USA > Illinois > Tazewell County > History of Tazewell 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. History of Illinois Digest of state laws > Part 11
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
137
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
THE WAR ENDED-THE UNION RESTORED.
The rebellion was ended with the surrender of Lee and his army, and Johnson and his command in April, 1865. Our armies at the time were up to their maximum strength, never so formidable, never so invincible; and, until recruiting ceased by order of Sec- retary Stanton, were daily strengthening. The necessity, however,
LINCOLN
AND-MENALLY-CO
LINCOLN MONUMENT AT SPRINGFIELD.
for so vast and formidable numbers ceased with the disbanding of the rebel forces, which had for more than four years disputed the supremacy of the Government over its domain. And now the joyful and welcome news was to be borne to the victorious legions that their work was ended in triumph, and they were to be per- mitted "to see homes and friends once more."
138
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
SCHEDULE-Showing statement of volunteer troops organized within the State, and sent to the field, commencing April, 1861, and ending December 31, 1863, with number of regiment, name of original commanding officer, date of organization and muster into United States' service, place of muster, and the aggregate strength of each organization.
INFANTRY.
No.
Commanding officer at organiza- Date of organization and Place where mustered
tion.
muster into the United States service.
into the United States service.
since organi-
Aggr. strength
7 Col. John Cook ..
July 25, 1861
Cairo, Illinois.
1747
8
66 Richard J. Oglesby.
٠٠
66
1853
9
.6 Eleazer A. Paine.
66
6
1265
11
16
W. H. L. Wallace ...
46
66
1384
12
66 John McArthur ..
66
66
1675
13
John B. Wyman.
May 24, 1861.
Dixon ...
1112
14
John M. Palmer.
May 25, 1861.
Jacksonville
2015
15
Thos. J. Turner.
May 24, 1861. ..
Quincy
1833
17
Leonard F. Ross.
66
Peoria
1259
18
Michael K. Lawler
May 28, 1861.
Anna ..
2043 1095
20
Chas. C. Marsh ..
June 13, 1861.
Joliet ..
1817
21
Ulysses S. Grant ..
June 15, 1861.
Mattoon.
1266
22
Henry Dougherty.
June 25, 1861.
Belleville
1164
23
Jas. A. Mulligan.
June 18, 1861.
Chicago
1982 989
25
Wm. N. Coler.
Oct. 31, 1861
Camp Butler.
1602
27
Nap. B. Buford
Aug. 3, 1861
Camp Butler.
1939
29
Jas. S. Rearden
July 27, 1861.
Camp Butler.
1547
30
Philip B. Fouke.
Sept. 30, 1861.
Camp Butler ..
1878
31
66
John A. Logan ..
Sept. 8, 1861 ..
Camp Butler.
1973
32
John Logan
Dec. 31, 1861.
Camp Butler.
1711 1660 1558
34
66 Edward N. Kirk
Sept. 7, 1861.
Camp Butler.
1012
36
Nich. Greusel
Sept. 23, 1861.
Aurora
37
Julius White
Sept. 18, 1361.
Chicago.
1593 1157 1388 1807 1277
41
Isaac C. Pugh
Aug, 9, 1861
Decatnr.
1211
42
Wm. A. Webb
Sept. 17, 1861.
Chicago.
1824
43
Julius Raith.
Dec. 16, 1861.
Camp Butler.
1902
44
Chas. Noblesdorff
Sept. 13, 1861.
Chicago.
1512
45
John E. Smith
Dec. 26, 1961.
Galena.
1716
46
John A. Davis ..
Dec. 28. 1861
Camp Butler.
2015
47
John Bryner.
Oct. 1, 1861
Peoria
2051
48
Isham N. Haynie.
Nov. 18, 1861.
Camp Butler.
1874 1482 1761
51
G. W. Cumming.
Dec. '61, Feb. '62.
Camp Douglas.
1550
52
Isaac G. Wilson.
Nov. 19, 1861
Geneva
1519
53
W. H. W. Cushman
March. 1862.
Ottawa.
1434 1720
55
David Stuart
Oct. 31, 1861
Camp Douglas
1287 1180
57
Silas D. Baldwin
Dec. 26, 1861
Camp Douglas.
