History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 25

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989

USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 25

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

"The collector, county agent and precinct agents will report quarterly to this court, and at the same time file their vouchers for all money collected, received or paid out under this order.

"It is hereby ordered by the court, that George Musick be, and is hereby, appointed county agent, and also the following named persons are appointed precinct agents, each in his respective pre- cinct under this order, to wit:

" Atlanta. Andrew D. Downey; Eminence, William B. Creamer; Sugar Creek, Mathew McElhiney; Prairie Creek, Alex. R. Ches- nnt; Middletown, Thomas Nolan; Broadwell, A. B. Corwine; Elk- hart; Jaines Rigney: Lake Fork, Joshua Day; Mt. Pulaski, John Clark; Salt Creek, Sheldon Parks; Bowles, I. R. Brancher; Madi- son, John E. Downing; Lincoln, Solomon Kahn.

" It is further ordered that said appropriation is made only for the benefit of such non-commissioned officers and privates as shall be sworn in and accepted into the service of the United States, and whose names shall have been filed in the office of the clerk of this court. If any entitled to receive the same shall desert, or be discharged from the service for conduct unbecoming a soldier, the appropriation for his benefit shall thereupon cease."

The unusual efforts made in the summer of 1862 resulted in the raising of nearly a full regiment in this county. This was called the " Logan Regiment," and was commanded by Colonel R. B. Latham. The regiment was encamped at the fair grounds near Lincoln, while forming and drilling, and the grounds were dubbed "Camp Latham." This regiment became the One Hundred and Sixth Illinois, and left for the field on the 7th of November, after its organization.

Digitized by Google

278

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

By January, 1863, Logan County had furnished abont 1,800 men to the war, though not credited with that many in the records of the War Department. These were in the following companies: Colonel Wyatt's company, Lincoln; Captain Holden's, Lincoln; Captain Larison's, Lincoln; Captain Fisk's, Lincoln; Captain Al- sop's, Middletown; Captain Newton's, Elkhart; Captain Mead's, Atlanta; Captain Estabrook's. Atlanta; Captain Church's, Atlanta; Captain Pegram's, Lincoln; Captain Shockey's, Elkhart; Captain Vanhise's, Mt .. Pulaski; Captain William's, Lincoln; Captain Hart's, Lincoln; Captain Beaseley's, Sugar Creek; Captain Chris- ty's, Atlanta; Captain Brown's, Lincoln; Captain Miller's, thirty men, Lincoln; Lieutenant Searight's detachment, Lincoln, making in all seventeen full companies, of 100 men each, and two detach- ments. The total number furnished during the war was not far from 2,000.

Following are historical sketches of the regiments in which there were any considerable number of Logan County volun- teers:

TWENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.

This regiment, which contained from the first a respectable number of Logan County men, was organized at Camp Butler, in August, 1861, and Sept. 9 following was ordered to Bird's Point, Mo. Oct. 2 it moved to Fort Holt, Ky., where it remained three months, engaged in the meantime in several marches south and east from the fort. During February and March it was near the Tennessee River and Pittsburg Landing. Here it participated, April 6 and 7, in the great engagement which has been since called the battle of Shiloh. The regiment here suffered severely, and lost 239 in killed and wounded. It was engaged in the siege of Corinth during the month of May, 1862. Minor movements and such duties as railroad guarding occupied the next twelve months. The most serious engagement during this period was that of Mat- amora, on Hatchie River, where ninety-seven were reported as killed, wounded and missing.

The regiment was engaged in the siege of Vicksburg, from June 11 to July 4, 1863. On the 12th of the latter month, near Jack- son, Miss., the Twenty-eighth lost seventy-three in killed and wounded and sixteen prisoners, out of 128 men in line, in a gallant but fruitless assault upon a strong position. The remainder of the year was passed in provost guard duty at Natchez. The regiment re-enlisted for three years in January, 1864, and in the spring fol-

Digitized by Google

THE CIVIL WAR.

278

lowing received its veteran furlough. After this it participated in numerous marches and short excursions, and also was present at the capture of Spanish Fort and Mobile. After the close of active hostilities, the regiment was assigned to dnty in Texas until its discharge. From first to last, 1,720 men belonged to this organiza- tion.

THIRTY-SECOND INFANTRY.

