USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 12
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Among those who enlisted from Chris- tian county were Samuel Wydick, John S. Sinnet, Martin Hanon, Jake Gragg, Jesse Gragg, John Baker. Shadrack J. Campbell was a soldier of the war of 1812, and also was a volunteer in the Black Hawk war in the campaign of 1832.
The force marched to the mouth of Rock river, where Gen. Atkinson received the volunteers into the United States services and assumed command. Black Hawk and his warriors were still on the Rock river.
The army under Atkinson commenced its march up the river on the 9th of May. Gov. Reynolds, the gallant "Old Ranger." re- mained with the army, and the President recognized him as a Major-General, and he was paid accordingly. His presence did much toward harmonizing and conciliating those jealousies which generally exist be- tween volunteers and regular troops. Major John A. Wakefield and Col. Ewing acted as spies for a time in the campaign of '32 to discover the location of the enemy if possi- ble. A Mr. Kinney acted as guide for them; he understood the Sac dialect. On the 14th of May, 1832, Major Stillman's command had a sort of running battle with the Indians at or near what is now known as Stillman's Run, a small sluggish stream ;
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PAST AND PRESENT
in the engagement eleven white men and eight Indians were killed. Black Hawk and his warriors fought with the spirit born of desperation. Black Hawk says in his book that he tried at Stillman's Run to call back his warriors, as he thought the whites were making a sham retreat in order to draw him into an ambuscade of the whole army under Gen. Whiteside.
The hasty retreat and rout of Stillman and his army was, in a measure, demoraliz- ing to the entire force: undoubtedly the cause of the defeat was a lack of discipline. When Gov. Reynolds learned of the disas- ter of Major Stillman, he at once ordered out two thousand additional volunteers. With that promptitude characteristic of the old "War Governor," he wrote out by can- dle-light on the evening of Stillman's de- feat the order for the additional troops, and by daylight dispatched John Ewing. Robert Blackwell and John A. Wakefield to distrib- ute the order to the various counties. The volunteers again promptly responded. On the 10th of July the army disbanded for want of provisions. Gen. Scott arrived soon after with a large force at the post of Chi- cago, to effect if possible a treaty with the Indians. Small detachments of Black Hawk's warriors would persistently hang on the outskirts of the main body of the army, thieve and plunder, and pounce upon and kill the lonely sentinel or straggling soldier. On the 15th of July the soldiers were reviewed and those incapable of duty were discharged and returned home. Po- quette, a half-breed. and a Winnebago chief, the "White Pawnee," were selected for guides to the camp of Black Hawk and band. Several battles and skirmishes oc- curred with the enemy, the principal of which was on the banks of the Mississippi, where the warriors fought with great des-
peration : over one hundred and fifty were killed in the engagement and large numbers drowned in attempting to swim the river. AAfter the battle the volunteers were marched to Dixon, where they were discharged. This ended the campaign and the Black Hawk war. At the battle of the Bad Axe, Black Hawk and some of his warriors escaped the Americans and went up the Wisconsin river. but subsequently surrendered him- self. Fort Armstrong, on Rock Island, was the place appointed where a treaty would be made with the Indians, but before it was effected that dreadful scourge. the cholera. of '32 visited not only the regular army, depleting its ranks far more rapidly than the balls of the Indians had done, but it also sought out its many victims in the dusky bands of the Black Hawk tribe. On the 15th of September, 1832, a treaty was made with the Winnebago Indians. They sold out all their lands in Illinois and all south of the Wisconsin river and west of Green Bay, and the government gave them a large dis- trict of country west of the Mississippi and ten thousand dollars a year for seven years, besides providing free schools for their chil- dren for twenty years, oxen, agricultural implements, etc., etc.
