USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., gathered from mattter furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, interviews with old settlers, county, township and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources as have been available : containing also a short history of Henderson County > Part 35
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willing to do, and he thought "the people of this country need four years more of democratic rule before they get their eyes opened."
Mr. S. was exceedingly diffident in publie, and never knowingly placed himself where there was the remotest chance of his being called upon for a speech. Happening in Chicago one time when there was a meeting of the leading teachers of the state, he attended, but knowing no one there he took a seat as far back as possible, "to see and not be seen." Some one, however, seemed not only to know him, but to know he was there, for upon the election of officers he was chosen as one of the vice-presidents, all of whom were requested to "come forward and take a seat on the rostrum." Mr. S. did not respond, and it was found that he had quietly slipped out of the hall. The honors were too much for him. While none present were more interested in the cause of education he could not bear the unsought honors thrust upon him, and in self-defense was forced to retire.
EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
This splendid regiment was raised in the summer of 1862. Louis HI. Waters, of Macomb, formerly lieutenant colonel of the 28th Illinois, was asked by Gov. Yates to enlist one of four regiments required of Illinois under the president's call for 50,000 for a reserve force, and he promptly responded, addressing public meetings in Mercer, Henderson, Hancock, McDonough, Fulton, Schuyler, Brown and Adams counties, and enrolling volunteers. Beginning about the middle of June recruits were first sent to Camp Butler, Springfield, but in the latter part of July the rendezvous was transferred to Quincy.
In Mercer county John C. Pepper and Luther T. Ball, of Keiths- burg, began late in July to raise a company. They employed a band, and in a short while had the men ready. On August 13th a mass meeting was held at Sugar Grove and company H was organized, Pepper being elected captain and Ball first lieutenant. The following day the company, having 105 men enrolled, assembled at Keithsburg, where it embarked on a steamer for Quincy. When the organization was completed Henry E. Abercrombie was chosen second lieutenant. The company was mustered into the service with ninety-three enlisted men.
Frederick Garternicht, of Oquawka, a German martinet, formerly lieutenant in the 28th Illinois, raised company G for this regiment. Hle began recruiting about the middle of June and was cordially assisted by his townsmen generally and by the following persons par- ticularly : William H. Fuller and Russell W. Caswell, of Oquawka, the Rev. Dr. David McDill, of Biggsville, and Edward Ray, of Young
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America (Kirkwood). As soon as enough were enrolled squad drilling was commenced at Oquawka. On Monday evening, July 28, the com- pany was mustered in the court-house yard and briefly addressed by the Revs. Hanson, Rutledge, and McDill, the latter, after his remarks, presenting each volunteer a copy of the New Testament. Capt. Garter- nicht shortly after, having about fifty men, marched them to Sagetown, and there taking the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad went to Quincy, where he went into camp, and continued recruiting until he brought the number of his company up to ninety. As long as the command was at that city Capt. Garternicht was regimental drill- master. He was commissioned captain of his company, and his associate officers were W. II. Fuller, first lieutenant. and R. W. Caswell, second lieutenant. Lieut. Fuller was early detailed into the signal corps, and honorably discharged in May, 1864. Lieut. Caswell was promoted to adjutant. When the first lieutenancy became vacant by the retirement of Fuller, in 1864. Charles Kaiser, who had been pro- moted after the organization of the company to corporal and then ser- geant, was commissioned to take that place.
Company K was raised at Biggsville with unusual despatch, only a few days in the first part of August being required to secure over one hundred men. J. B. McGaw left his harvest in the field unstacked, and addressed himself with vigor to the work of raising the company, when the urgent necessities of the government were made known by the second call within little more than a month for 300,000 volunteers. His example of personal sacrifice and instant aid was followed in numerous cases. He was assisted at Biggsville by Dr. Alexander P. Nelson and Joseph Brown, and at Stringtown by Myron Mills, who brought from that place a squad of about twenty. On Tuesday, August 12, he started to Quincy with 104 men. The first three nights after their arrival they slept under a tree in their summer clothing. At this place the men balloted for officers, and elected McGaw captain, Nelson, first lieutenant, and Mills, second lieutenant. The company was mus- tered in with ninety enlisted soldiers.
