Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois, Part 72

Author: Kern, J. W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 792

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PART I.

The history of Iroquois county would be sadly. lamentably, incomplete without mention of the honorable and conspicuous part borne by her sons in the greatest of all wars waged in modern times. We of the north speak of it as the War of the Rebellion or the War for the Union : the southerners call it the War for Southern Inde- Tendence or the War between the States. With the cause or causes which led to this bloody conflict we, as local historian, have not to deal : they were national, or more properly speaking, sectional : it was the united north arrayed against the united south. Still there were those in the north who sympathized with the south and some in the south whose sympathies were with the north ; but these factors in the struggle were an insignificant minority in either section and had little or no influence in shaping the course of events.

It is the pride and boast of every state, of every county in each state, north and south, to point to the quota of men contributed to their respective armies, and to applaud the valor and heroism of their sons. This is natural, it is land- able, it is patriotic. In this spirit we propose to record the achievements of the gallant sons of Iroquois county who so freely and promptly re- speaded to their country's call in its hour of peril. The task has its inspiration, but we realize how illy equipped we are for the task and how futile must prove our efforts to do the subject justice.

.At the beginning of hostilities ( April 14. 1861). when South Carolina hurled her shrieking missiles upon Fort Sumter in Charleston Har- bor. Iroquois county was largely in a state of na- ture, a vast undeveloped expanse of prairies. swamps and said ridges, with no cities within her bounds and but few small villages: farm houses were scattered here and there and far be- tween excepting in a few favored localities where settlements were made by communities

who had immigrated from the cast, principally from Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Although large in area ( larger than the state of Rhode Island in land surface ) and one of the largest counties in Illinois, it was sparsely in- habited, the population according to the census of 1860 being only 12,285, comprising males and females, adults and infants. The enrollment of those liable to military service, made by the gov- erminent in 1862. was 2,204, and her quota 1.460. But such was the supreme loyalty and devotion of her citizens to the Union that she gave an excess of 153 above the quota assigned-being over thirteen per cent of the entire population ( count- ing men, women and children ) and nearly seven- ty-five per cent of the able-bodied men subject to service on call. This certainly is a record to be proud of-a record to which their posterity may refer with glowing hearts.

Let us remember, however, that these brave men of the prairies did not enter the service of their country with any thought of achieving dis- tinction or making a record for themselves or for the future. Their souls were animated by one supreme purpose-to save this country and to avenge the insult to their flag, a lofty, a holy purpose. They were patriots as had been their pioneer fathers and revolutionary ancestors ; they went forth from their peaceful homes, like Cin- cinnatus of old, leaving their plows in the fur- rows, and bared their breasts to the fury of battle for the land they loved. for liberty, and union- primarily, to save the nation from disruption . and secondly, to wipe out the curse of human slavery which was the fruitful cause of contention and of final secession.

The volunteers who went forth to perform this service were not hirelings who fought for pay : they were not paupers from the almshouses : they were not criminals let loose from jail to enlist on the promise of immunity from punishment. No! No! they were the truest, bravest, noblest sons of the soil, without a stain upon their souls : they were the hope and dependence of devont and devoted mothers, of fond and doting fathers. sons true to the home instinct and who never fal- tered in any crisis, preferring death to dishonor.

They were well skilled in the use of the ax and the rifle but not in the arts of war ; they were not trained to military service with its discipline and

IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS

regnfar cry.10ates of : itta 1 th true soldier, and this quality they merited ies. an humble, stan's Law abiding. letts by ug at centro. The free air which they addol and the bains breezes which swept unalist of over their broad and rollng prairies espanyol their The hound and inten sified their Last mile ml (' untry.

Such were the non. chiefs som nath in their teens, who went forth from Fromthe - count to do little for the Union and average de 0's made in the day when they reset The that the cross apull overs feel it INGS and the triumphant shoot of victory - Sandel throughout the Enel. This weght a

Illinois, refusing to accept any other teques then "nomeliate and mecedional surrender". thos Store River, Chickamauga, Mission Ruge Lach out Moontam, kenesaw. Atlanta, mar hel to the sea with Sherman, through the Card nas to the surrender of the Confederate Gereral John stom, Bear fateenville. North Car du'a, and parts cipated in the last battle of the war at lurt Bakel. Valana, on the 4th of April. 1805