September 21, 1832. a treaty was made with the Sac and Fox tribes, on which they ceded to the United States the tract of coun- try out of which a few years afterwards the state of lowa was formed. In consideration of the above cession of lands, the govern- ment gave them an annuity of twenty thou- sand dollars for thirty years, forty kegs of tobacco and forty barrels of salt, more gun- smiths, blacksmith shop, etc., etc .; six thousand bushels of corn for immediate sup- port, mostly intended for the Black Hawk band.
The treaties above mentioned terminated
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT
Erected at Rosemond Grove Cemetery, near Rosemond, Illinois. Consisting of a pedestal formed from a single granite block, surmounted by figure in bronze, after the design of Charles J. Mulligan, sculptor. The gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Kitchell, of Pana, Ill. Dedicated October 29, 1903.
"In memory of the Union Soldiers and Sailors and of their Beloved Commander in Chief and Noblest Friend, Abraham Lincoln."
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS
favorably and the security resulting there- from gave a new and rapid impetus to the development of the state, and now enter- prising towns and villages and beautiful farms adorn the rich and alluvial prairies that before were only desecrated by the wild bands who inhabited them.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
In the war with Mexico in 1846-47 Illi- nois furnished six regiments of men as fol- ยท lows: First regiment, commanded by Col. John J. Hardin; Second regiment, com- manded by Col. William H. Bissell; Third regiment, commanded by Col. Ferris For- man ; Fourth regiment, commanded by Col. Edward D. Baker; Fifth regiment, com- manded by Col. James Collins; Sixth regi- ment, commanded by Col. Edward W. New- by.
As the records have not yet been trans- cribed from the War Department at Wash- ington, we have had to rely solely on the facts furnished by those now living in the county who served in the war.
This county had no regular organization in that war, but had several volunteers, who enlisted in other regiments. A company was raised and reported by its captain, H. M. Vandeveer, but it was not accepted as the companies and regiments were all or- ganized. Several of her sons, however, en- tered the ranks and did good service for their country in helping forward the cause in which they were enlisted. H. M. Van- deveer become assistant quartermaster, with the rank of captain. He was at the battle of Buena Vista on Gen. Wool's staff, and bore Gen. Taylor's famous dispatch, "A lit- tle more grape. Capt. Bragg." Among those who went to that war from this county (and some others who have been residents of this county ) may be mentioned Dial Davis,
John Sanders and Wesley White, who en- listed in the Fourth regiment. Company C, commanded by Capt. Isaac C. Pugh : George Horworth, enlisted in Company A, same regiment : Christopher C. Hollier, enlisted in Company E, Fourth regiment : Henry Sanders and J. W. Wise in Capt. Roberts' company ; A. P. Miller, enlisted in Capt. Hurt's company ; others were Reuben Wil- kinson. Joseph Wydick, Henry Sharp, John Sharp, Fletcher Haines, James C. Christian, Henry Ferguson, John Craig.
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
The War of the Rebellion commenced with the firing or. Fort Sumpter in April, 1861, and ended with the surrender of Gen. Lee and his army to Gen. Grant, near Rich- mond, Va., on the gth of April, 1865. The war over, at once the reduction of the army began. Illinois had in the field 156 regi- ments of infantry, seventeen regiments of cavalry, and two regiments of light artil- lery. The total aggregate force in the field was: in infantry, 185,941 ; cavalry, 32,082; artillery, 7,277-making a grand total of 225.300 . men. Apprehensions were ex- pressed by many that the disbanding of so many soldiers among the people, fresh from the army, and the withdrawal of all military restraint and control over them would be productive of disorder, misrule and crime to an unprecedented degree in the country. But time has shown that all such anticipa- tions and fears were groundless; for with a wonderful rapidity these vast armies of the Union melted away and returned to their varied peaceful pursuits of civil life; and the "legions that a few years ago, in num- ber, in solidity, discipline and proof were without antetype in the world's history, may today be found in the work-shop, at the bench, in the busy marts of trade, in the
PAST AND PRESENT
manufactories and on the farm; and their members have manifested to the world that, as citizens at home, they know as well how to respect the nation's laws as they know how to vindicate them in the field against armed rebellion or invading forces."
