USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources > Part 34
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After the reënlistment of the Tenth the regiment was consolidated to nine companies, and the Fifteenth Cavalry, consolidated to three companies, was consolidated with the Tenth, the consolidated regiment being called the Tenth. At a reunion of the Tenth Cavalry at Spring- field, in September, 1878, Lieut .- Col. T. D. Vredenburgh delivered an address, from which we cull the following concerning the history of the Tentlı after its reënlistment :
" Here we had a full regiment of well-seasoned veterans, experienced, tried officers, and all hailed with delight the prospect of an early order
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to more active fields, feeling assured, should the opportunity be pre- sented, that we would not disgrace our calling. Cheer after cheer echoed through the camp when orders were received in February to move to the Mississippi river, and so anxious were all to be in the anticipated struggle at Mobile that the first detachment, once embarked on that majestic stream, failed to find land before reaching New Orleans, and only stopped there because all means of further transpor- tation failed. The whole regiment finally congregated at Greenville, which was made headquarters, and the high hopes of seeing the last throes of the confederacy were doomed to miscarry, as only a few of our numbers reached Mobile, and that too late to take an active part in its capture. The only exciting times experienced in New Orleans was on the receipt of the news of the death of President Lincoln and the passage of the rebel ram Webb. In the first instance the prompt and energetic action of this regiment undoubtedly saved the city from a scene of bloodshed and confusion, and won from the general com- manding a flattering compliment in general orders. In the second instance, the Webb, in her "cheeky" attempt to run tlie blockade, was recognized, as she passed Camp Paripett, by a member of the Tenth who had good reasons for remembering her; the authorities were apprised of the dangerous stranger's approach,-the timely information enabled the navy to accomplish her destruction, and the Tenth captured every soul on board save one.
"Early in the year 1865, as the tail of the confederacy continued to wag in the trans-Mississippi department, we were ordered up the river and put in an appearance at Shreveport, Marshall, Tyler and several other ' last ditches.'
" Then commenced that long, wearisome march from the Red to the Rio Grande. How different this march from any taken before. For- merly the advanced guard and nightly pickets were wont to be continu- ally on the lookout for prowlers, scouts and ambuscades. Here the very swine knew the meaning of ' General Order No. 2,' and basked in perfect security almost under our horses' feet. This was the last feather, and all felt like laying aside a uniform which had lost its power to inspire awe,-else why should our favorite porker treat us with such contempt. Still, the ride had its pleasures. All enjoyed the varied scenery, the strange grottoes and mysterious rivers with a commence- ment in a mountain and terminus in the next plain ; the immense herds of half wild cattle, lilliputian donkeys, etc. How captivating old time- stained San Antonio looked, hid behind its full tropical foliage, trav- ersed by its crystal river, and full of evidences of age and durability. How pleasant in the cool of the evening to stroll through its wide
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plazas, luxurious gardens and open churches to be jostled by black- eyed, half-veiled beauties, while the ear was saluted by a hundred voices of joy and laughter. From San Antonio several trips were made to the mountains north and west, some of them quite extended, ostensi- bly after Indians, but really to accustom the inhabitants to blue-coats, and reëstablish Uncle Sam's prestige. When this had been fully accom- plished and there seemed nothing more for us to do, the order to pre- pare for muster-out arrived. Never was an order obeyed with more alacrity. By November 22 we were ready, mustered out, and started home for discharge. But a long stretch of land and water lay between us and that home. Footsore and weary the dismounted cavalryman dragged himself into Columbus after a tramp of 150 miles, thence by rail to Houston and Galveston.
