USA > Illinois > Washington County > History of Washington County, Illinois > Part 9
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They were in the victorious armies of Scott and Taylor in their march to the " City of the Aztecs." They were with Mcclellan on the Peninsula ; with Banks at Baton Rouge and Port Hudson ; with " Hooker above the clouds," and with Meade at Gettysburg. They fought with Grant at Vicks- burg, Chattanooga and Fort Donnelson, and followed Sherman in his "March to the Sea." Their blood stained the fields of Appomattox, Stone River and the Wilderness ; they shared the dangers of Antietam, Look-Out Mountain and Manassas Gap. Whether in the tumult of victory or in the gloom of defeat, her colors were never disgraced.
When the white-winged messenger of Peace had conveyed the joyous tidings that war was over, those that had survived the din of battle returned to their homes to receive the congratulations of all lovers of their country. The brave men who met a soldier's fate on the sanguinary field
"Sink to rest, By all their country's wishes blest."
* The roll of the companies will be found in this work.
The Publishers are indebted to L. M. Phillips for data concerning these companies.
BLACK-HAWK WAR.
The following comprise a list of the Officers and Privates who served in the Black-Hawk War, from Washington county ; also the date of their en- listment, which was on the 28th of May, 1832, according to the recollection of two of the venerable veterans, M. G. Faulkner, Esq., and J. M. MeEl- hanon, Esq. The company to which they belonged numbered fifty men (although about one hundred men were desirous to go, but fifty only were mustered. ) They were all mounted, each man furnishing his own horse, gun, ammunition, clothing, etc. and their provisions until they arrived at Beards- town, on the Illinois river, the place of rendezvous, where they joined the Brigade commanded by the gallant General Henry.
OFFICERS.
James Burns, Captain ; Cyrus Sawyer, 1st Lieutenant ; Andrew Lyons, 2d Lieutenant. Elected on the organization of the company.
John D. Wood was elected Orderly Sergeant, subsequently appointed Adjutant, and afterward elected Major of the Regiment.
On reaching Beardstown, Harvey Nevill was elected Lieutenant, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Andrew Lyons.
Dr. Maxwell D. Pepper, also a member of this company, was appointed Surgeon of the Regiment.
PRIVATES.
Lorenzo D. Livesay, Mereda S. McMilliau, John Casner, A. J. Morgan, Solomon Morgan, James Thompson, (received a slight flesh-wound ), James Patterson, William Talbott, William King, (died of measles, at Rock Island, in the summer of 1832), Preston James, Armstead Balsh, Levi Wells, An- drew White, James R. White, James S. White, Charles Wool, William Minson, William Tate, James Ramsey, Pleasant J. M. Holley, Richard Hutchins, John Burns, Robert Burns, M. G. Faulkner, J. M. McElhaney, Matthew K. Lynch, Anthony Darter, John W. Gilbreath, James Anderson, Alexander Anderson, John Night, John Mitchell, Craig Mitchell, James Lock, Anthony House, John Hood, Carey Morgan, Henry Cherry, Samuel K. Anderson. William Joiner, William Wood, David Underwood, James Un- derwood, Samuel Burns.
MEXICAN WAR.
The following are the names of the men who served in the war with Mexico, from Washington county, as taken from the muster roll of com- pany A, 2d Regiment Illinois Volunteers, commanded by Col. William H. Bissell, (afterwards Governor of Illinois). They were mustered into service.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF COMPANY A.
Elsey C. Coffin, Captain; Harvey Nevill, 1st Lieutenant ; William B. Rountree, 2d Lieutenant ; Allen B. Rountree, 3d Lieutenant.
NON.COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
G. W. Hotchkiss, 1st Sergeant; Jamcs W. Farmer, 2d Sergeant ; Jack- son Dennis, 3d Sergeant; Richard M. Clayton, 4th Sergeant ; James T. Christian, 1st Corporal; Thomas M. Recd, 2d Corporal ; Joseph Kenyon, 3d Corporal; Thomas Atchison, 4th Corporal.