In this regiment all of Company B was from Lincoln and vicin- ity. The organization was effected by Colonel John Logan, and the command mustered into the United States service Dec. 31, 1861. It moved to Cairo, thence to Bird's Point, Mo., and thence up the Tennessee River, where it bore an honorable part in the battle of Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862, losing forty killed and about 200 wounded. It was engaged in the advance on Corinth, and pursuit to Cold Water, Miss., afterward returning to Lagrange and Memphis. It camped at Bolivia for a time, and in October moved to Corinth, to re-inforce General Rosecrans. The follow- ing day it was engaged in the battle of Matamora, where it lost seven killed and twenty-nine wounded. It was next engaged in & number of trying marches and minor movements, and in June, 1863, participated in the siege of Vicksburg, afterward marching against Jackson. Most of the remainder of the year was passed at Natchez and in the vicinity. Jan. 23, 1864, the regiment was Inustered as a veteran organization and the month following it was employed in the Meridian expedition, in which it marched nearly 300 miles. In March and April the veterans enjoyed the custom- ary furlough at home; and on re-assembling, they marched to numerous points in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, where they joined Sherman's army. With that great General, the regiment fought at Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek and Marietta. It then marched with Sherman to the sea, and through the Carolinas to Washington, being delayed at several points, particularly in the siege of Savannah. The summer of 1865 was spent in the far West in the Department of Missouri, and it was not until Sept. 16 that the regiment was mustered out of the service, after having marched 11,000 miles for Uncle Sam.

THIRTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.

The regiment given this number was organized at Camp Butler by Colonel William P. Carlin, in September, 1861. Company F,

Digitized by Google

280

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

under Captain James P. Mead, was raised entirely at Atlanta and in the immediate neighborhood. The regiment's first duty was Pilot Knob, where it remained until March 3, 1862. It marched into Arkansas, thence back to Cape Girardeau, Mo., and the last of May was before Corinth, Miss., during the last days of the siege. It was ordered in August to join the army of the Ohio, under General Buell, and at once marched to Louisville, Ky., 500 miles distant. Oct. 8 it fought at the battle of Perryville, receiv- ing honorable mention afterward in the General's report. The next serious engagement was the battle of Stone River, Dec. 20, 1862, to Jan. 4, 1863, in which the Thirty-eighth lost thirty-four killed, 109 wounded and thirty-four missing.

After this it was encamped at Murfreesboro until June. It fought at Tullahoma, and later marched to Stevenson, Ala. Thence it moved into Tennessee, and Sept. 19 and 20 it took an honorable part at Chickamauga, where it lost 180 men out of 300 engaged. During October it was stationed at Chattanooga, and on the 25th it went into winter quarters at Bridgeport, Ala. Feb. 29, 1864, the regiment re enlisted, and April was spent at home, on veteran furlough. On resuming active service, the regiment first found the enemy at Pine Top, Ga., and next at Kenesaw Mountain. It was actively engaged in the Atlanta campaign, but its loss was not se- vere. In October it marched in pursuit of Hood, arriving at Chat- tanooga, Oct. 30. It was engaged with the enemy at Columbia, Tenn., Nov. 25 and 26, and at Franklin, T'enn., Nov. 30. Dec. 15 it was in the charge on Montgomery Hill, and among the first to enter the enemy's works. Joining in the pursuit, it followed as far as Lexington, Ala., and then marched to Huntsville. The next eight months was passed in making a number of arduous marches and minor expeditions, and then the regiment was en- gaged in garrison duty the remainder of 1865. Dec. 31 it was ordered to Springfield, Ill., for final payment and discharge.

SIXTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.

This was a three-months regiment, mustered into the service June 23, 1862, and discharged Sept. 29. Company H was from Logan County.

SEVENTY-THIRD INFANTRY.

Company F was contributed by Logan County. The regiment was organized at Camp Butler, in August, 1862, and immediately

Digitized by Google

281

THE CIVIL WAR.

became a part of General Buell's army. It fought nobly at Perry- ville and Nashville. It was in every battle fought by the army of the Cumberland from October, 1862, until the rout of General Hood's army at Nashville, and the close of that campaign. The dead of the regiment were left at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chick- amanga, Missionary Ridge, and in the succession of battles from Chattanooga to the fall of Atlanta. When Sherman pushed down south, the Seventy-third remained with General Thomas. It formed a part of Opedyke's brigade at Franklin, which saved the day and gave him his star, and lost its last man killed in driving Hood's army from Nashville. It was more than once compli- mented by its Generals. It lost heavily at Murfreesboro, Chicka- mauga, Missionary Ridge and Franklin. It had two Majors and two Adjutants killed, and nearly every officer of the regiment wounded, at some time-several of them many times. It left the State one of the largest and returned one of the smallest regiments. Its officers and men, and especially the men, were never surpassed for bravery, endurance and devotion to the country. Probably two-thirds of the organization wasted away, either by disease, death or battles, during the three-years service.

