History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 4

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 4

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).

had conceived the design of founding a new religion. A religious romance, written by Mr. Spaulding, a Presbyterian preacher of Ohio, then dead, suggested the idea, and finding in Smith the requisite duplicity and cunning to re- duce it to practice, it was agreed that he should act as prophet ; and the two devised a story that gold plates had been found buried in the earth containing a record inseribed on them in unknown characters, which, when deciphered by the power of inspiration, gave the history of the ten lost tribes of Israel.

After their settlement in and abont Nanvoo, in Hancock county, great depredations were committed by them on the " Gentiles." The Mormons had been received from Missouri with great kindness by the people of this State, and every possible aid granted them. The depreda- tions committed, however, soon made them odi ous, when the question of getting rid of them was agitated. In the fall of 1841, the Governor of Missouri made a demand on Governor Carlin for the arrest and delivery of Joe Smith as a fugitive of justice. Smith was subsequently arrested, but was released by Judge Douglas, upon the ground that the writ had once been re- turned before it had been executed. In 1842, he was again arrested, and again escaped. Em- bollened by success, the Mormons becane more arrogant and overbearing. Many people began to believe they were about to set up a government for themselves in detiance of the laws of the State. Owners of property stolen in other counties made pursuit into Nauvoo, and were fined by the Mormon courts for dar- ing to seek their property in the holy city. About this time they petitioned Congress to es tablish a territorial government for them in Nauvoo.

Smith soon began to play the tyrant over his people. Among the first acts of this sort was an attempt to take the wife of William Law, one of his most talented disciples, and make her his spiritual wife. He established, without anthority, a recorder's office, and an office to issue marriage licenses. Ho proclaimed that none could deal in real estate or sell liquor but himself. He ordered a printing office demol- ished, and in many ways controlled the free- dom and business of the Mormons. Not only did he stir up some of the Mormons, but by his reckless disregard for the laws of the land raised np opposition on every hand. It was be- loved that he instructed the Danite band, which he had chosen as the ministers of his vengeance, that no blood, except that of the

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

church, was to be regarded as sacred, if it con- travened the accomplishment of his object. It was asserted that he inculcated the legality of perjury and other crimes, if committed to ad- vance the cause of true believers; that God had given the world and all it contained to his saints, and since they were kept ont of their rightful inheritance by force, it was no moral offense to get possession of it by stealing. It was reported that an establishment existed in Nauvoo for the manufacture of counterfeit money, and that a set of outlaws was main- tained for the purpose of putting it in circula- tion. Statements were circulated to the effect that a reward was offered for the destruction of the Warsaw Signal, an anti-Mormon paper, and that Mormons dispersed over the country threatened all persons who offered to assist the constable in the execution of the law, with the destruction of their property and the murder of their families. There were rumors also afloat that an alliance had been formed with the western Indians, and in case of war they would be used in murdering their enemies. In short, if only one-half of these reports were true, the Mormons must have been the most infamous people that ever existed.

William Law, one of the proprietors of the printing office destroyed by Smith, went to Car- thage and proenred a writ for the arrest of Smith and others in the deed. The prophet, his brother Ilyrim, and others, surrendered them- selves at Carthage June 24, 1844, on a charge of riot, and all entered into recognizance before a justice of the peace for their appearance at court. They were again arrested and thrown into prison at Carthage. The citizens of Han- rock, MeDonough and Schuyler counties had assembled, armed and ready to avenge the ont- rages that had been committed by the Mormons. Great excitement prevailed. All were anxious to march into Nauvoo. The 27th of June was appointed for the march, but Governor Ford, who at the time was in Carthage, apprehended trouble if the militia should attempt to invade Nauvoo, disbanded the troops, retaining only a guard for the jail.