MUSICIANS.
John Hopkins, drummer ; Robert W. Fulton, fifer.
PRIVATES.
Geo. W. Atchison, James Aldridge, Robert Brasel, John Burnet, William Bird, Thomas Bird, Alexander Boutwright, John Brown, Jacob Brown, Jonas Casner, Robert Check, Gilbert Cooper, Nathaniel T. Coleman, Edley Check, Addisor Cox, James A. Check, Mark Castleberry, Edward R. Chap- man, Aifred Clark, Wm. A. L. Carter, Willis Dickerson, William Dempsey, James H. H. Davis, Thomas Tolson, John Farmer, Isaac Friend, John B. Flanegan, Samuel Faulkner, Gilbert Faulkner, Lewis Green, Gideon S. Gore, James Goliff, Milton Hensley, Allen Hall, Jesse Hall, James D. Hodges, Wm.H. Hagans, Wesley W. Hutchins, A. B. Johnson, Henry Johnson, Lewis S. Jenkins, Joseph W. Johnson, William Kenyon, Abner G. Lee, Ephraim W. Lee, James T. Lee, Thomas Morris, Wm. F. Mitchell, John G. Mansker, James Morton, Dedrick R. Meyer, Joseph Morris, Hugh B. McElhanon, John Neuman, William Philips, Joseph Pate, Geo. W. Penter, Thomas Rob- erts, James Redfern, Geo. W. Raney, John M. Rountree, William Raney, John Robbins, Richard B. Raglan, William Stoker, Hezekiah Stilley, Robert Stotts, William L. Smith, Andrew G. Slade, Albert C. Starkwell, Stephen
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Trouce, William Underwood, Samuel Tate, Jonas Williams, Willis White, Alexander Williamson, Allen B. Wheelis, Matthew B. Williams, Thompson C. West, Geo. L. Thomas.
MUSTER ROLL OF
Company H, 2d Regiment Illinois Volunteers, commanded by Col. James Collins. The Regiment was mustered into service on the 18th of July, 1847, for during the war, unless sooner discharged, and rendezvoused at Alton, Illinois.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF COMPANY H.
James Burns, Captain ; Malachi Jenkins, 1st Lieutenant; George W. Walker, 2d Lieutenant ; James K. Finch, 3d Lieutenant.
James Anderson, 1st Sergeant ; Marcus L. Burns, 2d Sergeant; Thos. W. Anderson, 3d Sergeant ; Thos. B. Sanders, 4th Sergeant ; John C. Burns, 1st Corporal ; Thos. W. G. Mansker, 2d Corporal ; Richard P. Carter, 3d Corporal ; James P. Fagan, 4th Corporal.
PRIVATES.
John D. Martin, Matthew M. Curtis, Richard Anderson, Peter Aldrich, John A. Croft, Ephraim W. Carr, William Cook, James D. Camaron, Alexander Campbell, Emanuel C. Carter, Charles Christian, James Crab- tree, Newton Deen, Nicholas H. Darter, James P. Edrington, John Field, John F. Franklin, David Forbs, James D. Fitzgual, Owen Gillin, Thomas Gore, Josiah Gibson, Thomas I. Gaskill, Gustavus Harris, Caleb Harris, Enoch Hale, Stephen G. Hick, Benj. F. Hawkins, John B. Hitt, Thomas I. Hitt, Isaac B. Jack, John Jones, Robert B. Jordan, Robert Ingram, T. G. Jones, David W. Lowe, Thomas Losson, John Losson, Robert H. Livings- ton, Carter A. Livesay, Alfred Livesay, John C. Livesey, Isaac Mills, Wil- liam Mathews, Pleasant Miller, Cyrus Miller, Lemuel Moore, Manley T. Morrison, R. M. Morgan, Alfred Norris, Levi Newcomb, William F. Owen, William C. Pitchford, George W. Pitchford, David A. Patterson, E. W. Parker, Lewis Tate, Simeon Tate, Silvester Rogers, John Rice, Horatio Ra- gus, Isaac Stokes, Peter Scance, George Smith, Elisha Smithers, M. G. Smithers, Jobn A. Smithers, William Sumers, C. H. Skelton, John C. Tay- lor, David W. Thurman,, James M. Thurman, John Underwood, Robert Vanwinkle, Thomas Walker, John Walker, Sen., John Walker, Jun., Eze- kiel Walker, James Weaver, John Williams, George Waldon, James Wight, Richard Hutchings, David Franklin.
