USA > Illinois > Knox County > History of Knox county, Illinois > Part 25
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Two ladies from Galesburg and one from Knoxville went to Decatur and remained during the fair, superintending the department where these contributions were sold. This department, ostensibly de- voted to fancy articles, contained something more substantial; for example, a coru-planter given by G. W. Brown, another by his em- ployees, a sugar-mill from Frost's M'f'g. Co., and many other like
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things. The ladies had such good success in selling these that Mr. Deere of Moline told them he would donate his fine plow on exhibi- tion at the fair if they would sell it. They did so, and several other manufacturers followed his example. George W. Brown then con- cluded he could put the splendid corn-planter he had made expressly for exhibition at the State Fair to no better use, and he gave that also, making the third he had given to the cause.
But this effort, great as it was, was exceeded by the Galesburg San- itary Fair, held July 3d, 4th, and 5th, 1864. All who remember the history of that time know how fearful was the strain of that closing year of the war. Grant was tightening his death grip on tlie Confed- eracy; thousands of men were required to do it; the battle line stretched from Chattanooga to the sea, from Vicksburg to the Gulf. All these thousands must be cared for, and they needed many things, the Government could not supply. Demands for all sorts of anti- scorbutic food were never more urgent. But potatoes were a dollar and onions from two to three dollars a bushel. The usual ways of raising money were not adequate to the demand. So it was decided to have a grand fair. To enumerate all who contributed to the suc- cess of this enterprise would be to give the census of Galesburg and the surrounding country. The fair was held in the old Academy building, then standing where the Union Hotel now stands, with din- ing rooms in Colton's Block near by. It netted in cash $4,089. Be- fore the month closed, hundreds of dollars of this money, transmuted into life-giving stores, were making glad the hearts of our brave boys at the front. By the close of the year all was thus expended, or used in relieving destitution among soldiers' families at home.
As the war progressed, the care of soldiers' families became an im- portant part of the work of soldiers' aid societies. The city govern- ment of Galesburg expended $16,000 in this work; the Aid Society also expended large sums in this way, and did much for these families that no city government could do, visiting and comforting them, caring for them in sickness and helping them in a thousand ways which tender, sympathetic womanhood alone understands. A great deal was also done in the way of assisting disabled soldiers to secure pensions, trasing out records, looking up lost papers and the like.
From its favorable position for shipping stores, as well as its ability to raise the money, Galesburg became a center for sanitary operations for much of the county. Smaller towns and neighborhoods would tender their services to this society, offering to make up bolts of cloth, if they could be sent to them, or to fill barrels with pickles, if barrels of vinegar and spices were furnished. Very many bolts of cloth
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were thus sent out and returned in garments ready for the packing box, and hundreds of barrels of pickles were put up by generous-hearted farmers' wives. Hundreds-probably thousands-of one-gallon jugs of tomatoes were also put up by them and by the ladies of Galesburg, and many hundred dollars' worth of blackberries, dried, canned, or in cordial, sent on their mission of mercy.
Do these statistics seem dry and commonplace? To some they may, but when the despised onion saved the dear one from scurvy, or a draught of blackberry cordial brought him back from the jaws of death, not the spices of Araby seem more fragrant than they.
With all the hard work this society performed was mingled many things which live pleasantly in the memory. The work itself was a great reward, in the feeling it gave that, thus weak women as they were, they were doing something for the redemption of the nation. Often the privilege was given them of ministering personally to regi- ments passing through Galesburg, and no such opportunity was al- lowed to pass unimproved. If there were time for but a cup of coffee handed in through the car window, that cup was given, and be as- sured it was the best that even Galesburg ladies could make; if time allowed, a sumptuous meal was prepared for those whose daily rations were hard-tack and bacon. Then the entertainments, whose primary object was to raise money, afforded much social enjoyment and drew hearts very close to each other.
