USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 29
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When the call for seventy-five thousand volun- teers appeared April 15, great excitement pre- vailed throughout this section of the country, as well as other parts of the Union. Shortly after this came the attack on the Eighth Massachu- setts, while passing through Baltimore, and the first blood of the war on both sides was shed. In- stead of seventy-five thousand troops being re- ceived in response to the call. three hundred thou- sand volunteers offered themselves for the service of their country and they came marching forth to the tune of "John Brown's Body." During the ensuing weeks there were tender partings of sons from parents and sweethearts. Though the terms of enlistment were commonly short it was still believed on both sides that the war would be a matter of not more than one hundred days or so. If either party had foreseen four or five years of continuous and terrific fighting between armies aggregating two million men, and with losses altogether near seven hundred thousand, the emotions of those parting would have been
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.
THE NEW YORK 'PUBLIC LIBRARY:
ASTOR, LENOX T'LDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
more poignant still, but in these first weeks there was displayed a kind of sentiment which could only belong to the early stages of the war. There had as yet been no gaps made in the family cir- cles of the nation ; there were no wrongs to avenge, no sufferings to requite; the harsher aspect of the struggle had not yet come. There was only the exultation of fighting for one's country, the pa- thos of saying good-by, the hope of glory, the glow of facing untried dangers. The boys left their classes in the colleges, and in the public schools, the farmers, mechanics and artisans left their work, clerks laid down their bargains on the coun- ter, the merchant raised a company or regiment and put himself at its head. Gentlemen of leis- ure found at last opportunity for action, which they had missed all their lives without know- ing what ailed them ; ne'er-do-wells and black sheep started to the front with the determination to prove that there was stuff in them after all. They all went into camp, green, loose, awkward. The men were independent, free and easy; the of- ficers men of education and refinement, unused to the exigencies of military discipline, asked their rank and file (with many of whom perhaps they had been acquainted in the walks of peace) to "please step this way." "kindly present arms," and so on ; but such softened words wore away be- fore long, and when the first three months again came back to their native villages they were hard- ly recognizable, for the gawky citizens who had gone forth so lately. Their figures were wiry and erect, their lean faces were tanned by the suns of Virginia. They walked in pairs or threes, with a long, springy, measured step of war; they were now disciplined soldiers who had shot and been shot at, had faced death, had obeyed orders, had made a part of battles. The difference was won- derful and it never wore away. Many who marched forth returned no more forever: those who came back were changed : there were empty places in almost every household as the years went by ; and the family group around the hearth, if it were still full, never looked the same as before: There was another spirit, another feeling in it. Everywhere you saw the badge of mourning : wom- en, old and young in black gowns, with crepe reils : it was a sight so common that one ceased to notice it. And the talk was all campaigns, battles, generals, captains, regiments, charges, re-
treats, victories, defeats. The war correspondents of that day were few but the newspapers were ab- sorbing reading nevertheless and they had news to tell. There were the black head lines; the col- uns of terse narrative; the lists of dead and wounded-but these soon had to be given up save for the names of leading officers; what should a newspaper do with the loss of forty or fifty thou- sand which some of the great battles brought? Short or long, those lists of dead, wounded and missing, were as trying to the women's hearts at home as was the charge that caused them to the soldiers who faced the guns. Yes, far more trying, for the charge was made in hot blood and there was excitement with glory to win and only one's own death to face ; but the lists were read at home; cold and trembling fingers held the paper: the eyes were painfully strained ; the lips parted ; the face pale, and the heart stood still or leaped by turns. There was no excitement to sustain the wife and mother: no glory to gain, and the death, if it came, came not to her but to him she loved best. "No adequate history could ever be written of the women of the Civil war, but it is strange, indeed, that no great sculptor or architect has been commissioned to erect some mighty monu- ment to commemorate forever in enduring marble or bronze her heroism, her sacrifices and her achievements."
How do the excitements of our earlier settlement, its claim wars, its county seat wrangles, its con- test with the banditti, its war upon grave robbers, its political and social excitements, all pale and lose their interest when compared with the story of the grand heroism displayed by her sons upon a hundred fields of battle.