1754
58
Wm. F. Lynch.
Dec. 24, 1861.
Camp Douglas
2202
59
P. Sidney Post.
August, 1861
St. Louis, Mo
1762
60
Silas C. Toler
Feb. 17, 1862 ..
Anna.
1647
61
Jacob Fry.
March 7, 1862
Carrollton
1385 1730
63
Francis Mora.
Anna.
1228
64 Lt. Col. D. D. Williams
Dec. 31, 1862.
Camp Butler.
1624
65 Col. Daniel Cameron
May 15, 1862.
Camp Douglas
1684
66
Patrick E. Burke.
April, 1862.
St. Louis, Mo.
1694
67
66 Rosell M. Ilough
June 13, 1862.
Camp Douglas
979
68 Elias Stuart.
June 20, 1862.
Camp Butler ..
889
69
Jos. H. Tucker
June 14, 1862.
Camp Douglas.
912
70
66 O. T. Reeves
July 4, 1862
Camp Butler.
1006
Othniel Gilbert
July 26, 1862
Camp Douglas.
940
16
=
Robert F. Smith ..
19
John B. Turchin
July 8, 1861.
Chicago.
1082
26
John M. Loomis
1193
33
Chas. E. Ilovey.
Aug. 15, 1861
Camp Butler.
38
Wm. P. Carlin
Ang. 15, 1861.
Camp Butler.
39
Austin Light
December. 1861
Chicago
40
Steph. G. Hicks
Aug. 10, 1861.
Salem.
49
Wm. R. Morrison
Dec. 31, 1861
Camp Butler.
50
19
Moses M. Bane.
Sept. 12, 1861
Quincy
54
Thos. W. Harris
Feb. 18. 1862.
Anna ..
56
Robert Kirkham.
Feb. 27, 1862.
Shawneetown
62
.6 James M. True
April 10, 1862. 66
Anna ...
zation.
10
Jas. D. Morgan ..
1759
Freeport.
2028
24
Frederick Hecker.
29
A. K. Johnson.
35
Gus. A. Smith.
66
66
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
139
SCHEDULE-Showing statement of volunteer troops organized within the State, and sent to the field, commencing April, 1861, and ending December 31, 1865, with number of regiment, name of original commanding officer, date of organization and muster into United States' service, place of muster, and the aggregate strength of each organization.
INFANTRY.
No.
Commanding officer at organiza- Date of organization and Place where mustered tion. muster into the United States service. into the United States service.
zation.
Aggr. strength
72 Col. Frederick A. Starring .. ...
Ang. 21, 1862.
Camp Douglas.
1471
" Jas. F. Jaquess.
Camp Butler.
968
74
.. Jason Marsh.
Sept. 4, 1862.
Rockford.
989
75
George Ryan.
Sept. 2. 1862.
Dixon.
987
76
Alonzo W. Mack.
Aug. 22, 1862.
Kankakee.
1110
*Sept. 3, 1862
Peoria .. ,
1051
Quincy.
1028
79
Lyman Guinnip
Aug. 28, 1862.
Danville
974
80
Thos. G. Allen.
Aug. 25, 1862
Centralia
928
81
Jas. J. Dollins ..
Aug. 26, 186% ..
Anna.
1187
82
Frederick Hecker
Camp Butler
961
83
Abner C. Harding.
Aug. 21, 1862.
Monmouth
1286
81
.. Lonis HI. Waters.
Sept. 1, 1862
Quincy ..
956
85
Robert S. Moore
Aug. 27, 1862
Peoria.
959
86
David D. Frons ..
Sept. 22, 1862.
Shawneetown
907
89
..
John Christopher ..
Nov. 22, 1862 ..
Camp Douglas
958
91
llenry M. Day
Sept. 8, 1862
Camp Butler.
1041
92
Smith D. Atkins
Sept. 4, 1862.
Rockford.
1265 1036
93
Ilolden Putnam
Oct. 13, 1862.
Princeton and Chicago.
1091
95
.. Lawr'n S. Church
Sept. 4, 1862
Rockford.
1427
96
Thos. E. Champion.