They marched the length and breath si evers state in rebelnon ; they fought upon every ares battle field of the war from the Offer river t . the banks of the Arkalisas, they suffere I n s uth ern prisms and languished in bothsome hospi tal, or persil leshansted In the side Wall their lives they scaled their I wales and devotion.

the Republic remains to resfind us of the awi struggle and to repeat to us the story of h w their contarles iought and fell. Is not if the passer of thegie titel or af per to write, or of hand tonight the horrible tra lant of le ller

Unto 51 were killed lastnight in little . 252 die ! frem wendt revelar of dess det tol

war which brought her to premature gral .. from drea contradel in the service

Solen the sad story as recorded, but what

and fikrewn graves beneath the Outhern ski s. Hi when the roofr Is cat give to ancofit. Tho

up a score of bed and carnage mir to be sin or bord of were. TFar cerrades kiew the well that somewhere upon that fatal field the Hver nin dallow trepeles by the city andlev crel with a iw inches of "min"

What of theme even more unfortun te re ported as they prisoner." who were never es changed, never seen er heard of afterward the

ville or some other southern priset, but i rec- to ls ns when or where Sul, their chimes with whom they raped over the prairies or at mel the modest log cabin at the edge of the tomber in groquon cant and with when they unlisted i the aris Ines the we'll the file

Scarcely more thanone Half of those who bore the brunt of battle returned unscathed from the great was the for a mans a log cabin and vil lagt he ne at the sight of their loved ones incol Irei danger an! "at once more in the embraces of Heathers, sisters and sweetheart. Yet there

but what was the nighth of there wlease has ban , fathers, brothers and sime per ched in the

For cone How many such there were never be known, the records fail us

The father and is there of Is mus cl ul apreciat proces sertie-they fall if

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their flesh and blood noble sons who were as dear to their hearts as life itself.

Here, in our feeble way. let us express our gratitude for the great service they rendered to posterity in preserving our county undivided and indivisible, for the service rendered to all man- kind and to all future ages in the cause of human freedom. All honor to their names and fame. Iroquois county glories in her soldier sons and in this volume enshrines their names that her children and children's children to the remotest ages may read them and feel their hearts heave and their blood (the blood of their fathers) thrill through their veins with rapture of delight in the proud reflection "such was my ancestory."

As we ourselves in youth read the story of our revolutionary forefathers in our school read- ers and histories and felt the blood coursing hot in our veins so will the generations who come after us read the story of those who preserved the Union and made possible the great heritage bequeathed to them.

Such is the military history of Iroquois county briefly, all too briefly, told : and this is our poor tribute to the patriotism of her citizenship. How futile are mere words to express our admiration and gratitude for her unswerving loyalty, and our deep appreciation of the great service she rendered to our common country, contributing even more than her allotted share to the record that has made Illinois illustrious in the sisterhood of states.

PART II.

"I HAVE DONE MY DUTY."

DEATH OF COL. THOS. D. WILLIAMS.

It is not possible within the scope of this work, and the space allotted, to record the individual deeds of heroism performed by the volunteers from Iroquois county-the long list of her slain is their testimony. But two cases may justly be cited as illustrating the bravery and lofty spirit which animated them all.

When the Civil war began Thomas D. Williams was station agent of the Illinois Central Railroad at Chebanse. He had served during the war with

Mexico in the regular army and rose to the rank of sergeant. His intelligence and bravery at- tracted the attention of Capt. George B. McClel- lan, who commanded the battery, promoted him to sergeant, and after the close of that war recommended Sergeant Williams for a cadetship at West Point. Williams, however, declined the proffered appointment preferring to accept the position of foreman on the Illinois Central which was then in the course of construction under the supervision of Capt. McClellan, who was chief engineer of the road. On the completion of the road Williams was made its agent at Chebanse.

When the second call for volunteers ( in 1861) came trembling over the wires he at once set about to recruit a company which in a short time was accomplished. The members being permit- ted to select their own officers from their ranks Williams was chosen captain and the company was assigned to the Twenty-fifth Regiment as "Co. G." This regiment was being organized at Champaign where Captain Williams reported with his men according to orders from Governor Yates. William N. Coler, of Urbana, was its first colonel but resigned after one year's service, August 31, 1862. When this occurred some of the most influential officers of the regiment. hav- ing recognized the superior qualities of Captain Williams, petitioned Governor Yates to appoint him to fill the vacancy. In response to this peti- tion Williams was promoted colonel ; as such he commanded the Twenty-fifth at the battle of Stone River (or Murfreesboro as it is sometimes called ), one of the fiercest and most bloody bat- tles of the whole war not excepting Chickamanga and Gettysburg.

