USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 6
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CHAPTER III.
CIVIL WAR OF 1861-'65-HISTORY OF REGIMENTS.
THE CIVIL WAR OF 1861-'65.
The History of Whiteside County would be incomplete without a chapter upon the part borne by the county in the great struggle between the North and the South. It is the duty of the Historian to chronicle the deeds of the brave men in the field and of the patriotic women and men who, away from the din and smoke of battle, assisted with money, and encouragement, to bring success to the armies.
The gun fired upon Fort Sumter April 11th, 1861, was echoed in Whiteside to the most remote farm house; the loyal blood of the citizens was stirred to its depths, and they at once prepared to afford the State and National Govern- ments substantial evidence of their loyalty. Almost immediately the recruiting of men was commenced. Meetings were held in the different towns, patriotic speeches were made, strains of martial music floated upon the air, and every- where the National banner was displayed, and the people of Whiteside County solemnly resolved to stand or fall by the principles of the fathers of the Gov- ernment.
The following resolutions, adopted in mass meeting of the citizens of Morrison, Monday, April 21, 1861, will serve as an index to the popular feeling at that time:
WHEREAS, It is understood that there are those in our midst who are disloyal to the Union, and who are in league and sympathy with the traitors against the Govern- ment, therefore
Resolved, That we will hold all sympathizers with the traitors, whether North or South, as enemies to our country, and will deal with them accordingly.
Resolved, That the citizens of Morrison are hereby requested to display the Union flag as an emblem of their loyalty to the Government, and of their allegiance to its authority.
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the Chairman whose duty it shall be to wait upon any who do not comply with the above resolutions, and if such individuals are found to be in sympathy with traitors or in any way engaged in aiding or abetting treason, then it shall be the duty of said committee to give such individuals twenty-four hours notice to leave the town.
Resolved, That in the case of the refusal of such person or persons to leave town after such notice shall have been served on them, then the committee shall call to their aid any assistance they may require to enable them to enforce said notice, and that the citizens of this town will not be responsible for any violence or damage that may be done them or their property.
Within two weeks after the firing upon Fort Sumpter Whiteside County had companies fully enlisted, and the enthusiasm of the people was unbounded, the all absorbing topic being "the war."
The Board of Supervisors of the county, in session at the April term, 1861, unanimously adopted the annexed resolutions:
WHEREAS, This Board deems it proper in view of the distracted condition of public affairs, the great peril which threatens our beloved country, and the new duties which current events impose upon loyal citizens, to give public expression to the patriotic senti- ments of the people of this community, therefore be it
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CIVIL WAR OF 1861-'65.
Resolved, That over-looking and forgetting all past political parties and differences, the people of Whiteside County renew their pledges of devotion and fidelity to the Gov- ernment of our fathers, and to the flag of our country consecrated by the blood of patriots, and hallowed by the thousand glorious recollections of the past.
Resolved, That the Government of our fathers inaugurated by the Declaration of Independence, and consummated by the War of the Revolution was not made for a day but for all time to come; that we will transmit the glorious inheritance to our pos- terity, to endure as long as patriotism and virtue are held in grateful remembrance, and the blood of heroes runs in the veins of their descendants.
Resolved, That the Constitution of the United States having been adopted and ratified by the people of the original States and accepted by those which subsequently became parties to it, formed of many, one Sovereignty, vested in all the people of the United States and binding upon all, and that all attempts by a portion of the people against the will of the majority to throw off the common obligations of the Constitution by an appeal to arms is unauthorized and unjust to all others, and all who engage in any such measures are traitors to all Republican Governments and Democratic institutions.
Resolved, That the people of Whiteside County endorse and applaud the patriotic stand taken by our Government, State and Nation, for the maintenance of the authority of the laws and constitution, for avenging the insult offered to our flag at Fort Sumpter. and for making traitors, degenerate sons of noble sires, feel the power of a brave and free people, and they will sustain and support the constituted authorities in all measures directed to those ends, with all the ability which Heaven has given them to do and to suffer.