Governor Ford went to Nauvoo on the 27th. The same morning about two hundred men from Warsaw, many being disguised, hastened to Carthage. On learning that one of the com- panies left as a guard had disbanded, and the other stationed one hundred and fifty yards from the jail while eight men were left to guard the prisoners, a communication was soon estab- lished between the Warsaw troops and the

guard; and it was arranged that the guard should have their guns charged with blank cart- ridges and fire at the assailants when they attempted to enter the jail. The conspirators came up, jumped the fence around the jail, were fired upon by the guard, which, according to arrangement, was overpowered, and the assail- ants entered the prison to the door of the room

where the two prisoners were confined. An attempt was made to break open the door; but Joe Smith, being armed with a pistol, fired sey- eral times as the door was bursted open, and three of the assailants were wounded. At the same time several shots were fired into the room by some of which John Taylor, a friend of the Smiths, received four wounds, and Hyrum Smith was instantly killed. Joe Smith, severely wounded, attempted to escape by jumping out of a second-story window, but was so stunned by the fall that he was unable to rise. In this position he was dispatched by balls shot through his body. Thus fell Joe Smith, the most she- cessful imposter of modern times. Totally ignorant of almost every fact in science, as well as in law, he made up in constructiveness and natural cunning whatever in him was wanting of instruction.

Many feared the Mormons would assemble in force and attack Carthage for the purpose of avenging the death of the prophet. But this was never done. In the fall of 1845 a conven- tion, consisting of delegates from eight of the adjoining counties assembled to concert meas- ures for the expulsion of the Mormons from the State. The Mormons seriously contemplated emigration westward, believing the times fore- bode evil for them. Accordingly, during the winter of 1845-'46, the most stupendous prepara- tions were made by the Mormons for removal. All the principal dwellings, and even the tem- ple, were converted into work-shops, and before spring, 12,000 wagons were in readiness ; and by the middle of February the leaders, with 2,000 of their followers, had crossed the Missis- sippi on the ice.

Before the spring of 1846 the majority of Mormons had left Nauvoo, but still a large number remained.

THE BATTLE OF NAUVOO.

In September a writ was issued against sey- eral prominent Mormons, and placed in the hands of John Carlin, of Carthage, for execu- tion. Carlin called ont a posse to help make the arrest, which brought together quite a large force in the neighborhood of Nauvoo. Carlin,

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

not being a military man, placed in command of the posse, first, General Singleton, and after- ward Colonel Brockman, who proceeded to in- vest the city, erecting breastworks, and taking other means for defensive as well as offensive operations. What was then termed a battle next took place, resulting in the death of one Mormon and the wounding of several others, and loss to the anti-Mormons of three killed and four wounded. At last, through the interven- tion of an anti-Mormon committee of one hun- dred, from Quincy, the Mormons and their allies were induced to submit to such terms as the posse chose to dictate, which were that the Mor- mons should immediately give up their arms to the Quincy committee, and remove from the State. The trustees of the church and five of their clerks were permitted to remain for the sale of Mormon property, and the posse were to march in unmolested, and leave a sufficient force to guarantee the performance of their stipula- tions. Accordingly, the constable's posse marched in with Brockman at their head. It consisted of abont 800 armed men and 600 or 700 unarmed, who had assembled from all the country around, through motives of curiosity, to see the once proud city of Nauvoo humbled and delivered up to its enemies They proceeded into the city slowly and carefully, examining the way for fear of the explosion of a mine, many of which had been made by the Mormons, by bur- rying kegs of powder in the ground, with a man stationed at a distance to pull a string commu- nieating with the trigger of a percussion lock affixed to the keg. This kind of a contrivance was called by the Mormons "hell's half-acre." When the posse arrived in the city the leaders of it elected themselves into a tribunal to decide who should be forced away and who remain. Parties were dispatched to hunt for fire-arms, and for Mormons, and to bring them to judg- ment. When brought, they received their doom from the mouth of Broekman, who sat a grim and unawed tyrant for the time. As a general rule, the Mormons were ordered to leave within an hour or two, and by rare grace some of them were allowed until next day, and in a few cases longer time was granted.

MEXICAN WAR.

