USA > Illinois > Macon County > History of Macon County, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 21
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79
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
CHAPTER XIII. PATRIOTISM OF MACON COUNTY.
BLACK HAWK WAR-MEXICAN WAR-AND WAR FOR THE UNION.
N the year 1767, there was born in the Sauk village an Indian boy, destined to be a great leader of his people. Tracuta Wahicatah was the name given him, but the whites in after years called him Black Hawk. As he grew tomaturity, he gave evidence of superior talents. He proved himself brave in battle, and sagacious and eloquent in the councils of his tribe. Inferior no doubt he was to the great Shawnee warrior, Tecumsch, or to the Pequot chief, Philip, but his portrait reveals the passion of deep lines of character. His forehead is broad and high, his jaws massive and mouth firm. He was ambitious of a warrior's fainc ; but he was always merciful to the weak and to the women and children of the pale faccd-foe who fell into his hands. In 1810 and 1811 Black Hawk and comrades were "nursing their wrath to keep it warm," against the whites. A party of Sacs, by invitation, went to see the prophet at Tippecanoe. They returned more angry against the Americans. A party of Winnebagoes had massacred some whites, which excited for murder the Sac band headed by Black Hawk. A part of his band and some Winneba- goes attacked Fort Madison in 1811, but were repulsed. Black Hawk headed the Sacs in this attack.
In 1812 emissaries from the British arrived at Rock Island with goods, and secured Black Hawk with five hundred warriors to go with Col. Dixon to Canada. When they reached Green Bay there were assembled there bands of the Ottowas, Pottawatomies, Win- nebagoes, and . Kickapoos, under the command of Col. Dixon. Black Hawk and band participated in the battles of River Raisin, the Lower Sandusky, and other places, but getting dissatisfied with the hard fighting and small amount of spoils, he and twenty com- rades, left for the Sauk village at Rock Island, where he remained for many years at peace, with the exception of a small battle on the Quiver river settlement in Missouri, in the present limits of St. Charles county, where one white man and an Indian were killed.
CAMPAIGN OF 1831-32.
The principal cause of the Indian troubles in 1831-32, better known as the Black Hawk war, was the determination of Black Hawk and his band to remain in their ancient villages, located on Rock river, not far from its junction with the Mississippi. The government having some time previously, by various treaties, pur- chased the village and the whole country from the Sac and Fox tribe of Indians, had some of these lands surveyed, and in 1828 some of the lands in and around the ancient village were sold ; the collision between the two races for the possession of the property produced the first disturbance between the Indians and the government. Seeing that war was inevitable the Governor of Illinois made a call on the militia of the state for seven hundred men on the 26th of May, 1831, and appointed Beardstown, on the Illinois river, as the place of rendezvous. The call was responded to with that prompt- ness characteristic of the early pioneers of this state. Their habits of life were such that all were familiar with the rifle. After inarching eight days, the mounted militia reached a point a few miles below the Sac village on the Mississippi, where they joined the United States forces under Gen. Gaines, and encamped iu the evening. The next morning the forces marched up to the Indian town prepared to give the enemy battle ; but in the night the Indians had escaped and crossed the Mississippi. This ended Black Hawk's bravado and his determination to die iu his ancient village. The number of warriors under his command was estimated at
from four to six hundred men. Black Hawk and his band landed on the west side of the Mississippi, a few miles below Rock Island, and there camped. "Gen. Gaines sent a peremptory order to him and his warriors that if he and his head men did not come to Rock Island and make a treaty of peace, he would march his troops and give him battle at once. * * *
* In a few days Black Hawk and the chiefs and head men to the number of twenty-eight, ap- peared at Fort Armstrong, and on the 30th of June, 1831, in full council with Gen. Gaines and Governor John Reynolds, signed a treaty of peace."
THE BLACK HAWK WAR IN 1832.