On the first day of this battle ( December 30. 1862) Colonel Williams was wounded, being struck by a fragment of shell, causing a ghastly wound in his right thigh. But he did not sur- render his command nor desert his boys as the exigencies would have justified; he bound up his wound with a handkerchief and remained upon the field. The battle raged for several days, with fearful slaughter on both sides, when Gen- cral Bragg. the confederate commander, finally gave up the field and retreated to Tullahoma. The severest fighting during this engagement occurred on December 31, 1862, which was a disastrous day for General Rosecrans, who com-

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IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

mandled the Union forces. In the early morning of that day before our men had time to cat their seanty breakfast- General Bragg hurled his choi est battalions, which he had concentrated during the night, with desperate fury upon the right wing of the Union army which was forced back amid terrible confusion. It seemed impossible to stay the impetuosity of the enens who seemed delirious with their success. Seeing the other regiments of the brigade retiring before this furi- ous onslaught, while his "boss" were falling around him, the color bearer shot down and the colors lying on the ground. Colonel Williams amid the shower of shot and shell picked up the flag and waving it on high before the regiment shouted. "We'll plant it here, boys, and rally the Twenty-fifth around it, and here we will die."

It was a heroic act well calculated to inspire his boys with renewed courage and determination -a sublime exhibition well worthy the song of poet and pen of the realist in literature. But Colonel Williams had no sooner uttered this ex- hortation than a bullet pierced his breast while le was still holding the starry en blen al it : he fell, and on that he'd he died. Ilis last words. spoken to Dr. Myron S. Brown, regimental sur- gom, who rushed to his relief. were: "1 HWI. DONE MY DUTY" Is there recorded in history anywhere an example of loftier patriotism. greater bravery, or more heroic conduct ?

The brigade commander, General Woodruff. in his official report of the engagement speaks of this tragic incident in the following eloquent and sympathetic language: " Amid the glorious re- sult- of a battle won it gives ne pain to record the names of the gallant men who gave up their Inves on the altar of their country. But we must drop a tear of sorrow over their resting places and offer our sympathies to their relatives and friends, trusting that Good will care for them and soothe their andfictions. And while we re- nlember the noble dead let us pas our tribute of respect to the gallant Colonel T. D. Williams. Twenty fifth Ilmois Regiment, who thed in the performance of his duties ; he tell with the regi mental colors in his hands, exclaiming. We'll plant it here boss, and rally the old Twenty fifth around it, and here we will d'e. Such conduct is abreve all praise ; words can utter no eugenin worthy of the subject "

By direction of the bereaved, heart stricken widow, then still residing in Chebause, the re- mains of Colonel Williams were taken to Troy, New York, her former home, where they were married, and here the lifeles body was laid to final rest in Oakwood cemetery. And it may be mentioned as an interesting finale that the remains of General George H Thomas, whom the sol- diers under his command affectionately called "Old Pap Thomas" lie interred in the same come- ters and but a few steps from the grave of our noble Colonel Williams. Mrs. Withan con- tinned to reside in thebanse until the ched a few years ago, when her body was taken to Troy and placed beside the companion whom she mourned for over forty years.

Williams Post No. 25. Grand Army of the Re- public. headquarters in Watseka, commemorates the name of Colonel T. D. Williams and bears the number of his regiment-a poetic. historie combination.

IROQUOIS COUNTY

LAST GREAT BATTLE OF THE WAR.

PART 111.

V. has been sand above two incident- exempli- fying the patriotum and lots courage of loquais county's volunteers must suffice as examples of the services and sacrifices of her entire contin- gent, owing to the limited number of pages al- lotted to this portion of the work. We have told. to briefly, the story of the death of the gallant Colonel Willams of the Twenty-fifth Illinois Our secon I story will be of the Seventy -sixth Ilmon at Fort Blakely. Mabama ; not that this incident recites the only instance of herism ex- Inbited by this regiment but rather that it proves its valorous conduct upon every field in which it participated.