DRAFT.
At first it was determined to rely upon the spontaneous movement of the people to furnish the necessary quotas of soldiers by volunteering, but this was found inadequate, and the magnitude of the contest made it necessary to resort to the draft. This was very unpopular and distasteful to the peo- ple. Every appliance was made to evade it. Desertions were not infrequent. But the strong arm of the government enforced the measure. The draft was based on the census of 1860. Christian county had a population of 10,475. Several enrollments were made. The first. in 1863, showed a force of 2.155 persons subject to military duty in this county ; a second enrollment in 1864 showed 2,512 men. The latter en- rollment was viewed with distrust and looked upon as excessive, inasmuch as it exhibited a marked increase, when, during the same time, the county had been depleted of large numbers who had already entered the service.
The officers in charge of the duty, act- ing under instructions, took in all classes between the ages of 21 and 45: the blind, the halt and the lame, without regard to their manifest unfitness for military duty : thus putting them to unnecessary trouble and expense to be excused. A revised en- rollment was demanded, and made January Ist, which reduced the number to 1,532 men.
President Lincoln called for 300,000 men October 18, 1863: for 500,000 February I,
1864: for 200,000 March 4, 1864; for 500,- 000 July 18, 1864; for 300,000 December 19. 1864-in all 1,800,000. Illinois' quota, 177.747. Christian county's quota, 1,449; raised by volunteers and draft 1,369-leav- ing a deficit of 80 when the war closed, and recruiting ceased by order of the Secretary of War, under date of April 13, 1865.
The first draft was ordered to be made September 19, 1864, in the several precincts in the county where the quota had not been filled by volunteers. Silas Chadwick and James M. Crabb were among the con- scripted from the Taylorville precinct. Silas Chadwick was killed soon after the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, and James M. Crabb furnished a substitute at a cost of $500, paid by himself. The county did not come to the relief of those first drafted, but reserved its charity for the benefit of those taken in the second draft. at Jacksonville, under the call of December 19, 1864. The course adopted was manifest injustice to those first drafted. All drafted men in the county should have shared alike in its ben- efits.
The quota of Christian county, under the call of December 19. 1864, was 257, appor- tioned to the precincts as follows : Sub. Dist's.
No. Precincts. Quotas.
19.
Buckhart 38
20.
Stonington 18
21.
Pana I2
22.
North Fork 42
23.
Tacusa (Assumption ) 61
Rosemond 9
25.
Lower Bear Creek
19
Taylorville
51
Nevada
12
Upper Bear Creek. T2
Lower South Fork. 16
29.
30.
Locust 9
Total
257
24.
26.
27.
28.
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The County court in special session Feb- ruary 20, 1865, adopted measures looking to the relief of the 257 conscripted men of this county. They ordered a tax of $2.50 on the one hundred dollars' worth of taxable property of the county, and directed a bonn- ty of $350 to be paid to any volunteer or drafted man until the quota of the county was filled. The bonds were issued in March, payable in one year. The war closed, and all recruiting was ordered by the war de- partment to be suspended on April 15, 1865. But 149 bonds had been issued, aggregating a cost to the county of $52,150, and inter- est of $5,215. The public mind was restive about the bonds. The County court, at their December term, 1865, appointed H. M. Van- deveer and Jas. C. Morrison as agents to examine the records and ascertain the num- ber of men furnished by this county, who would legally be entitled to the war bonds. When Richmond fell on the first of April, 1865, not a bond had gone out of the office of the county clerk. Prominent men of the county urged the withholding of the bonds for a few days to see the issue of events. But it was not heeded. Those in charge of the matter at Jacksonville managed, in the course of ten days, to throw out 149 war-bonds, and burden the county, at their maturity, with a debt of $57,365. These agents were appointed to probe the matter to its bottom. They reported to the court that "they had made some progress in re- gard to the number of bonds issued, but they encountered difficulties at Springfield, as Col. Oakes had packed up the papers to send to the war department, but proffered all the aid he could furnish in the premises."
