USA > Illinois > Illinois, historical and statistical, comprising the essential facts of its planting and growth as a province, county, territory, and state, Vol. I > Part 45
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
SECOND, served (at Perote, Mex.) from Aug. 6, 1847, to July 26, 1848:
CAPTAIN Wyatt B. Stapp. FIRST LIEUTENANT George C. Lamphere. SECOND LIEUTENANTS John G. Fonda. John M. Mitchell. George W. Palmer, resigned.
FIRST LIEUTENANT Walter S. Clark. SECOND LIEUTENANTS Sam'l L. M. Proctor. John G. Ridgway.
FOURTH, served (at Rio Frio, Mexico). from Sept. 13, 1847, to July 25, 1848:
CAPTAIN Josiah Littell. FIRST LIEUTENANTS
Charles P. Hazard, died Oct. '47. Thomas S. Buck.
SECOND LIEUTENANTS
Josiah Caswell, jr.
Robert S. Green.
The opening battle of the war was that of Palo Alto, May 8, 1846, and the struggle was virtually ended with the surrender of the City of Mexico, Sept. 16, 1847. The troops from Illinois left Alton between July 17 and 22, and arrived in Mexico early in August. The First and Second regiments, commanded respec- tively by Colonels John J. Hardin and Wm. H. Bissell, were attached to the army of the centre under Gen. Taylor. They participated in the well-fought field of Buena Vista, Feb. 23, 1847. The battle lasted the entire day, the Mexican army of 20,000 commanded by Gen. Santa-Anna, being opposed only by 4500 Americans. The volunteers behaved like veterans, and it was to their distinguished valor and stubborn resistance of repeated charges by overwhelming numbers, that Gen. Taylor owed his success in holding the field at the close of the day's bloody conflict. Gen. Taylor, in his report of the battle, refers to the services of the Illinois troops as follows: "The First and Second Illinois, and the Kentucky regiments served imme- diately under my eye, and I bear a willing testimony to their excellent conduct throughout the day. The spirit and gallantry with which the First Illinois and Second Kentucky engaged the enemy in the morning, restored confidence to that part of the field, while the list of casualties will show how much these
496
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
three regiments suffered in sustaining the heavy charge of the enemy in the afternoon. In this last conflict we had the mis- fortune to sustain a very heavy loss. Colonels Hardin, McKee, and Lieut .- Colonel Clay fell at this time, while gallantly lead- ing their commands. Col. Bissell, the only surviving colonel of the three regiments, merits notice for his coolness and bravery on this occasion." He also makes honorable men- tion of Lieut .- Col. Weatherford, and Maj. Warren of the First, and of Lieut .- Col. Morrison, Maj. Trail, and Adjutant White- side of the Second, regiments. The loss of the Americans was, 264 killed, 450 wounded, and 26 missing; that of the Mexicans was 2500. The First regiment lost 29 killed, 16 wounded; the Second, 62 killed, 69 wounded. Among those of the First were: its gallant colonel, Capt. Jacob W. Zabriskie, and Lieut. Bryan R. Houghton, a young lawyer of Scott Coun- ty. In the Second fell Capt. William Woodward and Lieuts. Edward F. Fletcher, John Bartleson, Rodney Ferguson, Aaron Atherton, Lauriston Robbins, Allan B. Rountree, William Price, Timothy Kelley, and James C. Steel.
Col. Hardin fell in withstanding the last desperate charge of the Mexican reserve. He was the son of Martin D. Hardin, a distinguished soldier and statesman of Kentucky, in which state he was born, at Frankfort, Jan. 6, 1810. He was educated at Transylvania University, and removed to Jacksonville in 1830, where he entered upon a successful practice of the law. He was a member of the 10th, IIth, and 12th general assemblies, and represented the Springfield district in the 28th congress, 1843-5. He was the leading whig of his State at the time of his death, and no one in it had brigher prospects before him than he. He was warm-hearted and public spirited, popular in his manners, an able lawyer, a speaker of rare power, and a christian gentleman. His remains were brought home and finally laid to rest at Jacksonville in July.
The Third and Fourth regiments, commanded respectively by Cols. Forman and Baker, were in the brigade of Gen. Shields and participated in the movement against Vera Cruz, and there- .after in the campaign against the City of Mexico. Both of these regiments distinguished themselves in the battle of Cerro Gordo, which was fought under the eye of Gen. Scott, April 18, 1847.
497
MEXICAN WAR.
