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 56

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 56

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).

Yours very truly, LYMAN TRUMBULL."

Here we see the impression which the perusal of General McClernand's protest made on Mr. Lincoln-an impression which it cannot fail to make on every impartial reader. It convinced him that General MeClernand had been "un- justly treated," and induced him to say that when he got another matter off his hands, he would see what could be done for him.

Believing himself without any hope of redress, and being unwilling to receive pay any longer for services which were merely nominal, he came to the conclusion to tender his resignation, and he did so accordingly on the fourteenth of Jan- uary, 1864.

The resignation of General MeClernand was not received, and he soon afterwards was or- dered to report to General Banks, and returned to the command of his old Thirteenth Army Corps.

The campaign in the rear of Vicksburg calls for some general observations. As a military conception it was bold and far-reaching. It united the perceptions of the statesman with the skill of the practical military strategist. Its exe- cution was marked with unfailing vigor and per- sistency amid trying difficulties and critical perils. It comprised a rapid succession of vic- tories, adding to the glory of the Union armies. The battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, and the surrender of Vicksburg fell within a shorter space of time than the battles of Lodi, Castig- lione, Arcola, and the surrender of Mantua, and when distance of time shall have clothed them with the colors of vivid imagination, they will be taken to denote a campaign as brilliant as that of the French in Italy, in 1796, led by Gen- eral Bonaparte.

General McClernand was as much, if not more, identified with the authorship and execu- tion of the movement in the rear of Vicksburg as, or than, was any other commander. Hence, it is not surprising that many persons should have murmured at his sudden and peremptory

exclusion from participation in the final act of the drama, realized in the downfall of Vicks- burg. Nor is it surprising that many loyal and distinguished men should have desired and re- joiced at his restoration to active military duty. The publie is often just when individuals, swayed by passion, prejudice or envy, are unjust.

It followed, by order of President Lincoln, communicated by Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War, that General MeClernand was, in fact, restored to active command. This order bore date of the 23d of January, 1864, and directed General MeClernand to report for duty to Major General Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf. This order reached General McCler- nand at Springfield, Illinois. on the 31st. Tid- ings of the fact were eagerly welcomed by the press and the people. To give expression to the prevailing sentiment, an ovation was impro- vised, which was to take place at the hall of the House of Representatives. The hall, at an early hour, was filled with military and non-military attendants, including many ladies. Captam Isaac Keyes officiated at Chairman, and Presco Wright and L. M Snell as Secretaries. General John Williams and Colonel Dudley Wicker- sham, lIons. Charles S. Zane, H. G. Fitzhugh and Charles W. Matheny, and H. C. Myers and L. Coleman were appointed a committee to wait on General McClernand and escort him to the hall. While the committee was away on its errand, bands discoursed martial music, and the Union Glee Club sang patriotic songs for the entertainment of the audience. Upon the return of the committee with General McClernand, accompanied by Governor Yates, Colonel Matheny, Colonel Mudd, Major Schwartz. IIon. J. Grimshaw, Hon. O. H. Ilatch, Hon. J. K. Dubois and other distinguished men, and, on the subsidence of the applause evoked by their appearance, Hon. Shelby M. Cullom, in pursu- ance of previous appointment, rose and said:

"GENERAL MCCLERNAND :- Your friends and fellow-citizens in this city have been informed to-day that you were about to leave for the scenes of war. They are here now in haste to testify to their appreciation of your merits and valuable services in this terrible crisis of our country.

" The loyal people of this city and State, aye, and Nation, have waited long and impatiently to hear the announcement that you were again permitted to take the field in defense of the old flag and the free institutions of our land. They have sometimes felt that the Government, with

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that great and good man, our President, at its head, was failing to recognize, in some instances, its truest patriots and defenders; but true to his nobler impulses and generous heart, Mr. Lincoln, though slow sometimes, as we think, always sees and protects the right; and to-night you are on the eve of leaving our city to report to General Banks.

"Sir: Your neighbors and friends here re- member well your bravery and patriotism, as displayed in the battles of Belmont, Fort Henry, Donelson, Shiloh, Arkansas Post, and the rapid series of battles fought by you and the brave boys in your command prior to the memorable siege of Vicksburg. The people of Springfield and Illinois are proud to know that they have brave Generals as well as humble soldiers, who never turn their backs to traitors.