Promotions .- The following promotions were made after the organization .of the company : Stephen G. Hick, promoted Lieutenant Colonel; John Rice, promoted 4th Sergeant, Sept. 18th, 1848.
DEATH LIST.
James Anderson died December 3d, 1847. Thomas B. Sanders. died September 7th, 1847.
Malachi Jenkins died on board ship Massachusetts, June 26th, 1848, and was buried in the Gulf of Mexico with the honors of war.
James K. Finch died at Vera Cruz, September 12th, 1847.
Ephraim W. Carr died on ship-board, on the Gulf of Mexico, August 28th, 1847.
Alexander Campbell died September 15th, 1847, at Vera Cruz.
Charles Christian died October 14th, 1847, at Vera Cruz.
John Field killed September 18th, 1847, in the battle of San-Juan.
John F. Franklin died December 22d, 1847.
Thomas Gore died December 15th, 1847, at Jalapa. Josiah Gibson died on shipboard, on the Gulf of Mexico. Enoch Hale died February 5th, 1848. John C. Livesay died at Jalapa, May, 1848. Pleasant Mills died April 5th, 1848, at Puebla. Cyrus Mills died October 30th, 1847, at San-Juan. William F. Owen died at Puebla, June 2d, 1848. Simeon Tate died June 14th, 1848, near Jalapa. Isaac Stokes died at Alton, Ill., August 3d, 1847. George Smith died at Camp San-Juan, Mexico, September 28th, 1847. M. G. Smithers died at Jalapa, Mexico, January 19th, 1848. John A. Smithers died at Jalapa. January 23d, 1848. David W. Thurman died at Jalapa, February 18th, 1848. Ezekiel Walker died September 10th, 1847, at Vera Cruz. John Williams died November 9th, 1847, at Vera Cruz. James Wight died January 6th, 1848, at Jalapa.
The above named company was organized in Washington County, and left Nashville on the 10th day of July, 1847, and marched to Alton, Illinois, arriving there on the 12th following, where the company was mustered into service as above stated. On the 13th of August they were, with several other companies, ordered on board a U. S. transport, aud by river conveyed to New Orleans, landing there on the 21st of the same month, and three days after were taken on board a steamer, crossed the Gulf, landing at Vera Cruz, Mexico, on the 31st of August. Companies A, H, and K, left Alton on the same transport.
The principal skirmishes that they participated in were, San-Juan, on the 18th of September, 1847 ; camped on the battle-field until November following, when the Regiment was marched to Jalapa, where they took up winter quarters; remained there until the middle of March, 1848 ; then or- dered to Puebla, where they remained until June. The war being practically ended, they were ordered to Vera Cruz, thence to Alton, Illinois, where they were discharged on the 22d of July, 1848, and returned to their respective homes.
CHAPTER VIII. FAUNA AND FLORA. .
FAUNA.
N treating the subject of the Fauna of Washington county, it would not perhaps be amiss to make some general observations upon the subject of Natural history. In the development and growth of animal life, nature has, as in all things else, displayed much method and system. She has always issued her bulletins. In the history of animal creation, she has always advertised her plans. She had those plans in the beginning. Man may search and study the relics of the primeval ages, and he will find the programme was made out from the be- ginning ; that Nature did not unfold her plans, by degrees, as type after type of organic life made its advent into the world. . Though Nature had her plans from the beginning ; though the work was laid out; though in the economy of Infinite Wisdom, the performance of those plans, has been in strict accordance with the programme, man is continually surprised by the appearance in the animal creation of some new specimen of animal life. Man, with all his powers of mind, with all his penetration of thought, and all his learning, after centuries of vain endeavor to find out the plans of Nature in the creation, and development of animal life, comes to the wise conclusion, that although those plans were laid and have existed immuta- bly from before the foundation of the world, that they can only be appre- hended by the ultimate results, as they are marked by each succeeding development.
