USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Past and present of Mercer County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
The New Boston Rifle Company met at Graham & Roberts' Hall, May 18th. Roll call showed fifty-eight members present. The fol- lowing officers were then elected : H. B. Southward, captain; Simeon Sheldon, first lieutenant; R. P. Lytle, second lieutenant. The ser- geants were George R. Beardsley, Mahlon Sanders, Amos Prouty, S. B. Atwater, and the corporals were Charles A. Bruso, Richard Shields, Ira Burlingim and Omri Taylor. J. I. Arnold presided over this meeting. There were fifty privates.
By June Ist, six new companies were being formed in the county- one each at Aledo, New Boston, Keithsburg, Millersburg, Ohio Grove and Suez.
The New Boston boys at Camp Mather, Peoria, refused to enlist for three years and part of them were sent home under a cloud until it was learned that they had enlisted for only three months and could not leave home for a longer period. The Keithsburg-New Boston Company was assigned to Fourth Congressional District Regiment; the regimental officers being L. F. Ross, colonel; E. P. Wood (of
104
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
Mercer County), lieutenant colonel; F. M. Smith, major. The Mercer Company elected Mr. Bruington, captain. John W. Miles corresponded with the Record from Peoria while the company was stationed there.
About the middle of June the volunteer company being organized at Aledo was notified it would be accepted in a regiment that was being formed in Chicago. At once prompt efforts to fill the com- pany were made.
About the middle of June the citizens of New Boston sent to their volunteers at Camp Mather a large lot of necessaries and luxuries- chickens, canned fruits, towels, pillow cases, handkerchiefs, socks, etc. The regiment there was ordered on the 12th to march to Alton and preparations to leave on the 17th were at once made. At this time Dr. W. D. Craig was busy enrolling volunteers for the call from Chicago.
Aledo also sent a large quantity of supplies to its volunteers at Camp Mather. They were taken over by J. M. Warwick, who vol- unteered the services of himself and team for the purpose; he took over a large load of provisions, pillow cases, towels, sheets, etc., arriving there on the 7th and returning on the 1 1th.
Late in June several volunteers south of Pope Creek joined the cavalry company of Captain A. C. Hardin, of Warren County.
In response to a call the citizens of Perryton Township assembled early in June (1861) for the purpose of forming an independent military company for home protection. William Doak was chair- man of the meeting. Cruser Gray, William McHard and Theodore Guffy were a committee on resolutions. The meeting adjourned to the 15th when the committee's resolutions were unanimously adopted. They recited the deplorable condition of the country and resolved that it is the duty of all good citizens to sustain the administration in the performance of all its constitutional duties, and that we as a company with all good citizens here or elsewhere in the county hold ourselves in readiness to aid in suppressing mobs and all other viola- tions of law when called on by the legal authorities. The company volunteered about fifty men.
At Alton the two companies rendezvoused at Camp Pope, where they received a considerable quantity of supplies. William Prouty and Mrs. Monroe Willits sent them a coop of live chickens for the use of the sick in the hospital. Their regiment became the Seventeenth.
In July several volunteers south of Pope Creek joined a Mon- mouth company for service in Virginia. By July Doctor Craig had
105
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
a company nearly completed ; it was at first intended for the "Douglas Brigade," Chicago, but the plan collapsed, whereupon he applied for admission into the Ninth Regiment at Cairo. In August the county board paid $80 to cover the necessary expenses of the two com- panies while at Monmouth before their wants had been provided for. There was great indignation here when it became known that Con- gressman Kellogg had voted in favor of using Federal soldiers to hunt down, arrest and return to their masters runaway slaves. In July came the cry "On to Richmond," which was taken up by nearly all papers and speakers in the North and really led to the advance of the Federal troops in Virginia and to the battle of Bull Run, against the judgment of General Scott. But the disaster opened the eyes of the North to the fact that the northern troops would not have a holiday excursion, but would meet troops as brave as themselves.
Late in July the Seventeenth Regiment left Camp Pope, Alton, and moved to Warrenton, Missouri. Late in July Col. E. A. Paine came here to secure recruits for the Ninth Regiment; he obtained a few and while here saw the Ohio Grove Company under Judge Hays drill. M. S. Barnes, of Rock Island, secured a few recruits in the northern part of the county about this time. About twenty-five Pre- emption and Richland Grove men joined a company sent to help General Love in Kansas, going first to Fort Leavenworth.