In the four years of the Civil war is comprised more of our county's real history, more true hero- ism, more adventure, more romance, more gal- lantry, valor, everything that dignifies and en- nobles the characters of this people than all the remaining portions of its career. What gallant and honorable service the soldier boys of De Kalb county performed for their country. Not one of the great battles of the long and bloody war was fought in which the sons of De Kalb did not bear an honorable part.
De Kalb county boys opened the first battle in the seven days' fight on the Virginia peninsula and were the first to attack Lee's rebel hosts at
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Gettysburg. Some loaded their guns for the first time, while under the fire of Fort Donelson. They swept with the great Sherman on the grand march to the sea. They were the heroes of the day on the first assault on Vicksburg. They bore a most honorable part in its final capture. They saved by gallant charge the defeat of Banks on the Red river. They were first at the capture of Mobile. In the campaigns in Missouri, Arkansas. Tennessee and in the cast. indeed wherever a rebel army was to be found, there were men of De Kalb county to meet them in the deadly conflict.
De Kalb county furnished one brevet major general in the person of Charles Stolbrand, five brevet brigadier generals in the persons of Daniel Dustin. Charles Waite. Everell F. Dutton, F. W. Partridge and Thomas W. Humphrey. They fur- nished seven colonels and lientenant colonels, about double that amount of majors and over forty captains.
When the first company of soldiers was raised by Z. B. Mayo the ladies of Sycamore purchased and made the uniforms for the soldiers. Ther were not skilled in army regulation suits. but made a very presentable company. The work of the women of De Kalb county deserves most honorable mention. Aid societies were organized in every township of the county and furnished hospital supplies, clothing and food for the soldiers. They purchased and presented flags to many of the organizations that went from this county and the spirit of true heroism was as strong in them as in the boys on the field. Those were days of great sorrow. Those present when those com- panies of the One Hundred and Fifth marched from this county will never forget the sad part- ings of the boys with their families. During the war we read accounts like the following: "Died at his home in Mayfield of illness contracted in the war, Turner Wing, aged eighteen years and eight months." "Killed at the battle of Shiloh. one of the gallant officers of the Fifty-second Illinois Vol- unteer Regiment. Captain E. C. Knapp. aged twen- ty-nine years," "Killed at Stone River. December 31, 1862, John Densmore Dole, of the Thirty- fourth Infantry. aged twenty-one years." "Joseph Petrie at Corinth, aged seventeen years." Thus we can get a definite idea of the age of the sol- diers who constituted the army of the Union dur- ing the Civil war. In passing through the great
national cemeteries of the southland we find the age of the average soldier a little more than twen- ty. and after a day spent in the great national cemetery at Chattanooga, where seventeen thon- sand soldiers lie buried, we noticed but one who had attained the age of forty years.
At meetings of the board of supervisors of De Kalb county, at town meetings and, in fact, in nearly all of the public gatherings. questions per- taining to the war were discussed and measures devised for the termination of the rebellion. It has been our aim to give a complete list of all the soldiers who went to the war from this county. Where full companies were organized in this coun- ty for the different regiments we find little diffi- culty in securing names, but many men from this county enlisted in regiments raised in other parts of the state, especially Chicago, so that it would be an extremely difficult task to give the list complete.
The political affairs of both town and county pertain largely to matters growing out of problems concerning the war. Special town meetings. spe- cial meetings of the board of supervisors are of frequent occurrence. One meeting of the super- visors appropriated $2,000.00 to families deprived of their support because of father, husband or son, upon whom a widowed mother depended for support. had gone to the front. The men who served in public capacities, whether in county or township affairs, deserve unstinted praise for the loyal support of every feature of service that strengthened the national cause: and had every county north of Mason's and Dixon's line been as loyal and patriotic as De Kalb county the war would not have cost one-third as much of blood and treasure as was occasioned by this ernel war.
TENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
. COMPANY II.
SERGEANTS.
Daniel R. Ballon, Sandwich, promoted first lieu- tenant.
Franklin Munson, Sandwich, promoted first lientenant.
Hubert Carwer, Sandwich. mustered out Au- gust. 28. 64.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Edward Hoag, Sandwich, died February 6, '62.
Charles Kenrill Sandwich, mustered out Au- gust 28, '64.
CORPORALS
M. R. Van Nostrand, Sandwich, re-enlisted as veteran.
George Woodward, Sandwich, promoted first lieutenant.