" On a cold, raw afternoon in December, we 'clod-hoppers,' ' land- lubbers ' and 'cow-boys' found ourselves, with about 500 other cattle, on board the Texas, gradually losing sight of land. Bright prospects of soon seeing friends and home danced through every breast, and joy- ously all eyes watched (to. many) their first sunset at sea. Suddenly, with a crash suggestive of immediate destruction, the huge steamer lay drifting helplessly on the deep. An anchor was quickly gotten out, and an examination made, which developed nothing more serious than a broken wrist. Still without a new one the vessel was immovable save by wind and tide. Anxiously was the captain watched disappear- ing through the growing darkness, headed for Galveston, twenty miles away, in the only boat belonging to the steamer. He left with the expectation of returning by midnight with the needed repairs. As . darkness closed in, the breeze, which had been fresh all day, increased to a gale, and it soon became evident that the captain would not return that night, as no boat could live in such weather. All hands stowed themselves away as best they could, expecting that daylight would improve the appearance of things. False hope. The morning only revealed to anxious eyes a surging mass of water and angry clouds. Then was the discovery made that the ship was unseaworthy and over- loaded. The hold was crammed full of merchandise, principally cot- ton, the main deck crowded with cattle, genuine Texas long-horns, and the upper deck uncomfortably crowded with soldiers, about 700. As the vessel surged from side to side the soldiers clutched at any object to prevent being washed overboard, while numbers of cattle were crushed and smothered. Squeamish feelings possessed every stom- ach, salt, junk and hard-tack presented no attractions. The mind nat- urally reverted to things of the future, and religious sentiments were more prevalent than usual. Old tried soldiers were seen to throw
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things other than their breakfast overboard. Yonder drifted past the ace of spades, and then the queen of hearts danced by in company with the jack of diamonds. At intervals a well-thumbed, yellow-backed copy of some obscene publication, passing to oblivion, would indicate at least a temporary improvement in its owner's morals. All day long and through the following night the weather was such as to prevent any one from coming to our assistance, save a plucky little revenue cnt- ter sent from Galveston, but she only made the matter worse by knocking a great hole in lierself and losing for us our best anchor, then without so much as 'I beg your pardon,' showed us her heels and ' put' for the nearest harbor.
" The night that followed was a time of great anxiety ; little sleep was had by any. The next day, the wind subsiding considerably, another attempt on the part of the revenue cutter to tow us to Galves- ton was successfully accomplished just at night. Taking another vessel, an English screw propeller, as soon as possible, the run to New Orleans was accomplished in about thirty-six hours. The weather was now glorious, and the trip up the Mississippi on the grand old Missouri was delightful. When we had reached Cairo winter was upon us, and its rigors began to be felt seriously. Four years and over spent in the south had had its effect upon our systems. In anticipation of an early muster-out new clothes had not been drawn for a long time, overcoats and blankets, for lack of transportation, had been thrown away, and in an almost destitute condition we boarded the cattle cars kindly furnished for our accommodation by the Illinois Central railroad. Then followed thirty-six hours of the most miserable railroad riding ever enjoyed in this lovely state of ours; but all the miseries have an end ; so had this ride: then who cared ? Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, wives and sweethearts were waiting to receive and welcome, while an inward consciousness of having done our whole duty filled each breast with pride and joy.
"One o'clock A.M., January 1, 1866, found us knee-deep in snow, ponnding at the gates of Camp Butler for admittance, where, we had been informed, every preparation had been made for our accommoda- tion. These accommodations on inspection proved to be deserted barracks-nothing more.
" All haste was made to be discharged, but red tape detained us until the 6th, when, with thankful hearts, we took our pay and Uncle Sam's honorable discharge, bade an affectionate adieu to old comrades, and hied away to the loved ones longing for our return."
The regiment was mustered out-at: San Antonio, Texas, November 22, 1865, and returned home soon thereafter, receiving pay and final
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discharge at Springfield, Illinois. The greater portion of Company C was from Loda and vicinity, as was also Capt. Charles H. Jones, its commander.
Iroquois county was also represented by one or more men in the Fourth, Seventh, Twelfth and Fourteenth Regiments of Illinois Cavalry, all of whom did credit to the county and lionor to themselves.
THE FIRST REGIMENT ILLINOIS ARTILLERY.
