone above 157,000.
In 1840, it had advanced to 474,000.
By the census of 1870, it shows the enormous number of 2,529,- 410 souls.
It now contains an estimated population of over three millions of people. Three thousand in 1800; three millions in 1880-less than eighty years! Such is American, such is Western progress; such the advance of free principles, guided by free thought on free soil !
MEXICAN WAR.
During the month of May, 1846, the President called for four regiments of volunteers from Illinois for the Mexican war. This was no sooner known in the State than nine regiments, numbering 8,370 men, answered the call, though only four of them, amounting to 3,720 men, could be taken. These regiments, as well as their officers, were everywhere foremost in the American ranks, and dis-
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tingnished themselves by their matchless valor in the bloodiest battles of the war. Veterans never fought more nobly and effect- ively than did the volunteers from Illinois. At the bloody battle of Buena Vista they crowned their lives-many their death-with the laurels of war. Never did armies contend more bravely, determinedly and stubbornly than the American and Mexican forces at this famous battle; and as Illinois troops were ever in the van and on the blood- iest portions of the field, we believe a short sketch of the part they took in the fierce contest is due them, and will be read with no lit- tle interest.
BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA.
General Santa Anna, with his army of 20,000, poured into the valley of Aqua Nueva early on the morning of the 22d of February, hoping to surprise our army, consisting of about 5,000 men, under Gen. Taylor and which had retreated to the "Narrows." They were hotly pursued by the Mexicans who, before attacking, sent Gen. Taylor a flag of truce demanding a surrender, and assuring him that if he refused he would be cut to pieces; but the demand was promptly refused. At this the enemy opened fire, and the con- flict began. In honor of the day the watchword with our soldiers was, " The memory of Washington." An irregular fire was kept up all day, and at night both armies bivouacked on the field, resting on their arms. Santa Anna that night made a spirited address to his men, and the stirring strains of his own band till late in the night were distinctly heard by our troops; but at last silence fell over the hosts that were to contend unto death in that narrow pass on the morrow.
Early on the following morning the battle was resumed, and con- tinued without intermission until nightfall. The solid columns of the enemy were hurled against our forces all day long, but were met and held in check by the unerring fire of our musketry and ar- tillery. A portion of Gen. Lane's division was driven back by the enemy under Gen. Lombardini, who, joined by Gen. Pacheco's divis- ion, poured upon the main plateau in so formidable numbers as to appear irresistible.
BRAVERY OF THE SECOND ILLINOIS.
At this time the 2d Illinois, under Col. Bissell, with a squadron of cavalry and a few pieces of artillery came handsomely into action
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and gallantly received the concentrated fire of the enemy, which they returned with deliberate aim and terrible effect; every dis- charge of the artillery seemed to tear a bloody path through the heavy columns of enemy. Says a writer: "The rapid mus- ketry of the gallant troops from Illinois poured a storm of lead into their serried ranks, which literally strewed the ground with the dead and dying." But, notwithstanding his losses, the enemy steadily advanced until our gallant regiment received fire from three sides. Still they maintained their position for a time with unflinching firmness against that immense host. At length, per- ceiving the danger of being entirely surrounded, it was determined to fall back to a ravine. Col. Bissel, with the coolness of ordinary .... drill, ordered the signal " cease firing " to be made; he then with the same deliberation gave the command, " Face to the rear, Bat- talion, about face; forward march," which was executed with the regularity of veterans to a point beyond the peril of being out- flanked. Again, in obedience to command these brave men halted, faced about, and under a murderous tempest of bullets from the foe, resumed their well-directed fire. The conduct of no troops could have been more admirable; and, too, until that day they had never been under fire, when, within less than half an hour eighty of their comrades dropped by their sides. How different from the Arkansas regiment, which were ordered to the plateau, but after delivering their first volley gave way and dispersed.
SADDEST EVENT OF THE BATTLE.
But now we have to relate the saddest, and, for Illinois, the most mournful, event of that battle-worn day. We take the account from Colton's History of the battle of Buena Vista. "As the enemy on our left was moving in retreat along the head of the Plateau, our artillery was advanced until within range, and opened a heavy fire upon him, while Cols. Hardin, Bissell and McKee, with their Illinois and Kentucky troops, dashed gallantly forward in hot pur- suit. A powerful reserve of the Mexican army was then just emerging from the ravine, where it had been organized, and advanced on the plateau, opposite the head of the southernmost gorge. Those who were giving way rallied quickly upon it; when the whole force, thus increased to over 12,000 men, came forward in a perfect blaze of fire. It was a single column, composed of the best soldiers of the republic, having for its advanced battalions the
SCENE ON FOX RIVER.