Sept. 6, 1862.
Rockford
1206
97
..
F. S. Rutherford.
Sept. 8, 1862.
Camp Butler ..
1082
98
J. J. Funkhouser.
Sept. 3, 1:62
Centralia ...
1078
99
:،
G. W. K. Bailey .
Ang. 26, 1862.
Florence, Pike Co.,
936
100
6.
Fred. A. Bartleson
Aug. 30, 1862.
Joliet.
9:21
101
..
Chas. II. Fox.
Sept. 2, 1862.
Jacksonville.
911
102
Wm. McMurtry.
Knoxville
998 917 977 1001
105
Daniel Dustin.
Sept. 2, 1862.
Chicago ..
1097
107
Thomas Snell
Sept. 4, 1862
Camp Butler
944
10g
Alex. J. Nimmo
Sept. 11, 1861.
Anna ..
823 994
113
.. Geo. B. Iloge.
Oct. 1. 1862.
Camp Butler.
960
116
: Nathan II. Tupper.
Sept. 30 1862.
Decatur
952 995
118
John G. Fonda ..
Nov 29. 1862.
Camp Butler.
952
120
George W. McKeaig
Oct. 29, 1862.
Camp Butler.
844
121
Never organized.
. . 934
123
..
James Moore.
Sept. 6 1862
Mattoon ..
1050
124
Thomas J. Sloan
Sept. 10 1862.
Camp Butler.
1130
125
Oscar F. Harmon
Sept. 4. 1862
Danville
933
126
66 Jonathan Richmond
Chicago
957
124
"' Robert M. Hudley
Dec 18, 1862
Camp Butler.
1011
130
Nathaniel Niles
Oct. 25. 1865.
Camp Butler.
932
131
George W. Necley
Nov. 13, 1862.
Camp Massac.
880
132
Thomas C. Pickett.
June 1. 1864.
Camp Fry.
853
133
66 Thad. Phillips ..
May 31, 1864.
Camp Butler.
851
134
W. W McChesney
Camp Fry
878
135
John S. Wolfe.
June 6, 1864.
Mattoon ..
852
88
F. T. Sherman
*Aug 25, 1862.
Camp Douglas ..
1:85
90
46
Timothy O'MFera.
Aug. 20, 1862
Bloomington,
91
Wm. W. Orme.
Peoria.
993 994
67
John E. Whiting ..
Aug. 27, 1862
Camp Douglas
Peoria.
104
١٩
Absalom B. Moore.
Aug. 27, 1862.
Ottawa
106
Robert B. Latham
Sept. 17, 1862.
Lincoln.
10g
John Warner ..
Aug. 28, 1862.
Peoria
967
111
..
James S. Martin
Sept. 18, 1962.
Salem
1095
112
T. J. Henderson
Sept. 12, 1862.
Peoria
1258
..
James W. Judy.
Sept. 18, 1862.
Camp Butler.
11~
Risden M. Moore
Sept. 19, 1862.
Camp Butler.
1101
119
:
Thos. J. Kenney.
Oct. 7, 1862.
Quincy
998
122
John VanArman.
*Sept. 5, 1862.
Camp Douglas
866
129
George P. Smith
Sept. 8, 1862
Pontiac ..
927
110
..
Thos. S. Casey ..
AuIna.
Camp Douglas
990
114 115
Jesse H. Moore
Sept. 13, 1962.
122 Col. John I. Rinaker
Sept. 4, 1862.
Carlinville
..
Amos C. Babcock
Oct, 2, 1862.
103
David P. Grier ..
W. H. Bennison.
Sept. 1, 1862.
since organi-
140
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
SCHEDULE-Showing statement of volunteer troops organized within the State, and sent to the field, commencing April, 1861, and ending December 31, 1865, with number of regiment, name of original commanding officer, date of organization and muster into United States' service, place of mnster, and the aggregate strength of each organization.
INFANTRY.
No.
Commanding officer at organiza- tion.
Date of organization and Place where mustered muster into the United into the United States service. States service.
zation.
JAggr. strength
136 Col. Fred. A. Johns ..
June 1, 1864.
Centralia.
842
137
" John Wood ..
