USA > Illinois > Illinois, historical and statistical, comprising the essential facts of its planting and growth as a province, county, territory, and state, Vol. II > Part 19
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KILLED WOUN'D
MISSING TOTAL
90th, - Col. Timothy O'Meara, killed,
Lt .- Col. Owen Stuart,
IO
94
13
II7
26th, Col. Robert A. Gilmore,
10
82
I 93
103d, Col. Willard A. Dickerman,
15
74
89
93d,
Col. Holden Putnam, killed, Lt .- Col. Nicholas C. Buswell,
20
46
27
93
25th, Col. Richard H. Nodine,
9
58
-
67
27th, Col. Jonathan R. Miles,
8
70
-
78
* Losses not reported.
-
5
-
62
14
88
89th,
Lt .- Col. Duncan J. Hall, killed, Maj. William D. Williams,
( Col. John J. Funkhouser,
Col. Frederick A. Bartleson,
-
-
-
1
(Lt .- Col. John A. Hottenstein,
78th, Lt. George Green,
-
COMMANDER
745
BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE.
In all these statements of casualties, at this time it must be remembered that nearly every regiment had become much de- pleted in numbers in consequence of former losses. For instance, in the reports of this battle, it appears that the 19th had only 195 officers and men; the 25th, 260; the 59th, 286; the 75th, 266; the 84th, 305; and the 96th, 272.
The other Illinois regiments, all hotly engaged in achieving this great victory or in its attending conflicts, met with the following serious losses:
REGIMENT
COMMANDER
KILLED WOUN'D MISSING TOTAL
Lt .- Col. Frederick W. Partridge, )
wounded,
13th, Maj. Douglas Bushnell, killed,
4
58
I 63
Capt. George P. Brown,
19th,
Lt .- Col. Alexander W. Raffen,
2
24
26
22d,
Lt .- Col. Francis Swanwick,
3
16
19
35th, Lt .- Col. William P. Chandler,
6
48
54
36th,
Lt .- Col. Porter C. Olson,
3
26
29
40th, Maj. Hiram W. Hall,
7
43
I
50
42d,
Capt. Edgar D. Swain,
-
5
46
51
44th,
Col. Wallace W. Barrett,
3
18
21
5 Ist,
¿ Capt. Albert M. Tilton,
18
-
19
59th,
Maj. Clayton Hale, -
I
17
18
73d,
1
Maj. Jas. I. Davidson, wounded, §
3
24
27
74th,
Col. Jason Marsh,
3
46
49
78th,
Lt .- Col. Carter Van Vleck,
-
I
4
5
79th,
Col. Allen Buckner,
2
5
7
80th,
Capt. James Neville,
-
7
7
82d,
Lt .- Col. Edward S. Salomon,
I
I
2
88th,
Lt .- Col. George W. Chandler,
5
46
51
89th,
Lt .- Col. William D. Williams,
4
30
34
96th,
Maj. George Hicks,
I
14
15
100th,
Maj. Charles M. Hammond,
I
3I
32
104th, Col. Douglas Hapeman,
-
4
17
2I
2
13
-
15
56th,
Maj. Pinckney J. Welch, wounded, I
Col. James F. Jaquess,
1
( Maj. Charles W. Davis, wounded,
-
The following regiments being upon outpost duty, on special details, or held in reserve, suffered but slightly; namely: the
48
Col. Thomas E. Champion, }
746
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
Ioth, 34th, 55th, 75th, 80th, 84th, 85th, 86th, 98th, 101st, 116th, 125th, and 127th.