About the middle of August the organization of the regiment was completed. Thomas Hamer was appointed lieutenant colonel, and Charles H. Morton, major. It was mustered into the United States service on the first of September, and at this rendezvous was uni- formed and armed with Enfield rifled muskets. One month's pay was advanced and one-fourth of the $100 bounty paid. On September 23d the regiment was put aboard the cars for Louisville, Kentucky, where it arrived the 26th, and was assigned to the tenth brigade, fourth division, the former commanded by Col. William Grose, and the latter
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by Gen. Nelson. The other regiments composing the brigade were "old regiments," 36th Indiana, 23d Kentucky, 6th and 24th Ohio. Starting with the rest of the army in pursuit of Bragg, on October 1st, it did vigorous service and suffered bitter hardships on that disheart- ening campaign. It lay in hearing of the battle of Perrysville and chafed under a criminal restraint while struggling comrades were being slain in that unequal contest. Company G was detached at the time and took part in the engagement. The regiment went to Danville and Crab Orchard, and marched and counter-marched in that section, enduring what were great trials to fresh soldiers, for lack of food and l'est and protection from snow and frosty and stormy weather. All the time they were near the enemy (Buell), doing him the favor to follow close enough to oblige his army to keep up in compact order while retiring leisurely from the state with the immense stores he had gathered. The 84th went to Mount Vernon and from there to Somer- set. The marching was again hard and privation and suffering were great ; cold rains and heavy snows occurred ; men almost barefoot left bloody footprints ; and scores went to the hospital. From Somerset the march was continued to Columbia, thence to Glasgow, and crossing into Tennessee moved to Gallatin and Silver Springs. and halted, at last, for rest and recuperation, at the close of the month, three miles southeast of Nashville. This campaign wrecked many a strong soldier. The historian of the regiment, in depicting its severities. says : "It deprived us of more men than any battle in which we were engaged, it swept many into an early grave, it ruined the health of hundreds, but those who did endure its hardships were innred to the rough life of a soldier, and were seldom afterward sick or sore from hard marching." The regiment now had 400 in line out of 951 sworn in at Quincy three months before.
Gen. Rosecrans had relieved Buell of the command of the army, and at once undertook the reorganization of the shattered forces. The brigade with which the 84th was connected became the third brigade, second division, twenty-first corps. The division was commanded by Sooy Smith (who was relieved about the first of December by Gen. John M. Palmer), and the corps by Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden. On the 26th of December the army was put in motion, and soon struck the enemy, who was gradually pushed back on Murfreesboro. Having reached Stewart's creek on the 29th the command advanced in order of battle with light skirmishing, and at night had borne down within two miles of the town. The left of the 84th was on the pike. In front was a cotton-field, at the southeast corner of which was the Cowan "Burnt house." Next day there was nothing but skirmishing, and the front
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line was occupied by other troops. Being relieved on Wednesday morning, 31st, the brigade went a short distance to the rear. During the night the rebels had outflanked the right of the army, and at day- light they commenced a furious attack and drove the union troops in great disorder down upon the center. About nine o'clock the fugitives began straggling back to the turnpike with alarming stories of the disaster to the right wing. The third brigade was promptly formed, facing west, and one hundred yards in front of the pike. The 6th and 24th Ohio were disposed on the first line in the thick cedar woods. The roar of the nearing conflict grew louder. Stragglers, panic- stricken, rushed back till their numbers swelled into a tide of retreat that defied all efforts to stop it. Nearer comes the sound, and all know that the victorious foe is pushing his advantage with all his strength. The storm is imminent; then it bursts upon the first line, and its fury is withstood briefly ; the men break in confusion, and the entreaties and imprecations of officers are nnavailing to check the retreat. Over the second line they pour and are formed again about forty rods in the rear. Now comes the test of the S4th, the 23d Kentucky, and the 36th Indiana. A ledge of rock behind which they lie gives them partial protection. Parson's and Cockerell's batteries are thun- dering behind them, throwing shell and grape shot over the men directly into the cedars in front, which are swarming with the exultant enemy. Soon the rebels come out of the cedars in full view and in point