Measures were promptly taken to provide assistance for volunteers and their families, and to this end the Board of Supervisors adopted the following resolutions;
Resolved, That the people of Whiteside County do, without regard to party, unani- mously pledge to the Governor of this State the entire resources of our county for the defense of our State and Union, and that we will pledge the entire credit of our county to furnish nien or money as the Government may require.
Resolved, That we do hereby appropriate a fund of $20,000 to be placed in the hands of five commissioners, to be appointed by our Chairman, to be used for the sup- port of needy families of volunteers while said volunteers are engaged in the service of their country.
In 1861 the Legislature passed what is known as the "Ten Regiment Bill." Under this act the 13th Illinois Infantry was organized, the first three year regiment from the State. Within two weeks two companies were recruited in Whiteside County for the 13th: Company B. by Major D. R. Bushnell, of Sterling, and Company G. by Captain Geo. M. Cole, of Morrison. As hostili- ties progressed the interest of the citizens grew apace and at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors it was decided to pay the board of volunteers from the date of their enlistment until mustered into the service. During the summer of 1861 recruiting for the army went on briskly and companies were formed in the county for the 34th Regiment of Infantry and the Sth Regiment of Cavalry; also for the 46th Infantry. In 1861 a large number of citizens of the county enlisted in the 2nd, 4th. 9th, 12th and 13th Cavalry, also fifteen or twenty men in the 33d Infantry, and about the same number in the 39th regiment: Homer A. Plimpton, of Sterling, was Major of the latter regiment. Soldiers from the county also enlisted in the 12th, 15th. 17th, 19th, 27th. 37th. 50th. 51st. 57th. 58th and 64th regiments of Infantry in 1861. In the fall of 1861 Company F. of the 52nd regiment, was recruited principally from Fulton and Albany townships. The Sturgis Rifles, Fremont's Body Guard, Barker Dragoons, First and Second Artillery, Cogswell's and Henshaw's Batteries, the Fusilleers, Gunboat and Naval service and lowa regiments contained a large number of men from White- side County.
The women were equally as earnest and enthusiastic as their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers, "Soldiers' Aid and Relief Societies" were organized
[D-5.]
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
in the towns and townships of the county, with proper officers and a systematie plan for providing the volunteers in the field and hospitals with necessaries and luxuries of life so urgently demanded. Clothing, bed-clothing, eots, slippers, books, papers, writing paper, and hundreds of delicacies as well as thousands of dollars in money were sent to the army from Whiteside County. The ladies of the county worked nobly and lent a mighty impulse to the men in the field. It is impossible to fully estimate the foree exerted by the women of the Nation in erushing out the rebellion, and as a part of the women of the north, the women of Whiteside County won undying honor worthy to be ranked with the glory gained by the armies on the battle ground.
July 6, 1862 the President issued a call for 300,000 men to serve three years, and at once the citizens of the county responded. Still later. in August, 300,000 additional men were called for, and it being believed a draft would be necessary, the Secretary of War ordered an immediate enrollment of the militia. Whiteside County determined to fill her quota by volunteers, and as it was necessary to accomplish this before August 15th, work was earnestly com- meneed. The Board of Supervisors was petitioned to pass an order paying each volunteer $100.00 bounty. August 5, the Board resolved to pay each man who should enlist under the call $60.00. War meetings were held in all parts of the county and recruiting officers were indefatigable in their efforts to enlist men. Stirring speeches were made and citizens at the meetings offered liberal pre- miums to the first, second and third man who should volunteer, while others pledged themselves to pay a stipulated sum a month to the families of those who should enter the service. A wave of patriotism swept over the county, and in a few days the quota of 359 men was filled, and still men offered themselves. The words of Adjutant General Fuller apply perfectly to White- side County : "These volunteers must come from the farmers and inechanies of the State. The farmers were in the midst of harvest, and it is no exaggeration to say that inspired by a holy zeal, animated by a common impulse, and firmly resolved upon rescuing the Government from the brink of ruin and restoring it to the condition our fathers left it, that over 50,000 of them left their harvests ungathered, their tools and their benehes, the plows in the furrows, and turning their baeks upon their homes, before eleven days expired met the demands of the Government and filled both quotas. Proud indeed was the day for Illinoians, and when the Historian shall record the eventful days of August, 1862, no prouder record can be erected to the honor and memory of a free people than a plain and full narrative of actual realities."
