USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement and progress for nearly a century, Volume I > Part 26
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Newlin, died at Andersonville prison. Newlin was taken to Danville, Virginia, and about six months later made his escape to the Union lines. Of those of Company C who went into this battle, more than one-third were killed, wounded or captured. Company E lost Wm. C. McCoy, killed, and H. Neville, wounded. The activity of battle was not the only hardship our heroes had to bear, for at this time, on account of scarcity of rations, and the long continued foraging by both armies on the surrounding country, the soldiers were not only often hungry but in many cases half starved. On the 24th of October Lieut. Lawrence re- signed, leaving Capt. Kyger the only commissioned officer in the company.
In November the fights of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge took place, and as usual the Seventy-third was in front. The flag of the Seventy- third again fell from the hands of the new color-bearer Harty, to be snatched up by Kyger, and by him and Harty, who had risen, was one of the first planted on the heights of the mountain. In this engagement Stephen Newlin and Nat- haniel Henderson, of Company C, and Wm. Hickman, of E, were wounded. In March the Seventy-third marched to Cleveland, Tennessee, where it remained in camp until called into the Atlanta campaign. The movement of Sherman's army on the memorable campaign began with the month of May, 1864, and that part to which the Seventy-third belonged broke camp at Cleveland on the 3d of that month. It is safe to say that from this date until September 4, the Seventy- third was under fire eight days out of ten, Sundays not excepted. It was a con- tinuous fight from Caloosa Springs to Lovejoy Station. During the Atlanta campaign, and until the end of the war, the Seventy-third was in the First Brigade, Second Division and Fourth Army Corps. In the battles of Buzzard Roost, Dalton and Resaca, the regiment was engaged and suffered some loss. At Burnt Hickory, Dallas and New Hope Church, the regiment was also en- gaged. The actions at Big Shanty, Pine and Lost Mountains, brought the regi- ment by the middle of June in full view of Kenesaw Mountain. The enemy's works at this place were very strong, and well-nigh impregnable; but when the order came to advance and take them, the lines swept forward and occupied them with comparative ease, but just as the federal soldiers were fairly in pos- session, the rebels were strongly reinforced, and the Union forces, embracing the Seventy-third, fell back to their original position. In this engagement, though this regiment was in the line of the heaviest firing, but being on the lowest part of the ground, the shots from the enemy passed harmlessly over their heads. On the 17th of July the regiment crossed the Chattahoochee River, and on the 20tli was engaged in the battle of Peach Tree Creek. In this battle the Seventy- third occupied a very dangerous position, and did most splendid execution, hav- ing but one man killed and a dozen slightly wounded. Shortly after this the army had settled down in front of Atlanta. After the capture of Atlanta, a siege of six weeks, the army marched toward Chattanooga, arriving there about the 20th of September. From Chattanooga the line of march lay through Hunts- ville and Linnville, arriving in due time at Pulaski, where the skirmishers began to come in contact with those of Hood's army. In the vicinity of Columbia the Seventy-third took an active part, in one instance sustaining the shock of cav- alry. This was about the 24th to 28th of November. All the way to Columbia,
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whither the Union forces were retiring, followed closely by Hood and his army, there was continual fighting, in which the Seventy-third was almost constantly engaged. This was the last stand of any consequence made by the rebels in Tennessee. It was an obstinately contested field, and seemed to be the destruc- tion of the last hope of the rebels to maintain their cause in this part of the country. The hardships endured by Thomas' army in the last few days of this struggle were extreme, but not more so in the actual conflict than in the forced marches, hunger and loss of sleep; and to accord equal bravery and endurance to the Seventy-third, is only to repeat what has already been written by some of the most critical historians of the country. A few days later the regiment made, in the assault on the enemy at Harpeth Hill, in the vicinity of Nash- ville, their last charge, which proved to be one of the most splendid in their experience. As if indicating that the Seventy-third had reaped sufficient glory, the remnants of the rebel army withdrew from Tennessee, and left our heroes in possession of the state and twelve or fifteen thousand prisoners.