blank range, and instantly the line springs up with a wild shout and pours a deadly volley into them. For an hour each side faces a shower of bullets, and the air throbs with the detonations of the union artillery. The rebels, repulsed, finally take cover in the woods. Dur- ing the time a regiment came up the pike from the south and directed a cross-fire upon the federal troops. Being temporarily relieved from pressure the brigade changed front forward by a left half wheel, and opened on some rebels lying in the cotton-field, probably those who had been cross-firing, and on a heavy force approaching at this time from the right. The regiments on the right of the 84th receive the enemy's enfilading fire with surprising fortitude, but at length, unable longer to endure it, fall back and leave this regiment exposed to the raking volleys from the rebels in the woods, who promptly envelop its flank. A desperate resistance was kept up in this place for an hour, and the foe had crept up within sixty yards. The right was now retired so as to face him squarely, but his steady advance in a semi- circle beginning soon to turn the left, the regiment had to be with- drawn to the ledge. Here the 84th maintained its ground with the utmost gallantry another hour, after all the other troops had retired
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beyond the pike. At last the order was given and the left fell back ; the right, not having heard the command, remained, and some confu- sion was the result. While in this last position, and during the time it was falling back across the railroad, the regiment suffered heavy loss, twenty-five being shot dead, besides a proportionately large num- ber wounded. The rebels advanced, but were met by the troops holding the line of the railroad, and their movement was checked. The 84th then formed in front of the track, but were exposed in this place to a rebel battery, and so the men were marched from the field into the woods a mile away, and there stacked arms to give rest to this bleeding battalion, after six long hours of heroic fighting and sacrifice.
New Year witnessed a comparative cessation of hostilities. On the 2d, Van Cleve's division was thrown across the river, and the third brigade went over as a support. A slight breastwork of logs was made. Van Cleve received a sudden and vehement attack from Breck- enridge, and his division was driven back pell-mell. The rebels fol- lowed in splendid style, confident of easy victory; but the 84th and the 6th Ohio, together with other troops, held their fire till they were within three hundred yards, then rising with a deafening yell, poured into them a destructive volley, after which each soldier loaded and fired at will, keeping up a murderous fire which thinned their crowded col- umns. The designs of the enemy had been anticipated, and Gen. Rosecrans had massed fifty-eight guns on the opposite side of the river, and when the rebels reached the right place these opened with a salvo as if the universe had split, shaking the troubled hills and devouring the enemy with sickening destruction. The rebels faltered, and before they could break into full retreat the 84th and the 6th Ohio were over their works, charging with a slogan upon the reeling assailants. The rest of the brigade, Van Cleve's division, and some other troops which had been hurrying over, now came up in the same gallant fashion, retaking all the artillery that had been lost and one gun of the famous Washington battery belonging to the enemy. Rosecrans reported : "The firing was terrific and the havoc terrible." Bickham wrote: " The commander-in-chief hurled his batteries and his battalions together at the monstrous machines of Breckenridge, and destroyed them in forty minutes. Two thousand men or more, who had marched upon that field in haughty defiance, at three o'clock and forty minutes, were dead or mangled at four o'clock and thirty minutes." This engagement was decisive of the protracted contest and gave the union army Murfreesboro. Nothing could excel the patient fortitude and heroic condnet of the 84th throughout this memorable struggle, and it won merited encomims from officers of high rank who were witnesses
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of its splendid courage. Its whole loss was as follows: Killed, 33; severely wounded, 114; prisoners, S. Thirty-one of the wounded died. Many not counted were slightly wounded. The regiment suffered thus terribly on that dreadful Wednesday. The loss of the whole army of 43.400 was 12,378.
After the battle the 84th lay in the vicinity of Murfreesboro, changing place occasionally, and doing the ordinary duty of scouting, foraging, guarding provision trains, and working on fortifications.
Early in February elections were held in the regiment to fill vacan- cies caused by casualties and resignations. Lieuts. Ball and Aber- crombie, of company H. had been slain in the forefront of the battle, December 31, and now Private Peter MeLain was voted first lieuten- ant, and Corporal J. N. White, second lieutenant.