Battery D was among the very first troops organized, and was com- manded by Capt. E. McAllister, of Plainfield, Illinois, and the battery is perhaps better known among soldiers as " McAllister's Battery." In the three-months service the battery formed one of the companies of the Tenth regiment, commanded by Col. Morgan, of Quincy, and was stationed at Cairo during its term of three months. The battery was reorganized for three years by Capt. McAllister, and made its first campaign under Gen. McClernand. At Fort Donelson its guns were the first ones that opened upon the enemy. It took a very prominent part in the battle of Shiloh, after which it was transferred to Gen. John A. Logan's Division of the Seventeenth Corps. About the time of its transfer to Logan's division, its commander, Capt. McAllister, in consequence of ill-liealtli was forced to resign, and he was succeeded in command by Capt. H. A. Rogers, who continued to be its leader during the campaign of Gen. Grant down the Mississippi, and back. again to Memphis, then to Milliken's Bend, and round to the rear of Vicksburg, also during the battles of Raymond and Champion's Hill, up to May 29, in the siege of Vicksburg, where the gallant captain was shot dead by a minie ball. Capt. E. H. Cooper, formerly of Springfield, on the death of Capt. Rogers, was promoted captain and commanded the battery during the rest of the siege of Vicksburg. In the winter of 1864 the battery reorganized as a veteran organization at Camp Fry, Chicago, and soon afterward it returned to the front, and, joining Sherman's army, it left Vicksburg in April, 1864, and proceeded to Georgia and took a prominent part in the march to, and capture of Atlanta. July 22, the day on which its corps commander, the lamented Gen. McPherson, was shot, the battery was liandled witlı a skill, and behaved with a coolness and bravery unsurpassed. Capt. Cooper that day , never left his horse, but was tireless and fearless during the entire battle, and showed himself worthy to be the com- mander of such a battery. After the fall of Atlanta thie battery was ordered to Nashville, and formed a part of Gen. Thomas' army, and participated in the battle of Nashville. After the defeat of Hood the
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battery was stationed at Clarksville, Tennessee, and remained there up to the date of its muster out. Capt. Cooper, in recognition of his bravery and abilities as an artillery officer, was promoted major of his regiment-the First Illinois Artillery ; and Lieut. George P. Cunning- ham, of Middleport, Illinois, became captain of the battery. The battery was mustered out at Chicago, July 20, 1865. This county was represented by Lieut. Cunningham and eighteen men, among whom we might mention Sergeant Bushirod D. Washington as a capable non-commissioned officer, and Daniel Torbet, of Texas, in this county, as one of the most proficient gunners in the artillery service. Sergeant Washington, as a scout for Gen. Rousseau, rendered good service in helping to secure the capture of Buck Smith's guerrillas in Tennessee.
Battery E, more familiarly known as " Waterhouse's Battery," was organized at Chicago in October, 1861, and in the original company there were about twenty-five mnen, as near as we can learn from Leander Cadore, of Martinton, a former member of the company. These men are not credited to the county on the adjutant-general's rolls, but are well known to have been residents of Papineau, Martin- ton and Chebanse townships in this county, and several of the sur- vivors still live there, and as will be seen from the roll of honor, a sergeant and four privates of the squad from this county died in the service. The writer has sought to get in correspondence with Col. Waterhouse and obtain material for a good historical sketch, but thus far has failed to acquire the desired information, and can only give an incomplete and imperfect sketch. As far as we have been able to learn the battery was engaged at Shiloh, and Capt. Waterhouse was there wounded. The battery took a part in the siege of Corinth, and soon afterward moved to Memphis, and from that time up to its muster out we are ignorant of its history, except that it took a part in the disas- trous expedition to Guntown, under Gen. Sturgis. The battery was mustered out July 15, 1865. There were also in Battery I two men from Iroquois county.
THE SECOND REGIMENT ILLINOIS ARTILLERY.