During the winter of 1831-32 rumors were rife that Black Hawk and his band were dissatisfied, restless, and preparing for mischief. A chief of the Winnebago Indians who had a village on Rock river, some thirty miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, joined Black Hawk, who was located on the west bank of the Father of Waters. The chief had great influence with Black Hawk and his band. He made them believe that all the tribes on Rock river would join them, and that together they could bid defiance to the whites. By this unwise counsel Black Hawk resolved to re-cross the river, which he did in the winter of 1832. That move proved to be their destruction. Through his influence and zeal Black Hawk encouraged many of the Sacs and Foxes to join him at the head of his determined warriors. He first assembled them at old Fort Madison on the Mississippi; subsequently, marched them up the river to the Yellow Banks, where he pitched his tent April 6th, 1832. This armed array of savages soon alarmed the settlers, and a general panic spread through the whole frontier, from the Mississippi to Lake Michigan. Many settlers in terror abandoned their homes and farms, and the Governor decided, on the 16th of April, to call out a large number of volunteers to operate in conjunction with Gen. Atkinson, who was in command of the regular forces at Rock Island. The Governor ordered the troops to rendezvous at Beardstown on the 22d of April. We give Governor Reynolds' circular which he addressed to the citizen- soldiers in the crisis then pending :
" To the Militia of the North-western section of the State:
" FELLOW-CITIZENS :
" Your country requires your services. The Indians have as- sumed a hostile attitude, and have invaded the state in violation of the treaty of last summer. The British band of Sacs and other hostile Indians, headed by Black Hawk, are in possession of the Rock river country, to the great terror of the frontier inhabitants. I consider the settlers on the frontiers to be in imminent danger. I am in possession of the above information from gentlemen of respectable standing, and also from Gen. Atkinson, whose character stands high with all classes. In possession of the above facts I have hesitated not as to the course I should pursue. No citizen ought to remain inactive when his country is invaded, and the helpless part of the community are in danger. I have called out a large detachment of militia to rendezvous at Beardstown on the 22d. Provisions for the men and food for the horses will be fur- nished in abundance. I hope my countrymen will realize my expectations, and offer their services, as heretofore, with prompti- tude and cheerfulness in defence of their country.
" JOHN REYNOLDS."
To the stirring appeal of the Governor, the patriotic citizens of the state and Macon county nobly responded. Many of the best and most prominent men of the county enlisted to protect the frontier and preserve the honor of the state, and did signal service
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
in the memorable events of the Black Hawk war. Among the citizens of Macon county, who went out in the campaign of 1832, there were as follows :
Officers. Jas. Johnson,* captain, promoted to rank of colonel May 16th, 1832.f First lieut. William Warnick, 1832. Second lieut. J. C. Pugli, promoted to captain May 16th, 1832. J. D. Wright, 1st sergt ; James A. Ward, 2d sergt., subsequently promoted to the rank of 2d lieut .; Walter Bowls, 3d sergt .; Joseph Hanks, 4th sergt ; Henry M. Gorin, 1st corporal ; S. R. Shepard, 2d corporal ; G. Coppenbarger, 3d corporal; James Milton, 4th corporal The following were privates :- Asher Simpson, A. W. Bell, Abram. Black, D. McCall, D. H. Stewart, Elisha Butler, G. D. Small wood, John Hanks, Jacob Lane, John Henderson, James Querry, James Miller, John Manly, James Ennis, John Clifton, Jesse Dickey, John Williams, John Murphy, Jacob Black, James Herrod, Kinian Ingram, C. Hooper, Robert Smith, S. B. Dewees, S. Miller, S. Troxel, Thos. Davenport, William Hanks, William Adams, Wil- liam Miller, William Hooper, William Cox, Joseph Clifton.
The company was mounted rangers, and became a part of the fifth regiment. Captain Johnson was promoted to the rank of Colonel, on the 16th of May, and placed in command of the fifth regiment, and Lieut. Pugh became Captain. They were a part of the Brigade under command of Gen Samuel D. Whiteside. On the 12th of May they reaclied Dixon's ferry, where they were joined by Major Stillman and his detachment of 275 men ; Stillman declined to join Whiteside's Brigade. Majors Stillman and Baily received orders to go to "Old Man's Creek," now Stillman's run, to ascertain the movements of the Indians. The two battalions camped about ten miles from the ferry on the evening of the 13tli. The next morning Stillman took command of both battalions, con- tinued the pursuit until sunset, when they camped in " front of a small creek," (Stillman's run), about thirty miles from Dixon. Black Hawk, learning of their approach, sent out three men to escort them to his camp, that a council might be held ; but the men were taken prisoners. Five others were sent out for the sanie purpose, but two of them were killed. This aroused Black Hawk, and with about forty men he met the assailants-the main body of his warriors being about ten miles away-and routed them com- pletely, and in great confusion. In the fight, Major Perkins, Capt. Adams, and nine men were killed, one of whom, James Milton, was from Macon county. William Cox, and others from this county, had their horses shot.