John Culver, Sandwich, mustered out August 28, '64.
Cornelius Haggerty, Sandwich, died August 31, '62.
PRIVATES.
Brucham, William, Sandwich, mustered out Au- gust 28, '64.
Baldwin, John, Sandwich, discharged March 9, '62.
Baldwin, Kipps, Sandwich, re-enlisted as vet- eran.
Banfield, John, Sandwich, re-enlisted as veteran.
Baker, Thornton, Sandwich, discharged May 26, 62.
Colgrove, Franklin, Sandwich, re-enlisted as vet- eran.
Corke, Thomas, Sandwich, re-enlisted as veteran.
Canham, William, Sandwich, mustered out Au- gust 28, '64.
Davis, Washington, Sandwich, re-enlisted as vet- eran.
Drujar, William, Sandwich, died February 25, '64.
Estabrook, Edwiu, Sandwich, re-enlisted as vet- eran.
Frorget, Henry, Sandwich, discharged Novem- ber 20, '63.
Fuhr, Adam, Sandwich, mustered out August 28, '64.
Faxon, Samuel, Sandwich, re-enlisted as veteran. Gilbert, Franklin, Sandwich, discharged March 12, '62.
Godfrey, Charles, Sandwich, mustered out Au- gust 28, '64.
Hamlin, Charles, Sandwich, mustered out Au- gust 28, '64.
Hamlin, William H., Sandwich, mustered out August 28, '64.
Hinkins, Andrew, Sandwich, mustered out Au- gust 28, '64.
Hart, Henry, Sandwich, mustered out August 28, '64.
Hammer, Francis, Sandwich, discharged March 11, '62.
Ise, Henry, Sandwich, re-enlisted as veteran.
Judd, Albert, Sandwich, mustered out August 28, '64.
Lacey, Michael, Sandwich, re-eulisted as veteran.
Miller, George C., Sandwich, re-enlisted as vet- eran.
Miller, James, Sandwich, mustered ont August 28, '64.
Miller, William, Sandwich, mustered out Au- gust 28, '64.
Mullin, Nathaniel, Sandwich, re-enlisted as vet- eran.
Rose, Andrew, Sandwich, mustered ont June 15, '65.
Sanders, Milton, Sandwich, re-enlisted as vet- eran.
Snyder, Augustus, Sandwich, died March 4, '64. Stall, John, Sandwich, mustered out August 28, '64.
Stipp, Herman, Sandwich, died November 6, '62. Wait, Lorenzo, Sandwich, re-enlisted as veteran.
Whitney, Edward, Sandwich, deserted November 27. '61.
VETERANS.
Baldwin, Kipps, Sandwich, died July 20, '64, from wounds.
Banfield, John, Sandwich, mustered out July 4, '65, as corporal.
Colgrove, Franklin, Sandwich, discharged June 23, '65, for disability.
Corke, Thomas, Sandwich, transferred to non- commissioned staff.
Davis, Washington, Sandwich, mustered out July 4, '65, as corporal.
Estabrook, Edwin. Sandwich, mustered out July 4, '65. as corporal.
Faxon, Samuel, Sandwich, mustered out July 4, '65, as sergeant.
Hammer, Francis, Sandwich, mustered out July 4, '65.
Lacey, Michael, Sandwich, mustered out July 4, '65, as sergeant.
196
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Miller, James. Sandwich, mustered out July 4, Army of the Cumberland in General Thomas '65, as sergeant.
Nonslat. Eugene, Sandwich, mustered out July 4. '65. as sergeant.
Rose. Andrew, Sandwich, wounded.
Stipp, Herman, Sandwich, mustered out July 4. '65, as sergeant.
Van Nostrand, M. R., Sandwich. transferred to non-commissioned staff.
Wait. Lorenzo, Sandwich, transferred to non- commissioned staff.
RECRUITS.
Coster. Nicholas, Sandwich, mustered out Sep- tember 5, 64.
Davis, Henry, Sandwich, died May 8, 62.
Dobbin. David, Sandwich, mustered out Septem- ber 21. 64.
Estabrook Adelbert. Sandwich, mustered out July 4. '65.
Gletty. George. Sandwich, mustered out Decem- ber 28. '64.