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veteran regiments. The Kentucky and Illinois troops were soon obliged to give ground before it and seek the shelter of the second gorge. The enemy pressed on, arriving opposite the head of the second gorge. One-half of the column suddenly enveloped it, while the other half pressed on across the plateau, having for the moment nothing to resist them but the three guns in their front. The por- tion that was immediately opposed to the Kentucky and Illinois troops, ran down along each side of the gorge, in which they had sought shelter, and also circled around its head, leaving no possible way of escape for them except by its mouth, which opened upon the road. Its sides, which were steep,-at least an angle of 45 degrees,-were covered with loose pebbles and stones, and con- verged to a point at the bottom. Down there were our poor fel- lows, nearly three regiments of them (1st and 2d Illinois and 2d Kentucky), with but little opportunity to load or fire a gun, being hardly able to keep their feet. Above the whole edge of the gorge, all the way around, was darkened by the serried masses of the enemy, and was bristling with muskets directed on the crowd beneath. It was no time to pause. Those who were not immedi- ately shot down rushed on toward the road, their number growing less and less as they went, Kentuckians and Illinoisans, officers and men, all mixed up in confusion, and all pressing on over the loose pebbles and rolling stones of those shelving, precipitous banks, and having lines and lines of the enemy firing down from each side and rear as they went. Just then the enemy's cavalry, which had gone to the left of the reserve, had come over the spur that divides the mouth of the second gorge from that of the third, and were now closing up the only door through which there was the least shadow of a chance for their lives. Many of those ahead endeavored to force their way out, but few succeeded. The lancers were fully six to one, and their long weapons were already reeking with blood. It was at this time that those who were still back in that dreadful gorge heard, above the din of the musketry and the shouts of the enemy around them, the roar of Washington's Bat- tery. No music could have been more grateful to their ears. A moment only, and the whole opening, where the lancers were busy, rang with the repeated explosions of spherical-case shot. They gave way. The gate, as it were, was clear, and out upon the road a stream of our poor fellows issued. They ran panting down
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toward the battery, and directly under the fight of iron then pas- sing over their heads, into the retreating cavalry. Hardin, McKee, Clay, Willis, Zabriskie, Houghton-but why go on? It would be a sad task indeed to name over all who fell during this twenty minutes' slaughter. The whole gorge, from the plateau to its mouth, was strewed with our dead. All dead! No wounded there -not a man; for the infantry had rushed down the sides and com- pleted the work with the bayonet."
VICTORY FOR OUR ARMY.
The artillery on the plateau stubbornly maintained its position, The remnants of the 1st and 2d Illinois regiments, after issuing from the fated gorge, were formed and again brought into action, the former, after the fall of the noble Hardin, under Lieut. Col. Weatherford, the latter under Bissell. The enemy brought forth reinforcements and a brisk artillery duel was kept up; but gradually, as the shades of night began to cover the earth, the rattle of mus- ketry slackened, and when the pall of night was thrown over that bloody field it ceased altogether. Each army, after the fierce and long struggle, occupied much the same position as it did in the morning. However, early on the following morning, the glad tidings were heralded amidst our army that the enemy had retreated. thus again crowning the American banners with victory.
OTHER HONORED NAMES OF THIS WAR.
Other bright names from Illinois that shine as stars in this war are those of Shields, Baker, Harris and Coffee, which are indissolubly connected with the glorious capture of Vera Cruz and the not less famous storming of Cerro Gordo. In this latter action, when, after the valiant Gen. Shields had been placed hors de combat, the command of his force, consisting of three regiments, devoled upon Col. Baker. This officer, with his men, stormed with unheard-of prowess the last stronghold of the Mexicans, sweeping everything before them. Such indeed were the intrepid valor and daring courage exhibited by Illinois volunteers during the Mexican war that their deeds should live in the memory of their countrymen until those latest times when the very name of America shall have been forgotten.
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THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
On the fourth day of March, 1861, after the most exciting and momentous political campaign known in the history of this country, Abraham Lincoln-America's martyred President-was inaugu- rated Chief Magistrate of the United States. This fierce contest was principally sectional, and as the announcement was flashed over the telegraph wires that the Republican Presidential candidate had been elected, it was hailed by the South as a justifiable pretext for dissolving the Union. Said Jefferson Davis in a speech at Jackson, Miss., prior to the election, "If an abolitionist be chosen Presi- dent of the United States you will have presented to you the question whether you will permit the government to pass into the hands of your avowed and implacable enemies. Without pausing for an answer, I will state my own position to be that such a result would be a species of revolution by which the purpose of the Government would be destroyed, and the obser- vances of its mere forms entitled to no respect. In that event, in such manner as should be most expedient, I should deem it your duty to provide for your safety outside of the Union." Said another Southern politician, when speaking on the same sub- ject, "We shall fire the Southern heart, instruct the Southern mind, give courage to each, and at the proper moment, by one organized, concerted action, we can precipitate the Cotton States into a revolution." To disrupt the Union and form a government which recognized the absolute supremacy of the white population and the perpetual bondage of the black was what they deemed freedom from the galling yoke of a Republican administration.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN DID NOT SEEK TIIE PRESIDENCY.