In 1862 the 75th Illinois Regiment was recruited in Whiteside and Lee counties, the former county furnishing five companies which were rendezvoused at Dixon. Company F. of the 93d Illinois Regiment was also enlisted in the county during the summer of 1862. August, 1862 the county had furnished 1,600 men for the war, two-fifths of the voting population. During that month a statement was published that Erie with a voting population never exceeding 120 had furnished 70 volunteers. To provide for the bounties of soldiers and meet the heavy expenses entailed by the war taxed the county to its utmost, and at the September meeting of the Board of Supervisors resolu- tions were adopted by which a committee was dispatched to Chicago to effect a loan of $40,000. Even the dogs were compelled to do their share, as the revenue derived from the taxation was ordered paid into the "Relief Fund for Soldiers' Families." Money was so stringent that in 1861-62 the merchants issued their personal "seript" in fractions of one dollar. This paper was known as "shin-plasters." It served its purpose, and assisted in "tiding" over until a more substantial currency came into eirculation.
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CIVIL WAR OF 1861-'65.
In the latter part of 1863 and spring of 1864 large bodies of men were furnished from Whiteside County to fill the thinned ranks of the regiments in the field. In 1864 a large proportion of the men whose terms of service had nearly expired re-enlisted for three years or during the war. In 1864 the President issued a call for 100,000 men to serve one-hundred days in garrison duty to relieve the volunteers who were demanded for a grand forward move- ment. The call fell principally on the west and northwestern states. The County of Whiteside voted $25.00 to each man who should enlist under the call. In a few days two full companies and nearly half of a third were recruited in the county. Company A, 81 men, Company B, 83 men, and Company D, Fulton Cadets, members of the college of, that town. The companies were assigned to the 140th Regiment. The regimental officers from Whiteside County were M. W. Smith, Lieut. Col., L. E. B. Holt, Adjutant, and W. A. Lipe, Chaplain. Officers, Company A-J. A. Morgan, Captain; Charles M. Worthington and Benj. Gurtisen, Lieutenants. Company B-Charles W. Hills, Captain. George II. Fay and Erastus Fuller, Lieutenants.
At the September meeting of the Board of Supervisors it was decided to pay all men who should enlist under the call for 500,000 men a bounty of $200.00, and at the same meeting $10,000 was appropriated for the relief of the families of volunteers. Up to 1864, the county had furnished one hundred men for every 100,000 called for, and was drained of able bodied men to such an extent that it was with difficulty that the crops were gathered. September 27th, 1864, the county owed 87 men and a draft was appointed for October 5th. To evade this, subscription papers were circulated and large sums raised to be added to the $200.00 bounty of the county. Mt. Pleasant subscribed $3,000 which was apportioned among seven men owed on quota. Other towns were equally liberal, and all escaped the conscription except Hlahnaman, at that time a sparsely settled and financially poor township. Three citizens were drafted. The only conscription suffered by Whiteside County during the long and ex- hausting war.
The last call for troops, 300,000, was made December 19th, 1864. The quota of Whiteside County under this call was 250 men. It was thought to be an impossibility to raise this number of men from the able bodied population of the county, and a draft was considered inevitable, and so published by the county press, yet the citizens resolved to honor the call of the Nation with volunteers, and at the December term of the Board of Supervisors a bounty of $500.00 to each man who should enlist was voted, and at the February term an additional $100.00. The different townships also voted a tax sufficient to pay each volunteer $100.00. Recruiting was vigorously prosecuted and by untiring efforts the quota was filled and the conscription averted. In addition to the men sent to the old regiments in the field 81 men were enlisted for Company B, 147th Regiment, also a large number for Co. G, 156th Regiment, was recruited in the county.