In the various engagements during the docisive campaign against Vicksburg under Gen. Grant, Gen. McClernand com- manded a corps, Gens. John A. Logan and Eugene A. Carr, divisions, and Gens. Lawler, John E. Smith, McArthur, Wm. W. Orme, Elias S. Dennis, and Colonels Loomis, Hicks, Pugh, Cyrus Hall, A. K. Johnson, A. Engleman, Raum, Putnam, D. Stuart, and W. W. Sanford, brigades. The following are some of the heaviest regimental losses:
REGIMENT
COMMANDER
KILLED WOUN'd MISS'G TOTAL
13th,
Col. John B. Wyman, Chickasaw Bayou,
27
107
39 I73
20th,
L .- Col. Evan Richards, killed, Raymond, 17
68
I 86
55th, Col. Oscar Malmborg, -
IO
58
- 68
93d,
Col. Holden Putnam, Champion's Hill 38
II3
II
162
IIth, Lt .- Col. Garrett Nevins, killed,*
3
42
9
53
32d,
/ Lt .- Col. William Hunter,
13
59
- 72
72d, Col. Frederick A. Starring,
-
20
71
5
96
77th, Col. David P. Grier,
1
19
85
26
130
¿ Lt .- Col. James C. Wright, mortally
5 wounded,
8 Ist, Col. Jas. J. Dollins, killed, -
II
96
-
107
95th, Col. Thomas W. Humphrey, -
18
83
8
109
99th,
Lt .- Col. Lemuel Parke,
19
77
6
102
I13th,
Maj. George R. Clarke, }
-
7
20
-
27
Col. N. W. Tupper,
-
6
64
I
71
127th, Ćol. H. N. Eldridge,
8
31
I 40
-
The following table exhibits the casualties sustained by the Illinois regiments in other famous battles of the war. It must be remembered, however, that the killed and wounded in any given contest, or as relating to any given regiment, is not always to be relied upon as evidence of its superior bravery or effi- ciency. The losses may have resulted from the bad handling by incompetent or rash commanders, unnecessarily exposing
* The losses in the 11th, 32d, 72d, 77th, 81st, 95th, 99th, 113th, 116th, and 127th, respectively, were caused in the assault on Vicksburg, May 22, 1863.
killed,
( Col. John Logan,
Col. Geo. W. K. Bailey, wounded, {
Col. George B. Hoge,
I 16th, Lt .- Col. James P. Boyd,
747
LOSSES IN OTHER FAMOUS BATTLES.
their commands, or failing to retire in time from untenable positions. Other regiments by reason of having been detailed to guard posts, or railroad lines, or placed on other detached service, where they rendered efficient and important aid to the cause, oftentimes had not the opportunity of showing what they could do in a regular-pitched battle.
Losses of Illinois regiments in other battles:
REGIMENT COMMANDER BATTLE
KILL'D WOU'D MIS'G TOTAL
7th, Col. Richard Rowett,
Allatoona, 35 67 39 141 12th, Capt. Robt. Koehler, Allatoona Pass, 17 33 I 5I
Hatchie, 13 91 2 196
28th, Col. Amory K. Johnson,
Jackson, 6 43 19 68
30th, Col. Warren Shedd,
Atlanta, 24 82 80 I86
3Ist, Col. Edwin S. McCook,
Atlanta, 28 94 4I 163
34th, Lt .- Col. Oscar Van Tassel, Bentonville, 8 28 35
36th, Lt .- Col. Peter C. Olson, killed, Franklin, 6
Drury's Bluff, I I
64 47 I22
39th,
Lt .- Col. O. L. Mann,
Petersburg, 15
72 - 87
Deep Bottom, 20 76 7 103
4Ist, Maj. Francis M. Long, killed, Jackson, 27 135
42d, Col. Edgar D. Swain, Spring Hill, Tenn. 16 64
5 Ist, Col. Charles W. Davis,
Franklin, 1I 45
49
- 58
55th, Capt. Jacob M.Augustine, killed, Kenesaw, 14
33
- 47
58th, Lt .- Col. Robt. W. Healy, Ezra Chapel, 29
67 5 IOI
59th, Lt .- Col. Clayton Hale,
Nashville, 8
83 9 100
Col. John Morrill,
-
Kenesaw, 19 41 - 60
64th, Col. John Morrill, wounded, Lt .- C. Michael W. Manning, Lt .- Col. Jos. R. Stockton,