"It is no flattery to you, sir, to say that we feel and know that you have done much towards maintaining the Government. In the halls of Congress, when the rebellion first began to threaten, your voice was loudly heard in behalf of the Government. From your official position as a legislator, you went to the battle-field impelled by the same patriotic desire. From the battle-field, with the smoke of battle still upon you, you returned home under orders, where your energy and ability have done much to kindle a burning patriotism in the hearts of the brave boys of the Prairie State. You go again to the field. The good will of the loyal people of this State will follow you; they will watch your movements with interest; and when you have finished your military career, and this war is over and the country saved, we shall be glad to welcome you home again with new and brighter laurels upon your head."

This address struck the key-note of both the General's and the people's temper, and was loudly applauded.

The General's reply was spontaneous and char- acteristic. He said, in substance: "You have been pleased, sir, to allude to my services in the field, and the regard in which I am supposed to be held by the Thirteenth Army Corps. I have only to say that I have tried to do my duty, in all circumstances, and that I am rejoiced-not so much on my own account as on that of our common country-that that corps has rendered valuable and victorious service in its behalf. None could have borne themselves more bravely and nobly than the officers and men of that corps under my command. At the call of duty, the corps always advanced fearlessly and with alac- rity, in the face of danger and death. It has

passed the ordeal of many battles, and still sur- vives, though with decimated numbers; to add, with opportunity, to its hard-won laurels. Com- posed of western men, for the most part, it will continue to be, I doubt not, a faithful exemplar of western spirit and character. All that I claimed for it in the bloody assault upon the defences of Vicksburg was performed by it,- and the statements seen to the contrary are eu- viously false.

"I hope, sir, the future will afford no cause of regret, either to you or anyone, for the honor conferred on me by this popular demonstration, for which I return my sincerest thanks.

" I assure you no effort or sacrifice of mine shall be spared to merit your continued regard and confidence, and to push on the great cause of our country to a successful termination-a cause for which each and all of us should be willing to devote our lives and fortunes, if neces- sary. Adieu, my friends."

When the prolonged and rapturous applanse with which the General's remarks were received had subsided, Colonel Loomis reported from a committee, a series of resolutions which were of- fered as expressive of the sense of the meeting, upon the subject to which they relate. They are couched in the following terms:

"WHEREAS, Our distinguished townsman and friend, Major General John A. McClernand, is about to leave us to assume an important com- mand assigned him by the President in the De- partment of the Gulf, be it

"Resolved, That we remember his history as a Representative of Illinois in the councils of the Nation, as one who dignified the position with all the qualities of a just and able statesman; one who, when the dignity and honor of the Govern- ment were assailed and the perpetuity of the Nation endangered by traitors, was among the very first to raise his voice to sustain the legally constituted authorities and to demand the rigid enforcement of the laws, regardless of past political associations, personal prejudices or private interest, and in his bold and manly sup- port of the Government before the people to prove that of all else, he loved his country best.

"Resolved, That after voluntarily surrendering his seat in Congress, and taking up the sword in defense of the position he there assumed, we have watched his course in rallying his friends, the people, to the battle standard of the Union, his command in the army of the West on those fields which have made the Inster of our arms imperishable, with feelings of the profoundest gratitude.

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" Resolved, That our most earnest sympathy, wishes and prayers accompany him from home and friends to the scenes of future conflict. His past services, his name and fair fame will be re- membered as among the names whom a loyal people will delight to honor."

The final resolution expressed hearty commen- dation and approval of the President's order as- signing General McClernand to a prominent position in General Bank's command, and antici- pated their cordial co-operation to conserve the interests of Constitutional Government and human freedom.

Governor Yates, Colonel Matheny, Hon. Jack- son Grimshaw and others, followed in glowing tributes to the services rendered by General McClernand, at and since the commencement of the war; and to the gallantry and unwavering constancy of the Thirteenth Corps. The resolu- tions were adopted in the same spirit they breathed, that is with unanimous acclaim.