Captain William Warnick organized (the second Company) in the summer of 1832. It was called "The Rangers." The officers were Wm. Warnick, Captain, Elisha Freeman, 1st Lieut., Isaac Pugh, 2d Lieut., Alexander Bell, Orderly Sergeant. The company was fifty strong. They enlisted for sixty days, and furnished their own horses, arms, ammunition, and provisions. This com- pany was organized for the protection of the frontier counties. They left Decatur June 4th, 1832, and marched to where Monti- cello, Ill., now stands, where they went into camp. While here they learned that the Indian village of Kickapoo near the head of the Big Vermillion, had been deserted by the warriors, who had gone to assist Black Hawk, and left their squaws, pappooses, and a few old men in charge of the village. The company proceeded to the village, but found that it had been entirely deserted about three days before their arrival. At the expiration of the sixty days, Capt. Warnick and men returned to their homes, but were told to hold themselves in readiness for further service. They were
* These men enlisted April 21th, 1832, for the term of thirty-five days.
+ For list of names of those who went to the Black Hawk war, we are in- debted to Smith's History of Macon county.
finally discharged 113 days after their enlistment. Each man of this company received for his services, $52.00, and a land warrant for 160 acres of land.
There may have been others, but these are all the names that we have been able to gather, as no official record has been pre- served at Springfield. Few of the hardy soldiers of this war remain with us ; many after the war was ended moved to other sections of the country, and many have passed over the river and are now in the embrace of the silent sleep of death.
The force marched to the mouth of Rock river, where General Atkinson received the volunteers into the United States service and assumed command. Black Hawk and his warriors were still up on the Rock river.
The army under Atkinson commenced its march up the river on the 9thi of May. Gov. Reynolds, the gallant "Old Ranger," re- mained with the army, and the President recognized him as a major-general, and he was paid accordingly. His presence in the army did much toward harmonizing and conciliating those jealousies which generally exist between volunteers and regular troops. Major John A. Wakefield and Colonel Ewing acted as spies for a time in the campaign of '32, to discover the location of the enemy, if possi- ble. A Mr. Kinney acted as guide for thein; he understood the Sac dialect. On the 14th of May, 1832, Major Stillman's command had a sort of running battle with the Indians at or near what is now known as Stillman's run, a small, sluggish stream. In this engagement eleven white men and eight Indians were killed. Black Hawk and warriors fought with the spirit born of despera- tion. Black Hawk says in his book that he tried at Stillman's run to call back his warriors, as he thought the whites were making a sham retreat in order to draw him into an anibuscade of the whole army under Gen. Whiteside. The hasty retreat and rout of Stillman and his armny was, in a measure, demoralizing to the entire forces. Undoubtedly the cause of the defeat was a lack of discipline. When Gov. Reynolds learned of the disaster of Major Stillman, he at once ordered out two thousand additional volun- teers. With that promptitude characteristic of the old " War Governor," he wrote out by candle-light on the evening of Stillman's defeat, the order for the additional troops, and by daylight dis- patched John Ewing, Robert Blackwell, and John A. Wakefield to distribute the order to the various counties. The volunteers again promptly responded ; however, the soldiers from this county did but little fighting. On the 10th of July the army disbauded for want of provisions. Gen. Scott arrived soon after with a large force at the post of Chicago, to effect, if possible, a treaty with the Indians. Small detachments of Black Hawk's warriors would persistently hang on the outskirts of the main body of the army, thieve and plunder, and pounce upon and kill the lonely sentinel or straggling soldier. On the 15th of July the soldiers were reviewed, and those incapable of duty were discharged and returned homc. Poquette, a half-breed, and a Winnebago chief, the " White Pawnee," were selected for guides to the camp of Black Hawk and band. Several battles and skirmishes occurred with the enemy, the principal of which was on the banks of the Mississippi, where the warriors fought with great desperation. Over one hundred and fifty were killed in the engagement, and large numbers drowned in attempting to swim the river. After the battle the volunteers were marched to Dixon, where they were discharged. This ended the campaign and the Black Hawk war. At the battle of the Bad Axe, Black Hawk and some of his warriors escaped the Americans, and had gone up on the Wisconsin river, but subsequently surrendered himself. Fort Armstrong, on Rock Island, was the place appointed where a treaty would be made with the Indians, but before it was
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
effected, that dreadful scourge, the cholera of 1832, visited not only the regular army, depleting its ranks far more rapidly than the balls of the Indians had done, but it also sought out its many vic- tims in the dusky bands of the Black Hawk tribe.
On the 15th of September, 1832, a treaty was made with the Win- nebago Indians. They sold out all their lands in Illinois and all south of the Wisconsin river and west of Green bay, and the govern- ment gave them a large district of country west of the Mississippi, and ten thousand dollars a year for seveu years, besides providing free schools for their children for twenty years, oxen, agricultural implements, etc., etc.