In 1846, when the war with Mexico com- meneed, Illinois sent her quota of six regiments to the tented field. More men were offered, but only the six regiments could be accepted. These six shod imperishable honors, not only upon the State, but upon the American Union. Veterans !

never fought more nobly and effectively than did the volunteers from Illinois. At the battle of Buena Vista, by the coolness and bravery of the gallant Second regiment, under Colonel Bis- sell, the day was saved. The conflict began early on the morning of February 22, 1847, and was continued till nightfall of the next day. The solid columns of the enemy were hurled against our forces all day long, but were met and held in check by the unerring fire of our mus- ketry and artillery. A portion of General Lane's division was driven back by the enemy, who ap- peared in such formidable numbers as to be almost irresistible. At this time the Second Illinois, under Colonel Bissell, with a squadron of cavalry and a few pieces of artillery, came handsomely into action and gallantly received the concentrated fire of the enemy, which they returned with deliberate aim and terrible effect; every discharge of the artillery seemed to tear : bloody path through the heavy columns of the enemy. Says a writer: "The rapid musketry of the gallant troops from Illinois poured a storm of lead into their serried ranks, which lit- erally strewed the ground with the dead and dying." But, notwithstanding his losses, the enemy steadily advanced until our gallant regi- ment received fire from three sides. Still they maintained their position for a time with un- flinching firmness against that immense host. At length. perceiving the danger of being en- tirely surrounded, it was determined to fall back to a ravine. Colonel Bissell, with the cool- ness of ordinary drill, ordered the signal "cease firing" to be made; he then, with the same de- liberation, gave the command, "Face to the rear, battalion about face; forward march," which was executed with the regularity of vet- erans to a point beyond the peril of being out- flanked. Again, in obedience to command. these brave men halted, faced about, and under a murderons tempest of bullets from the foe, ro- sumed their well-direeted fire. The conduct of no troops could have been more admirable: and, too, until that day they had never been under fire, when, within less than half an hour eighty of their comrades dropped by their sides.

From Colton's History of the battle of Buena Vista the following extract is taken: "As the enemy on our left was moving in retreat along the head of the plateau, our artillery was ad- vanced until within range, and opened a heavy fire upon him, while Colonels Hardin, Bissell, and McKee, with their Illinois and Kentucky troops, dashed gallantly forward in hot pursuit. A powerful reserve of the Mexican army was

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

then just emerging from the ravine, where it had been organized, and advanced on the platean, opposite the head of the southernmost gorge. Those who were giving way rallied quickly upon it; when the whole force, thus in- creased to over 12,000 men, came forward in a perfect blaze of fire. It was a single column, composed of the best soldiers of the republic, having for its advanced battalions the veteran regiments. The Kentucky and Illinois troops were soon obliged to give ground before it and seek the shelter of the second gorge. The enemy pressed on, arriving opposite the head of the second gorge. One-half of the column sud- denly enveloped it, while the other half pressed on across the plateau, having for the moment nothing to resist them but the three guns in their front. The portion that was immediately opposed to the Kentucky and Illinois troops, ran down along each side of the gorge, in which they had sought shelter, and also circled around its head, leaving no possible way of escape for them except by its mouth, which opened upon the road. Its sides, which were steep,-at least an angle of forty-five degrees,-were covered with loose pebbles and stones, and converged to a point at the bottom. Down there were our poor fellows, nearly three regiments of them (First and Second Illinois and Second Ken- theky), with but little opportunity to load or fire a gun, being hardly able to keep their feet. Above the whole edge of the gorge, all the way around, was darkened by the serried masses of the enemy, and was bristling with muskets di- rected on the crowd beneath. It was no time to pause. Those who were not immediately shot down rushed on toward the road, their number growing less and less as they went, Kentuckians and Illinoisans, officers and men, all mixed up in confusion, and all pressing on over the loose pebbles and rolling stones of those shelving, precipitous binks, and having lines and lines of the enemy firing down from each side and rear as they went. Just then the enemy's cavalry, which had gone to the left of the reserve, had come over the spur that divides the mouth of the second gorge from that of the third, and were now closing up the only door through which there was the least shadow of a chance for their lives. Many of those ahead endeavored to force their way ont, but few succeeded. The lancers were fully six to one, and their long weapons were already reeking with blood. It was at this time that those who were still back in that dreadful gorge heard, above the din of the musketry and the shouts of the enemy

around them, the roar of Washington's Battery. No music could have been more grateful to their ears. A moment only, and the whole opening, where the laneers were busy, rang with the repeated explosions of spherical-case shot. They gave way. The gate, as it were, was clear, and out upon the road a stream of our poor fellows issued. They ran panting down toward the bat- tery, and directly under the flight of iron then passing over their heads, into the retreating cavalry. Hardin, Clay, MeKee, Willis, Zabris- kie, Houghton,-but why go on? It would be a sad task indeed to name over all who fell during this twenty minutes' slanghter. The whole gorge, from the plateau to its month, was strewed with our dead. All dead! No wounded there-not a man; for the infantry had rushed down the sides and completed the work with the bayonet."