June 5. 1864
Quincy.
849
138
J. W. Goodwin.
June 21, 1864
Quincy.
835
139
66
Peter Davidson.
June 1. 1864
Peoria
878
140
L. H. Whitney.
June 18, 1864.
Camp Butler.
871
141
Stephen Bronson
June 16, 1864.
Elgin ..
842
142
١٩ Rollin V. Ankney.
June 18, 1864
Camp Butler.
851
143
Dudley C. Smith.
June 11, 1864.
Mattoon.
865
144
Cyrus Hall .. .
Oct. 21, 1864.
Alton, Ills ..
1159
145
George W. Lackey.
June 9, 1864
Camp Butler
880
146
Henry II. Dean
Sept. 20, 1864.
Camp Butler.
1056
147
..
Hiram F. Sickles
Feb. 18, 1865. 66
Chicago
1047
149
",
Wm. C. Kueffner
Feb. 11, 1865.
Camp Butler.
983
150
George W. Keener.
Feb. 14, 1865
Camp Butler.
933
151
..
French B. Woodall
Feb. 25, 1865.
Quincy.
970
152
66
F. D. Stephenson.
Feb. 18, 1865.
Camp Butler.
945
153
66 Stephen Bronson
Feb. 27, 1865.
Chicago.
1076
154
McLean F. Wood ..
Feb. 22, 1865
Camp Butler.
994
155
Gustavus A. Smith.
Feb. 28, 1865
Camp Butler.
929
156
Alfred F. Smith
March 9. 1865.
Chicago.
975
יי J. W. Wilson.
Dec. 1, 1861
Chicago.
985
John A. Bross
Quincy
903
Capt. John Curtis
June 21, 1864.
Camp Butler.
91
.. Simon J. Stookey
Camp Butler
90
.. James Steele ..
June 15, 1864
Chicago
86
CAVALRY.
1|Col. Thomas A. Marshall.
June, 1861
Bloomington
1206
2
Silas Noble
Aug. 24, 4
Camp Butler.
1861
3
Eugene A. Carr
Sept. 21,
Camp Butler.
2183
4
T. Lyle Dickey
Sept. 30, '
Ottawa
1656
5
John J. Updegraff.
December
Camp Butler.
1669
6
Thomas H. Cavanaugh
Nov., '61, Jan., '62
Camp Butler.
2248
7
66 Wm. Pitt Kellogg
August, '61 ..
Camp Butler.
2282
8
Albert G. Brackett.
Oct. 26, '61
Camp Douglas
2619
10
James A. Barrett.
Nov. 25, '61
Camp Butler ..
1934
11
Robert G. Ingersoll
Dec. 20, '61.
Peoria
2362
12
Arno Voss ..
Dec., '61, Feb .. '62.
Camp Butler.
2174
13
Joseph W. Bell.
Camp Douglas.
1759
14
Horace Capron
Jan. 7, '63
Peoria .
1565
15
66 Warren Stewart
Organized Dec. 25, '63.
Camp Butler.
1473
16
Christian Thielman
Jan. and April, '63.
Camp Butler.
1462
17
66 John L. Beveridge.
Jan. 28, '64.
St. Charles.
1247
FIRST REGIMENT-ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Co Field and Staff ..
A Capt. C. M. Willard
Chicago
168
B
Ezra Taylor.
Chicago
204
C
66
C. Haughtaling.
Oct. 31, 1861.
Ottawa
175
D
Edward McAllister
Jan. 14, '62.
Ptaintield
141
E
A. C. Waterhouse.
Dec. 19, '61.
Chicago
148
Feb. 25, '62.
Camp Butler
159
G
Arthur O'Leary
Feb. 28, '62
Cairo
113
H
Axel Silversparr.
Feb. 20, '62.
Chicago
147
I
1, Edward Bouton
Feb. 15, '62.
Chicago
169
K
A. Franklin.
Jan. 9, '62. .
Shawneetown
96
L
.John Rourke.
Feb. 22, '62.
Chicago
153
M
John B. Miller.
Aug. 12, '62
Chicago
154
Recruits
883
1'
Horace II. Wilsie.