September 21st, 1832, a treaty was made with all the Sae and Fox tribes, on which they ecded to the United States the tract of country on which a few years afterwards the State of Iowa was formed. In consideration of the above cession of lands, the govern- ment gave them an annuity of twenty thousand dollars for thirty years, forty kegs of tobacco and forty barrels of salt, more gun- smiths, blacksmith shop, etc., ete., six thousand bushels of corn for immediate support, mostly intended for the Black Hawk band.
The treaties above mentioned terminated favorably, aud the security resulting therefrom gave a new and rapid impetus to the development of the state, and now enterprising towns and villages, and beautiful farms, adorn the rich and alluvial prairies that before were only desecrated by the wild bands who inhabited them. Agricultural pursuits, commerce and manufactures, churches and schools, are lending their influence to advance an intelligent and prosperous people.
THE MEXICAN WAR .*
War was declared with Mexico in May, 1846, and Illinois, under the call for volunteers, was entitled to three regiments. The sheriff of Macon county, under the proclamation of Gov. Ford, called for the enlistment of volunteers. Under this call company C of what was afterwards the 4th regiment was raised, consisting of 78 men. When the company reached Springfield thirty companies had al- ready reported, and the three regiments were full. E. D. Bakert, then a prominent man of Illinois, through the influence of Hon. O. B. Ficklin, our member in Congress, prevailed on President Polk to allow him to raise a 4th regiment from Illinois, and by this means the Macon county men entered the service. Mr. Baker was elected Colonel, Lieut. Gov. Moore was elected Lieutenant Colonel, and Thomas Harrist was elected Major of the regiment. The late Gen. I. C. Pugh was elected Captaiu of company C, and Senator R. J. Oglesby, 1st Lieutenant ; Anderson Fromon, 2d Lieutenant ; John P. Post, 3d Lieutenant ; Stephen Osborn, 1st Sergeant; G. W. Galbreath, 2d Sergeant; B. F. Oglesby, 3d Sergeant ; B. L. Martin, 1st Corporal ; James Hollingsworth, 2d Corporal ; W. J. Usrey, 3d Corporal ; and G. W. Nelson, 4th Corporal.
The following is a list of the volunteers : Madison Bradshaw, P. T. Bebee, Laban Chambers, J. M. Dicky, W. P. Davidson, James Greenfield, J. Horner, Wm. Hawks, Levi Hite, T. Johnson, H. Lord, J. C. Malson, I. Martin, Chris. Mayers, G. M. Braden, A. Botkin, George Carver, G. W. Dillow, Dial Davis, David Huffman, D. Howell, M. M. Heury, John Henry, J. A. Lowrie, Thomas Lord, G. J. Malson, H. Martin, Chas. Nelson, W. W. Chapman, G. W. Church, J. B. Case, W. Dean, A. Greenfield, Sterne Helm, S. K. Harrell, W. D. B. Henry, I. Inman, J. C. Leadbetter, A. B. Lee, Ben. Martin, Wm. McDaniel, Wm. Nesbitt, James S. Post,
* For this article on the Mexican war, and list of names, we are indebted to the History of Macon county, published by John W. Smith, Esq.
+ Afterwards Senator from Oregon, Major General in the late war, and who was killed at Ball's Bluff.
# After whom Harristown was afterwards named.
James Rea, J. Sheppard, D. G. Stevens, J. A. Shepley, James Turn- er, J. D. Travis, W. R. Wheeler, W. E. Warnick, Robert War- niek, Richard Barnwell, J. Perryman, Wm. Robinson, Jason Sprague, W. E. Lee, T. Souther, F. E. Travis, T. D Turney, Lewis Ward, J. W. White, James Freeman,* Miles Bosworth, David Bailer, S. Rice, E Rice, R. H. Stewart, Dan. Spangler, J. Saun- ders, J. B. Travis, William Wheeler, B. E. Wells, B. White, J. M. Arwood, Jesse Butler.