MILITIA OF MERCER COUNTY, AUGUST, 1861
North Henderson 171 Perryton 188
Rivoli
90 Abington 21I
Richland Grove 191 Millersburg 192 Suez 213 Duncan 150
Greene
125
Keithsburg 199
Preemption
156 New Boston 229
Ohio Grove
220 Eliza 144
Mercer 232
Total 2,71I
The company of Capt. W. D. Craig left for Cairo August 6th, about sixty strong, with the others not quite ready to follow later. This company was composed of mature men-none better in the county. They departed in a hurry, slept at Monmouth as best they could, and rode on stock cars to Cairo. Colonel Paine was blamed for not providing proper care and transportation. The boys "cussed" a lit- tle, but otherwise bore their treatment uncomplainingly.
106
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
At the County Fair in 1861, all the soldiers in the county were offered free admission on "Soldiers' Day" and all were urgently invited to attend in order to have a grand parade for the benefit of the Fair and to show what this county was doing to secure new re- cruits. There was a large attendance and all had a good time. As Rev. J. S. Poage had gone to the war as chaplain of the Seventeenth Regiment, Col. W. D. Henderson took his place as orator at the Fair.
At New Boston, in August, was completed the company of sharp- shooters under Captain Southward. The company was enlisted and mustered in within a week or so and left for Springfield about the 20th. In Ohio Grove, W. I. Nevius enlisted a full company which likewise left for Camp Butler, at Springfield. The disaster at Bull Run did more to aid enlistments in this county than any other single factor. It aroused the pride, courage and fighting spirit of the men as no orator could. Before the citizens generally were aware of what was going on there were eight or ten companies commenced-several in country districts away from villages, at schoolhouses and churches. Warren Shedd's Company at Aledo secured sixty men in less than a week; his company was at once popular because he had received military training in Vermont, had become county treasurer and prominent here, and all had confidence in his judgment, bravery and military knowledge and skill. At Millersburg and to the southward was another company half formed in a week. At Viola, Richland Grove, Preemption, North Henderson and Abington, companies were commenced. Many were leaving the county and joining out- side companies and it was seen that this miscellaneous enlistment should be stopped, or the county would not receive its proper credits. In fact there came a demand that a record of all men who enlisted from this county should be kept for future reference. By August 17th, Captain Shedd's Company numbered ninety-seven men. In August the Seventeenth Regiment had a few small skirmishes with bushwhackers and were ordered to Herculaneum, twenty miles be- low St. Louis.
The General Fremont episode at St. Louis was condemned here, because it was not understood. Loyal citizens and soldiers here could not comprehend why the negroes should not be declared con- traband of war and armed and placed in the field. Later President Lincoln's moderation was seen to have been far-sighted and wise. Neither could it be understood at first why southern sympathizers should not be promptly and effectually suppressed when guilty of disloyal utterances. There were several disloyal outbreaks in the
107
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
county during the fall of 1861-in North Henderson, Abington, Suez and Preemption townships, but they were allowed to settle them- selves. Usually at any public gathering the Union men present were so preponderant that rampant disloyalty was crushed by numbers.
The North Henderson Greys were raised in August under Cap- tain Cowley and Lieutenants Bruner and Holmes. When nearly completed the company held a rally, on which occasion they were presented with a fine banner by Miss Sallie Bowen and Miss Martha Rusk. on behalf of the ladies of the township. Miss Brown made the presentation speech, to which reply was made on behalf of the company by Doctor Taylor. Addresses were made by A. A. Smith and George Simms and "Forward Boys, Forward!" was sung by J. W. Davison. Before the New Boston Sharpshooters, under Cap- tain Southward, left for camp they were given a fine picnic dinner by the citizens of that town, during which time speeches were delivered by W. M. Wilson, Jr., M. R. Good, James S. Thompson, Anderson Kirlin, Charles Hall, Anthony Burdick, C. H. Bell, J. E. Griffin, John W. Green, George W. Warner, Thomas Malat, C. W. Searles, W. B. Crapnell and others. It was a long time before the boys forgot that dinner in the grove, the stirring speeches, the fair women present and the cheers that sent them to the bloody front. They left on the Kate Cassel and just before their departure were addressed on board by John W. Green and Judge Gilmore. They left August 20th, 100 strong, and as they passed Keithsburg they were saluted with cheers and volleys from the cannon. They went to Camp Butler, Springfield.