In making an attack upon a battery, Gen. Shields, while leading his command, fell severely, and as was supposed at the time, mortally, wounded. Col. Baker, succeeding to the command of the brigade, gallantly completed the charge and routed the enemy. In his report, honorable mention is made of Col. For- man, Maj. Harris, Capt. Post, Adjt. Fondey, Lieuts. Hammond, and Geo. T. M. Davis, for their cool and gallant conduct. The loss of the Third regiment in killed and wounded was 16, that of the Fourth 48, among the killed in the latter being Lieuts. Richard Murphy and Geo. W. Cowardan.
Maj .- Gen. Robert Patterson, in command of the volunteers, in his report refers in this complimentary language to these regiments and their officers: "The enemy's lines were charged with spirit and success by the Third and Fourth Illinois, and the New-York regiment under their respective commanders, Cols. Forman and Burnett, and Maj. Harris. * * The attention of the general-in-chief is particularly called to the gallantry of Brig .- Gens. Pillow and Shields, who were both wounded at the head of their respective brigades; and to Col. Baker, who led Shields' brigade during a severe part of the action and during the pursuit; and Lieut. G. T. M. Davis, aide-de-camp to Shields' brigade."
Their term of enlistment having expired, these two regiments were mustered out of service at New Orleans, May 25, and the First and Second regiments at Camargo, June 17, 1847.
The Fifth regiment under Col. Newby, left Alton June 14, for Fort Leavenworth, whence it was ordered to Santa Fé. This regiment suffered severely from hard marches and exposure, and did good service, especially against the Indians, but was not called upon to encounter the enemy, the war being about over when it reached its destination.
When the regiment was mustered out of service by Gen. Churchill at Alton, Oct. 18, 1848, he spoke of it as follows:
"It is with much reluctance that I award to any soldiers more credit for good, orderly, and soldier-like conduct than I have heretofore ascribed to the regiments commanded by the lamented Col. Hardin, and the gallant Col. Bissell; but I feel constrained by a sense of justice to say, that I have never in my life mustered a regiment superior in sobriety and good order and conduct to that I have just been engaged in mustering out of the service. Both officers and men can equal the finest discipline found amongst old regulars."
32
498
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
The Sixth regiment, under Col. James Collins, was ordered to Mexico. At New Orleans it was divided, one battalion, in command of the colonel, being sent to Vera Cruz, and the other, under Lieut .- Col. Hicks, being ordered to Tampico. Except- ing some skirmishes with guerillas, neither of these battalions were engaged in the field, but their losses through sickness and death were severe. The regiment was mustered out July 25, 1848. The independent companies, which rendered valuable service against scouting parties and guerillas, and in garrison, were mustered out as follows: Capts. Stapps's and Little's companies July 25 and 26; Capt. Lawler's Oct. 26; and Dun- lap's Nov. 7, 1848.
Among the volunteers from Illinois whose military service began in the Mexican War, and who, although not heretofore personally named, first flashed their sword-blades against their country's foes in the land of the Aztecs, and who afterward attained proud distinction in the War of the Rebellion were, John A. Logan, Richard J. Oglesby, Benj. M. Prentiss, James D. Morgan, W. H. L. Wallace, Stephen G. Hicks, Michael K. Lawler, Leonard F. Ross, Isham N. Hayne, John Morrill, T. Lyle Dickey, John A. Prickett, Dudley Wickersham, Isaac C. Pugh, John P. Post, Nathaniel Niles, Adolph Engleman, James S. Reardon, John S. Bradford, Daniel G. Burr, Wm. J. Wyatt, William R. Morrison, William H. Snyder, William B. Fonday, Samuel D. Marshall, Julius Raith, Jonathan C. Winters, Thomas H. Flynn.
Many other names might be mentioned of those who subse- quently became distinguished in public life; among them, Wm. A. Richardson, Peter Lott, John S. Hacker, Murray F. Tuley, Charles C. P. Holden, a sergeant in the Fifth regiment, and Capt. J. W. Hartley -the latter two of whom are worthy of special mention for the part they have taken in maintaining the esprit du corps of their old companions by keeping alive the interest in their annual re-unions. Mr. Holden in particular is entitled to credit for the publication of many valuable historical papers relating to the war and the services of his regiment in the field.