In Battery L, Second regiment Illinois Artillery, commonly called " Bolton's Battery," there was quite a large number of men recruited from this and Ford counties; and these men, including the orderly ser- geant and several other non-commissioned officers, were enlisted by Uriah Copp, Jr., Esq., of Loda, in this county, and in the first organi- zation of the battery Copp was elected lieutenant and acted in that
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capacity for several weeks at Camp Douglas and Benton Barracks, and in fact up to within a few days after the battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing, when he discovered to his surprise, that the rolls under which he had been mustered in had been, as he alleges, "tampered " with, and his name obliterated therefrom, not only as a lieutenant but even as a member of the battery, and he returned to Illinois to have the matter adjusted and his commission issned, but found his enemies in the company had destroyed the proper rolls and substituted fraudu- lent ones, and filed the same as genuine in the adjutant-general's office of this state; and, to add insult to injury, had drawn his pay for recruiting the men he had enlisted and brought to the battery. After several vain attempts to get his rights, Copp gave up his military aspirations and resumed his duties as a citizen of Loda, but Sergeant Hammond and the other inen that he had enlisted continued in the battery, and we herewith present a brief sketch of the same: The battery left Chicago in March, 1862, soon after organization, and went to Benton Barracks, Missouri. From there it proceeded by steamer to Pittsburg Landing, and took the field at Shiloh, April 9, 1862, being assigned to Gen. Hurlbut's division. It participated in the siege of Corinth, and after its evacuation proceeded with Gen. Sherman's com- mand to Memphis, Tennessee, where it remained in camp until August. It was engaged at Nocomo Creek in October following, and was selected to make the attack upon the enemy in the battle of the Hatchie, by Maj .- Gen. S. A. Hurlbut. At this battle the battery took a stand of rebel colors that were given to the city of Chicago. The battery marched with Grant, in Logan's division, on his campaign through Mississippi, by way of the Tallahatchie and Water valley, in December, 1862. After the capture of Holly Springs and destruction of federal supplies, Battery L returned to Memphis, and afterward accompanied Gen. Grant to Lake Providence, Louisiana, and Milliken's Bend. It crossed the Mississippi and engaged in the Vicksburg campaign, being em- ployed in siege operations forty-seven days. After the fall of Vicks- burg it again commenced the campaign in Louisiana under Brigadier- Gen. Leggett, and marched after the rebel general, Mccullough, to Monroe, from where it returned to Vicksburg. Here the old guns being worn out Maj .- Gen. McPherson supplied it with new armament, and everything new and complete. In June, 1864, it fought under McArthur at Benton and Deasonville, and in July under Maj .- Gen. Slocum, at Clinton and Jackson, Mississippi, which ended its active operations in the field. From that time until its muster ont, about August 1, 1865, it was assigned to the defenses of Vicksburg. It was at last mentioned date sent to Chicago for final payment and discharge.
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At the date of leaving the service it mustered 130 men out of over 450 who had been on its rolls from first to last.
Battery A of this regiment was also furnished with four recruits from Ash Grove township, all of whom received honorable discharge.
DEAD HEROES.
" We will plant it here, boys, and rally the old Twenty-fifth around it, and here we will die."
THOMAS D. WILLIAMS was born at Ormskirk, in Lancashire, Eng- land, on March 8, 1826. But little is known of his parents further than that they were respectable laboring people. Nothing is known of the boyhood of our subject, or how he became possessed of a fair education, which he appears to have acquired while yet a boy. At fourteen, like many an English lad of a free spirit and intrepid nature, young Williams determined to visit America, the famed land of freedom and prosperity. Accordingly he crossed the Atlan- tic to the shores of the New World, whether as a runaway sailor lad, or with the permission of his parents, we are not able to say; but are tolerably reliably informed that young Williams was early thrown upon his own resources, and for aught we have been able to learn of his early life and career, one or both parents may have been After dead at the time he made his first voyage to this country. spending some months in this country Williams returned to his old home, but not content there he again returned to the United States in 1845, and found employment in the mining regions of Pennsyl -. vania as a clerk in one of the offices, but at what precise point in the mining regions we are unable to say.
When the war with Mexico began, young Williams accompanied some of his chums, who had enlisted, to Philadelphia to see them off for the war, and while there he became seized with a desire to try the life of a soldier, and he also volunteered, enlisting in the Rocket and Howitzer Battery, commanded by Captain (afterward general) Reno, and in a little time won promotion to the position of a non-commis- sioned officer, and behaving himself in such a manner as to call from Lieut. Gorgas, who was commanding the battery at his muster out, the following recommendation :
" The bearer, Thomas D. Williams, has served during the recent war with Mexico in the Rocket and Howitzer Battery. In the course of the campaign he won for himself the grade of a non-commis- sioned officer. As he possesses all the qualifications requisite for a
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good clerk, I take pleasure in recommending him on account of his industry and attention to duty. I. GORGAS,
"First Lieut. of Ordnance, late commanding Rocket and Howitzer Battery of Ordnance. "WATERVLIET ARSENAL, Sept. 11, 1848."