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH INFANTRY.

The One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Regiment was composed of eight companies organized and enrolled in Logan County, one company from Menard County, aud one from Sangamon County. The regiment was organized some time in August, 1862, by Colonel Robert B. Latham, and went into camp at Lincoln, Ill., where it was drilled and mustered, and otherwise prepared for active tield service. It was mustered into the United States service on Sept. 18, 1862.

On the 7th of November, 1862, the regiment left camp under orders for the field, and, proceeding to Alton, Ill., they embarked on a steamner, and on Nov. 10 it arrived at Columbus, Ky., and at once proceeded on the railroad to Jackson, Tenn., when the regi- ment was divided and placed by companies on the line of the Mo- bile & Ohio Railroad, as guards. Here the regiment remained scattered for a distance of 100 miles along the railroad, until about the 1st of March, 1863, when they were reunited and ordered to Bolivar, Tenn. While on the railroad, the several companies became engaged with a detachment of the enemy sent against them from the command of General N. B. Forrest.

Digitized by Google

282

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

On Dec. 18, 1862, at a point some fifteen miles south of Jackson, Tenn., Lieutenant Henry Johnson was guarding a trestle bridge with some twenty men of Company C, when he was attacked by a large body of men. Having previously protected his position by a block house, he successfully defended himself and the bridge- killing and wounding eight or ten of the enemy, without loss or injury to a man. On the morning of Dec. 19, 1862, some eight miles above Jackson, Tenn., at Carrol Station, parts of companies C and G, under command of Captain Pegram, were surrounded and captured. On the 20th parts of companies H and I, under command of Captains Hart and Shockey, were surrounded at the bridge over the Obion River, and after a successful defense of four hours the enemy was driven back, and this little band was the only point, except Jackson, Tenn., between Holly Springs and Colum- bus, Ky., that was not captured. Here Henry Fox, a Sergeant of Company H, while in the heart of battle, and surrounded by the enemy, ventured to run across the bridge, in open view of the enemy, and carry word to the garrison at Jackson, Tenn.,-which feat he successfully performed without injury to himself, and brought relief to the little band at the close of the day. From Bolivar the regiment was ordered to Vicksburg, Miss., about the 1st of May, 1863, where the regiment was engaged in the invest- ment and bombardment of the place. During this period the regi- ment was on a march up to Sargent and Snyder's Bluffs, and were compelled to make a forced march in the month of June, in which the regiment lost, by exhaustion and over-heating, more men than in all their previous and subsequent service. After the fall of Vicksburg the regiment was ordered to Helena, Ark., where they arrived about the 1st of August. Its ranks had been greatly de- pleted by sickness, and a few hundred men were all that were found in its ranks as they slowly marched over the red hills westward on their march toward Little Rock. They were in the advance, and engaged in the capture of that place. Here the regiment took up winter quarters, and during the winter was frequently called out to disturb and annoy the enemy. In October, 1868, they were ordered to Benton. They afterward destroyed the enemy's salt works at. Arkadelphia, Ark. The regiment was stationed at Benton, twenty- five miles southwest of Little Rock, for several months, and during the cold days, about New Year, in the winter of 1863-'4, the regi- ment was marched back to Little Rock, where they found them- selves without shelter, and went into the business of constructing

Digitized by Google

THE CIVIL WAR.