We have dwelt upon these incidents as evi- dencing what was the co-temporaneous opinion of eminent and well informed men in respect to General McClernand's military merits, and the unexpected order that retired him for a time, from the command of the Thirteenth Corps and active service in the field, and so barred him from sharing the final fruits and glory of the memorable campaign against Vicksburg. We have dwelt upon them to vindicate the truth of history, and to dispel the vague and groundless rumors, which passing from mouth to mouth, have long clouded the path of an honest and deserving man, whose life and services are worthy of a place in the history of the Nation, as well as of Illinois.

On the 15th of February, General MeClernand reported in person to General Banks, at his headquarters in New Orleans.

On the 20th, General Banks made the follow- ing order:

"By the direction of the President, Major General John A. McClernand, United States Volunteers, will relieve General E. O. C. Ord, in command of the Thirteenth Army Corps."

On the 23d, General McClernand issued the following order:

"HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTII ARMY CORPS :-- The undersigned hereby resumes command of the Thirteenth Army Corps. All officers on staff duty at these headquarters, except Major General Ord's personal staff, will continue in discharge of their present duties until otherwise ordered.

" Comrades ! In thus renewing our former relations, I cannot forbear the expression of my

gratification at so welcome an event. The memories of our common trials and successes in the service of our beloved country have en- deared you to me. I never will cease to admire your heroism and appland your virtues. Arkan- sas Post, Richmond, New Carthage, Port Gib- son, Grand Gulf, Champion Hills and Big Black are so many testimonials to your gallantry and good conduct. These brilliant victories, rapidly achieved, together with the triumph of Major General Banks in reducing Port Hudson, re- opened the Mississippi river to the pining commerce of the grateful millions who inhabit its valley. Your assaults of the 19th and 220 of May upon the defenses of Vicksburg, will ever justly rank among the prodigies of military daring and constancy. All that I claimed for you in that and other respects, in my eongratu- latory order of the 30th of last May, stands un- shaken by time and official scrutiny. Indeed, its contents, as the plain and simple truth, have become a part of the authentic history of the war. That I was not permitted to share in the consummation of the Mississippi campaign, by leading you into Vicksburg, is my misfortune, rather than my fault. My non-participation in that memorable event was involuntary and con- strained, and is deeply regretted by me.

" I am profoundly thankful to the President that he has interposed to restore us to each other, after a separation that has been, to me, so long and painful. Your services, meantime, in this department are unfamiliar to me, but I doubt not that they are worthy of your antecedents, of the character of the distinguished commander whom I succeed, and of the able and successful chief of this important department.

"Comrades! New fields of duty and peril are before us. Let us hasten to make them historie with the valor and success of American arms. Our cause is a just one; approved, as we trust, by God and the civilized world. Our country- men are spectators of our conduct; their hearts throb in unison with our ardor, our courage, and our devotion. Let us not disappoint their just expectations."

This stirring appeal was not miscalculated; a pre-existing military and popular sentiment in New Orleans was eager to welcome it. General MeClernand's arrival at that city was hailed with congratulations, notably by a body of the Second Illinois Cavalry, which had re-enlisted, and was about to return on leave of absence to their homes.

The General returned their congratulations in brief but grateful terms; " wishing them a safe

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trip home, a happy time there, a speedy return, and the country an early and permanent peace."

The press echoed the feeling of the rank and file and the people; announcing the " expectation that he would resume command of the corps; " adding, "Nothing could be more eminently proper. No commander ever enjoyed the con- fidence and affection of his men to a greater ex- tent. And the confidence was mutual. It was the Thirteenth Corps that won the General's laurels, and it was under his gallant leadership that the corps became immortal."

The General, however, found that the corps had been dismembered, and scattered in detach- ments all the way from the Mississippi to the Rio Grande. This was a painful vicissitude to veterans who had so long maintained an intact organization, and who were wedded to each other by the memories of their common sufferings and glory.