And this working together for a common cause was a bond of union, uniting not the ladies of Galesburg alone, but of all the county together. We have seen how the lines of labor, marked by prosaic bolts of cloth and barrels for pickles, radiated from this center throughout the county. Occasionally the workers came together that they might see eye to eye, and gain inspiration from the light of each other's faces. The most notable occasion of this kind was June 4, 1863, when, in response to an invitation from the Galesburg society, a county con- vention of ladies assembled in Dunn's Hall, where reports were re- ceived from the various bands of workers throughout the county, plans for increased efficiency discussed and adopted. The crowning feature of the day was a " talk" of an hour and a half by Mrs. Mary A. Liv- ermore. She had just returned from her visit to the camps around Vicksburg, and her heart was full of the scenes witnessed there. She . spoke with a thrilling pathos which will never be forgotten. After she closed, an address to our soldiers, which had been prepared by order of the society, was read and unanimously adopted. It was after- wards printed and sent to Knox county soldiers, as "from the women of Knox county to their brothers in the field." It was a noble, soul-
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inspiring message, and kindled anew the intenesst love for home, country, and a determination to crown the stars and stripes witlı vic- tory. As showing the patriotism burning in the hearts of these noble, devoted women, we give the address in full:
" You have gone out from our homes, but not from our hearts. Never for one moment are you forgotten. Through weary march and deadly conflict our prayers have ever followed you; your sufferings are our sufferings, your victories our great joy.
" If there be one of you who knows not the dear home ties, for whom no mother prays, no sister watches, to him especially we speak. Let him feel that though he may not have one mother he has many ; he is the adopted child and brother of all our hearts. Not one of you is beyond the reach of our sympathies; no picket-station so lonely that it is not enveloped in the halo of our prayers.
" During all the long, dark monthis since our country called you from us, your courage, your patient endurance, your fidelity, have awakened our keenest interest, and we have longed to give you an ex- pression of that interest.
" By the alacrity with which you sprang to arms, by the valor with which those arms have been wielded, you have placed our State in the front ranks; you have made her worthy to be the home of our noble President. For thus sustaining the lionor of our State, dear to us as life, we thank you.
"Of your courage we need not speak. Fort Donelson, Pea Ridge, Shiloh, Stone River, Vicksburg, speak with blood-bathed lips of your heroism. The Army of the Southwest fights beneath no defeat- shadowed banner; to it, under God, the nation looks for deliverance. : "But we, as women, have other cause for thanks. We will not speak of the debt we owe the defenders of our Government; that blood-sealed bond no words can cancel. But we are your debtors in a way not often recognized. You have aroused us from the aimlessness into which too many of our lives had drifted, and have infused into those lives a noble patlios. We could not dream our time away while our brothers were dying for us. Even your sufferings have worked together for our good, by inciting us to labor for their alleviation, thus giving us a work worthy of our womanhood. Everything that we liave been permitted to do for your comfort has filled our lives so much the fuller of all that makes life valuable. You have thus been the means of developing in us a nobler type of womanhood than with- out the example of your heroism we could ever have attained. For this our whole lives, made purer and nobler by the discipline, will thank you.
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" This war will leave none of us as it found us. We cannot buffet the raging wave and escape all trace of the salt sea's foam. Toward better or toward worse we are hurried on with fearful haste. If we at home feel this, what must it be to you! Our hearts throb with agony when we think of you wounded, suffering, dying; but the thought of no physical pain touches us half so deeply as the thought of the temptations which surround you. We could better give you up to die on the battle-field, true to your God and to your country, than to have you return to us with blasted, blackened souls. When temptations assail fiercely, you must let the thought that your mothers are praying for strength enable you to overcome them. But fight- ing for a worthy cause worthily ennobles one; herein is our confidence that you will return better men than you went away.
" By all that is noble in your manhood; by all that is true in our womanhood; by all that is grand in patriotism; by all that is sacred in religion, we adjure you to be faithful to yourselves, to us, to your country, and to your God. Never were men permitted to fight in a cause more worthy of their blood. Were you fighting for mere con- quest, or glory, we could not give you up; but to sustain a principle, the greatest to which human lips have ever given utterance, even your dear lives are not too costly a sacrifice. Let that principle, the cor- ner-stone of our independence, be crushed, and we are all slaves. Like the Suliote mothers, we might well clasp our children in our arms and leap down to death.