283

winter quarters at Little Rock. Here, about the 1st of October, 1863, the entire regiment was united-the paroled prisoners hav- ing been exchanged, after being absent about one year. Here the regiment remained until about May 1, 1864, when they were ordered on the railroad east of Little Rock, and were soon after ordered to Du Vall's Bluff, on White River. In June they made a march northward to Batesville, and thence to Lewisburg, thence returning to Little Rock, clearing that portion of the State of the bands of the enemy. About the 25th of June, 1864, they were engaged in the battle of Clarendon, under General Carr, where there were some 5,000 men engaged on each side. The enemy was driven back and the town burned, and after a fruitless pursuit of a week the regiment again returned to Du Vall's Bluff and were soon afterward scattered over the railroad between White and Arkansas rivers. Here during July and August the regiment lost a large number of men from the malaria arising from the cypress swamps. About the 1st of September, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Pine Bluff, where their camp was nothing more than a hospital, Only 130 men were able for duty out of a total of over 800. Many men were absent from the injuries received by exhaustion on the forced march in June, 1863, near Vicksburg, Miss., known as the satartia march. At Pine Bluff the regiment remained until its muster out, July 12, 1865. Nothing of interest occurred here. The regiment was recruited by the return of better health and the return of many absent men, and altogether the last seven months of service was the best time the regiment enjoyed. The men marched from Pine Bluff, Ark., to St. Charles, on White River immediately after their muster out. The weather here proved very rainy and bad, and in fording the greatly swollen streams a number of men were lost in other regiments.

One of the saddest periods of the war, and one that made the heart of every soldier sick, was the news of the tragic death of Lincoln. The camps were quiet and the men remained in their quarters brooding over the matter as though it was a personal and private calamity to each of them. The spirit of the man who had said, " With malice toward none, and charity for all," had a secret influence over the soldiers throughout every camp, and when this influence was gone in the announcement of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, it shed a gloom over the camps such as the death of the most loved commander would not have created.

The trans- Mississippi department, in which this regiment served 18

Digitized by Google

284 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

after July, 1863, was not so exposed to the armies of the enemy as the troops east of the Mississippi River. Indeed, little was done in and about Little Rock for eighteen months before the close of the war, except to protect the lines and hold the points occupied by the Federal troops. The Confederate army consisted of a roving band of horsemen, who would run and then dash on a post or small detachment of men and give a short and spirited contest- such as the attack on Pine Bluff, when General Powell Clayton so signally defeated the enemy.

The regiment arrived at Springfield, Ill., about the 25th of An- gust, 1865, and were paid and discharged Sept. 5, 1865, after which they separated, and breaking from the many ties and associations formed during three long, weary, laborious and dangerous years, and severally departing to their respective homes, to again follow the peaceful avocations of their previous lives-carrying in their mem- ories and in their hearts the kind wishes of all-and the recollec- tion of the many events that bound their comrades to them like the recollections of childhood unite brothers and sisters.

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.

This was a 100-days regiment which was raised for garrison duty in the South during the summer of 1864. Companies D and H and part of Company K were contributed by this county.

SECOND CAVALRY.

Company B of this organization was from Logan County, and was raised by Captain Thomas J. Larison. The regiment was mustered in during August, 1861, and discharged in November, 1864. No history of the regiment appears in the Adjutant-Gen- eral's report.

FOURTH CAVALRY.

This regiment was organized in the fall of 1861 by T. Lyle Dickey, under authority of the War Department, and rendezvoused at Camp Hunter, Ottawa. Company H, under Captain Wemple, was raised in Logan County. The regiment first moved to Cairo. It was in Grant's advance on Columbus, Ky., at Fort Henry, bat- tles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, siege of Corinth and pursuing the enemy as far as Holly Springs, Miss. During the last six months of 1862 the Fourth was on scouting duty in Western Ten- nessee and Northern Georgia for Generals Sherman and Logan. It

Digitized by Google

THE CIVIL WAR.

: : 285

then was in numerous skirmishes and engagements in Western Mississippi and Eastern Tennessee. In September, 1863, the regi- ment took steamer for Vicksburg, and was in General McPherson's raid toward Canton and Sherman's raid on Meridian, February, 1864. The Fourth was then on scouting duty in Central Missis- sippi and Eastern Louisiana until October, when it embarked for Springfield, Ill., and mustered out Nov. 3, 1864. The regiment left about 500 men in the field, who joined the Twelfth Consoli- dated Cavalry, and remained until May, 1866.

TENTH CAVALRY.

The Tenth Cavalry was organized at Camp Butler on the 25th of November, 1861. Dudley Wickersham was appointed Colonel May 15, 1862. Most of Company G was from Logan County. Dec. 20, 1861, the regiment moved to Quincy, and March 13, 1862, to Benton Barracks, Mo. April 4 it moved toward Springfield, Mo. July 8 it marched to Keittsville, and on the 20th it returned. Ang. 10 it moved to Vera Cruz, and on the 16th to Marshfield, where it remained antil Nov. 13, from which time formed a part of the army of the frontier, and operated from Springfield, Mo., to Cane Hill, Ark. The Second and Third battalions participated in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., Dec. 7, 1862.