wounded,
Franklin, 15 97
38 150
76th, Col. Samuel T. Bussey,
Jackson, 16 71
15 IO2
78th, Col. Carter Van Vleck,
Jonesboro, 13
37
- 50
79th, Lt .- C. Maris Vernon, Liberty Gap, Tenn. 6 41
- 47
80th, Lt. Herman Steinecke, Col. Fred. Hecker, wounded, - Chancelorville,
Kenesaw, 16 38 9 63
82d, Maj. Ferd. H. Rolshausen, wounded, Capt. Jacob LaSalle, 29 88 38 155
98
154
Capt. John W. McClanahan, Hatchie, 9
Jackson, 33 79 50
162
53d, ( Col. Seth C. Earl, killed,
- 36
21 62
40 202
20 100
Atlanta, 17 87 IO 114
72d, Maj. William James, Capt. James A. Sexton,
748
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
REGIMENT COMMANDER BATTLE KILLED WOU'D MIS'G TOTAL
83d, Col. A.C. Harding, attack Ft. Donelson, 13 51 - 64
86th, Lt .- Col. Allen L. Fahnestock, Kenesaw, 26 60 12 98
89th, Col. Charles T. Hotchkiss, Picketts, 16 71 67 154
93d, Col. Nicholas C. Buswell, Atlanta, 21 52 IO 83
102d, Col. Franklin C. Smith,
Resaca, 24 70 -
94
103d, Lt .- C. Geo. W. Wright, wn'd, Kenesaw, 23 42
2 67
104th, 1 Col. A. B. Moore, captured, Hartsville, 25 131 568
Lt .- Col. Douglas Hapeman,
Creek, Atlanta, 18 75
86 179
Knoxville, 18 38 12 68
Etoy Creek, 12 58 I 71
I22d, Col. John I. Rinaker, wounded,*
23 58 I 82
125th, Col. Oscar F. Harmon, killed, Kenesaw, 54
63 7 124
129th, Lt .- C. Thos. H. Flynn, Peach Tree Creek, 9 30
6 45
Many subordinate, field, staff, and line officers, in addition to those already mentioned, fell gallantly upon the field of battle. In the present imperfect state of the war-records, it is impossible to state them all but the following list, relating to field-officers of infantry regiments, is supposed to be nearly complete:
REGIMENT NAME AND RANK OF OFFICER
DIED OR WHEN KILLED
24th, Col. Geza Mihalotzy,
March II, 1864.
28th, Lt .- Col. Thos. M. Killpatrick, At Shiloh.
30th, Maj. Thomas McClurken,
3Ist, Lt .- Col. John D. Reese,
32d, Lt .- Col. John W. Ross, Of wounds received at Shiloh.
35th, Maj. John McIlwain,
Near Kenesaw, 1864.
36th, Col. Silas Miller, Mortally wounded at Kenesaw, 1864.
Lt .- Col. Rigdon S. Barnhill, 40th, - Maj. Francis M. Long,
In battle, June 27, 1864. In battle, July 12, 1863.
In battle, Sept. 2, 1863.
Maj. James Leighton, 42d, Maj. David W. Norton, Lt .- Col. Melancthon Smith, 45th, 3 Maj. Luther N. Cowan,
Maj. Leander B. Fisk, 46th, Col. John A. Davis,
-
Col. John M. Cromwell,
47th,
Lt .- Col. David L. Miles,
In battle, June 2, 1864. In battle, June 25, 1863. In battle, May 22, 1863. In battle, June 25, 1863. Mortally wounded at Hatchie. At Jackson, May, 1863. At Farmington.
* Engagement at Parker's Cross-Road.
724
Peach Tree 16 29 5 50
IIIth, Maj. William H. Mabry,
112th, Col. Thos. J. Henderson,
At Belmont.
Of wounds, July 1, 1863.
749
THE ROLL OF HONOR.
REGIMENT
NAME AND RANK OF OFFICER
DIED OR WHEN KILLED
Col. Lucien Greathouse,
In battle, July 22, 1864.
48th, 57th, Maj. Norman B. Page,
At Shiloh.
66th, Col. Patrick E. Burke,
Of wounds at Resaca.
Maj. Wm. E. Smith,
At Chickamauga.
73d, Maj. Thomas Motherspaw,
74th, Lt .- Col. James B. Kerr,
77th, Lt .- Col. Lysander R. Webb,
78th, Maj. William L. Broddus,
88th,
Lt .- Col. George W. Chandler, At Atlanta.
95th, 96th, Lt .- Col. Isaac L. Clark,
Col. Thomas W. Humphrey, In battle, June 10, 1864.