Company C marched from Decatur to Springfield about the middle of June, 1846, where the regiment was formed. After remaining at Springfield a short time, the regiment marched to Alton, where arms were in store, which thic regiment procured by a little maneuvering on the part of Col. Baker and Capt. J. S. Post. Col. J. J. Hardin, believing that he was entitled to these arms, stoutly protested against their appropriation by Col. Baker, and a wordy warfare ensued whichi came near resulting in a duel. From Alton the regiment was transferred to Jefferson Barracks, and there placed under charge of Col. Churchill, commandant, under whom it received thorough discipline and drill. About the 20th of July the regiment was mustered into service by Col. Crogan, of Fort Meigs notoriety. In a few days the regiment received orders and embarked for New Orleans, and thence to Brazos, Santiago Bay, four miles north of the mouth of the Rio Grande, where it disembarked. After remaining at this point for about a week orders were received to march up the Rio Grande eight miles where occurred the first death in Co. C, viz : Second Sergeant George Galbreath. As Col. Baker and a squad of twelve men, all from Macon county, detailed to bury Mr. G., were about to return to camp, they heard a disturbauce on board of a steamboat near by, and on arriving at the scene, they learned that an Irish company, in a drunken melee, had driven from the boat the Kennesaw rangers. Baker ordered his handful of men on the boat to quell the disturbance; but no sooner had he done so, than a hand-to-hand encounter ensued, in which the colonel and his squad were soon overpowered and compelled to retire: but not without loss. Col. Baker received a rapier thrust, penetrating his mouth and extending through the back of his neck; Capt J. S. Post was wounded in the breast, having a rib broken ; Charles Dillow,} killed ; R. H. Stewart, bayoneted in the thigh ; and seven others of the squad more or less injured. At this point orders were received to move still further up the river to Matamoras, on the Mexican side, where they remained a few days, and then moved on to Camargo, where a great deal of sickness ensucd. Returning to Matamoras, they then marched to Victoria-marching on Christmas day forty-five miles. About the first of January, 1847, orders were received to march to Tampico, two hundred miles distant, at which place preparations were made for an attack on Vera Cruz. Taking ship at Tampico about the first of February, Vera Cruz was reached in sixteen days, and Company C assisted in the construction of the batteries and the bombardment of the city, which surrendered March 29. After the taking of the city of Vera Cruz, Scott's army marched for the City of Mexico, and en route met Santa Anna, at the mountain pass of Cerro Gordo, ou the eighteenth of April, where a battle was fought. Company C had but forty-eight men in this engagement, two of whom were killed and ten wounded. The killed were J. C. Malson and George Nelson.
At this battle Santa Anna eame near being taken prisoner, and in his effort to escape left in his carriage $25,000 in silver and his cork leg, which were captured by Company C, it being at the head
Joined the company at Brazos.
+ His last words were : " If I have got to go, the road to heaven is just as near from here as from Macon county."
11
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
of the brigade. The next morning ensuing the battle, Gen. Scott followed on to Jalapa where Company C remained about a month, when the time of enlistment expired, and the company returned via New Orleans and St. Louis, arriving at home about the first of June, 1847, bringing with them the banner received from the citi- zens on their departure. They were very enthusiastically received. A grand barbecue was prepared for the returning volunteers, and a day of general rejoicing was had, still remembercd with satisfaction by the participants.
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Our nation has passed through four great wars, viz: The Revo- lutionary War, waged in behalf of national independence ; the War of 1812, in defence of the rights of American seamen and the national commerce; the Mexican War, caused by the annexation of Texas ; and lastly, the War of the Rebellion, whosc rise, progress and results are still fresh in the memory of the present generation. To enter upon a discussion of the causes which plunged the country into the last of these great struggles, the fiercest and bloodiest civil conflict known in ancient or modern times, would entirely transcend the aim of the present chapter. That is a duty incumbent upon the general historian. It is our purpose, rather, to collate and compile, in a succinct form, all the accessible facts pertaining to the part taken by Macon county in the war of the rebellion. No county in the State has greater cause to be proud of its military record. When the nation was in peril and called for defenders, the sons of Macon county responded nobly to the call, and their brave deeds, on scores of bloody fields, extending from Gettysburg to Shiloh, will ever constitute the brightest pages in the annals of the county. The total number of men furnished by Macon county during the war was about twenty-five hundred ; the amount of bounty money raised and paid to the soldiers, $180,000. To the sketch of each regiment here given is appended as complete a roster of the members recruited in this county as it is possible to make from the data preserved. Taking the regiments in numerical order, the record begins with the
SEVENTH (7TH) ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
COL. WM. PITT KELLOGG'S REGIMENT,
Which was organized at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Illinois, and mustered into service October 13, 1861. Companies A, C, J, and G were ordered directly to Bird's Point, Missouri, where they were joined by the other companies of the regiment on the 25th of the following December. In January the regiment, except com- panies B, C, J, and L moved to Cape Girardeau, Mo. ; company J, to which most of the men from Macon county belonged, remain- ing at Bird's Point and engaging in scouting during the winter. At New Madrid the regiment was again united, and moved to Island No. 10; thence to Hamburg Landing, Tennessee River, and in the direction of Corinth ; participated in the battle of Iuka and afterwards in the battle of Corinth, October 2d, 3d and 4th, 1862. December 1st the regiment was assigned to the cavalry command of Col. Dickey, and moved to Holly Springs, Mississippi ; pursued Price to Coffecville and returned to Western Tennessce.
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