In 1865 the war closed, recruiting was ordered to ecase, the armies were mustered out, and the men returned to their homes aud usual avocations. In 1860 the population of Whiteside County was 18,729. In 1863 the enrollment was 3,328 ; in 1864, 3,338 ; and in 1865. 3.338. The quota of the county in 1861 was 525 men ; in 1862, 359 men ; March 4, 1864. 726 men ; July 18, 1864, 519 men. Total quota prior to December 31, 1864, 2,129 men. Total credits prior to December 31, 1864. 2,019 men. The county's deficit December 31. 1864. was 110 men. December 31. 1865. the assigned quota of the county was 520 men ; Total quota of the county December 31, 1865. 2.539.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Total credit under last call, 516. Entire credit during the war, 2,535 men. Deficit under all calls during the war, 4 men.
The expenses of the war were enormous and taxation necessarily high. The indebtedness caused by the Rebellion to Whiteside County was $529,402,17. Fortunately it was resolved to pay the indebtedness at once, during the times of high prices for produce, and abundance of money, as was the case at the close of hostilities. September, 1867, 70 per cent of the debt of the county was paid and every order of the county stood at par. In a few years the entire indebtedness was paid, and the treasury plentifully supplied with money. To .the citizens of the county who urged and secured immediate payment of the war debt, the tax payers owe a debt of gratitude.
To complete the narrative of Whiteside County's part in the great struggle it will be proper to briefly sketch the salient points of the campaigns of the regiments in which the county was represented by campaigns :
HISTORY OF REGIMENTS.
8th Illinois Cavalry.
This regiment was recruited in Northern Illinois, and organized at St. Charles, Kane County, in September, 1861, and mustered the 18th day of the same month. Company C. was raised for the regiment by D. R. Clendenin, then a citizen of Morrison, who was afterwards Major and Lieutenant Colonel of the organization and promoted Brevet Brigadier General. The Company was com- manded by Alpheus Clark, of Lyndon, until May 24, 1863, when he was pro- moted Major. He was wounded at the battle of Beverly Ford, Virginia, June 9, 1863, from the effects of which he died July 5, 1863. The Company com- manders, after the promotion of Captain Clark, were Daniel D. Lincoln and Porteus J. Kennedy. The First Lieutenants were John C. Mitchell, Truman Culver and Delos P. Martin. Second Lieutenants: Clarence N. Mclemore and Charles S. Gilbert. The latter officer was mortally wounded in the defences of Washington and died July 12, 1864.
The entire county was represented in Company C. Whiteside also fur- nished men to Companies G. H. and I. In October the regiment proceeded to Washington, where the men were subjected to drill and discipline for about two months, then transferred to Alexandria, Virginia, where the winter was passed. While lying here Company C. lost Asa W. Shelby, Joy T. Canfield, W. J. Davis, John Porter and Rollin C. Sholes, by disease. March 10, 1862, the Eighth, as a portion of Gen. Sumner's division, of the grand army, joined the advance on Manassas, and saw its first fighting on the Rappahannock River in April. May 4, 1862, the regiment was moved to Williamsburg, and assigned to Gen. Stoneman's Light Brigade. The battle of Williamsburg was participa- in by the Eighth. During the eventful days of the Peninsular Campaign, the " Big Abolition Regiment," as President Lincoln named the Eighth, nobly per- formed its duty. June 26, 1862, six companies met the enemy under Gen. Jackson, at Mechanicsville, and had a stubborn fight. While on the Chieka- hominy the regiment was complimented by Gen. Sumner. A New York officer enquired of the General how far to the front he should go, and was answered- " As far as you dare go, and you will find the Eighth Illinois Cavalry ahead stealing horses." When the change of base was made by the army, the regi- ment did most important duty. At Gaines' Hill, Dispatch Station and Malvern Hill, the Eighth won new laurels. It was in the extreme rear of the army and was engaged in an almost continuous skirmish with the advancing Confederate
-
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HISTORY OF REGIMENTS.