100th, Col. Frederick A. Bartleson, At Kenesaw.
103d,
Col. Willliam A. Dickerman, At Resaca.
107th, Col. Francis H. Lowry, Mortally wounded at Franklin.
II 5th, Lt .- Col. William Kinnan,
At Chickamauga.
116th, Lt .- Col. Anderson Froman,
Of wounds, June 15, 1864.
I23d, Col. James Monroe,
At Farmington.
125th, Col. Oscar F. Harmon,
At. Kenesaw.
Col'd infantry, Col. John A. Bross,
At Petersburg.
The 9th Infantry lost the most men killed in action of any other Illinois regiment. As shown before, it lost at the battle of Fort Donelson, 36 killed, 165 wounded, and 9 missing-a total of 210. The same regiment lost at Shiloh, 61 killed, 300 wounded, and 5 missing-a total of 366. That a new regiment should lose in less than 50 days 577 men is one of the most remark- able events in the annals of war-especially when the fact is taken into the account that this was done in the wilds ot Southern forests and swamps and only 14 of the number missing. This regiment was commanded most of the time by Colonels August Mersy and Jesse J. Phillips; who, at different times, also commanded brigades or divisions and were fre- quently wounded, but although confessedly among the most gallant officers of the service were never promoted brigadier- generals.
The following organizations served in the departments of the East, namely, the 23d, 39th, and 82d infantry, and the 8th and 12th cavalry. The 8th suffered the heaviest loss in killed and wounded of any Illinois cavalry regiment. From its ranks
Of wounds, Dec. 18, 1864.
Of wounds at Atlanta.
In battle, April 8, 1864.
At Chickamauga.
In battle, Sept. 20, 1863.
750
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
came the gallant Elon J. Farnsworth whose commission as a brigadier-general bore the date of his heroic death at Gettys- burg.
The rough and heavily-timbered country in the South, where nearly all the cavalry regiments principally served did not afford much scope for use in large bodies and close fighting. They performed, however, very efficient and valuable service in scouting and in various raids. Perhaps the most damaging of the latter was that commanded by Gen. Grierson of Illinois through the entire state of Mississippi and part of Louisiana, during the Vicksburg campaign, performed solely by Illinois regiments, namely, the 6th and 7th cavalry. Col. Dudley Wickersham of the 10th, performed distinguished services in Missouri and Arkansas in command of a brigade, and as com- mander of Fayetteville. Col. Benj. F. Marsh, jr., commanded the 2d Cavalry after its consolidation in 1864, and rendered conspicuous service.
Gen. John L. Beveridge, who was elected lieutenant-governor of the State in 1872, and served the full term of four years as governor, vice Gen. Oglesby elected to the senate, served at first as a major in the 8th Cavalry, but was subsequently transferred to and commissioned colonel of the 17th. This regiment was ordered to Missouri, where it was kept busily employed in skir- mishes and engagements, doing valiant service; Col. Beveridge most of the time being in command of a brigade. The 12th, under Col. Hasbrouck Davis, was engaged in some of the most noted of the successful raids in Virginia.
Maj. Zenas Applington of the 7th, was killed near Corinth in 1862; Lt .- Col. Harvey Hogg of the 2d cavalry, fell while leading a charge at Bolivar, Aug. 29, 1862; Col. John J. Mudd, of the same regiment, was killed on Red River, May 3, 1864; Lt .- Col. William McCullough, 4th, was killed in battle, Dec. 5, 1862; Col. Matthew H. Starr, 6th, was mortally wounded, Octo- ber, 1864; Lt .- Col. Reuben Loomis, 6th, killed, Nov. 2, 1863; Lt .- Col. Wm. D. Blackburn, 7th, died of wounds, May 17, 1863; Maj. William H. Medill, 8th, died of wounds, July 16, 1863; Col. Warren Stewart, 15th, killed near Vicksburg, June 23, 1863; and Maj. Frederick Schaumbeck, 16th cavalry, killed in action, August 3, 1864.
751
GREATEST PERCENTAGE OF LOSSES.