A tax was levied by the County court, and the bonds paid off at maturity in 1866, without the citizens seemingly feeling it.
SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY.
A society under this caption was organ- ized by the ladies of Taylorville. Its object was to furnish mittens, socks and articles for the hospital, for the use, benefit and comfort of the "sodger boys gone to the wars" from this portion of the county. Their object was laudable; and it was very natural for a mother's heart to feel for her boy as the cold, bleak days of winter began to approach. How cold would be his hands as he bore his musket in the weary marches of the day. They held their meetings fre- quently, and entered on their work with commendable zeal, and soon had a box of these necessary articles prepared and sent forward to the front. The "boys in blue" were then camped at Rolla, Mo., and were glad to think they were held in dear remem- brance at home ; but the United States com- missary had anticipated the ladies in fur- nishing these comforts.
The officers of the society were Mrs. Dr. Goudy, President: Mrs. W. W. Anderson, Vice President : Mrs. Dr. Rockwell, Secre- tary ; Mrs. W. A. Goodrick, Treasurer, and Hattie Goodrick, Mrs. Maj. Shumway and Mrs. Paden, Directresses.
14TH INFANTRY.
This regiment was organized under the call of May 15, 1861, and was mustered into the United States service for three years at Jacksonville, Ill., on the 25th of May, 1861. It remained at Camp Duncan, Jacksonville, until the latter part of June, for instruction, when it moved to Quincy, and thence to Missouri, July 5th, where it (lid good service. It left Rolla, Mo., for Jefferson City, under Gen. Fremont, on his memorable campaign to Springfield, Mo., after Gen. Price, and went into winter quar-
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PAST AND PRESENT
ters at Otterville. In February, 1862, it was ordered to Fort Donelson, and ar- rived the day after its surrender, and was placed in Gen. S. A. Hurlburt's brigade. Col. Palmer was promoted to brigadier-gen- eral, and Major Hall was made colonel. It was in the sanguinary engagements of the 6th and 7th of April, 1861, when the regi- ment first smelled gunpowder from the en- emy. Here it lost half its number. The colors had forty-two bullet holes through them, which attest the dangers and gallan- try of the command. It was in the last grand charge, in the advance led by Col. Hall, on the evening of the 7th of April, that Gen. Veatch, in his official report, says : "Col. Hall, of the 14th Illinois, led his regi- ment in that gallant charge on Monday evening, which drove the enemy beyond our lines and closed the struggle of that mem- orable day."
The regiment took an active part in the siege of Corinth. After the evacuation it proceeded to Memphis, and thence to Bo- livia, Tenn. It was in an eight-hours fight on the Hatchie river, and went into winter quarters, 1862-3, at Lafayette, Tenn. Early in the spring it was ordered to Vicksburg, where it took part in the siege of that stronghold, until its final fall on the 4th of July, 1863. It was at the siege of Jack- son, Miss. In August it moved to Natchez, and from thence across the swamps of north- ern Louisiana to Harrisonville, on the Wa- chita river ; captured Fort Beauregard and accompanied Gen. Sherman on his raid on Meridian, Miss.
After its return, a large portion re-en- listed as veterans, their time being nearly out. The veterans were furloughed, and many returned home. On their return they formed part of the army in advance on At- lanta. Here the 14th and 15th Illinois, who
were together since the fall of 1862, sharers of each others' sorrows and joys, weary marches and honorably earned laurels, were consolidated into the
14TH AND 15TH ILLINOIS VETERAN BATTALION.
In October, 1864, rebel Gen. Hood at- tacked Gen. Sherman's rear forces, guard- ing the railroad, when a large number of the battalion were killed, and the major part of the balance were taken prisoners and sent to Andersonville prison. Those who escaped capture were mounted and acted as scouts on Gen. Sherman's grand march through Georgia to the sea, and were at the battle of Bentonville, N. C.