Gletty, Jacob, Sandwich, died JJanuary 29. '62.
Ilough. George A .. Sandwich, discharged Jan- uary 19. '63.
Ilolden. William. Sandwich, mustered out De- cember 28. '64.
Hoefner. Antonio, Sandwich. transferred to Mis- sissippi Marine Brigade.
Latham, Thomas A., Sandwich, mustered out December 28, '64.
Morrison. Thomas, Sandwich, transferred to Mississippi Marine Brigade.
Seaton. Leonard B .. Somonauk. mustered out .July 4, '65.
Trouslatt. Eugene. Sandwich, re-enlisted as vet- eran.
The Tenth Illinois Infantry was one of the six regiments called for by the governor. formed April 16, 1861. The regiment was first engaged in the siege of New Madrid, lost their captain. Lindsey H. Carr, and two men killed of the Sandwich company. They were next engaged at Island No. 10. took part in the movements of Pope's army on the advance on Corinth, had a brisk fight. forced a passage through four miles of swamp, losing several men; garrisoned Fort Negley for a time and was then assigned to the
Corps. They were at the siege of Knoxville and were in the army furnishing relief to General Burnsides. They re-enlisted as veterans in 1864 and moved with Sherman's army toward Atlanta. Had a stubborn fight at Buzzard's Roost and Resaca, and were present at the fall of Atlanta; participated in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain and were then attached to the army under Thomas, following Hood northward. They again joined the army under Sherman. fought at the battle of Ben- tonville. and were with the army at Raleigh when the war closed. On the 4th of June they proceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, and were mustered out of service on the 4th of July, 1865, and received final discharge and payment July 11, 1865.
THIRTEENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
CAPTAINS.
E. F. Dutton.
R. A. Smith.
F. W. Partridge.
Z. B. Mayo.
T. B. Loring.
1. J. Brinkerhoff. George H. Carpenter.
Richard A. Smith.
FIRST LIEUTENANT.
George _1. Daboll.
SECOND LIEUTENANT.
Henry T. Porter.
SERGEANTS, COMPANY E.
E. W. Dewey. Sandwich, deserted January 1, 63.
B. W. Clifford. Plano, promoted second lieuten- ant.
Zenas S. llarrison. Sandwich, discharged No- vember 3. '61, for disability.
William Wallace. Sandwich. promoted second lieutenant.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
CORPORALS.
James M. Dobbin, Freeland. died January 12, `63, of wounds.
William E. Underwood. Sandwich, mustered out January 8. 65, as sergeant.
MUSICIANS.
E. T. Bowers, Somonauk. mustered out June 18, `64.
S. W. West. Somonauk, mustered out June 18, '64.
PRIVATES.
Ankle, Henry, Somonauk, mustered out June 18, 64.
Bashew, Joseph M .. Sandwich, died Jannary 21, '63. of wounds.
Bish. Lewis, Squaw Grove, mustered out June 18. '64. as corporal.
Brainard, Jacob. Squaw Grove, mustered out June 18. 64.
Brookins. James. Squaw Grove, mustered out June 18, '64.
Doolittle, Mareus B., Sandwich, died March 7, '63.
Fitch, Albert C .. Somonauk, mustered out June 18, '64.
Hermis. Lewis. Sandwich. prisoner, mustered out June 10. 65.
Joles. William, Sandwich. mustered out June 18, 64.
Judge, Michael, Somonank, mustered out Jnne 18. 64.
Kelly. James, Somonauk, mustered out June 18, '64.
Konth, Michael, Somonauk, deserted July 4, '61.
Liter, Nicholas, Squaw Grove, mustered out June 18, '64.
Miller, Nicholas. Squaw Grove, mustered out June 18. '64, as corporal ; was a prisoner.
Mullin, Andrew. Sandwich, killed at Chickasaw Bayou, December 29, '62.
Mattison, Joseph D., Sandwich, mustered out June 18, '64.
Nicholas, Thomas, Somonauk, died Angust 16, '63.
Orr, Alfred B., Somonauk, discharged Septem- ber 8, '63, for disability.
Palmer, Camillas L., Squaw Grove, died June 16. '63.
Patch, William B., Clinton, deserted March 10, '62.