Hon. R. W. Miles, of Knox county, sat on the floor by the side of Abraham Lincoln in the Library-room of the Capitol, in Spring- field, at the secret caucus meeting, held in January, 1859, when Mr. Lincoln's name was first spoken of in caucus as candidate for President. When a gentleman, in making a short speech, said, " We are going to bring Abraham Lincoln out as a candidate for President," Mr. Lincoln at once arose to his feet, and exclaimed, "For God's sake, let me alone! I have suffered enough!" This was soon after he had been defeated in the Legislature for United States Senate by Stephen A. Douglas, and only those who are
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intimate with that important and unparalleled contest can appre- ciate the full force and meaning of these expressive words of the martyred President. They were spontaneous, and prove beyond a shadow of doubt that Abraham Lincoln did not seek the high posi- tion of President. Nor did he use any trickery or chicanery to obtain it. But his expressed wish was not to be complied with; our beloved country needed a savior and a martyr, and Fate had decreed that he should be the victim. After Mr. Lincoln was elected President, Mr. Miles sent him an eagle's quill, with which the chief magistrate wrote his first inaugural address. The letter written by Mr. Miles to the President, and sent with the quill, which was two feet in length, is such a jewel of eloquence and prophecy that it should be given a place in history :
HON. A. LINCOLN :
PERSIFER, December 21, 1860.
Dear Sir :- Please accept the eagle quill I promised you, by the hand of our Representative, A. A. Smith. The bird from whose wing the quill was taken, was shot by John F. Dillon, in Persifer township, Knox Co., Ills., in Feb., 1857 Hav- ing heard that James Buchanan was furnished with an eagle quill to write his Inaugural with, and believing that in 1860, a Republican would be elected to take his place, I determined to save this quill and present it to the fortunate man, who- ever he might be. Reports tell us that the bird which furnished Buchanan's quill was a captured bird,-fit emblem of the man that used it ; but the bird from which this quill was taken, yielded the quill only with his life,-fit emblem of the man who is expected to use it, for true Republicans believe that you would not think life worth the keeping after the surrender of principle. Great difficulties surround you ; traitors to their country have threatened your life ; and should you be called upon to surrender it at the post of duty, your memory will live for- ever in the heart of every freeman ; and that is a grander monument than can be built of brick or marble.
"For if hearts may not our memories keep, Oblivion haste each vestige sweep, And let our memories end."
Yours Truly,
R. W. MILES.
STATES SECEDING.
At the time of President Lincoln's accession to power, several members of the Union claimed they had withdrawn from it, and styling themselves the "Confederate States of America," organ- ized a separate government. The house was indeed divided against itself, but it should not fall, nor should it long continue divided, was the hearty, determined response of every loyal heart in the nation. The accursed institution of human slavery was the primary cause for this dissolution of the American Union. Doubtless other agencies served to intensify the hostile feel- ings which existed between the Northern and Southern portions
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of our country, but their remote origin could be traced to this great national evil. Had Lincoln's predecessor put forth a timely, ener- getic effort, he might have prevented the bloody war our nation was called to pass through. On the other hand every aid was given the rebels; every advantage and all the power of the Government was placed at their disposal, and when Illinois' honest son took the reins of the Republic he found Buchanan had been a traitor to his trust, and given over to the South all available means of war.
THE FALL OF SUMTER.
On the 12th day of April, 1861, the rebels, who for weeks had been erecting their batteries upon the shore, after demanding of Major Anderson a surrender, opened fire upon Fort Sumter. For thirty-four hours an incessant cannonading was continued; the fort was being seriously injured; provisions were almost gone, and Major Anderson was compelled to haul down the stars and stripes. That dear old flag which had seldom been lowered to a foreign foe by rebel hands was now trailed in the dust. The first blow of the terrible conflict which summoned vast armies into the field, and moistened the soil of a nation in fraternal blood and tears, had been struck. The gauntlet thus thrown down by the attack on Sumter by the traitors of the South was accepted-not, however, in the spirit with which insolence meets insolence-but with a firm, determined spirit of patriotism and love of country. The duty of the President was plain under the constitution and the laws, and above and beyond all, the people from whom all political power is derived, demanded the suppression of the Rebellion, and stood ready to sustain the authority of their representative and executive officers. Promptly did the new President issue a proclamation calling for his countrymen to join with him to defend their homes and their country, and vindicate her honor. This call was made April 14, two days after Sumter was first fired upon, and was for 75,000 men. On the 15th, the same day he was notified, Gov. Yates issued his proclamation convening the Legislature. He also ordered the organization of six regiments. Troops were in abund- ance, and the call was no sooner made than filled. Patriotism thrilled and vibrated and pulsated through every heart. The farm, the workshop, the office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the college, the school-house,-every calling offered its best men, their lives and their fortunes, in defense of the Government's honor and unity.
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Bitter words spoken in moments of political heat were forgotten and forgiven, and joining hands in a common cause, they repeated the oath of America's soldier-statesman: " By the Great Eternal, the Union must and shall be preserved." The honor, the very life and glory of the nation was committed to the stern arbitrament of the sword, and soon the tramp of armed men, the clash of musketry and the heavy boom of artillery reverberated throughout the continent; rivers of blood saddened by tears of mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and sweethearts flowed from the lakes to the gulf, but a nation was saved. The sacrifice was great, but the Union was preserved.
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