The Union army marched now to Huntsville, Alabama, arriving there on the 5th of January, 1865; the Seventy-third remaining here until the 28th of March, at which time it left by railroad for East Tennessee. While encamped near Blue Springs the war closed, and the regiment was ordered to Nashville, where, on the 12th of June, it was mustered out, and in a few days started for Springfield, going on the same train with the Seventy-ninth Illinois. Two trains conveyed the Seventy-third as it was going to the theater of war; the war over, one train, no larger than either of the two mentioned, conveyed both the regi- ments from Nashville to Springfield, indicating that the hardships of army life had dealt severely with their ranks. At Springfield the boys received their final pay and discharges, and dispersed to their several homes, having been absent from the county within a few days of three years. The heroic dead of this regiment, whose absence was most notable on the home trip, lie buried, some in graves dug by friendly hands; but were tombstones erected for those whose bodies were hastily pushed into the unwelcome soil of Kentucky and Tennessee, they would almost be equivalent to the milestones to mark the road of the army through the country, which they fought to retain in the Union. Twenty-six men of the Seventy-third were made prisoners, and of these sixteen died of hunger and ill-treatment.
THIRTY-FIFTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
This regiment, nearly five companies of which were from Vermilion County, was organized at Decatur on the 3d of July, 1861, and was one of the very first to go forward to defend the country from the rebel hordes who were not only threatening the life of the nation, but whose grasp seem to be already encir- cling it.
Companies D, E, F and I were almost wholly from this county, and also a large number of Company A, the last named being under the command of Cap- tain Philip D. Hammond, of Danville. Company D was raised in Catlin, and had for its officers William Timmons, captain; U. J. Fox, first lieutenant, and
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Josiah Timmons, second lieutenant. Company E was officered by William L. Oliver, L. J. Eyman, and George C. Maxon, captain, first and second lieuten- ants, respectively. This company was raised in the townships of Georgetown and Carroll. Company F was a Danville company, and had for captain, A. C. Keys; first lieutenant, John Q. A. Luddington, and second lieutenant, J. M. Sinks. Company I was raised in the vicinity of Catlin and Fairmount. Of this company, A. B. B. Lewis was elected captain; Joseph Truax, first. and Joseph F. Clise, second lieutenant.
In the organization of the regiment, W. P. Chandler, of Danville, was elected lieutenant-colonel; and, by the disabling of Col. Smith at the battle of Pea Ridge, Colonel Chandler was put in command, and was afterward promoted to the office.
On the 23d of July the regiment was accepted as Colonel G. A. Smith's Inde- pendent Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, and on the 4th of August left Decatur for the theater of war. The regiment arrived at Jefferson barracks, Missouri, the next day, where it remained one week, and then removed to Marine Hos- pital, St. Louis, where it was mustered into service. On the 5th of September it was transported by rail to Jefferson City, Missouri, and from thence, on the 15th of October, to Sedalia, to join Gen. Sigel's advance on Springfield, arriving at that point on the 26th of October. From November 13 to 19 the regiment was on the march from Springfield to Rolla. From January 24, 1862, the army to which the Thirty-fifth was attached was in pursuit of Gen. Price, and here our regiment began to experience a taste of real war. At the memorable battle of Pea Ridge the regiment took active part, and lost in killed and wounded a num- ber of its bravest men, among the wounded being Col. Smith. At the siege of Corinth the regiment took an important part, and was at that place upon its evacuation on the 30th of May. At Perryville and Stone River the regiment was also engaged, at the later place losing heavily in killed and wounded. This was during the first three days of January, 1863. The regiment was the first on the south side of the Tennessee River, crossing that stream on the 28th of August. At the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, the regiment was engaged, and again suffered severely. By the 22d of September the regiment was at Chat- tanooga.
In the battle of Missionary Ridge, on November 23-5, the regiment was placed in a most dangerous and important position, being in the front line, and dis- played great valor and coolness, being led to within twenty steps of the rebel works on the crest of the hill. In the assault all of the color-guard were shot down, and Col. Chandler carried the flag into the enemy's works, followed by his men. By December 7 the regiment was at Knoxville, from which point it was sent on various important and dangerous expeditions. The regiment was assigned to duty next in the Atlanta campaign, and to recount all of the inci- dents, skirmishes and fights in which the Thirty-fifth took part would be only to repeat what has been said over and over again in regard to other regiments. The reader will simply turn to the story as related elsewhere, and appropriate it here. Suffice it to say that at Rocky Face, Resaca, Dallas, Mud Creek and Kennesaw the regiment was fully tested in coolness and bravery, and never disappointed
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its commanders. On the 31st of August the regiment started to Springfield, Illinois, where it was mustered out on the 27th of September, 1864.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. [Contributed by Col. William Mann.]