It may be of interest to state that the capture of Fort Blake's was the last battle of the war for the Union, an important historie fact. General Robert E. Lee, commander-in-chief of the confed-

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crate forces, surrendered the army of Northern Virginia to General U. S. Grant on the morning of April 9. 1865, the charge on Fort Blakely oc- curring that same evening after Lee's surrender, neither being aware of the events transpiring in other parts.

The capture of Fort Blakely affords a thrilling story, but as we are not writing a general history we must confine ourselves to the part acted by the Seventy-sixth Regiment in which we are par- ticularly interested. One is inclined to say that the Seventy-sixth Illinois was Iroquois county's favorite regiment, but that would be unjust to all other regiments in which the county was repre- sented, especially so to the Twenty-fifth, Forty- second, Fifty-first and One Hundred and Thir- teenth, all of which had a large contingency from Iroquois, not to mention Ninth and Twelfth Illinois Cavalry and various companies of ar- tillery in which the county was represented. It would also be unjust to the patriotic people of Iroquois county to say that they discriminated in favor of any particular company or regiment. But we are warranted in saying that as the county was more largely represented in the Seventy-sixth than in any other regiment, and because of its peculiar service and gallant conduct throughout the war it attracted and commanded more general interest than any other regiment. and especially so in consequence of its grand cli- max of heroism at Fort Blakely where it made a most desperate and the very last charge which closed the war. eighteen of their number being killed outright and eighty-two wounded (some of whom subsequently died ) out of its depleted ranks of little more than three hundred men who were engaged-all this in less than half an hour -driving the foe before them, forcing their way through the abattis, leaping into the trenches, scaling the parapets, springing into the fort, cap- turing those within, hauling down the emblem of secession and hoisting in its stead the banner of Union and victory.

It was during these soul-stirring events, on the eve of that memorable day, that occurred one of the most touching and tragie episodes of the en- tire four years of bloody war. It is this incident we feel impelled to record and enshrine, although we realize how feeble must be our endeavor to do justice to this heroic event.

The order came: "Get your men into line and be ready to make the assault at 5 o'clock."

Officers and men were loitering about the camp, some of them on guard, others performing police duty. The bugle sounded the "assembly." Im- mediately there was a rush to quarters for equip- ments. It required but a moment to buckle on the waist-belt and cartridge box and seize the gun. The orderly sergeants shouted "Fall in, boys, fall in!' The companies were formed as if by magic and hastily assumed their position in the regi- mental line. "Forward, march!" was the com- mand, and the Seventy-sixth advanced with firm. ‹letermined step. Well the "boys" knew what havoc confronted them, but on they moved "quick- step." resolved to do their full duty-to win or to die. The flag in the center of the line, radiant with color, inspiring, invincible symbol of Union, was bravely, proudly borne by Sergeant Hussey: it snapped in the breezes as the column hurriedly advanced. On, on they moved with lengthening strides and increased momentum.

The confederate line of forts to be assaulted were nine in number, located in a semi-circle ex- tending from river to river and connected with heavy breastworks covering a distance of two miles or more. The carth from which the breast- works were constructed left a ditch or trench ( in military parlance "a moat") in front. About two hundred yards in front of these forts and breast- works were a series of rifle-pits covering the en- tire line ; in these pits were sheltered the enemy's sharpshooters. Still in front of these about fifty vards was the ahattis consisting of trees felled outward with their branches woven together and wires wound through to hokl these branches firmly in place. Between the rifle-pits and abattis the timber had been cut down and left a tangled mass of stumps, logs and limbs. the purpose being to obstruct passage and give the sharpshooters in the pits a better opportunity to repulse any attack upon the forts.

It was obstacles such as these which the Seventy-sixth had to encounter while facing a murderous fire from the artillery in the forts and the sharpshooters in the rifle-pits. Think of it. reflect upon it. What a situation !