The 16th cavalry lost the remarkable number of 157 men who died in confederate prisons .*
In most or all of the engagements of which lists of the killed and wounded are presented in this chapter, some one or more of the Illinois artillery companies performed gallant and efficient services, often stemming the tide of rebel charges and saving the day. The heaviest loss in killed and mortally wounded of any Illinois battery during the war was 15 each, in Wood's Battery A and Houghtaling's C. These batteries, also lost the most in particular engagements, the former at Shiloh, 4 killed and 26 wounded; the latter at Stone's River, 5 killed and 20 wounded. Bridge's Battery at Chickamauga lost 6 killed, 16 wounded, and 4 missing. Taylor's Battery B was renowned all through the South for its efficiency, and the same is true of the famous De Gress's Battery of twenty-pound Parrot-guns, captured and recaptured so bravely at Atlanta .*
The three infantry regiments which sustained the greatest nu- merical losses in battles were the following: 5th New Hampshire, 18 officers, 277 men; the 83d Pennsylvania, I I officers, 271 men; the 7th Wisconsin, 10 officers, 271 men. Many other regiments suffered nearly equal losses, that of the 9th Illinois, which heads the list of this State, having 5 officers who were either killed or died of wounds and 211 men; the 36th Illinois, with a loss of I I officers and 193 men, not being far behind.
The largest percentage of loss in killed and mortally wounded in any infantry regiment was sustained by the 2d Wisconsin, which, out of 1203 names enrolled, lost 238 or 19.7 per cent. The 57th Massachusetts sustained the next heaviest percentage of loss. The heaviest losers among Illinois regiments in killed and mortally wounded were as follows: that of the 55th, 15; the 93d, 14.9; the 36th, 14.8; the 9th, 14.4; and several others reaching to between 10 and 14 per cent.
The greatest percentage of killed, wounded, and missing, the latter supposed to be killed or wounded, in any infantry regi- ment in any single engagement, was that of the Ist Minnesota at Gettysburg, where, out of 262 engaged, 47 were killed and 168 wounded, equal to 82 per cent. The 14Ist Pennsylvania lost
* Tables containing the losses of all the Illinois cavalry regiments and batteries will be found in the Appendix.
752
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
75.7 per cent in the same battle; the IOIst New York, 73.8 per cent at Manassas. In a list, prepared by Lt .- Col. William F. Fox, of 62 regiments, which sustained a loss in particular engagements of 50 per cent and over, were the following from Illinois :
REG'T
BATTLE
ENGAGED
KILLED WOUN'D MISSING
PER CT
9th,
Shiloh,
578
61
300
5
63.3
5 Ist,
Chickamauga, -
209
18
92
18
61.2
4Ist,
Jackson,
338
27
I35
40
59.7
55th,
Shiloh,
-
512
51
197
27
53-7
35th,
Chickamauga,
299
17
130
13
53.5
IIth,
Fort Donelson,
500
70
181
88
50.I
To which may be added the following:
22d,
Stone's River,
342
43
94
56
60
34th, Stone's River,
354
36
85
74
55
53d, Jackson,
-
219
33
79
50
74 *
The following Illinois regiments participated in the celebrated campaign of Gen. Sherman from Atlanta to the sea:+
REG'T
COLONEL
LT .- COLONEL
MAJOR
7th,
Richard Rowett,
Hector Perrin,
Edward S. Johnson.
9th,
Samuel T. Hughes,
William Padon.
10th, John Tillson,
-
David Gillespie,
George A. Race.
12th,
Henry Van Sellar,
Wheelock S. Merriman.
14th, {
George C. Rogers,
Lemuel O. Gilman,
Carlos C. Cox.
15th,
16th, Robert F. Smith,
James A. Chapman,
Charles Petrie.
* The greatest percentage of confederate losses sustained in particular engagements -on the same authority-were as follows :
REGIMENT
BATTLE
NO. ENGAGED
KILLED
WOUN'D MISSING PER CENT
Ist Texas,
Antietam,
226
45
141
- 82
2 Ist Georgia,
Manasses, -
242
38
146
-
76
26th North Carolina, Gettysburg,
820
86
502
1
71
1 120 missing, many of whom were supposed to have been killed.
6th Mississippi,
Shiloh,
425
61 239
70
Sth Tennessee,
Chickamauga,
328
44
180
68
and so on. According to the very imcomplete and imperfect confederate returns 42 regiments are reported to have lost from 50 to 82 per cent in single battles.