The First Battalion, Major E. P. Shaw commanding, was or- dered to join General Curtis, and reported to him at Jacksonport, Ark., July 4, 1862. Was assigned to Third Brigade, Colonel Hovey, of the Thirty-third Illinois commanding; First Division, Brigadier-General F. Steele commanding. Moved to Helena, ar- riving July 12. Aug. 7 moved to Old Town Landing. Oct. 6, 1862, returned to Helena, and assigned to First Brigade, Colonel J. B. Wyman, of Thirteenth Illinois Infantry; Second Division, Brigadier-General E. A. Carr. Nov. 16, marched with the expe- dition to the month of White River, and on the 27th to Oakland, Miss. Had a skirmish with the enemy, and returned to Helena, Dec. 7. The regiment was mustered out of service Nov. 22, 1865, at San Antonio, Tex., and ordered to Springfield, Ill., for final pay and discharge.

SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.

Soon after the war had passed into history, and the people were pursuing the arts of peace once more, the idea was broached of erecting a soldiers' monument at Lincoln. An association was

Digitized by Google

286

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

formed to promote this work, in the spring of 1867, and canvassers were sent out in the county to raise means for a suitable memorial. Said the Lincoln Herald, in urging the matter :

" We consider that this is something we owe to the fallen sol- diers; 'tis the last act of respect the living can show the dead. To- day in every nook and corner of our land the desolate hearthstone, the empty sleeve and the widow's black drapery plainly tell the story of the war, and what it meant; but in another generation at least these solemn teachers will have passed away, and the great lesson of our time live only in history, bailad and song. Let us then do our part to supplant these recollections, and guard these traditions by monuments of stone, marble and enduring brass.

"By the desperate cruelty of a barbarous and inhuman foe, we can nevermore do honor to the scattered bodies of the heroes who have fallen martyrs to the unity of our land and nation.

"' On Fame's eternal camping ground Their silent tents are spread ; And glory guards with solemn sound The bivouac of the dead.'

" By the wayside and on the hills, in the morass and pestilen. tial swamps, in the golgothas around the murderous prison pens of Dixie, they sleep unshrouded, uncoffined and unknown, there to rest until dissolving time shall burst the seals of the grave, and bid the earth reveal her guilty secrets. No reverential mound marks the spot where their sacred ashes repose. No gentle hand scatters flowers o'er their narrow homes. None go to weep where they rest hidden from sight and knowledge, but perchance the busy husbandman plows o'er the spot where they silent lie, and the tall green grass chants their solemn requiem.

"To the eternal cherishing of their memory then, and of the deeds they have done, should these piles be raised. Let cenotaph and pillar rise to keep alive through unending time, or until stone and marble shall crumble into dust, the recollections of those days when by the freely given blood of thousands, and the tears of millions of her children, this land was consecrated anew to liberty and freedom."

The building committee of the Logan County Soldiers' Monu ment Association held a meeting Aug. 20, 1867, and passed the following resolution :

" Resolved, That the building committee of the Logan County Soldiers' Monument Association will receive sealed bids for the

Digitized by Google

287

THE CIVIL WAR.

construction of a soldiers' monument, with the necessary drawings and specifications, from this date until the 1st day of September, A. D. 1867; the monument to be constructed of the best quality of American marble, the statue of a life-sized soldier to be placed on the top of said monument, and said statue to be made of the best quality of Carara statuary marble, the monument to be sur- rounded by a suitable fence, and the die to furnish sufficient room to record 300 names with the date of death, the regiment and company to which the soldier belonged."

The contract was let according to these specifications, but on account of the dilatory payment of the money subscribed, the work progressed slowly. It was not completed until the spring of 1869. The formal dedication took place on Wednesday, June 9, 1869, with appropriate ceremonies. The day was clear and fine, and a large number of the citizens of the county came to Lincoln to participate in the proceedings. A procession was formed in front of the court-house at 10 o'clock, under the direction of Marshal R. B. Latham and his assistants. The Board of Supervisors, the Masonic and Odd Fellows' lodges, and a large number in wagons and on horseback participated in the procession. After marching through the principal streets the crowd was led to the park on North Kickapoo street, where a bountiful repast had been prepared. The number of people partaking thereof was variously estimated, the whole park fairly swarming with human beings.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 25

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co. Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Number of Pages: 989

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989