- The One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteers was raised under the call by President Lincoln, and was organized and mustered into the service of the United States on the 3d of September, 1862, at Danville, Illinois. It was composed of seven companies, (A, B, C, D, G, I, K) from Vermilion, and three companies (E, F and H) from Champaign.
The regiment was organized by the selection of the following officers ; Oscar F. Harmon, Danville, colonel; James W. Langley, Champaign, lieutenant-col- onel; John B. Lee, Catlin, major; Wm. Mann, Danville, adjutant; Levi W. Sanders, chaplain, and John McElroy, surgeon. The principal officers of Com- pany A as organized were: Clark Ralston, captain; Jackson Charles, first lieu- tenant, and Harrison Low, second lieutenant. Of Company B, Robert Steward was captain; William R. Wilson, first, and S. D. Conover, second lieutenant. Of Company C, William W. Fellows was captain; Alexander Pollock, first lieu- tenant, and James D. New, second. Company D had for captain, George W. Galloway; James B. Stevens, first, and John L. Jones, second lieutenant. John H. Gass was captain of Company G, Ephraim S. Howells, first and Josiah Lee, second lieutenant. Company I was officered by Levin Vinson, John E. Vinson and Stephen Brothers as captain, first and second lieutenants, respectively. The officers of Company K were: George W. Cook, captain; Oliver P. Hunt, first lientenant, and Joseph F. Crosby, second.
Immediately on its being received into the service, it was sent to Cincinnati, where it was placed in the fortifications around Covington, Kentucky, but was in a few days sent to Louisville, Kentucky, which at that time was threatened by Bragg, and upon his retreat was connected with the pursuing forces, and re- ceived its "baptism of fire" at the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, assisting in driving the rebel army out of the state. After the battle above named it took up the line of march for Nashville, Tennessee, which will long be remembered by its members as being the most severe campaign of their service, owing to their inexperience in such duties, and many of the regiment contracted diseases that resulted in death or complete disability. During the winter following the regi- ment did duty in the fortifications, and on patrol and picket service in and around the city. Owing to the ignorance of camp life and the scarcity of supplies, this period was more disastrous to the organization than any of its subsequent battles. Severe picket duty, tiresome drills, and the dull routine of camp life, made upi the sum of the regiment's duties until they were ordered to report to Gen. Rose- crans, who was about to take up the gauntlet thrown by Bragg at Chattanooga.
Proceeding by a circuitous route through western Tennessee and northern Alabama, driving the enemy at Rome and other minor points, the brigade to which the regiment belonged, then connected with Gen. Gordon Granger's Re- serve Corps, the command found itself in position in front of the enemy on the eve of what proved to be a disastrous battle to the federal forces, the day of
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Chickamauga. In that battle the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth took a promi- nent part, by defending and holding positions of importance. On the retirement of Rosecrans to Chattanooga after his comparative defeat, the brigade, then commanded by Col. Dan McCook, was placed to defend Rossville Gap, an im- portant pass, while Gen. Thomas collected the remnants of the army, to resist the farther advance of the victorious foe. In the defense of this important posi- tion the regiment was under a severe fire, and met with loss; but held its ground through the day, and checked the enemy in its front. After nightfall it was ordered to retire, and was among the last to leave the field, marching to Chat- tanooga, where it took part within the fortifications, and awaited the approach of the enemy. Here it remained until it was determined that Bragg did not intend to push his successes farther, when the regiment was sent to a point up the Tennessee River known as "Caldwell's Ford," at the mouth of Chickamauga Creek. Here it experienced an incident which was one of the most startling and trying of its career. The camp was pitched about one half mile back from the river, on the hillside, an exposed position, but rendered necessary by the nature of the ground. On the opposite side of the river was a rebel picket post, and a hill of some dimensions. The opportunity to attack was deemed so fa- vorable by the rebels, that, on the night of the 16th of November, 1863, they placed a heavy battery of eight guns in position, and at the break of day opened fire on the camp. The bursting of shells and the crack of solid shot through the tents was the first sound heard by the command in the morning. It was truly a grand reveille, and certainly the men never responded more quickly than they did on that memorable morning to roll-call. Amid the thunder of the rebel guns, and the quick and gallant response of our battery (two guns placed to assist the regiment), the command was formed in line of battle, expecting the river to be crossed and the camp attacked. The execution of our guns, however, soon in- formed the enemy that they had undertaken a difficult task, and as was after- ward learned, finding that they were experiencing loss, retired. The only loss sustained by the regiment was the death of the chaplain, Levi W. Sanders, who was struck by a round shot in the head and instantly killed.