cavalry. At the time of the second occupation of Malvern Hill the regiment led the advance, and did heavy fighting. John Duggan, of Company C., was killed in the battle, and Lieut. Col. Gamble severely wounded. When the Fed- eral army retreated from Barrett's Ford the Eighth hovered upon the rear and were the last to cross the river. The "Peninsular Campaign" was a failure, and the regiment, with other troops, was shipped from Yorktown and arrived at their starting point, Alexandria, September 1st, 1862. September 4th, the order to " march" came, and the Eighth filed across the Potomac. At Pools- ville, Maryland, the enemy were again met, and a dashing fight resulted. At Monoeacy Church the regiment captured the colors of the Twelfth Virginia Rebel Cavalry. The Eighth went through the hard fights of Barnsville, Sugar Loaf Mountain. South Mountain and Boonsboro, winning new glory. At South Mountain the fight was hand to hand between the Eighth and Fitzhugh Lee's rebel troopers. In these engagements the regiment captured two guns and two hundred prisoners. At Antietam the Eighth was engaged prominently, and was in the advance of the Potomac army, and was engaged at Philemont, Union- town, Upperville, Borbee's Cross Roads, Little Washington and Amesville. The regiment arrived at Falmouth November 23, 1862. November 15, 1862, Chas. F. Brauer, of Company C., accidentally shot himself while eleaning his pistol. The Eighth was engaged at Fredericksburg and crossed the pontoons under a heavy fire. It was on the left flank of the army across the Peninsula and up the Rappahannock to Port Conway, when it was moved to Dumfries. Loss, up to this time, twenty-seven killed, seventy-one wounded, twenty missing.
During the campaign of 1863, the regiment was actively employed, and was engaged at Sulphur Springs, Warrenton, Rapidan, Northern Neck, Borstly Ford, Upperville, Fairville, Pa., Gettysburg, Williamsburg, Md., Boonsboro, Funktown, Falling Water, Chester Gap, Sandy Hook, Culpepper, Brandy Sta- tion, and in the raid from Dumphries to Falmouth, Pony Mountain, Raccoon Ford, Liberty Mills, Manassas, Warrentown Junction, Roxleysville, Mitchell's Sta- tion and Ely's Ford. Loss in campaign, twenty-three killed, one hundred and six- teen wounded, thirty-seven missing. The Eighth commenced the campaign of 1864 with ranks recruited, and rendered good service in the defences of Washington, at Frederick City, and on the Monocacy. A number of fights occurred with Gen. Early and the guerrillas of Mosby. Many rebel prisoners were picked up and property destroyed, and the regiment was actively engaged in the pursuit of the assassin of President Lincoln. Col. Clendenin, of the regiment, was appointed one of the court to try the conspirators. The Eighth was mustered out of service at Benton Barracks, Missouri, July 17, 1865.
The Eighth furnished a large number of staff officers, twenty-two officers for colored regiments, three colonels, two majors, two surgeons, and a number of captains for other Illinois regiments; also two full Brigadier Generals and five Brigadiers by Brevet. Officers from the Eighth also entered the regular army at the close of the war, one of them being Gen. Clendenin, now major of the Eighth U. S. Regular Cavalry. The ranks of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry were generally well filled, and the aggregate strength was 2,412 men. The men of Company C., in addition to those mentioned heretofore, who died in the service, were Jas. E. Wilson, died of disease, 1862, Thos. Freek, died at Erie, Illinois, 1865, Joseph Reed, killed at Piedmont, Virginia, October 9, 1864. Ezra F. Sands, died of wounds at Stevensburg, Virginia, October 11, 1863, Adam Cornrad, died of wounds July 11, 1863, H. B. Meyers, died at Union Grove, Illinois, January 2. 1864, Alf. Beardsworth, died at Fairfax Court House, Vir- ginia, January 23. 1865. J. W. Heaton, died at Giesboro Point, April 27. 1864,
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Austin Martin, died at Frederick City, October 15, 1862, and T. W. Perkins, at St. Charles, Illinois, April, 1864.