May 12 the brigade moved to Cripple creek and lay there till June 24, when the forward movement was taken up for the possession of Tullahoma. "Upon the morning of the advance the rain commenced, and continued as if the very windows of heaven had been opened. For seventeen consecutive days the rain fell in remarkable quantity. No such stormy period had visited that country for twenty-six years past." So said the annalist of the army of the Cumberland. Critten- den " had seventeen miles to march, over a road that had no bottom, and it took him four days to get over it. The infantry waded through mud for miles, that was from one to three feet in depth. They had to dismount their pieces and take their batteries forward from highland to highland." So said Rosecrans recently (1882). The rebel army having retreated to Chattanooga, on July S this command went into regular camp near Manchester. Fatiguing work, toilsome marching, a scalding sun, and short rations were other features of this brief, but brilliant campaign, which might have been more complete in its results but for unfavorable weather and roads.
The advance on Chattanooga began on the 16th, and Crittenden's corps took the route across the mountains direct for that place. On the 25th the brigade (Grose's) reached the Sequatchie valley and camped near Dunlap, beneath the tall cliffs which look down from the west, and remained there till September 1. The march was then resumed down the valley, and during the evening and night of the 3d the divi- sion effected the passage of the Tennessee, and encamped at Shell- mound. On the 6th it had entered Lookout valley. On the 9th, Gen. Wood having made a reconnoisance in force in the direction of Chattanooga and reported the enemy giving up the gateway between the river and Point Lookout, Grose's brigade climbed the mountain, drove off the rebel outposts, moved forward to Summerville, thence
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down the mountain on the other side, rejoining the division below, which had now passed around the point, and moved out across Chatta- nooga valley toward Rossville, under orders to follow the enemy closely and watch his movements.
.Let us return to trace those maneuvers which secured the entrance through this gateway and led to the battle in Chickamauga valley. Having reached the foot of the Cumberland mountains, various causes induced Gen. Rosecrans to delay a few days; but when ready to con- tinue the advance by a ruse de guerre he caused Bragg to suppose that he intended to make the passage of the Tennessee above Chattanooga, and suddenly on the 29th began crossing the bulk of his army at Bridgeport, Caperton's ferry ten miles below, and Shellmound eight miles above. Thomas, with his corps, marched across the mountain- ous country, entering Lookout (or Wills') valley, and proceeded up to Cooper's and Stevens' gaps, occupied them on the Sth and 9th, and passed over Lookout mountain. McCook's corps moved on a parallel route to the right, going over Sand mountain, through Valleys' Head. and ascending Lookout at Winston's gap. All the cavalry. except what was employed in the feint above Chattanooga, was sent to the head of the valley, with instructions to cross over to Alpine and make a show of strong force in that neighborhood. MeCook was to follow it to the summit, display his troops to the best advantage, send a brigade or division down the mountain to back up the cavalry while threatening Rome, so as to give the appearance of a large force. Crit- tenden had been reserved to cross the base of Lookout immediately under the Point and next the river, as already described. The demon- stration on Bragg's rear forced him into the open field to fight the decisive battle which Rosecrans and his lieutenants knew would inevit- ably take place for the possession of Chattanooga. Discovering the flank movement the rebel general hastily evacuated the city on the 9th, and retreated to Lafayette, twenty-two miles south, covering his base, and holding a position near enough to his antagonist to take any sud- den advantage. On the 11th Crittenden was ordered to Ringgold to feel forward for the enemy as far as Gordon's Mills. His report, as well as other information, left no doubt of the concentration of the rebel army at Lafayette to await re-inforcements, and Rosecrans learned with deep concern of Bragg's present attitude : especially now that he himself must despair of help from Burnside, who had been sent on a cooperative expedition from Kentucky into East Tennessee with instructions to join him, but who at this crises "was hunting with 22,000 men at his back for Gen. Sam Jones who. with less than 6,000, was toling him off up into western Virginia." Rosecrans' main army