The total strength of our army in Mexico was 116,321, of which number 73,776 were volunteers, chiefly from the Western
499
MEXICAN-WAR CASUALTIES.
and Southern States. The actual number in service in Mexico, at any one time, however, did not exceed 85,000 .*
The losses in the army from June 1, 1846, to Jan. I, 1848, as reported by the adjutant-general, were as follows: discharged from disability, 5432; killed in battle, 1049; died of wounds, 508; died of disease, 5987; deserted, 4925-total 17,906. If we add to these numbers the subsequent losses through sickness, and the 3000 volunteers who disappeared without being accounted for, the number would probably be swelled to 25,000, of whom 20,000 were supposed to have died.+ Much the heaviest por- tion of this loss fell upon the regular army. The total number
* Table showing the number of men and casualties in the regular and volunteer forces during the war with Mexico:
STATE
STRENGTH
KILLED
DIED OF WOUNDS
WOUNDED
Regular Army, including Marines,
42,545
536
408
2102
Volunteers-Alabama, -
3,026
Arkansas,
1,323
19
2
32
California,
571
Florida,
370
Georgia, -
2, 132
6
.
8
Illinois,
6,123
86
12
160
Indiana,
4,585
47
92.
Iowa, -
253
Kentucky,
4,842
78
4
105
Louisiana,
7,947
13
2
8
Maryland and D. C.,
1,355
S
3
21
Massachusetts,
1,057
Michigan,
1,103
Mississippi,
2,423
4
108
Missouri, -
7,016
20
3
46
New Jersey,
425
New York,
2,396
24
19
156
North Carolina,
935
Ohio,
5,536
18
39
Pennsylvania,
2,503
21
14
162
South Carolina,
1,077
30
26
216
Tennessee,
5,865
43
6
129
Texas,
8,018
42
4
29
Virginia,
1,320
4
Wisconsin,
146
Mormons,
585
Remustered,
844
4
I
3
Total,
116,321
1049
508
3420
.
+ "The Mexican War," by Edward D. Mansfield.
500
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
of officers killed and wounded was about 450, of which number more than half belonged to the regular army.
The cost of the war in dollars and cents, including the value of land-warrants issued for pensions and the amount paid under the concluding treaty, was estimated at the time to be $166,- 500,000.
The material results of the war, through the treaty of Guada- loupe Hidalgo, were the recognition by the Mexican Republic of the southern boundary of Texas, annexed in 1845, and the addition to the United States of 522,568 square miles of terri- tory, including the present states of California and Nevada, Ari- zona, except that portion acquired under the Gadsden purchase, New Mexico, west of the Rio Grande and north of the Gads- den purchase, Utah, all that portion of Colorado west of the Rocky Mountains, and the south-western portion of Wyoming. This imperial domain thus obtained-described at the time by those who were inclined to underestimate the acquisition as an untrodden, untenanted wilderness, hidden from the eye of civil- ization-a land of rocks and rattlesnakes-is larger than the original thirteen states and contains one sixth of the present area of the United States, excluding Alaska. It contains a population estimated at 1,200,000, and property valued at $1,- 500,000,000. The receipts of internal revenue from the states of California, Nevada, and Colorado, and the territories of Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona, from Sept. I, 1862, to July, 1882, were $75,237,498; and the receipts in California from customs from 1850 to 1882 inclusive, were $156,873,255, which two sums greatly exceed any cost properly chargeable against the acquisi- tion from Mexico. The mines of these states and territories have added to the wealth of the country nearly $1,800,000,000 in precious metals; if to this vast sum be added the value of other mineral and agricultural products, some idea of the mate- rial benefits accruing to the nation therefrom may be formed.
But stupendous as were the material results of the war, the political consequences were no less important. The annexation of Texas, which was the primal cause of the conflict, was a democratic measure; but had its far-reaching results been fore- seen, the larger portion of that party, who so strenuously sup- ported it, would have changed sides with an equal number of whigs who as vehemently opposed it.
. 501
MEXICAN WAR-COL. BAKER.
Among the minor fruits of the war was the making of the political fortunes of a by no means inconsiderable number of aspiring young statesmen. The popular knee is always ready to bend in homage to heroism; to have "smelt powder," to have passed through the fiery smoke of battle, is a sure pass- port to favor; and when to a creditable military record is joined a fair share of native talent, the rough places in the path of success are made comparatively smooth. To expose the scars which the happy accident of a Mexican bullet had inflicted, opened many a door of preferment which otherwise would have remained forever closed to him who knocked for admission.
To illustrate the popular feeling in favor of the war spirit, and the odium attached to those who ranged themselves against it, the following story is told of Justin Butterfield, who had opposed the War of 1812 very greatly to the hindrance of his political aspirations. When the war with Mexico broke out some one inquired of him, being a whig, if he was opposed to that war. Remembering his former experience, he exclaimed, "No, sir; I oppose no wars. I opposed one war, and it ruined me. Henceforth I am for war, pestilence, and famine!" The whigs generally, while opposed to the measure which brought on the war, did not oppose its successful prosecution.