Quincy
917
148
66
66 John F. Farnsworth.
Sept. 18, '61.
St. Charles ..
2412
John T. Cheney
since organi-
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
SCHEDULE-Showing statement of volunteer troops organized within the State, and sent to the field commencing April, 1861, and ending December 31, 1865, with number of regiment, name of original commanding officer, date of organization and muster into United States service, place of muster, and the aggregate strength of each organization.
LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Co.
Commanding officer at organiza- Date of organization and Place where mustered
tion.
muster into the United States service.
into the United States service.
since organi-
)Aggr. strength
SECOND REGIMENT-ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY.
A|Capt. Peter Davidson
Ang. 17, 1861
Peoria
116
B
Riley Madison
June 20, '61
Springfield
127
C
Caleb Hopkins
Ang. 5, '61
Cairo
154
E
Adolph Schwartz
Feb. 1, '62.
Cairo.
136
F
John W. Powell ..
Dec. 11, '61.
Cape Girardeau, Mo ...
190
G
Charles J. Stolbrand.
Dec. 31, '61.
Camp Butler.
108
I
Charles W. Keith.
Camp Butler.
107
K
Benjamin F. Rogers
..
Camp Butler.
108
L
William H. Bolton
Feb. 28, '62.
Chicago.
145
M
John C. Phillips
June 6, '62.
Chicago.
100
Field and Staff.
10
Recruits
1171
INDEPENDENT BATTERIES.
Board of Trade Capt. James S. Stokes
July 31, 1862
Chicago
258
Springfield.
Thomas F. Vaughn ..
Aug. 21, '62.
Camp Butler.
199
Mercantile
Charles G. Coolcy.
Ang. 29, '62.
Chicago
270
Elgin ....
George W. Renwick ...
Nov. 15, '62
Elgin.
242
Coggswell's.
William Coggswell
Sept. 23, '61 ..
Camp Douglas
221
Henshaw's
Ed. C. Henshaw
Oct. 15. '62.
Ottawa
196
Bridges'
Lyman Bridges.
Jan. 1. 62.
Chicago
252
Colvin's
John H. Colvin.
Oct. 10, '63.
Chicago
91
Busteed's.
RECAPITULATION.
Infantry
185,941
Cavalry
32.082
Artillery .
7,277
DUELS.
The code of chivalry so common among Southern gentlemen and so frequently brought into use in settling personal differences has also been called to settle the " affairs of honor" in our own State, however, but few times, and those in the earlier days. Several attempts at duels have occurred; before the disputants met in mortal combat the differences were amicably and satisfactorily settled; honor was maintained without the sacrifice of life. In 1810 a law was adopted to suppress the practice of dueling. This law held the fatal result of dueling to be murder, and, as it was intended, had the effect of making it odious and dishonorable. Prior to the constitution of 1848, parties would evade the law by
Chicago
127
Andrew Steinbeck.
Camp Butler.
115
Dec. 17, '61
Cairo.
117
Jasper M. Dresser.
zation.
141
142
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
going beyond the jurisdiction of the State to engage in their con- tests of honor. At that time they incorporated in the Constitution an oath of office, which was so broad as to cover the whole world. Any person who had ever fought a duel, ever sent or accepted a challenge or acted the part of second was disfranchised from holding office, even of minor importance. After this went into effect, no other duel or attempt at a dnel has been engaged in within the State of Illinois, save those fought by parties living outside of the State, who came here to settle their personal differences.
THE FIRST DUEL.
The first duel fought within the boundaries of this great State was between two young military officers, one of the French and the other of the English army, in the year 1765. It was at the time the British troops came to take possession of Fort Chartres, and a woman was the cause of it. The affair occurred early Sunday morning, near the old fort. They fought with swords, and in the combat one sacrificed his life.
BOND AND JONES.