+ A table showing the name of the colonel of each regiment, date of organization, strength, and date of final muster out, with name of officer then commanding and strength; and also, in order that full justice may be done, a complete list of casual- ties in each regiment, as prepared by Col. Fox in his " Regimental Losses," will be found in the Appendix.
753
WITH SHERMAN TO THE SEA.
REG'T 20th, 26th, 30th, 31st, 32d, 34th, 40th, 4Ist, 45th, 48th, 50th, 52d, 53d, 55th, 56th, 57th, 60th, 63d, 64th, 66th, 78th, 82d, 85th, 86th, 90th, 92d, 93d, IOIst, 102d, Io3d, 104th, 105th, I10th, IIIth, 116th, 125th, 127th, 129th, Henry Case,
COLONEL
LT .- COLONEL
MAJOR
Daniel Bradley,
Ira J. Bloomfield,
Warren Shedd,
William C. Rhodes, Robert N. Pearson,
George H. English, Peter Ege, Hiram W. Hall,
Stephen G. Hicks,
Robert P. Sealy,
Ashley T. Galbraith,
William Hanna,
John W. McClanahan,
-
Green B. Raum,
John P. Hall,
James P. Files.
Frederick A. Battey. James H. McDonald. Joseph F. Lemen.
Joseph S. Reynolds.
Maris R. Vernon,
Edward S. Salomon, Caleb J. Dilworth,
-
Allen L. Fahnestock,
Owen Stuart, Smith D. Atkins,
Mathew VanBuskirk,
Nicholas C. Buswell, John B. LaSage, Franklin C. Smith, George W. Wright, Douglas Hapeman,
Daniel Dustin,
James S. Martin, -
Everell F. Dutton, Ebenezer H. Topping, Joseph F. Black, - John E. Madux, James W. Langley, Frank S. Curtiss, - Thomas H. Flynn,
-
George Green. Ferd H. Rolshanson. Robert G. Rider.
Patrick Flynn. Albert Woodcock. James M. Fisher. Napoleon B. Brown. Hiland H. Clay.
Isaac McManus, Asias Willison, - Charles W. Wills. John H. Widmer. Henry D. Brown. Green M. Cantrell. William H. Mabry. John S. Windsor. John B. Lee. Frank C. Gillette. John A. Hoskins.
Artillery :- Ist Regiment Company C, Capt. Joseph R. Channel. Ist Regiment Company H, Capt. Francis De Gress. 2d Regiment Company I, Capt. Judson Rich. Cavalry :- 1Ith Regiment Company G, Capt. Stephen S. Tripp. In all, 45 regiments and 4 companies .- "Adjutant-General's Report," I, 103.
The splendid record made by the volunteers from Illinois could not have been accomplished, however, but for their gallant and able leadership.
George W. Kennard. John B. Harris. John P. Davis.
Henry Davidson. Peter F. Walker.
R. H. McFadden. John O. Duer. Edward Adams. Horace L. Burnham. Albert C. Perry. Roland H. Allison.
William B. Anderson, Joseph B. McCown, John Morrill, Andrew K. Campbell,
Frederick J. Hurlbut, George W. Evans, James Isaminger, Michael W. Manning,
Jerome D. Davis,
754
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
Our State gave to the Nation and the world not only the illustrious Lincoln, but the great commander-in-chief, General Grant, who led her armed hosts to final victory. Eleven other of the major-generals of volunteers were credited to Illinois, namely: John Pope, John A. McClernand, Stephen A. Hurlbut, Benjamin M. Prentiss, John M. Palmer, Richard J. Oglesby, John A. Logan, John M. Schofield, Napoleon B. Buford, Wesley Merritt, Benjamin H. Grierson, and Giles A. Smith.
Twenty of those who started out as commanders of regi- ments were promoted to brevet major-generalship; fifty-three -excluding those named above-rose to be brigadier-generals, and 120 attained the rank of brevet brigadier-generals. To award to each of these gallant leaders his just meed of praise would be impossible without prolixity; to select a chosen few for special encomium would be invidious .*
The State was equally well served by the staff-officers and aides-de-camp appointed therefrom, headed by the brave and efficient Gen. John A. Rawlins.