In Illinois, the following officers, who had made meritorious records in the war, some of whom had already served with ability in civil positions, were rapidly advanced in the race for civic honors on their return home, namely: Gen. Shields to the United-States senate, John Moore to the State treasurership, Col. Bissell, Majors Richardson and Harris, and Lieut. John A. Logan, to congress, and Lieut. R. J. Oglesby to the State senate.
Col. Baker, after his return, at first entertained some thought of running for governor, as the whig candidate; but perceiving the hopelessness of such a race, even with the prestige of his distinguished military record in his favor, he abandoned the idea, and decided to remove to the Galena district, where he was nominated and elected to congress in 1848.
Col. Baker combined within himself every attribute of a great orator. Of medium height, his figure was finely formed and well rounded. To a presence which would attract attention in
502
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
any crowd, was added a voice of rare melody and compass. His speeches abounded in flashes of wit, brilliant flights of genius, and touches of deep pathos, and were delivered with an inimitable ease and grace. The ability with which he held these great powers in hand was the most remarkable feature of his mental constitution. His efforts made upon the spur of the moment were characterized by as perfect purity of diction, and amplitude and logical arrangement of thought as though the midnight oil had been burned in their preparation.
Alike on the platform, in the court-room, or in legislative halls, his 'eloquence was irresistible. While lacking the solid learning of Hardin and the cogent reasoning powers of Lincoln, he excelled either in the rhetorical polish and classical elegance of his orations. This triumvirate of great men had been dis- solved by the death of Hardin, and Lincoln was now left alone in the field of their former friendly rivalry. If Col. Baker was vain of his rare gifts, and if his business habits were careless and unmethodical, so manly was his bearing, such was the suavity of his demeanor, and such his generosity and frankness, that these weaknesses were regarded by his friends as but spots upon the sun."
An important political result of the war was the elevation of its acknowledged hero, Gen. Zachary Taylor, to the presidency, through which was effected a radical change not only in the personnel, but also in the policy, of the national administra- tion.
But the most far-reaching consequence of all was the renewed agitation in congress of that most inflammable of all subjects- the slavery question -arising upon the introduction of bills to organize newly acquired territories. Out of the controversies upon this subject, which had been legislatively laid to rest since 1821, sprang that sectional bitterness which ultimately culmin- ated in the War of the Rebellion, and finally in the extirpation
* His subsequent career-his removal to California, his marvelous success as a lawyer on the Pacific coast, and his election to the United-States senate from Oregon-forms one of the most interesting and remarkable pages of biographical history; as his devotion to the Union in its hour of peril, and the self-sacrificing devotion which led to his early death form one of the saddest episodes in the annals of the late civil war. He was born in London, England, on Feb. 24, 1811, and fell, fighting for his adopted country, at Ball's Bluff, Oct. 21, 1861.
503
GOV. FORD.
of human slavery from every square foot of territory over which floats the American flag.
Gov. Ford witnessed the expiration of his term of office with feelings of satisfaction, rather than of regret. His administra- tion had been a stormy one, full of perplexing and embarrassing situations. And although, as he admits, he committed errors, and while he failed to display that energy, decision, and prompt action demanded at a critical period in the Hancock County disturbances, he could point with just pride to the part he had taken in restoring the public credit, and in placing the finances of the State upon a more satisfactory basis. Having devoted all his time and best energies to the discharge of public duties, more onerous than those which had devolved upon any of his predecessors, and having been unable to engage in any other business, and the meagre salary which he received not having been sufficient to support his family, he left the executive office a bankrupt.
He was the only governor of the State selected from the bench, and although he could scarcely hope to reassume his judicial position, he might begin again the practice of his pro- fession for a living, which he did at Peoria; but did not meet with that encouragement and success which his undoubted ability deserved. His remaining years were therefore princi- pally devoted to the preparation of a history of Illinois from 1818 to 1847. This is an invaluable contribution to the litera- ture of the State. Without much regard to logical arrange- ment of subjects, it abounds with important statements of fact, and fairly bristles with original views relating to politics, politi- cians, and state-craft. In strength of expression and perspicuity of style, though not always sustained, it ranks with the stand- ard histories of the country .* In describing his contemporaries, his criticisms are not confined to the members of his own party. He was a close observer of passing events, but his judgment of men, influenced as it was by his own strong feelings, was often obscured by prejudice, not infrequently ill-founded, and has
* When John Walters, M. P., proprietor of the London Times, visited Chicago, he asked Mr. John B. Drake, of the Grand Pacific Hotel, to procure him a copy of Ford's History, pronouncing it a remarkable work, and stated that he thought of having it reprinted in London.