After a hard light at night both armies laid down upon their arms in much the same posi- . tion as in the morning. However, early on the following morning, the glad tidings were heard amidst our army that the enemy had retreated, thus again crowning the American banners with victory.

In addition to Colonel Bissel, other names that shine as stars in this war are Shields, Baker, Harris, Hardin, Coffee-all from Illinois, Such indeed were the intrepid valor and daring cour- age exhibited by Illinois volunteers during the Mexican war that their deeds should live in the memory of their countrymen while time shall last.

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

In the war for the Union no State can show a more glorious record than that of Illinois. Sump- ter was fired upon April 12, 1861. Two days af- ter President Lincoln issued his first call for vol- unteers-75,000 in numbers. On the 15th Gov- ernor Yates issued his proclamation convening the leglislature, and ordering the enlistment of six regiments, the quota assigned the State. The call was no sooner made than filled. Patriotism filled every heart. The farm, the workshop, the office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, every voca- tion in life offered its best men. . On assembling, the legislature authorized the raising of ten ad- ditional regiments, anticipating another call. At the close of 1861, Illinois had sent to the field nearly 50,000 men, and had 17,000 in camp awaiting marching orders, thus exceeding its full quota by 15,000.

In July and August of 1862, the President called for 600,000 men-the quota of Illinois being 52,296-and gave until August 18th as the

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

limits in which the number might be raised by volunteering, after which a draft would be or- dered. The State had already furnished 17,000 in excess of her quota, and it was first thought this number would be deducted from the present requisition, but that could not be done. But thirteen days were granted to enlist this vast army, which had to come from the farmers and mechanics. The former were in the midst of harvest, but, inspired by love of country, over 50,000 of them left their harvest ungathered, their tools and their benches, the plows in their furrows, turning their backs on their homes, and before eleven days had expired the demands of the Government were met and both quotas tilled.

The war went on, and call followed call, until it began to look as if there would not be men enough in all the Free States to crush out and subdue the monstrous war traitors had inaugura- ted. But to every call for either men or money there was a willing and ready response. And it is a boast of the people that, had the supply of men fallen short, there were women brave enough, daring enough, patriotic enough, to have offered themselves as sacrifices on their country's altar. On the 21st of December, 1864, the last call for troops was made. It was for 300,000. In consequence of an imperfect enrollment of the men subject to military duty, it became evi- dent, ere this call was made, that Illinois was furnishing thousands of men more than what her qnota would have been, had it been correct. So glaring had this disproportion become, that un- der this call the quota of some districts exceed- ed the number of able-bodied men in them.

No troops ever fought more heroically, stub- bornly, and with better effect, than did the boys from the " Prairie State." At Pea Ridge, Don- elson, Pittsburg Landing, Inka, Corinth, Stone River, Holly Springs, Jackson, Vicksburg, Chic- amauga, Lookout Mountain, Murfreesboro, At- lanta, Franklin, Nashville, Chattanooga, and on every other field where the clash of arms was heard, her sous were foremost.

The people were liberal as well as patriotic ; and while the men were busy enlisting, organiz- ing, and equipping companies, the ladies were no less active, and the noble, generous work performed by their tender, loving hands de- serves mention along with the bravery, devo- tion, and patriotism of their brothers upon the sonthern fields of carnage.

women of the North many and various devices for the raising of funds, Every city, town, and village had its fair. festival, pienic, excursion, concert, which netted more or less to the cause of hospital relief, according to the population of the place and the amount of energy and pat- riotism displayed on such occasions, pecially was this characteristic of our own fair State, and scarcely a hamlet within its borders which did not send something from its stores to hospital or battlefield, and in the larger towns and cities were well organized soldiers aid societies, working systematically and contin- uously from the beginning of the war till its close. The great State Fair held in Chicago in May, 1865, netted $250,000, Homes for travel- , ing soldiers were established all over the State, in which were furnished lodging for 600.000 men, and meals valued at $2,500,000. Food, clothing, medicine, hospital delicacies, reading matter, and thousands of other articles, were sent to the boys at the front.