General Banks was now busied with prepara- tions for the Red river expedition. General McClernand, meanwhile, was informing himself of the condition and particular geographical dispositions of the different detachments of the corps, and desired, if it might be, that these de- tachments should be re-combined for effective, independent, co-operative service. But contrary to his desire, it fell out that shortly before Gen- eral Banks embarked for the Red river expedi- tion, he ordered General McClernand to proceed to Matagorda Island and assume the control of military affairs on the coast and frontier of Texas, and after arriving there to visit the sev- eral principal points occupied by the United States forces, and to report frequently and fully to the department headquarters, making such suggestions as he may deem for the good of the service.

In order to a full apprehension of the latent as well as the express import of this order, it is necessary to indulge at least a partial survey of the cotemporaneous situation within and on the coast, and southern frontier of Texas. Within, loyal citizens were hunted down as wild beasts by marauding bands of rebels. Often they were murdered without regard to age or sex; often their dwellings were burned; often they were impressed into the rebel army; in short, ever exhibition of patriotism, either by act or word was visited with a swift and vengeful ex- piation. Hope was yielding to despair.

On the coast, and across the Rio Grande, a stealthy but extensive trade was carried on in the exchange of cotton for arms and munitions, which were used to sustain the rebellion. This

trade was in violation of the laws of war, and President Lincoln's proclamation of blockade.

Civil war was distracting and desolating Mexico; a civil war, waged on the one side by the Emperor Maximillian, supported by the arms of the disaffected Mexicans and the French -the whole deriving its inspiration from Napoleon III .; on the other side by the Republic of Mexico, represented by President Juarez. The imperial forces of Maximillian, flushed with success, were sweeping down to the Rio Grande, driving before them the tottering and fleeing government of the republic, and must soon, if not arrested, confront the United States forces on the narrow line of that stream. The "Mon- roe doctrine," a traditional American protest against the extension of the monarchical systems of the Old World to the Western Continent, and dedicating that continent to the destiny of popular government was in these events already violated, and, as was believed, perhaps, by the great body of the American people, because our own domestic strife invited it by opportunity and a supposed immunity.

At the same time a horde of the most turbu- lent and dissolute characters of Texas, congre- gated at Metamoras, Mexico, in view of the United States forces, was conspiring by offensive bearing and the calumnies of a press in that city, inspired and owned by themselves, to em- broil the United States with the Imperial Gov- ernment of Maximillian and Napoleon. In these delicate and fortuitous circumstances, an act of portentions interferance, a random shot, nay any untoward accident might suffice for that pur- pose, or to entail some other unhappy complica- tion.

Thus General Banks' order virtually charges General McClernand with the part and responsi- bilities of a publicist and diplomatist and a com- mander. He was to make suggestions on pass- ing and possible events which might enter into the motives or action of his government in mo- mentons affairs affecting the peaceful or bellig- erant relations of nations.

Crossing the Gulf, he arrived at Matagorda Island on the 8th of March, established his head- quarters there, saw the outpost at Indianola withdrawn in obedience to General Bank's or- der, reorganized the forces so withdrawn with those on the island into brigades, and a division, assigning to each a commander, drove back the reconnoitering parties of the enemy, and sent counter parties of reconnoisance into the inte- rior, established relays of mounted couriers from his headquarters twenty miles to the foot

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of the island, to bring information of any hos- tile attempt to cross by a shallow reef from the mainland to the rear of his camp, offered the refuge of this camp to fugitive loyalists, aug- mented his supplies, and on the 30th embarked with his staff on the steamer Clinton, for other posts. On the same day the vessel was driven by a gale on the bar off Arkansas Post, and probably would have been lost in sight of other wrecks, but for the assistance lent by the Gen- eral and his staff to the officers and crew of the vessel. After seven hours peril, the vessel es- caped and anchored over night in a neighboring pass.

On the three succeeding days, the General visited the posts respectively on Mustang Island and at Brazos, Santiago, and Point Isabel, in- specting them and their garrisons, and re- viewing the latter, and left such orders as their condition and service seemed to re- quire.

The ruins of the works commemorative of General Taylor and the war with Mexico, were viewed by General McClernand hard by; but, on a survey of the situation and relations of the post at Point Isabel, he determined to abandon it, and build a railroad from Brazos to a point on the Rio Grande below Brownsville, for the transportation of troops and stores, and as an- swering a better purpose.