Pierce, Benjamin, De Kalb, died January 7, '62.
Potter, Thomas B., Somonauk, killed at Chieka- saw Bayou, December 29, '62.
Stewart, Daniel, Sandwich, mustered out June 18, '64.
Van Velzer, Lucien L., De Kalb, deserted April 24. 62.
Wilcox. Otis. Sandwich, deserted July 4, '61.
RECRUITS.
Alger, William H., Somonauk, transferred to Company I, Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry.
Mullin. John, Sandwich, prisoner. mustered out May 30. '65, as corporal.
Trapp, Frederick, Somonauk, died March 7. '63.
COMPANY F.
SERGEANTS.
John S. Harronn, Sycamore, absent; not mus- tered in.
Azro A. Buek, Sycamore, promoted captain.
Lorenzo H. Whitney. Sycamore, discharged Sep- tember 10, '61.
Enos Churchill, Cortland, mustered out June 18, '64.
Porter D. Hall, Cortland, absent, wounded since November. 63.
CORPORALS.
Byron F. Wyman. Sycamore. mustered out June 18. '64, as first sergeant.
Ransom F. Burleigh, Sycamore, mustered out June 18, '64. as sergeant.
William S. Smith, Sycamore, died September 19, '64.
Edward W. Olney, Sycamore, mustered out June 18. '64, as sergeant.
Thomas Hogan. Sycamore, died May 25, '63, of wonnds.
Wesley D. Russell, Sycamore, died June 26, '63.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
PRIVATES.
Allen. William. Sycamore, mustered out June 18. 64.
Atwood, Morris, Sycamore. discharged Septem- ber 9. 63. for disability.
Babcock. Isaiah. Sycamore. mustered out June. :64.
Bradley. Daniel. Sycamore, prisoner, inustered out May 8. 65.
Bryant. Samuel T .. Sycamore, mustered out June 18, '64.
Burgess, Lewis, Cortland, discharged January 1. '62.
Barton. Anthony. Sycamore. mustered ont June 18, 64.
Barnes. Daniel A. A. B., Sycamore. mustered out JJune 18, `64.
Carr. George. Sycamore, prisoner, mustered out June 6. '65.
Campbell, George. Sycamore. prisoner, mnstered out June. 65.
Caswell. Charles H .. Sycamore. mustered out June 18, '64.
Clarke. John, Cortland. discharged December 10. 61.
Clewson. Leonard S., Sycamore, mustered out June 18, '64.
Coogle. John, Sycamore. deserted August 18. '61.
Courtwright, Cyrenus S .. Cortland. mustered out June 18. 64.
Crosby. Charles R .. Sycamore, mustered out June 18. '64.
Culver. Harlan. Cortland, discharged January 1.'62.
Deily. JJacob S .. Sycamore, wounded since De- cember 29. 62.
Depue. Nicholas. Sycamore, mustered out June 18. '64, as corporal.
Dolan, Thomas. Sycamore, discharged July 1. '62.
Fidermont, Samuel. Sycamore, mustered out June 18, '64.
Gandy. Wayne, Cortland. discharged May 4. '63. for disability.
Goodrich. George. Cortland, died February 16, '63.
Greene, Andrew .J .. Sycamore. died October 2. '62.
Harrison. Charles. Sycamore, mustered out July 25. '64.
Hartman, Philo D., Sycamore. mustered out June 18, '64.
Hevenor. Reubeu M., Malta, mustered out June 18, '64.
Hill. John. Malta. deserted April 28. 63.
Houghton, Alonzo. Sycamore, mustered out July 25, 64.
Keppell. Isaac, Kingston, died May 17, '62.
Kerr, William C., Sycamore, died January 5, 63. of wounds.
Loring, Theodore, Cortland. promoted lieuten- ant.
Losce. Joshua. De Kalb, prisoner, mustered out June 6. '65.
MeLaughlin. Thomas. Sycamore, deserted Feb- ruary 28. 63.
Milligan. Robert. Sycamore. deserted April 28, 63.
Mulligan. Albert. Sycamore. mustered out. June 18. '64.
Myers, Frederick C., Sycamore, veteran, pris- oner. mustered out June, '65.
Nagreen. Joseph. Sycamore. absent, siek since October 21. '63.