The rebellion ended with the surrender of Lee and Johnson, in April, 1865, and as soon as possible the troops were disbanded. The fol- lowing is a summary of troops furnished by the Stato:

Infantry 185,911

Cavalry. 82,082

Artillery 7,977

Total. 225,200

GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

Shadrach Bond -- Was the first Governor of Illinois He was a native of Maryland and born in 1773; was raised on a farm; received a common English education, and came to Ilinois in 1794. He served as a delegate in Congress from 1811 to 1815, where he procured the right of pre-emption of public land. He was elected Governor in 1818; was beaten for Congress in 1824 by Daniel P. Cook. He died at Kaskas- kia, April 11, 1830.

Edward Coles-Was born December 15, 1786, in Virginia, His father was a slave-holder; gave his son a collegiate education, and left to him a large number of slaves. These he liberated, giving each head of a family 160 acres of land and a considerable sum of money. He was President Madison's private secretary. Hle came to Illinois in 1819, was elected Governor in 1822, on the anti-slavery ticket; moved to Philadelphia in 1833, and died in 1868.

The continued need of money to obtain the comforts and necessaries for the sick and Ninian Edwards .- In 1809, on the formation wounded of our army suggested to the loyal | of the Territory of Illinois, Mr. Edwards was

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

appointed Governor, which position he retained ' heavy contractor in building the canal. He was until the organization of the State, when he was elected Governor in 1852 upon the Democratie ticket. sent to the United States Senate. Ile was elected Governor in 1826. Ile was a native of Maryland and born in 1775; received a colle- giate education; was Chief Justice of Kentucky, and a Republican in politics.

John Reynolds-Was born in Pennsylvania in 1788, and came with his parents to Ilinois in 1800, and in 1830 was elected Governor on the Democratic ticket, and afterwards served three terms in Congress. He received a classical edu- cation, yet was not polished. He was an ultra Democrat; attended the Charleston Convention in 1860, and urged the seizure of United States arsenals by the South. He died in 1865 at Belleville, childless.

Joseph Duncan .- In 1834 Joseph Duncan was elected Governor by the Whigs, although for- merly a Democrat. He had previously served four terms in Congress. He was born in Ken- tueky in 1794; had but a limited education; served with distinction in the war of 1812; con- dueted the campaign of 1832 against Black Ilawk. He came to Illinois when quite young.

Thomas Carlin-Was elected as a Democrat in 1838. lle had but a meagre education; held many minor offices, and was active both in the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk war. He was born in Kentucky in 1789; came to Illinois in 1812, and died at Carrollton, February 14, 1852.

Thomas Ford-Was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1800; was brought by his widowed mother to Missouri in 1804, and shortly after- wards to Illinois. He received a good educa- tion, studied law; was elected four times Judge, twice as Circuit Judge, Judge of Chicago and Judge of Supreme Court. He was elected Gov- ernor by the Democratic party in 1842; wrote his history of Illinois in 1847, and died in 1850.

Augustus C. French-Was born in New Hampshire in 1808; was admitted to the bar in 1831, and shortly afterwards moved to Illinois, when in 1816 he was elected Governor. On the adoption of the Constitution of 1848 he was again chosen, serving until 1853. He was a Democrat in politics.

.Joel A. Matteson-Was born in Jefferson . county, New York, in 1808. His father was a farmer, and gave his son only a common school education. Ile first entered upon active life as a small tradesman, but subsequently became a large contractor and manufacturer. He was a

William HI. Bissell-Was elected by the Re- publican party in 1856. He had previously served two terms in Congress; was colonel in the Mexican war, and has held minor official positions. He was born in New York State in 1811; received a common education; came to Illinois early in life and engaged in the medical profession. This he changed for the law, and became a noted orator, and the standard-bearer of the Republican party in Illinois. He died in 1860, while Governor.

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History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 4

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084