At Caldwell's Ford the regiment remained until the advance was made which culminated in the battle of Missionary Ridge, and the defeat of the enemy. In this battle it did not take an active part until the enemy was in full retreat, assist- ing in driving him beyond reach. Learning of the threatened attack of Knoxville by a portion of the forces from the eastern army, it was sent to the relief of that post. Accomplishing that object, it returned and went into camp on Chick- amauga Creek, at a place known as Lee and Gordon Mills, Georgia. Here it awaited the reorganization of the army, and was placed in the Third Brigade, Third Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps, Gen. Jeff C. Davis commanding. And now commenced the most vigorous part of the regiment's career. On the advance of the grand army on what is known as the "Atlanta campaign," it was under fire many times, and participated in several battles in approaching that city. In the battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Tennessee, and other engagements, the regiment suffered severely, and at the end of that campaign nearly or quite one half of the command that entered upon it were numbered among the dead or wounded. At Kennesaw Mountain, on the fatal 27th of June,
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1864, it lost one half of the command. Just previous to the order to charge being given, the regiment mustered two hundred and forty guns. After the charge, and when the list was made of the casualties, it was found that over one half had been killed or wounded. Here fell Col. Harmon, Capt. Fellows, Capt, Lee, Lieut. McLean, and many a brave private, whose names are embalmed in the hearts of friends, and referred to with sadness after a lapse of fifteen years. Col. Harmon had been chiefly instrumental in raising the regiment. He had left honors and a lucrative profession at home, to respond to his country's call and gave his life in its defense. His name will be remembered so long as a member of the command lives, and venerated by them.
This campaign ended in the battle of Jonesboro, in which the regiment suf- fered severe loss, as they did at Peach Tree Creek, and the subsequent capture of Atlanta.
At Atlanta a reorganization of the army occurred, and the concoction of the great campaign known in history as the "March to the Sea," under Sherman. With that army the regiment took up the line of march toward the coast, and without any startling incidents aside from skirmishes, etc., reached Savannah about the 20th of December, 1864, and participated in the honor attending the capture of that important post. It lost many men in this campaign, through capture, sickness, etc. Crossing the Savannah at Sister's Ferry, at the com- mencement of the campaign which culminated in the surrender of the Confed- erate forces and the suppression of the great rebellion, after the evacuation of Richmond, it advanced with the left wing of the army and participated in its last battle at Bentonville, a small town in North Carolina, losing quite heavily. On the surrender of Johnston it marched to Washington, where it remained several weeks, and was then sent to Chicago, where it was mustered out, paid and dis- charged from the service of the United States after nearly three years of active service, with hardly one-half of those who had started with it from Danville remaining. Many had died or had been killed in action, others had been dis- charged from disability arising from wounds or disease contracted by exposure and the severity of campaign life, and a few, a very few, had been lost by deser- tion. And thus ended the services of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth regi- ment Illinois Volunteers in the "Great Rebellion."
The statement has often been made that the people of the South were all who suffered during the years of the Civil War; that the people of the North hardly knew there was any conflict going on. There never was a greater mistake of the conditions of the times. While there were no battles and no burning homes, there was not a village of the northern states where the life was not decidedly changed by reason of the conflict going on in the south. Almost every home had some one in the service and the first question when neighbors met was a query about the news from the army. Business was in changed conditions and social life was influenced by the friends being in the hardships of war.