Nichols. John W., Sycamore, mustered out May 30. 65. as sergeant.
Norris. Sylvester W., Sveamore, mustered out June 18, '64.
Oleson. Hans, Cortland, died November 2. '63, of wounds.
Orr. Thomas J., Sycamore. mustered out June 18, '64.
Orritt, John. Malta, discharged November, '62, for disability.
Partridge. Zelotes B., Sycamore, discharged May 6. '63.
Peck. Charles V., Sycamore, killed at Ringgold, November 27, '63.
Phelps. William A., Sycamore, mustered out June 18, '64.
Potter. Seneca, Sycamore, discharged July 25. '62, for disability.
Ramer. Henry. Pierce, mustered out June 18, '64.
Robbins. Alfred. Sveamore, discharged October 28. '62.
Russell, Gustavus F., Cortland. mustered out June 18. '64.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Siglin, Jacob, Sycamore, discharged September 12. '61.
Secord, Francis. Sycamore, sick since October 1, '63.
Smith, Henry, Pierce, killed at Ringgold, No- vember 27. '62.
Smith, James M., Sycamore, deserted May 31, '62.
Smith, Oliver W., Sycamore, mustered out June 18.'64.
Spiking, John Il., Sycamore, mustered out June, '64.
Stafford, Seymour, Sycamore, transferred to In- valid Corps.
Stark, W. H. Cortland, died December 15, '61.
Thompson, Julius, De Kalb, mustered out June, '64.
Waldron, John, Sycamore, discharged December, '62, for disability.
West, Asa P., Sycamore, discharged June 6, '63, for wounds.
Willis, Moses B., Sycamore, discharged August 11,'62.
Wing, Vintner B., Sycamore, died September. '62. of wounds.
Young, John, Sycamore, died January 13, '64, of wounds.
VETERANS.
Harrington, Nelson H .. Sycamore, corporal, transferred to Fifty-sixth Infantry.
Houghton, Alonzo, Sycamore, transferred to Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry.
Myers, Frederick. Sycamore, transferred to Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry.
Orvis, Charles W., Sycamore, transferred to Fifty-sixth Illinois, prisoner. mustered out June, '65.
RECRUITS.
Adams, John, Sycamore, mustered ont June 18, '65, as corporal.
Burbank. Elbert, Sycamore, mustered out June 18.'64.
Burbank, Horace C., Sycamore, transferred to Invalid Corps, September. '63.
Berogan, John, Pierce.
Brown, George, Cortland, prisoner, mustered out June 6, '65.
Freeman, William, Sycamore, deserted July 31,'61.
Gould. Benjamin L., Cortland, discharged Jan- uary, '63, for disability.
Harrington, Nelson R., Sycamore, re-enlisted as veteran.
Kingsley. Albert F., Sycamore, promoted cor- poral.
Lawrence, John M., Cortland.
Nichols, Stephen, Sycamore, discharged Febrn- ary, '63, for disability.
Orvis, Charles W .. Sycamore, re-enlisted as vet- eran.
Patten, David H., Sycamore, mustered ont June 18,'64.
Russell, Alphonso, Coriland, killed December 29, '63, at Chickasaw Bayou.
Sprague, Edward F., Sycamore, transferred to Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry.
Upon the 4th of May the president made a new call for foriy-two thousand more men to serve three years and Illinois was given the privilege of fur- nishing six regiments of them. Then began such a scrambling for the privilege of forming a part of these regiments as was probably never seen be- fore in any country. Places were sought in these regiments with as much avidity as civil offices are now struggled for. All manner of schemes, com- binations and strategems were used to affect the minds of the authorities so as to gain the boon of a place in these regiments.
A convention of claimants for this honor in this congressional district was held at Geneva and everyone who had any influence or acquaintance with any person in authority was urged to attend and secure a recognition for these companies. The convention accomplished nothing, but soon after an order was procured for the creation of one regi- ment, the Thirteenth Illinois, in this second con- gressional district. Of its ten companies, one from Sycamore and one from Sandwich were fortunate enough to secure a place and a right to serve their country. Most of the companies had been filled up to the number of one hundred privates, besides the officers, when an order came from the war depart-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
ment, still bent on diminishing the force, to re- duce the company to eighty-four privates.
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