" To the stern arbitrament of the sword is now committed the honor, the very life of this nation. You fight not for yourselves alone; the eyes of the whole world are on you; and if you fail our Nation's death-wail will echo through all- coming ages, moaning a requiem over the lost hopes of oppressed humanity. But you will not fail, so sure as there is a God in Heaven. He never meant this richest ar- gosy of the nations, freighted with the fears of all the world's tyrants, with the liopes of all its oppressed ones, to flounder in darkness and death. Disasters may come, as they have come, but they will only be, as they have been, ministers of good. Each one has led the nation upward to a higher plane, from whence it has seen with a clearer eye. Success could not attend us at the West so long as we scorned the help of the black hand, which alone had power to open the gate of redemption; the God of battles would not vouchsafe a victory at the East till the very foot-prints of a Mcclellan were washed out in blood.
" But now all things seem ready; we have accepted the aid of that hand; those foot-steps are obliterated. In liis His own good time we
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feel that God will give us the victory. Till that hour comes we bid you figlit on. Though we have not yet attained that heroism, or decision, which enables us to give you up without a struggle, which can pre- vent our giving tears for your blood, though many of us must own our hearts desolate till you return, still we bid you stay and fight for our country, till from this fierce baptism of blood she shall be raised complete; the dust shaken from her garments purified, a new Memnon singing in the great Godlight."
Stirring meetings were held at various times and great enthusiasm prevailed. At a meeting held in the old First Church, Galesburg, Chaplain McCabe gave reminiscences of Libby Prison. He then called for contributions, when nearly two thousand dollars were pledged as fast as the names could be written.
The prominent part taken by the misses of Galesburg in the for- ination of the "Juvenile Soldiers' Aid Society" deserves especial notice. About 48 little girls held regular meetings and worked very industriously for many months in preparing and making articles for the use and comfort of sick and wounded soldiers in the hospital. In May of 1863 they sent a box of their handiwork, with books and papers, and delicacies for the sick lying in Hospital No. 1, Quincy, Ills., for which they received the following kind letter signed by James Wise of the 37th Indiana Regiment, and 31 others.
HOSPITAL NO. 1, QUINCY, ILLS. May 14, 1863.
The undersigned sick and wounded soldiers acknowledge the receipt of a box from your society, containing articles we so much need, and in return we send our kind regards and sincere thanks for your kindness to us, who have been disabled for a time in the service of our country. We can not find words to express our gratitude for your kindness and generosity, so you will have to take the thought for the deed; and you may rest assured that you will not soon be forgotten by the soldiers you have done so much to make happy. Accept our best wishes for the welfare of your good society, with the hope that it may flourish to see treason driven from our land and peace restored to our once happy country, and happiness to thic Little Ones.
Many of the little girls of that society are doubtless living in the county at this time and enjoy many pleasant recollections of the good work they so heartily engaged in for the good of their country.
The women of Knox county were not only willing to help the brave boys to fight for their country, but would not countenance treason under any circumstances, as the following true incident will show: An amiable and interesting young lady of Knoxville, daughter of one of the leading men of the county, was engaged to be married to a gentleman of Galesburg, but who at that time was in Missouri trad- ing in stock. Naturally many letters passed between them. In May, 1861, she received a letter from her devoted lover, stating his deter- mination to join the rebel army. This she showed to her father, ask-
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ing him " what he thought 'of that," at the same time saying, " We are done forever; for," said she, " a man reared in the North, with all its advantages, that will forsake his home and country is not worthy of me."
THE CLOSE.
The war ended and peace restored, the Union preserved in its integrity, the sons of Knox who had volunteered their lives in defense of their government, and who were spared to see the army of the Union vic. torious, returned to their homes to receive grend ovations and tributes of honor from friends and neighbors who had eagerly and zealously followed them wherever the fortunes of war called. Exchanging their soldiers' uniforms for citizens' dress, most of them fell back to their old vocations, - on the farm, at the forge, the bench, in the shop, and at whatever else their hands found to do. Brave men are honorable always, and no class of citizens are entitled to greater re- spect than the volunteer soldiery of Knox county, not alone because they were soldiers, but because in their associations with their fellow men their walk is upright, and their honesty and character without reproach.
Their country first, their glory and their pride, Land of their hopes, land where their fathers died; When in the right, they'll keep their honor bright, When in the wrong, they'll die to set it right.