In 1809 the next duel occurred and was bloodless of itself, but out of it grew a quarrel which resulted in the assassination of one of the contestants. The principals were Shadrach Bond, the first Governor, and Rice Jones, a bright young lawyer, who became quite a politician and the leader of his party. A personal difference arose between the two, which to settle, the parties met for mortal combat on an island in the Mississippi. The weapons selected were hair- trigger pistols. After taking their position Jones' weapon was prematurely discharged. Bond's second, Dunlap, now claimed that according to the code Bond had the right to the next fire. But Bond would not take so great advantage of his opponent, and said it was an accident and would not fire. Such noble conduct touched the generous nature of Jones, and the difficulty was at once amicably settled. Dunlap, however, bore a deadly hatred for Jones, and one day while he was standing in the street in Kaskaskia, conversing with a lady, he crept up behind him and shot him dead in his tracks. Dunlap successfully escaped to Texas.
RECTOR AND BARTON.
In 1812 the bloody code again brought two young men to the field of honor. They were Thomas Rector, a son of Capt. Stephen
ILLINOIS ASYLUM FOR FEEBLE MINDED CHILDREN. AT LINCOLN.
145
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Rector who bore such a noble part in the war of 1812, and Joshua Barton. They had esponsed the quarrel of older brothers. The affair occurred on Bloody Island, in the Mississippi, but in the limits of Illinois. This place was frequented so often by Missou- rians to settle personal difficulties, that it received the name of Bloody Island. Barton fell in this conflict.
STEWART AND BENNETT.
In 1819 occurred the first duel fought after the admission of the State into the Union. This took place in St. Clair county between Alphonso Stewart and William Bennett. It was intended to be a sham duel, to turn ridicule against Bennett, the challenging party. Stewart was in the secret but Bennett was left to believe it a reality. Their guns were loaded with blank cartridges. Bennett, suspecting a trick, put a ball into his gun without the knowledge of his seconds. The word "fire " was given, and Stewart fell mortally wounded. Bennett made his escape but was subsequently captured, convicted of murder and suffered the penalty of the law by hanging.
PEARSON AND BAKER.
In 1840 a personal difference arose between two State Senators, Judge Pearson and E. D. Baker. The latter, smarting under the epithet of " falsehood," threatened to chastise Pearson in the public streets, by a " fist fight." Pearson declined making a "blackguard', of himself but intimated a readiness to fight as gentlemen, accord- ing to the code of honor. The affair, however, was carried no further.
HARDIN AND DODGE.
The exciting debates in the Legislature in 1840-'41 were often bitter in personal "slings," and threats of combats were not infrequent. During these debates, in one of the speeches by the Hon. J. J. IIardin, Hon. A. R. Dodge thought he discovered a personal insult, took exceptions, and an " affair " seemed imminent. The controversy was referred to friends, however, and amicably settled.
M'CLERNAND AND SMITHI.
Hon. John A. McClernand, a member of the House, in a speech delivered during the same session made charges against the Whig Judges of the Supreme Court. This brought a note from Judge
146
IIISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
T. W. Smith, by the hands of his "friend " Dr. Merriman, to MeClernand. This was construed as a challenge, and promptly accepted, naming the place of meeting to be Missouri; time, early; the weapons, rifles; and distance, 40 paces. At this critical june- ture, the Attorney General had a warrant issued against the Judge, whereupon he was arrested and placed under bonds to keep the peace. Thus ended this attempt to vindicate injured honor.
LINCOLN AND SHIELDS.
During the hard times subsequent to the failure of the State and other banks, in 1842, specie became scarce while State money was plentiful, but worthless. The State officers thereupon demanded specie payment for taxes. This was bitterly opposed, and so fiercely contested that the collection of taxes was suspended.