On August 27th, Captain Shedd's company left for Camp Butler, Springfield. With about one hundred wagons they marched to Henderson Creek, Ohio Grove Township, where the citizens had prepared them a fine repast in the woods. There about five thousand people gathered to bid them goodbye and God speed. It was esti- mated that three thousand persons sat down at the tables. Speeches, farewells and other ceremonials made the occasion attractive and memorable. The boys reached Monmouth about sunset, secured supper at the Baldwin House and slept in Claycomb Hall. The next morning they took cars for Jacksonville and encamped at Camp McClernand.
In August, James H. Stewart, state's attorney, defined treason to the grand jury and instructed them to take action against any persons believed guilty of that crime. In September the county board appro- priated $1,500 to be raised as a tax of five mills on the dollar for the support of soldiers' families.
108
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
The health of Rev. J. S. Poage was so bad that he was compelled to resign his post as chaplain of the Seventeenth Regiment in August. At this time Captain Hart was engaged in raising a company in Suez Township. In August and September many citizens of the county visited the various camps in order to learn what could be done to assist in caring for the sick and wounded. Judge Gilmore, Colonel Nevius and Elisha Miles paid such visits as representatives of large masses of the citizens. In September came the news of the battle of Lexington, Missouri, where Colonel Mulligan's Brigade showed such signal gallantry. A few Mercer County boys participated. In the fall A. P. Taylor of Millersburg distributed considerable wheat to soldiers' families. By October Ist, Capt. O. A. Bridgford of Millersburg had raised twenty men for Colonel McChesney's Regiment at Rock Island.
At Viola in October, Thomas J. West was raising a company and W. B. Spaulding one at Aledo. At Berlin, Thomas Merryman and others called for a company. The special fast day called in Septem- ber by President Lincoln was observed generally by all the churches of the county. Reverends Townley and Poage preached at Aledo. Michael R. Good recruited men at New Boston for General Paine's Brigade. H. G. Calhoun raised a company at Keithsburg, which marched to Camp Black Hawk, Rock Island. On October 15th, the Seventeenth Regiment was at Cape Girardeau; the Ninth at Paducah, and the Twenty-seventh and Thirtieth at Cairo. These were the regiments that contained the most Mercer County men. W. K. Trabue was recruiting a company in Mercer and Warren counties in October; they were called the Fremont Light Guards. The ladies of Aledo organized a Soldiers' Aid Circle in October and sent to camp and hospital boxes of supplies. Elisha Miles of Aledo assisted Colonel Good to raise 101 men at New Boston within two or three weeks in October.
In November came the news of the battle of Belmont, where the companies of Captain Shedd and Southward were engaged. Several Mercer County boys were killed or wounded in that engagement. At first the battle was regarded here as a Federal defeat, but as the facts became known it was seen that the Union troops had fought gallantly, but in a measure blindly. It was an accidental and con- fused engagement in which each side reversed itself and fired in opposite directions as the battle proceeded. S. B. Atwater, who was present, wrote the following extraordinary communication to the Record :
109
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
"As I turned to load my gun some of our men behind me dis- charged a gun within two inches of my ear, and in fact from this time on I saw more men killed and wounded by our own shots than from the enemy's. Craig was killed and Smith wounded by guns in the hands of Union men in their rear who had not the courage to advance as far as they did."
On November 25th, Capt. James Burnett left with about twenty recruits in addition to those who went with Captain Shedd for his company at Cairo. Thus Mercer County had two companies in the Thirtieth Regiment.
In all parts of the county in November men assembled in groups and husked corn for the families of soldiers. In Ohio Grove Town- ship fifteen or twenty men assembled one day and husked fifty acres. The people of that township packed a large box with turkey and other good things and sent it by S. G. McClure, William McClure and George McPherren to Company A, Thirtieth Regi- ment for Christmas, 1861.