To confine the history of the part taken by Illinois in the war to a recital of the meritorious services of her brave volun- teers, would be as incomplete as it would be unjust, to that portion of her citizens who, for personal, domestic, or official reasons, did not go to the war and who might be properly classified as the "stay-at-homes."
It was just as essential to the success of the Union cause that trade should be carried on, manufactures continued, and that civil and quasi-military offices should be loyally filled and faithfully administered, as it was that armies should be recruited and equipped for the struggle in the field. Many of those who would have distinguished themselves in the military service and would have shared with others in the renown of their heroic achievements, wisely and nobly decided to perform their duties as public officers or private citizens ir. their several stations at home.
The backbone of the Union army was the unfaltering support it received from the loyal people who helped to raise and main- tain it; who followed it with their sympathy and aid; who in
* A complete list of brevet major-generals, brigadier and brevet brigadier-gen- erals, will be found in the Appendix.
755
THE "STAY-AT-HOMES."
fact furnished the sinews of war and made its glorious success possible. To counteract the adverse influences of the disloyal element, which was ever active and untiring; to uncover and defeat their secret machinations; to respond to the frequent calls of sanitary and christian commissions; and to keep brightly burning the flame of patriotism on every home altar - these were the claims and demands which were continually pressing upon the time, purse, and devotion to the Union of the "stay- at-homes."
As soon as news had been received of the engagement at Fort Donelson, the governor and state officers visited the battle- field, not only for the purpose of rejoicing with the brave volun- teers over the first great victory of the Union arms, but also, and chiefly, to look after and care for the sick and wounded.
It had been seen long before this that the facilities of the war department were inadequate to the proper care of the sick and disabled soldiers of so vast and hastily-equipped an army. To alleviate the suffering and reduce the mortality consequent upon the imperfect methods of the government, supplementary organizations, sanitary commissions, both national and state, were formed. Through the unwearying zeal of these efforts, large quantities of medical and surgical as well as other supplies were collected and distributed among the wounded and suffer- ing, both in hospitals and camps. Devoted, self-sacrificing, courageous women volunteered their services as nurses and nobly performed their part, not only by the couch of pain in the hospital or tent, but even in the midst of a pitiless leaden hail upon the field.
Following close upon the victory at Fort Donelson, came the sanguinary battle of Shiloh, with its appalling list of 7882 wounded Union soldiers, besides the multitude of confederates left helpless upon the field. The army - hospitals were over- crowded, and in pursuance of the recommendation of Governor Yates, hospitals were established at Springfield, Peoria, and Quincy.
Within twenty-four hours after the guns of Shiloh had ceased to reverberate among the mountains of Tennessee, Gov. Yates had chartered a steamboat, from the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad, commanded by Col. Charles Goodrich Ham-
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ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
mond, and was on his way to the scene of carnage, with sur- geons, nurses, and all necessary medico-surgical appliances and supplies.
Arriving just a week after the battle, the dreadful evidences of the havoc of war were to be seen on every side. Dead bodies were lying on the ground awaiting burial, while others had been hurriedly thrown into shallow graves and were but partially covered with the cold earth. The condition of the wounded was most deplorable. The accommodations of the hastily - impro- vised field-hospitals were insufficient to provide for the dying and those whose wounds were most serious. Hundreds of brave men were lying where they had fallen, their wounds as yet un- dressed, while other hundreds were dying from disease induced by nervous prostration and exposure. They had neither sup- plies nor medical attention.
The governor's coming was most opportune and was hailed by the suffering soldiers and their friends with unspeakable satisfaction. In a few hours the boat was laden with about 300 of the most severely wounded and had started on its homeward way. As soon as its precious human cargo had been disposed of in Illinois hospitals, Adj't-Gen. Fuller was dispatched with the same boat for another load to be cared for in a like manner. Two other similar and equally successful expeditions followed; the number of wounded soldiers thus brought to northern hos- pitals and within the reach of friends and home exceeded 1000; and the number of lives thus saved, which would have been lost if left to such surgical treatment as could have been given them by regulation methods, can hardly be estimated.
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