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was dispersed from Ringgold to Alpine, a distance of fifty-eight miles by practicable wagon route, and sixty-five by that subsequently taken by McCook (certainly a precarious situation). and the supreme en- deavor should be to concentrate and cover Chattanooga. The isolation of each corps was so perfect that the movement must necessarily be from the south. keeping in view the hold on the city. Crittenden could not move up the valley to Thomas without exposing Chattanooga and jeopardizing the army; the latter could not march to the assist- ance of McCook without leaving Crittenden at the mercy of Bragg; therefore all hope lay in the celerity of McCook, and the tardiness of Bragg. Recently (1882). Gen. Rosecrans said "this was the most anx- ious period of the whole campaign." He had indeed risked a staggering responsibility. Crittenden was immediately ordered to march without delay to Gordon's Mills and to communicate with Gen. Thomas. His troops were there the next day. Pressing orders were dispatched to McCook to come by the road along the top of the mountain with all possible haste and join Thomas ; but acting on what he believed was reliable information that this route was impracticable, he disregarded that part of his orders, and starting at midnight retraced his way. through Winston's gap. On the 14th Gen. Crittenden was withdrawn to the southern extremity of Missionary ridge to avoid being cut off, and to communicate with Gen. Thomas, whose troops began to arrive the following day. Negley's division confronted two rebel divisions at Dry gap in Pigeon mountain, but declined battle after a brisk skirmish. Col. Wilder had encountered a large body at Ringgold. The enemy's activity and boldness portended early fighting. Would McCook come before the blow would fall? He was still far away, toiling over rugged hills. rough roads, and through narrow passes, but making all the while prodigious exertions and good progress. From Winston's gap lie moved down to Stevens' gap, and then followed the road taken by Thomas. Four and a half days were spent in this circuitous march of forty-six miles. The summit route of seventeen miles would have con- sumed but a day and a half. This unfortunate but natural mistake cost the commanding general the choice of the battle field ; and no doubt the loss of his justly high military reputation, though not of his posi- tion, for that was already fated by his unfortunate misunderstandings with the war department, inflamed by his own rash correspondence, invited by the weakness of Halleck, and welcomed by the vindictive- ness of Stanton.
On the 17th the rebels attempted to cross the Chickamauga at Gordon's mills, but were prevented by Crittenden, who had returned the same day from the foot of the ridge, McCook having just arrived
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on the right. At evening on the 18th mutterings of conflict on the left foretold battle on the morrow. The rebel general was detected in massing overwhelming numbers on that flank to turn or crush it, and then to interpose his army between Rosecrans and Chattanooga. To check this maneuver the union general advanced his line to the left during the night by moving Thomas' corps from the center. leaving its place to be filled by McCook's. The alignment from left to right by divisions was covered by Brannan, Baird, and Reynolds, of Thomas' corps ; Palmer, Van Cleve, and Wood. of Crittenden's corps: and Davis and Sheridan, of McCook's corps, not yet established in position when the battle began on Saturday morning. the 19th. Negley's division. belonging to Thomas's corps, formed a defensive crochet at Owen's ford. farther to the right, and the cavalry was thrown forward on this flank to defend Missionary ridge. Johnson's division of McCook's corps was in reserve in rear of Thomas, and Crittenden's right held Gordon's mills. The reserve corps under Gordon Granger was lying at Rossville, four miles to the left and rear. Rosecrans' front was parallel to Chickamauga creek. extending from northeast to southwest, and lying diagonally across the Lafayette road leading to Chattanooga. with the left reaching nearly to the Ringgold road.
The night had been one of activity in the federal army in changing positions and forming lines. AAbout ten o'clock the dropping fire of the skirmishers and the deep bass of the artillery announced the open- ing of the battle. Gen. Thomas had ordered a reconnoissance on the extreme left by Brannan's division, and Croxton's brigade encountered a strong detachment of the rebel Gen. Walker's corps in front and flank. and drove it in confusion over half a mile to a massed body
concealed in the forest. The rebels fought savagely, and being reinforced by Cheatham's division. fell on the union troops with head- long weight. The whole division was at once engaged : its double lines struggled heroically to keep their places, but finally crumbled into disorder. The enemy, still advancing in deep columns. rolled up against Baird like a huge wave; and his deadly fire, though shattering their front lines, had no visible effect in checking the foe. Swept by the remorseless tempest, this division was unable to stem its wrathful course, and gave way. Johnson, advancing now from his reserve position, struck the enemy in flank. Palmer's division came about this time to succor the struggling left. and Brannan's and Baird's divisions having been reformed. Gen. Thomas ordered the line to advance. The movement was as unexpected to the rebels as it was irresistible. They tried in vain to stand : they poured desolating showers of bullets, grape-shot, and canister into the daring columns,
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