During the period of the greatest indignation toward the State officials, under the nom de plume of " Rebecca," Abraham Lincoln had an article published in the Sangamo Journal, entitled " Lost Township." In this article, written in the form of a dialogue, the officers of the State were roughly handled, and especially Auditor Shields. The name of the author was demaded from the editor by Mr. Shields, who was very indignant over the manner in which he was treated. The name of Abraham Lincoln was given as the author. It is claimed by some of his biographers, however, that the article was prepared by a lady, and that when the name of the author was demanded, in a spirit of gallantry, Mr. Lincoln gave his name. In company with Gen. Whiteside, Gen. Shields pur- sued Lincoln to Tremont, Tazewell county, where he was in attend- ance upon the court, and immediately sent him a note "requiring a full, positive and absolute retraction of all offensive allusions" made to him in relation to his "private character and standing as a man, or an apology for the insult conveyed." Lincoln had been forewarned, however, for William Butler and Dr. Merriman, of Springfield, had become acquainted with Shields' intentions and by riding all night arrived at Tremont ahead of Shields and informed Lincoln what he might expect. Lincoln answered Shields' note, refusing to offer any explanation, on the grounds that Shields' note assumed the fact of his (Lincoln's) authorship of the article, and not pointing out what the offensive part was, and accompanying the same with threats as to consequences. Mr. Shields answered this, disavowing all intention to menace; inquired if he was the author,
147
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
asked a retraction of that portion relating to his private character. Mr. Lincoln, still technical, returned this note with the verbal statement " that there could be no further negotiations until the first note was withdrawn." At this Shields named Gen. White- side as his " friend," when Lincoln reported Dr. Merriman as his "friend." These gentlemen secretly pledged themselves to agree upon some amicable terms, and compel their principals to accept them. The four went to Springfield, when Lincoln left for Jack- sonville, leaving the following instructions to guide his friend, Dr. Merriman:
" In case Whiteside shall signify a wish to adjust this affair with- ·1 out further difficulty, let him know that if the present papers be withdrawn and a note from Mr. Shields, asking to know if I am the author of the articles of which he complains, and asking that I shall make him gentlemanly satisfaction, if I am the author, and this without menace or dictation as to what that satisfaction shall be, a pledge is made that the following answer shall be given:
I did write the "Lost Township" letter which appeared in the Journal of the 2d inst., but had no participation, in any form, in any other article alluding to you. I wrote that wholly for political effect. I had no intention of injuring your personal or private character or standing, as a man or gentleman; and I did not then think, and do not now think, that that article could produce or has pro- duced that effect against you; and, had I anticipated such an effect, would have foreborne to write it. And I will add that your conduct toward me, so far as I know, had always been gentlemanly, and that I had no personal pique against you, and no cause for any.
" If this should be done, I leave it to you to manage what shall and what shall not be published. If nothing like this is done, the preliminaries of the fight are to be:
" 1st. Weapons .- Cavalry broad swords of the largest size, pre- eisely equal in all respects, and such as are now used by the cavalry company at Jacksonville.
" 2d. Position .- A plank ten feet long and from nine to twelve inches broad, to be firmly fixed on edge, on the ground, as a line between us which neither is to pass his foot over on forfeit of his life. Next a line drawn on the ground on either side of said plank. and parallel with it, each at the distance of the whole length of the sword, and three feet additional from the plank; and the passing of his own such line by either party during the fight, shall be deemed a surrender of the contest.
148
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
"3d. Time .- On Thursday evening at 5 o'clock, if you can get it so; but in no case to be at a greater distance of time than Friday evening at 5 o'clock.
"4th. Place .- Within three miles of Alton, on the opposite side of the river, the particular spot to be agreed on by you.
" Any preliminary details coming within the above rules, you are at liberty to make at your discretion, but you are in no case to swerve from these rules, or pass beyond their limits."
The position of the contestants, as prescribed by Lincoln, seems to have been such as both would have been free from coming in contact with the sword of the other, and the first impression is that it is nothing more than one of Lincoln's jokes. He possessed very long arms, however, and could reach his adversary at the stipulated distance.
Not being amicably arranged, all parties repaired to the field of combat in Missouri. Gen. Hardin and Dr. English, as mutual friends of both Lincoln and Shields, arrived in the meantime, and after much correspondence at their earnest solicitation the affair was satisfactorily arranged, Lincoln making a statement similar to the one above referred to.
SHIELDS AND BUTLER.
William Butler, one of Lincoln's seconds, was dissatisfied with the bloodless termination of the Lincoln-Shields affair, and wrote an account of it for the Sangamo Journal. This article reflected dis- creditably upon both the principals engaged in that controversy. Shields replied by the hands of his friend Gen. Whiteside, in a curt, menacing note, which was promptly accepted as a challenge by Butler, and the inevitable Dr. Merriman named as his friend, who submitted the following as preliminaries of the fight:
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.