One thing surpassingly wonderful and beautiful is, that, although Nature had advertised her plans for the development of animal life, down to the smallest minutia, from the very beginning, all contingencies were foreseen ; no amendments, no modifications were necessitated, by the growth of worlds, or successive populations, or the march of human improvement. It was thus in continental formation ; it was thus in animal creation.
Nature transcends all possibilities of human expectation, in the infinite flexibility of her plans, and in the inexhaustible fullness of their execution. To the geologist nothing is more familiar, than the fact, that three of the four fundamental plans of animal structure were introduced, upon the earth, simultaneously ; viz. : the Radiata, the Mollusca and the Articulata. All hypothesis of the genealogical succession of these three fundamental plans of organic life is rationally precluded by their simultaneous introduc- tion. Those three fundamental forms or plans of animal structure, were not the first to put in an appearance on the earth ; the inscrutable, isolated, and mysterious Ezoon, stood in the remote ages of Ezoic time, in about the same relation to animal life, as a desolate islet, in the midst of a dark trackless and tempest-tossed ocean, does to a continent. The Vertebrata came next : thus laying the four fundamental corner-stones upon which nature has built the superstructure of animal life.
The labors of scientists, the bowels of the earth, or the archives of the solid rocks, have failed to furnish any specimen of animal life, that does not conform to one of these fundamental types, which nature announced in the beginning, viz., Radiata, Mollusca, Articulata, or Vertebrata.
There is no hand of chance displayed in the introduction and develop-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
ment of animal life ; no caprice; all is constancy and order, infinite intelli- gence, foresight and fixed purpose !
FAUNA OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
We shall not attempt to describe all the animals indigenous to this terri- tory-great and small, useful and troublesome to man, but content ourselves with referring to some of the most prominent specimens.
Game. In the early days of the county, wild-grass, which grew to the height of several feet, covered the prairies. This furnished a safe retreat for the wild deer. Here he made his home, and here the sportsman sought after him. The deer found here was of the species, Cervus leucurus. Rab- bits are plentiful, and in winter furnish a delicious food. The fox and gray squirrels are quite common-in fact, in autumn, are numerous, often destroy- ing quantities of the farmer's corn.
Game birds are more plentiful. We have the turkey, the noblest, as well as the most sagacious of fowls, requiring all the stratagem of the hunter to shoot, and affording an excellent article of food.
The prairie hen and the water fowl were abundant in the early days, and were quite easily approached. But the crack of the hunter's rifle has made them adverse to his society, and they have become so shy, that it is with great difficulty they are taken.
Of the animals that are valuable for their furs, the beaver, the otter, the minx, the opossum, the raccoon and the muskrat, were formerly found in the country. The beaver has long since sought other and safer retreats, the otter has gone from the places frequented by man, and if the others remain, they are few in numbers, and they are so shy as to not be easily taken. Birds of passage, geese, ducks, pigeons, teal, and others at special seasons haunt our lakes and streams, and darken the air in their flight. The warblers, and hundreds of others migrate through the county. These migratory birds, include all species from the garden swallow to the tanager and gay bobolink.
This latter fine specimen usually passes our latitude in the spring, before he dons his soldiery uniform of black and white, and takes up his rattling song. On his return to the rice fields of the sunny south in autumn, he is dressed in his Quaker suit of gray, and his appearance and general de- meanor is sedate and sullen, indicative of his disposition to become a lazy gourmand when he reaches his destination. Strange stories could these birds of passage tell, had they the power of reason, and the gift of speech. Many scenes of joyous happiness greet their eyes, as well as scenes of sadness and death. Many lands they pass over, where all is mirth and gladness, and fraternal love, and many others where all is warlike and terrible, all sadness and gloom.