On the 2d of April, he arrived by stage at Clarksville, an American town nearly opposite Bagdad in Mexico. At Clarksville, he saw off the mouth of the Rio Grande a fleet of mer- chant vessels flying the flags of different nations, and waiting, presumably, for cargoes of contra- band cotton, brought to Metamoras and Bagdad, from Texas. He also saw a French ship of war riding at anchor, and learned that another had the day before sent a small boat around with a cannon to sound the approach to the mouth of that river. These circumstances were viewed by him as carrying a sinister and ominous im- port, but, much to his satisfaction, he found a United States man-of-war on the look-out for what might happen.

After inspecting the garrison at Clarksville, and impressing the officer in charge of it with the importance of vigilance and firmness in the discharge of his trust, he resumed his journey by stage, and arrived at Brownsville at 8 o'clock that night. Here he heard of mutual estrange- ment and suspicions between General Herron, who was in immediate command on the frontier, and Cortina, who was Governor and Com- mandant of the State of Tamaulipas.

On the 3d, General McClernand determined on rebuilding old Fort Brown upon a larger scale of area and defences, in order to meet the contingency of any attack which the Mexicans, French and Confederates might make collect- ively or separately, and also appointed a review of the troops for the same day and invited Gov- ernor Cortina to visit it, who, accepting the invitation, did so, accompanied by his civil and military staffs. The review was of the second division of the Thirteenth Corps, consisting of infantry, cavalry, artillery and engineers, assem- bled near old Fort Brown, wearing new uniforms and carrying bright arms. The appointments of the corps were complete. It passed in review in splendid style, and executed several maneuvers with practiced skill and promptitude. Governor Cortina was delighted, and, turning to General McClernand, exclaimed: "Oh! that our forces were so perfectly equipped. Then we would be able to turn back the tide of victory against the Imperialists."

The military exercises finished, the Governor and his staff returned with General McClernand and a number of his officers to partake of a ban- quet, which had been ordered by the latter, and had been spread by a German comrade and admirer of General Houston, of Texan renown. Confidence now restored between the military authorities on both banks of the Rio Grande, the Governor the next day sent an invitation to the General and his staff and other officers to partake of a State dinner at Metamoras, the capital of Tamaulipas, and they, accepting, were met by the Governor, attended by his staff and a cavalry guard, at the river and escorted to the city, amid the acclaim of church bells and salvos of artillery. The banquet was a sumptu- ous and elegant one, and, when it was over, the General unbelted his sword, and, advancing in the presence of the assembly, presented it to the Governor, remarking that "it was offered as a token of his personal sympathy for the cause of the Mexican Republic, and in the belief that it would be as faithfully used in that cause as it had been in the cause of the American Union." The effect was electrical, the spectators enthusi- astically approved, and the Governor himself, falling upon the General's breast, passionately replied: "I will try to prove myself worthy of the gift and the honor it imparts. We are friends to the death. I offered my services to the Union cause in the beginning. I will offer them again, with those of my adherents who will not fall away, if the French should unhap- pily drive me out of my country. I am familiar

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with Texas, and can be useful to you there." The banquet was supplemented with a magnifi- cent ball at the palace, attended by the Gov- ernor, wife and daughter, and all the elite of the city. At a late hour the dancing ceased, and the General and his party were escorted back to the river with the same state they had been escorted from it. On the way back the General, reverting to the strained state of the Mexican finances, urged the Governor to seize and sell the large stores of cotton at Metamoras, and turn the money received into the public treasury for public use, and to banish from the city the turbulent host of American rebels that infested it. The Governor replied, "He had the good will to do so, but whether of his own motion was a delicate question." Resuming the sub- ject next day, through one of his officers, he offered to send an agent with any that the Gen- eral might send, to urge it upon the favorable consideration of the Government, then at Mon- terey, and, as an evidence of his earnestness, without delay repressed rebel machinations and disorders at Metamoras. Governor Hamilton and Colonel Haynes, both of Texas, by appoint- ment of General McClernand, and joined with an agent appointed by. Governor Cortina, pro- ceeded to Monterey on this mission, of which, under date of the 27th, near Brownsville, Col- onel Haynes made full report, from which we take the following extract:

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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 56

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