The original Company C. numbered ninety-seven men, every man of whom was from Whiteside County. In 1864, forty-nine of the men re-enlisted. Eighty-six men were recruited for the company during the war, in addition to the original muster. The total enlistment for the company from Whiteside County was 172 men exclusive of officers. The county was well represented in other companies of the regiment.
13th Illinois Infantry
Was organized under the "Ten Regiment Bill," at Dixon, Illinois, and mustered into service May 24th, 1861. The rebel disturbances called for prompt action at St Louis and in Missouri, and the Thirteenth was ordered to Casey- ville, June 16th, and July 6th to Rollo, Missouri, October 10th to Springfield, Missouri, and November 10th, back to Rollo where it wintered. The regiment was given but little opportunity to distinguish itself, but a detachment man- aged to get into the Wilson Creek fight. In March, 1862, the Thirteenth started upon its "big march," going to Pea Ridge, Arkansas, thence to Batesville, thence to Helena, Arkansas. Apparently the most circuitous routes were travelled, and it is estimated that the soldiers "measured 1,200 miles with their legs." December 22d, 1862, the Thirteenth left Helena for Vicksburg by steamer, and December 26th, landed on Yazoo River fifteen miles from its mouth near Vicksburg and commenced skirmishing with the rebels. December 27th, ap- proached Vicksburg and met the enemy. December 28th, was in the hard fought battle of Chickasaw Bayou, where Col. Wyman was killed. December 29th, the brigade to which the Thirteenth was attached made a terrible charge upon the Confederate works and carried the first line, but being unsupported were obliged to fall back. They lost 160 men killed, wounded and missing. Company G went into the fight with fifty men and lost twenty-three, nine killed, ten wounded and four missing. The killed of Company G were T. J. Kennedy, John E. Hayes, Thomas Riley, LaFayette DeGroot, Thomas Comstock, J. D. Sperry, Frank D. Johnson, John C. Richards and Alvin Bar- tholomew. The Thirteenth evacuated the Yazoo with other forces December 31st, 1862. Then went up Arkansas River and was engaged at Arkansas Post, January 11th, 1863. Returning to Vicksburg, went on the Green River expedition and had a running fight of four days with the rebel General Forrest. The reg- iment afterwards lay at Young's Point, opposite Vicksburg, until spring, working upon the "famous canal," and when the fleet ran the blockade, with the army marched down on the Louisiana side and crossed the river at Grand Gulf. May 13th, 1863, the regiment was specially selected to go on a secret expedition in the night, to establish communication between the 13th and 15th corps ; in this it was successful, although passing very near 1,400 confederates. May 14th, the 13th saw fighting at Raymond and Jackson, Mississippi, and at Champion Hills. After returning to Vicksburg, engaged in assaults upon the fortifications until the surrender. Was in the Jackson campaign when Joe. Johnston was besieged two weeks, and then destroyed railroads from Jackson to Bolton; afterwards laid in rear of Vicksburg during the summer. Thence pro- ceeded to Chatanooga ; at Tuscumbia, Alabama, fought General Forrest. By the destruction of the pontoon the First Division of the corps was unable to cross the river with the corps and thus fell under orders of General Hooker, and was in the battle of Lookout Mountain, November 24th, 1863. November 25th, turned the enemy's left flank at Rossville, capturing a battery. Here the 13th captured the battle flag of the 18th Alabama Regiment. November 27th,
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