The women and children were not idle. Danville was not an exception to other towns. One company after another had been recruited from the men of Vermilion county, and news of a battle brought anxiety and a desire to help on the part of all. The necessity for help was urgent. All the appliances for care of wounded which can now be bought without trouble, were unknown at
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that time. The women of Danville would gather in the basement of the old North Street church and spend days in making bandages, scraping lint, and sew- ing on garments needed in the hospitals.
All the old tablecloths and linen sheets and anything made of that material were donated and the children busied themselves scraping the lint from this cloth. When the linen was used up, cotton was brought into use. Many were the yards of cloth cut up into strips and wrapped into bandages. New cloth was bought and dipped in scalding water to shrink, and then wound carefully to make the desired rolls of bandages. Then there were the garments needed to put on the men as they lay in the hospitals tossing with fever or groaning in pain. Life was serious in those days and men, women and children vied with each other in plans to help those who were "at the front."
There were but few new comers to the county in the years from 1860 to 1864. It was not a time men were looking for new homes. The large part of those at the sections which had hitherto turned their faces to Vermilion County were, during these times, engaged in the war on one side or the other. Virginia and the Carolinas, together with Tennessee, all had their attention taken with the great struggle, and Ohio, whence the large immigration had before this time come, was sending her men to the front. There were a few families, however, came into this section, during these years and some of these made a deep im- pression on the life of the county. Among these can be named Dr. Winslow, Mr. D. Dale, Detective Hall, Mr. Freeman, Alexander Bowman, Judge Evans and others.
Dr. J. C. Winslow, a native of Vermont, located in Danville in 1860. He was a man of rare knowledge and perhaps was attracted to this section by the geolo- gical wealth along the Vermilion river. When he first left home he was a maker of musical instruments but he was a man of science before he was of trade and he left that mechanical work to others. He taught music and later was attracted to railroading. This led him to be a Master Mechanic. He came to Vermilion County to accept the position of assistant Master Mechanic on the Wabash (Great Western) Railroad. But he tired of that employment and took up the study of dentistry, and in 1886 he came to Danville to practice that profession. He found congenial companionship in the way of Mr. Will Gurley, who although but yet a boy was authority on all geological matters. Dr. Winslow established the Vermilion County Historical Society.
It is a great pity that this society was let to disband so completely as to leave no trace. Dr. Winslow was the first Mayor of Danville, being elected in May, 1868. Dr. Winslow was identified with everything of public improvement and was a great force toward making Danville and Vermilion County. Dr. Wins- low died, and was buried in Springhill cemetery.
John J. Dale, the father of John W. Dale, who has been identified with so many affairs of Vermilion County, came to Vermilion County in 1860 and located about six miles south of Rossville. Mr. John W. Dale enlisted in the army from his home going as a private in Company B, Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteers. He was wounded in the elbow at the battle of Chickamauga, and lost his arm in consequence. Mr. Dale has held many offices of responsibility in the county and city of Danville, Mr. Dale married Miss Hicks of Perrysville, Indiana.
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The life of the detective T. D. Hall has always seemed to be of unusual in- terest. He has a good record of success in ferreting out crime and its doers. Mr. Hall is an Englishman, but when he came to Danville in 1861 he came directly from Indiana. He found his ability as a detective first, when he filled the office of deputy sheriff under Joseph M. Payton in 1865. Mr. Hall has spent much of his time in the employ of the railroads. An account of his experiences would make a fascinating book to read.
Mr. A. C. Freeman was one of the newcomers to Vermilion County in 1871. He came from Edgar county at that time, but was a native of Penn- sylvania and had come west but a short time before that time. Mr. Freeman was in the employ of the Wabash Railroad, both at Fairmount and State Line for eleven years. He came to Danville, and in 1874 was elected city clerk. He held that office for many years and was released only when failing health compelled him to give it up. Mr. Freeman was a very popular man and had a host of devoted friends. He was twice married. His first wife was Miss Newkirk, and his second wife was Miss Mary W. Dustin of Enfield, N. H. Mr. Freeman was too ill to attend to business for a long time before his death. He was the father of seven children. The first wife was the mother of two children, only one of whom lived.
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