.
504
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
been refuted by subsequent events. Indeed, in some instances, his strictures were so unsparing and severe, as to have been considered libelous by the publishers, and were omitted from the text. As a writer, however, he has not been excelled by any of those who have filled the executive chair.
With growing habits not faultless, his last days were be- clouded with the gloom of poverty and ill-health. He died, leaving his family destitute, at Peoria, Nov. 3, 1850. The legislature of the following year appropriated $500 for the erection of a monument to his memory.
AUTHORITIES : "History of the Mexican War," by E. D. Mansfield; Gard- ners' "Dictionary of the Army of the United States;" "The Other Side" or a Mexi- can History of the War, translated by Alex. C. Ramsey; "Congressional and State Documents, and Reports;" "Papers," by Chas. C. P. Holden; " Review of the Causes and Consequences of the Mexican War," by William Jay.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Administration of Gov. French-Fifteenth General Assem- bly-Election of Douglas to the United-States Senate - Election of Auditor and other Officers-Laws - Progress.
T `HE August election of 1846 for governor, lieutenant-gov- ernor, and members of the general assembly, was the last held under the constitution of 1818.
The candidates for nomination before the democratic con- vention, which was held at Springfield, Feb. 10, were Lyman Trumbull, Augustus C. French, John Calhoun, Richard M. Young, Walter B. Scates, and Alfred W. Cavarly. The choice- in accordance with a line of precedents, which seemed almost to indicate a settled policy-fell upon him who had achieved least prominence as a party leader, and whose record as a public man had been least conspicuous. Upon the first ballot, Mr. Trumbull led with 56 votes, to 45 for French, 44 for Cal- houn, 35 for Young and Scates each, and 20 for Cavarly. Both Trumbull and French steadily gained up to the third ballot, when their respective votes stood at 74 and 92. At this junc- ture, one by one, the other candidates withdrew, the last to retire being Calhoun. Trumbull, quickly perceiving that this action could not fail to injure his chances, followed the exam- ple of his competitors, upon which French, thus left in sole possession of a deserted field, was promptly declared the nominee.
Joseph B. Wells, a lawyer from Rock Island, was nominated for lieutenant-governor, likewise on the fourth ballot, his com- petitors being Lewis W. Ross, Wm. McMurtry, J. B. Hamilton, and W. W. Thompson.
The whigs had not hitherto held a State convention for the nomination of governor and lieutenant-governor, but this year it was determined to call one, which met at Peoria, June 8.
Thomas M. Kilpatrick of Scott County, received the nomina- tion for governor, and Nathaniel G. Wilcox of Schuyler, for
505
506
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
lieutenant-governor. Kilpatrick was then serving his second term of four years in the State senate. He was born in Craw- ford County, Penn., June 1, 1807, and removed to Illinois in 1834. He was a potter by trade, but an apt and industrious student of public affairs; of a high cast of mind as a thinker, and a natural orator. There were few men in his own party who were equal to him on the stump, and there was no one in the opposite party who cared to meet him the second time. Gov. Ford spoke highly of his ability and services in supporting the financial measures of his administration; he also took a decided stand in favor of education, temperance, and the calling of a convention to amend the constitution .*
The result of the election was a foregone conclusion. The Mexican War, now under way, was a democratic measure, popular with the masses, and there was no withstanding the furor in its favor. There was no excitement and very little effort was made to stem the tide toward the democratic camp. Baker and Hardin were in the field, and the election of Lin- coln to congress from the Sangamon district, over Peter Cartwright, was the only crumb of comfort which fell to the whigs.
The vote in the State stood for French 58,700, Kilpatrick 36,775, and 5112 for Richard Eells, the abolition candidate.
Gov. French was born in the town of Hill, New Hampshire, Aug. 2, 1808, and was the first "Yankee" elevated to the execu- tive chair in this State. He was a lawyer by profession, enjoy- ing a fair practice in Crawford County, where he resided. He had been a member of the tenth and eleventh general assem- blies, and receiver of the land-office at Palestine. He had not distinguished himself in the legislature as a leader or speaker, and was but little known outside of his senatorial district; but he possessed those qualities of prudence, economy, good judg- ment, and integrity, which enabled him to fill the executive
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.