At Goldsboro, N. C., in the spring of 1865, the battalion organization was dis- continued ; and seven one-year companies, new recruits were assigned March, 1865, from the north to fill up the two regiments. Col. Hall was again assigned to the com- mand of the 14th regiment. It was in the grand review of Sherman's army at Wash- ington City, May 24, 1865. It then pro- ceeded by rail and river to Louisville, Ky. ; thence by rail to Fort Leavenworth, Kan- sas: thence marched to Fort Kearney and back. It was mustered out at Fort Leaven- worth, Kansas, September 16, 1865, arriv- ing at Springfield, Illinois, September 22, 1865, where it received final payment and discharge. The commanding officer at the close of service was Brevet Brig .- Gen. Cyrus Hall, and the aggregate strength since or- ganization, 2,015.
The aggregate number of men who be- longed to the 14th regiment was 1,980, and the aggregate mustered out at Fort Leaven- worth was 480.
During its four years and four months of arduous service the regiment marched
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
4,490 miles, traveled by rail 2,380 miles, and by river, 4,490 miles-making an ag- gregate of 11,360 miles.
In this regiment was Company H, from Christian county, commanded by Capt. An- drew Simpson, who was wounded at Pitts- burg Landing, in the battles of the 6th and 7th of April, 1862-and in consequence thereof resigned October 4, 1862. This company participated in all the hardships and battles before described.
The company was organized, under many adverse circumstances, after the fall of Fort Sumter. It was then styled "The Chris- tian Union Guards."
The Independent Press of April 19, 1861, says of it : "Immediately upon the receipt of Gov. Yates' proclamation. calling out six regiments of volunteers, several chivalric young men of Taylorville, inspired with pa- triotic ardor, promptly set about forming a light infantry corps ; and, upon the fact be- coming known about town, the annexed can- dlidates for martial glory came forward and signed the muster roll :
Andrew Simpson, Edward Percy, John Durbin ( Biscuit), Robert E. Doyle, John Mckenzie, D. R. Jay, John W. Hartley, Silas B. Root, Reuben A. Beard, John G. Haines, A. F. Barnes.
"Mr. John W. Hartley is acting as a re- cruiting officer during the absence of Mr. Simpson, who has gone to Springfield to see Gov. Yates on matters pertaining to the organization of the company. On Mr. Simpson's return, Mr. Hartley assures us the Light Infantry corps will have a 'grand rally.' "
One of the men who signed the call was not in sympathy with the cause, and prob- ably did it in burlesque as will appear from the following published in the Press of the same date:
"A CARD TO THE CHRISTIAN PUBLIC."
"Mr. Editor : To put myself right be- fore the world, I deem it due alike to my character as a man and my standing as a democrat and a patriot to state that I signed the muster roll of the Light Infantry com- pany, now forming at Taylorville, only con- ditionally. I will state my conditions, and leave it to impartial posterity to pronounce me 'sound upon the goose.'
"Ist. I will not join the army of coercion if Dick Yates appoints the officers.
"2d. I will join if the members of the company are allowed the privilege of elect- ing their own officers-company and regi- mental.
"3d. I will continue with the company 'for and during the war'-provided I am elected captain.
"4th. If I am not elected captain of the company, I'll see 'the institution' d-d first, before I budge a step from Taylorville. I have no idea of setting myself up as a tar- get to be shot at for the insignificantly-con- temptible sum of $II a month, rations and medical attendance thrown in. No-sir-ee, Bob: not in the day time.
"R. A. BEARD.
"P. S .- If the above arrangement is not entirely satisfactory to my brave compan- ions in arms of the Taylorville Light In- fantry corps I shall remain at home and continue, as usual, to build houses and stairs -cheap for cash or country produce.
"R. A. B."
Taylorville, April 19, 1861.