" Birds, joyous birds of the wandering wing ! Whence are ye come with the flowers of Spring? We come from the shores of the green old Nile, From the land where the roses of Sharon smile," From the palms that wave through the Indian sky, From the myrrh trees of glowing Araby."
Birds should not only be tolerated-but such as destroy noxious insects should be protected and defended, not only by statute law, but by the uni- versal custom of the country. They should be artificially bred. They beautify our homes, cheer our despondent minds, and prove a blessing to the husbandman in the protection of his grain and fruit. The quail, the robin and thrush, the fly-catchers, swallows and night-hawks should be harbored and encouraged.
Blue-birds, wrens, woodpeckers, orioles, tanagers, cat-birds and mocking- birds should find in the farmer a friend steadfast and true. In fact, every species of bird whose destructive habits are not known to overbalance his better qualities, should receive protection from man.
The Illinois Horticultural Society has made the following classification of birds :
1st. Those of greatest value to fruit-growers, in destroying noxious in- sects .- Blue-birds, titmice, all woodpeckers, (except that known as the sap- sucker), the wrens, the ground-robins, meadow-lark, the fly-catchers, the king- bird, whip-poor-will, the night-hawk, the nut-hatchers and the pewees. Many others might be added ; but these should never be destroyed, but should be fostered and protected. We might add the blackbirds, American cuckoo, plovers, snipes, grosbeaks, the scarlet tanager quail, song-sparrow, the creepers, the Maryland warbler, indigo-bird, and the thrushes.
2d. Birds of doubtful utility-Which include those that have beneficial qualities, but which have also noxious qualities, in the way of destroying fruits. grain, etc.
The robin, brown thrush and cat-birds are very useful in destroying cut- worms, which are wont to play havoc with the farmer's growing corn, but are just as obnoxious to the growers of small fruit. The blue jay is not only a source of evil to the grain and fruit growers, but carries his mean qualities into depredations upon the nests of smaller birds, destroying their eggs and often their young. The butcher-bird, red-headed woodpecker, crow, owls, (screech-owls), pigeons and mocking-birds, are placed in this list. There are numerous other birds that should be placed on one of the foregoing lists, but these are the most prominent ones.
3d. Birds that should be exterminated .- Sap-sucker, Baltimore oriole, cedar-bird, hawks, and the larger owls.
FISH.
The principal game-fish that are found in our streams are the cat, bass, and sun fish,-the bass being chiefly sought after and requiring the greatest skill to take, affording excellent sport to the angler, and furnishing a most palatable article of diet.
There are numerous other specimens of the finny tribe, but not of sufficient importance to be spoken of here.
FLORA.
PLANTS.
The plants that are indigenous to the soil of our county are numerous and rare. Some seem to have been planted here by Nature especially to gladden the finer senses of man, by adorning and beautifying the landscape and his home, and to charge the balmy south breezes with a delicious fragrance for his especial benefit. Some seem especially given to us for remedies for the physical ills with which man is beset ; still others furnish us with a de- licious and wholesome fruit.
Those that seem designed to ornament our homes and deck our prairies and woodlands, are the phlox, the lily, the asclepias, the mints, the rose, the golden-rods, the eye-bright, the gerardia, and hundreds of others that are scattered in rich profusion all over our plains and valleys.
The rose grows in wild profusion, and is regarded by many as being more beautiful in its tints, more rich in its fragrance, than the flower of any other plant. Many people prefer the wild specimen to that of the cultivated one. There is no plant nor flower more universally known or more universally admired than the rose. It is appropriate in all seasons and upon all occa- sions.