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AM Berggru SHERIFF.
ـاركــ
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CPAPTER XIV. IN THE FIELD.
THE WAR.
There were only seven counties in the State that furnished a larger number of soldiers than Knox county and none that filled her quotas more promptly. She was called upon to furnish 3,842 men, but finally credited by the Adjutant General of the State with only 3,837. There were many who left the county to enlist in foreign regi- inents, and the colored troops to the number of from 25 to 50 were never credited to Knox county.
Besides the filling of lier quota of the regular calls of the Presi. dent, she furnished 326 men in answer to the Governor's call for 100 day men, making a total of at least 4,200 men. These were distribu- ted among 82 regiments, and in 190 different companies. Of this number 123 were killed in action, 168 wounded and 344 died; 96 suffered the horrors of prison life, some of whom died at Anderson - ville and Libby.
STONE RIVER.
The battle of Stone River with its fearful perils, persistent fighting and deeds of desperate daring, furnished a rare opportunity for the troops of Illinois to further distinguish themselves. Nor was it misimproved, as the proud record of their skill and bravery in the midst of the most appalling dangers abundantly prove. Many of the Illinois regiments were, however, placed in situations where over- powering rebel assaults in greatly superior numbers rendered success frequently impossible. Yet there is associated with the stern resist- ance offered a moral sublimity that almost surpasses the glory of vic- tory itself, especially when we remember the patriotism which prompt- ed, and the adverse circumstances attending it. There were no soldiers in the battle that evinced more intrepid courage, nor rendered greater service than the Knox county soldiers.
After the battle of Stone River, General Forrest with about 9,000 men attacked Colonel Hardin's Regiment, and were repulsed by about six liundred men. About two o'clock A. M., Feb. 3, the Union forces learned the Rebels intended an attack. They were supplied with
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only eight rounds of ammunition. The Rebels sent in a flag of truce asking Col. Hardin to surrender, and while so doing planted three bat- teries in close proximity. Col. Hardin replied that he was there to defend the fort, and not to surrender it. At this the Rebels opened a heavy fire. Capt. Wilson, with his sixty-five brave boys from Knox county, was stationed near a large siege gun which they used for some time in reply to the firing of the Rebels ; but soon all firing stopped on both sides, and the Rebel cavalry, abont 600, came up within 20 paces of the gun, and three men rode forward, one drawing his re- volver said, " Damn you ! we have your gun now." "But yon liave got the wrong end," one of the artillerymen replied, as he touched it off. It having in a double load of canister and the men being so near, they with their horses were literally torn to pieces. The Rebels were dismayed, and at this point Capt. Gilson with his stentorious voice ordered his few men who were hid behind a little work to charge. This put the enemy to flight, and the sixty-five inen pursued, killing many and taking several prisoners.
The smoke of the guns, and the sudden onslaught with fire led the Rebels to believe their force too small to cope with them. One brave Confederate lientenant, who was wounded and taken prisoner, said he had been in 16 battles, but never before did he see his troops so dis- mayed. A. Anderson of Victoria, and one of the company, struck off after the Rebs and ran across six men in a log cabin, and ordered themn to surrender, which they gladly did. One of them, badly frightened staggered out and was seen by a Union soldier who, shot him down, not knowing that Anderson was present. Anderson bronght in two other Rebels, taking them from within a few yards of the Rebel works.
This was one of the most complete victories, considering the two armies, on record.
PRISON LIFE.
We give the following incidents of life in Rebel prisons to show the sufferings and hardships many of the brave boys of Knox county were called upon to pass through.