Whilst this chivalric gentleman of tem- porary residence in Christian was sending forth broadcast this ironical patriotic letter, tending to embarrass Capt. Simpson in his recruiting efforts, on the same day a class of his way of thinking were shooting down a portion of a Massachusetts regiment in Baltimore, on their way to Washington City to protect the capitol of the nation from seiz- ure by the enemy.
A union meeting was held in Pana, April 22, 1865, at which Rev. H. R. Lewis pre-
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PAST AND PRESENT
sided, and addresses were made by J. H. ('Connor, Geo. E. Pease, J. E. Southwick and others. . \ series of resolutions were passed without a dissenting voice. The In- dependent Press, in commenting on it, says : "The fourth smells strongly of gunpowder and subjugation." It further says: "John B. Butler, well and favorably known to the people of Christian, has abandoned the peaceful pursuits of life, donned a military attire, and like a 'bowld sojer boy,' as he is, gone off to the wars, gaily singing as he went the patriotic old ditty of-
"'Come all ye brave Americans, I'd have you for to know That for to fight the enemy I'm goin' for to go.'"
But Capt. Simpson succeeded in raising his company, composed of 12 officers and 65 privates. They were duly organized and ready for the march on the roth of May, 1861. The citizens of Taylorville gave them a sumptuous collation on that day at the courthouse. On that occasion the ladies were more than soldiers, vieing with each other in doing honors for the brave boys. Speeches were made by H. M. Vandeveer, C. Goudy, D. T. Moore. D. E. Hall and Wm. Singer. A select choir, under the di- rection of A. S. Rockwell, sang the beauti- ful airs, Star Spangled Banner, Red, White and Blue, Auld Lang Syne, on the court- house steps ; after which D. T. Moore, on behalf of the ladies, presented a beautiful Hag, accompanied with a neat and appropri- ate speech. Maj. D. D. Shumway, as ex- pressive of his good wishes, presented to the company, through Capt. Simpson $20 in gold.
The company marched to Pana on that day and took the cars on the Central rail- road. A good dinner was served up to the
boys in blue at Pana. They moved by rail to Decatur the same evening, where they were jammed into two freight cars and rolled away to Jacksonville. The company was mustered into service on the 25th of May, 1861, and went into quarters at Camp Duncan. The boys then opened the "Mys- terious box" sent along with the commis- sary department filled with cake and other nice things. This disposed of, the company gave "three cheers and a tiger" to the ladies of Taylorville.
The 14th regiment, Illinois volunteers, as sworn into the United States service at Jack- sonville, Ill., May 25, 1861, for three years. Jno. M. Palmer, colonel.
Muster-roll of Company H :
Andrew Simpson, captain, resigned Oc- tober 4, 1862; John W. Hartley, Ist lieu- tenant, resigned May 21, 1862; Oliver P. Squiers, 2d lieutenant, promoted captain ; Z. Payson Shumway, Ist sergeant, promoted 2d and Ist lieutenant, mustered out 1864; James W. Reed, sergeant, drowned July, 1861 : Henry Mckenzie, sergeant, mustered out October 31, 1864; Edw. W. Percy, ser- geant ; Charles Poleman, corporal : John C. Isbell, corporal; Elias C. Banning, corporal ; John Durbin ( Biscuit ), corporal; Edwin A. Salter, corporal, killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862; Robert M. Logan, corporal, dropped from the rolls October 29, 1863; Geo. M. Lunison, corporal; Charlesworth Powel, wagoner, promoted Ist lieutenant, then ad- jutant ; Edgar Chapman, musician: Morris Ray, musician, re-enlisted as veteran ; Wm. T. Brawley, private, died July 30, 1862; Andrew U. Behimer, private ; Uriah Baroff, private; Wm. W. Baldman, private, mus- tered out October 21, 1864; Christopher C. Bonds, private, mustered out October 31, 1864: John D. Bankston, private; James M. Bisby, private, re-enlisted as veteran; de-
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