" How much of memory dwells amidst thy bloom, Rowe ! ever wearing beauty for thy dower ! The bridal-day-the festival-the tomb- Thou hast thy part in each, thou stateliest flower !" +
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Another favorite is the lily. What boy is there that has not imperiled his health to procure a specimen of this pure and beautiful flower? Admiration of this flower is not confined to those of juvenile years and habits. The painter finds in it a subject worthy of the finest efforts of his pencil ; the hu- manitarian finds in it an emblem of that purity of conscience that mankind is so desirous to possess. Poets have found in its pearly cup, and its deli- cate petals, inspiration for their muses :
" Flowers! when the Saviour's calm, benignant eye,. Fell on your gentle beauty-when from you That heavenly lesson for hearts he drew, Eternal, universal as the sky- Then, on the bosom of your purity, A voice he set, as in a temple-shrine."
The plants possessing medicinal properties are-The pink-root, the co- lumbs, the golden-seal, may-apple, ginseng, wahoe, bone-set, penny-royal, sarsaparilla, and many others. Among the plants that bear fruit that is wholesome as food, are the strawberry, the raspberry, the blackberry, the mulberry, the plum, the grape and crab-apple, as well as the cultivated fruits.
FOREST TREES.
We have of these the sturdy oak, with its twenty different species, the historic hickory, with its many varieties; the pecan; the storm-tried elm, with its numerous species; and the majestic honey-locust, with its uninviting thorns, besides numerous others. We must not omit the mention of the stately black walnut and the picturesque cottonwood that bedeck our bottom-lands.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The climbing-vine, the trumpet-creeper, the bitter-sweet, the woodbine and the grape, fill the woods with gay and living festoons, and lend a charm of dignity and vitality to many a decaying monarch of the forest.
There is something peculiarly fascinating associated with the thoughts of the forest ! Could the majestie oak, that has braved the blasts of centuries, have the gift of speech, what a history it could recount !
The Grasses are timothy, red-top and clover, which attest the value of the country for dairy purposes. The tall-pampas grass, that once covered the whole face of the prairies, growing tall as a horse's back, has almost ceased to exist, though specimens are still found in some places.
CHAPTER IX. THE PRESS.
BY D. MACKENZIE.
ROGRESS, in all ages, demanded an exponent. The press, since the time of the invention of printing, has been the medium through which it has made known its discoveries and conquests. For centuries prior to the discovery of the "art preservative," the stylus and parchment were the favored instruments. Its engrossed records were stored away in the vault-like cells of monasteries, silent to all but the favored few. Mankind cannot be educated by a few teachers; nor can it be supplied with books by a few copyists. Progress demands something more.
In the sixteenth century, Guttenberg, and Faust, and Schoeffer opened a way to meet the growing demand for more teachers, and a more accessible avenue to the literary treasures contained in high-priced folios.
In the press, progress found its philosopher's stone, and humanity the alchemist's true crucible.
In a great measure, the newspaper has supplanted the orator, while the copyist's place has been cheerfully surrendered to the caseman. Inventive genius has added improvements and machinery to the crude beginnings of the Mentz printers, until our small interior towns are daily supplied with the news of a world.
Three hundred and thirty years ago, impressions were first taken from rough-cut wooden type; to-day thousands of hand and steam-printing presses are working off innumerable copies of daily and weekly newspapers, besides their monthly magazines, books, pamphlets and advertisements, issuing from thousands of offices. Printing, truly, is one of the great industries, giving employment to thousands, and instruction and amusement to millions.
But the press is only a means to an end. If the growth of the means has been so marvellous, what has been the effect upon the end? No other human invention has so changed the moral and social condition of society. It lifted the shadow of the dark ages, and made that ignorance disgraceful which before had been a mark of nobility. It has ever been the defender of right, truth, justice and liberty.
The products of the printing-office have become so interwoven with our daily lives, that they are almost a necessary element of our existence. News- papers, books and magazines, are luxuries no longer but necessaries. Take them from us, and we should at once begin to descend from the exalted intelligence and civilization to which we have attained. So intimate is the relation between a community and the press, that one can estimate quite accurately the intelligence and enterprise of the latter by the circulation and intellectual character of the former.
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