Armed with this flattering indorsement from his commander, Williams started to New York city, intending to apply for a position in a large mercantile concern, but changed his mind, and September 15, 1848, enlisted in the regular army as a sergeant in Company A of the United States Engineer Corps, and for five years did faithful duty as a sergeant of engineers, so winning the esteem of Capt. George B. McClellan (afterward general), at one time his com- mander, and also of Capt. P. T. Beauregard, a prominent general of the confederates, as to be regarded by both, and particularly by McClellan, as a warm personal friend. At the conclusion of his five-years service Sergt. Williams received an honorable discharge, with the following indorsement on it as to character :
"Sergt. Thomas D. Williams served in the ordnance company during the campaign in Mexico, in the army commanded by Maj .- Gen. Scott. As an engineer soldier he is considered intelligent and quick in the performance of his duties, and a good soldier. The commandant of the engineer company (A) at West Point, New York, under whom Sergt. Williams served at the time of reporting to me for duty on the Mexican frontier, concurs in the above char- acter of Sergt. Williams. RICH'D DELAFIELD, " Major of Engineers.
" FORT BROWN, Texas, Sept. 17, 1853."
Sergt. Williams reënlisted at Fort Brown, Texas, in September, 1853, and continued in service as sergeant of engineers up to Sep- tember, 1855, when he was mustered out at his own request, made to the secretary of war,- he having married, and decided to adopt some civil profession, and his certificate of honorable discharge, under hand of Maj. Barnard, as to his character, is summed up in the simple but expressive word "excellent."
At the date of his final discharge from the service, Sergt. Will- iams was stationed at West Point, and was presented. with a hand- some non-commissioned officer's dress-sword, on the scabbard of which is engraved : "Presented to T. D. Williams by his comrades of the U. S. Corps of Engineer Soldiers, West Point, N. Y., Nov, 1, 1855," -- which testimonial from his comrades shows that he was as highly appreciated by the rank and file as by his officers.
Sergt. Williams, on September 27, 1854, was united in mar-
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riage with Miss Mary A. Gleason, of Troy, New York, at the city of Troy, and his young bride went with him to West Point, and staid there nearly a year, when she prevailed on him to ask for a discharge from the service. After he left the army, Williams and his young wife went to Camden, Alabama, where he became in- structor of mathematics in the Wilcox Military Institute. He filled this position one year satisfactorily ; and then, at the instance of several wealthy friends, who were contemplating taking the contract from the government to improve Corpus Christi bay by dredging, he went to the bay, and, as an engineer, examined into the feasibility of the work and its probable profitableness to the contractor under- taking it, and he reported so unfavorably upon the project that his friends at once abandoned their intention to bid ; and the same par- ties being owners of vast tracts of wild land in Texas, proposed to Williams to stock a large ranche for him, but Mrs. Williams refused to quit civilized haunts and take up a home in the Wilderness, and that project was also abandoned. Meeting soon after this in New Orleans city his old West Point associate and friend, Gen. Beaure- gard, then a captain of engineers in the regular army, Williams applied to him for something that he could do as a civilian in the United States service, and was sent to Fort St. Phillip, at or near the mouth of the Mississippi river, to aid in its repair, as assistant super- intendent of the work, if we are not mistaken. While at Fort St. Phillip, Williams was taken severely ill, and, under the advice of his physician, left there in the early fall of 1857 for Chicago. At Chi- cago, soon after his arrival, Williams fell in with his old captain of engineers, George B. McClellan, then vice-president of the Illinois Central railroad, who at once offered Williams employment, and sent him to Chebanse station as agent for the company in the fall of 1857.
Pleased with our broad, fertile prairies and the promising young village of Chebanse, Williams bought property there and erected a home, and became one of the early and prominent business men of the village, transacting easily and efficiently his duties as the com- pany's agent, and carrying on a grain and stock-shipping business besides ; and was thus employed when the old flag he had served eleven years under was fired on at Sumter. Surrounded by the comforts of home, and enjoying the society of a young wife and his babes ; and having served his adopted country eleven long years. two of them in active service with Gen. Scott, in Mexico, in which he had par- ticipated in every battle in the campaign, from Vera Cruz to the cap- ture of the Mexican capital, except one ; and having been wounded at
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
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