Captain Orville Powell was wounded and taken prisoner at Chica- mnauga Sept. 20, 1863. He was taken to Libby prison, Richmond. From there he was transferred to Macon, Georgia ; thence to Savan - nah ; afterwards to Charleston, S. C .; and finally to Columbus, Ga .; where lie boldly inade his escape. It would be vain to attempt to convey to the reader the suffering endured during these transits and while in the prison pens, especially for a wounded man. At Columbus he determined to effect liis escape, if at all possible. Accordingly
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about noon one day he drew his blanket around his shoulders and fear- lessly walked ont by the guard. Joining three other escaped prisoner they started for Knoxville, Tenn., but unfortunately one of them was captured. The suffering passed through on this trip seems almost beyond human endurance. They were four days in the mountains without any other food than browse. They were twenty-eight days in making the jonrney ; and on the way they were solicited to join the Rebel army. One evening about dusk they came to a plantation and waited in the fence corner for night to come on. The planter with a companion suddenly appeared coming along the road. Although the escaped prisoners lay close to the ground, they were seen by the owner of the land, who wanted to know what they were doing there. They coolly replied that they were resting. Captain Powell boldly stepped up to them and told them they were escaped prisoners from Columbus. The planter invited them down to the house to take supper, remarking at the same time, "The old woman's very anxious to see a live Yan- kee.". They readily complied with the request, for they were nearly starved, and would take almost any risk for a meal. The host and his companion soon left the house, and the "old woman " was so deeply interested in seeing and talking with the "live Yankees " that she re- mained in the room where they were all the time, and made no effort to set their supper. The soldiers were suspicious, and concluded not to remain for supper, for they surmised that the planter had gone to somne of his neighbors for help to recapture them. Before leav- ing, however, they took two loaves of bread. It was then dark. They hurried on, and soon met an old negro who told them his mas- ter had gone for help. He volunteered to pilot them by the shortest and best route to the river, which was some nine miles distant. They gladly accepted his services, although it was apparently great labor for him to hobble along, one leg being shorter than the other. But so anxious was this old negro to save the brave Union soldiers that he fairly bounded along in his irregular, limping gait, rendering it difficult for them to keep up with him. The merciless planter was soon 011 their track with a pack of blood-hounds. The soldiers hurried along after the wavering outline of their faithful leader, through tim- ber and underbrush, over fences, across streams and swamps. The baying of the hounds sounded louder and louder, sending a shudder through the Captain and his companion as each knell pierced the air. Soon they saw it was useless to attempt to effect their escape by flight, so they decided to secrete themselves. The negro, who was familiar with the ways of the hounds, and also the country, took the soldiers through a cow-yard, thus throwing the dogs off their trail. They then 18
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hid in the timber ; and often the hounds would come near them but could scent them no farther than the barn-yard. That night the brave men were hunted like wild beasts ; but seemingly through a Providential interference they were preserved, and finally effected their escape.
O. P. Cooley, in speaking of prison life in rebel prisons, relates an incident of the killing of a fellow prisoner while at Castle Morgan prison. This unprovoked murder goes to show upon what slight pretexts the lives of Union prisoners were sacrificed. As a Union soldier was walking along a narrow passage, he came near the "dead line," but not quite to it. The guard murderously ran his bayonet through the prisoner, killing him almost instantly. It was said that the guard would get a thirty days' furlough for this noble act.
About one hundred prisoners made their escape from Libby prison through a tunnel made by thein. While tunneling, they struck a rock which they were obliged to go under. Colonel Stout was among the number and he being a very large man, it was only with the ut- most difficulty that he squeezed through. Some took him by the lands and pulled, while others pushed him. When he came to the rock he stuck fast, but after much tugging, pushing, turning and twisting they brought him through.
INCIDENTS OF ENLISTING.
In the fall of 1861 Colonel Winslow, of Princeton, was engaged in raising a regiment of infantry. At the same time General F. C. Smith was recruiting an artillery company at Galesburg. Winslow sent for Smith to see about uniting the two. After some delay, being encour- aged by the liberal promises of the Colonel, the Galesburg boys went to Princeton. This company did not, however, give up the idea of handling the heavy guns. Soon Colonel Berge came to Princeton and held out inducements for the regiment to go with him and form a regiment of sharp-shooters. His proposition was favorably received by the men, but nothing definite done in that direction, only that Smith's men positively refused to join with them. The Colonel told them he would put them in irons as deserters; but they did not yield nor did he execute his threats. General Smith returned to Galesburg leaving everything quiet in camp at Princeton; but one morning he received a telegram' from his men to liasten there. He did so, and on arriving found his inen with a few cavalry in camp alone. Colonel Winslow had marched off with his men. He had ordered the Knox county soldiers to fall into ranks, but they refused to do so. The camp was about one mile south of town, where the Colonel's residence
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