It so happened that the Seventy-sixth Illinois occupied the most difficult and dangerous portion of the line. Fort No. 3, which

IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

the oricalerates shattered themselves to le Involucrabl . frowned betere them like a bonds as he falls.

thick black cloud fallen to earth anding shafts of lightning into their midst. The first destruction, the abatt's, was reached . it menen tarifs checked the progress of the regiment i t- in their frenzy or crushed it kemnath their weight as they clambered escrit ; on they went inrash. So ic minable, so fearless, o espetrus was the charge there was no resisting their progress. (n they went, wending their way through the brych. leaping over the logs and stumps. of, or less ing their dad and wounded comrade . behind them. The fire of the monicarates was terrific and many a brave bas fell under it, killed or mond ; but there was no such thought as "lat. nach

Forward this must. doublequick "Forward". was the order : there was not even an indication t. I. k lack. Om. en. the sweet. having .11 11- stant here and there to discharge their guns which thes again reloaded on the ring Their alice was irresistible, and the occupants if the rol pit- deserted their cover and feel rather than -uh- mit tais pending dether capture. The rile pa- are reached and a shout of triumph rends the air. wh gling with the thirders of a Hundred can- Dar which belch tooth their wild and mund tous tire.

Pails stil grasping the flagstaff. 's baby and the day in the rif pt Sergeant Herry B. Husser united Tras Ach those township where water company i sized the prostrate colors. raisel then ce ligh, at ' bone then e Shouting . Lerin thead Hasard le fort and the rain I ur gra and callister.

Top No. 3. the tel proft cf . ttack. the 1. 1 .tronghall, was set for In gained. The Seventy- the under the torch; they scale the range part- 1\ litig or climbing over) cach ther is the top. Golwed, the southiul Ourletrer. Feng aring the first on the rho! and here while stomped over to blant thể this the fint dag cni the line a bullet in the reviver of an ant lers oficer is side the rt pierces h - bran and he fal's at the just of

his enten, the folds i the flag winding about his

Sergeant Major & C. Munhall the bans called him "Urchin" because of his youth and diminu- tive stature ) as he lay's into the fort near tell wood steps for a moment to view the frustrate form of his leaved conrade and has an irresistible impulse attempts to rescue the flag, but in his haste secures only a fragment which he forces it to his pocket as he hurries on to join the fight within the fort. James B. Flening of Captain Andrew's company the enlisted in Middlepart ). however, guil removes the body of Goldwood from the colors and bore them triumphantly in the midst of the contending forces, for the fight still rages within the fort, hand to hand, with revolvers and "club musket-": there is no time per . portugits to reload their weapons.

While the hit and center of the Sex- enty sixth made a direct charge upon the fort ile right wing of the reginert un der the immediate use of Colonel S. T. Bises charged upon a point farther north with equal in tre pid to and success. As Colonel Buses hayes fren the ramparts into the fort two shits were directed at him, one of which took effect, but Le kivel Both assailants with his resolver. He was wounded in the hip Int ignored the figures i don't med to cheer an and encourage b brave boy- as if rithing hal happened him. Fillall. the confederates realizing the fruits of further resistance surrendered for deres hundred ill mt . the hands si the Seventy-ath pris ms of war. The battle was ended. the for was there. the stars apl bars we're landed cost and replaced In the stars and stripes which gracefully waved in the woning ai gleaning in the rays of the setting sie. It was now, after the culmination of the bloody conflict, that Cel Haney dress of Ins boot to your from it blood that issued from 1. w rid. gathering and clotted in th. hont 1 g or did his boys know that he had been wounded But they saw him perform this act. Such was the courage and conduct of Colonel Buses in ili crisis.

There were many other thrilling incidents transpiring upon various parts of the field dur- ing this brilliant assault on Fort Blakely : but rete perhaps more pathetic than the following

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episode : While Corporal Goldwood was lying dead within the walls of the fort Private Fred Heppenheimer, who was excitedly rushing by the lifeless form of the young colorbearer, noticed his prostrate comrade with a bullet hole in his forehead, the blood still oozing from the fatal wound ; he suddenly stopped and bent reverently over the dead body, tears bursting from his eyes : the face was ghastly pallid save where crimson blood had discolored the features; he tenderly bowed down his head and pressed a kiss upon the bleeding brow, exclaiming as he did so, "Poor. poor, poor Charley!" Slowly he arose as if re- luetant to leave his cherished comrade thus alone. then suddenly dashed away to resume his place among the fighters, with bitterness in his soul. resolved to avenge the death of this exemplary youth and brave young soklier.

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Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois, Part 72

Author: Kern, J. W Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 792

Author: Kern, J. W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 792