When the news began to arrive in February, 1862, that the western Union troops were investing Fort Henry and were soon to attack Fort Donelson, Mercer County became intensely interested, because five companies from this county were sure to be involved, namely: Company G, of the Twenty-seventh Regiment; Companies A and G, of the Thirtieth; Company I, of the Forty-fifth; and Com- pany E, of the Ninth. No one here thought for an instant that the brave boys from this county would prove unequal to any task where courage and heroism were required; but many were sure to die or suffer terrible wounds and so all hearts were anxious while beating with confidence and pride. News of the capture of Fort Henry came and then all awaited anxiously for reports from Fort Donel- son. In the meantime news of the death from disease of Mercer County boys began to sadden all hearts here.
Finally when tidings of the battle of Fort Donelson arrived, it caused mingled joy and sorrow-joy at the gallantry of the home boys, and sorrow that many had suffered death or wounds. In Com- panies E of the Ninth, I of the Seventeenth and A and G of the Thirtieth, many were either killed or wounded. In spite of the losses there was great rejoicing that Mercer County had borne such a splendid part in the greatest Federal victory thus far of the war. Among the rebels captured at Fort Donelson was a former resident of Keithsburg bearing the rank of first lieutenant of a Tennessee company. Soon the wounded boys began to return home on fur- lough and were everywhere welcomed as the heroes they were.
110
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
In February, 1862, Capt. Thomas J. West opened a recruiting office at Viola for a company to join the Scotch Regiment, Douglas Brigade. Capt. Warren Shedd was promoted lieutenant colonel as the result of his services before Forts Henry and Donelson. Col. L. F. Ross, of the Seventeenth, was made a brigadier-general ; he had served in the Mexican war.
When the news of the great battle of Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh) arrived soon after the 7th of April, 1862, the whole county was again anxious for news of the Mercer County companies in that desperate struggle. In that battle were the Ninth, Seventeenth and other regiments containing Mercer County boys. Letters from Lt. W. D. Craig and Sergt. L. L. Troy were the first definite accounts received and showed that many from here had suffered death or wounds while gallantly facing the enemy. On this engagement the Ninth Regiment suffered a loss of over three hundred men in killed, wounded and missing. In Company I the first reports showed four killed and twenty-seven wounded. This was over half the number actually engaged.
The severe battles in the West caused such a depletion in the Federal ranks that in July, 1862, a general system of recruiting was inaugurated throughout the northwestern states. J. C. Pepper and L. T. Ball at Keithsburg called for recruits under the recent procla- mation of President Lincoln; they asked for 100 men from this county and announced that the county must furnish 300 or be sub- jected to the draft. They held recruiting meetings at Keithsburg, New Boston, Ditto's schoolhouse, Eliza Creek schoolhouse, Millers- burg, Aledo, Duncan's Corners, Bridger's Corners, Perryton, North Henderson, Ohio Grove schoolhouse near Bigger's Church, Jones schoolhouse in Abington Township, and elsewhere. A promise of $40 to each volunteer as soon as mustered into service was made. At this time nine regiments were called for from Illinois to meet the new levy. The Record and numerous prominent men in all parts of the county urged that the call be filled as speedily as possible. It was at this time or earlier that Governor Yates wrote to Presi- dent Lincoln urging a more energetic prosecution of the war along all lines. In this emergency New Boston for a time took the lead in recruiting activity. Dr. E. S. Benedict promptly commenced the enlistment of a company there. In addition to the bounty offered by the Government, individuals began to offer special bounties for sub- stitutes. Pepper and Ball also conducted active operations in all parts of the county to fill the company they had promised to raise if possible. It was believed that the three companies needed to fill
111
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
the Mercer County quota would be enlisted in a short time. The Record said: "The men must be had, if not voluntarily within the next two weeks, drafting will undoubtedly be resorted to. The crisis in our affairs is terrible and we must meet it like men." Rev. J. M. Snyder of Greene Township commenced raising a company at this time. He promised that his volunteers might remain at home until the harvest was past. All over the North at this time a more vigorous prosecution of the war was demanded. Gradual emancipa- tion had been offered by President Lincoln.
Thus war meetings were held in all parts of the county and every effort was made by prominent and patriotic men to raise the quota. A war meeting to raise recruits was held in Ohio Grove Township, Samuel Dihel being chairman. Judge Hays delivered the principal address. The resolution adopted said: "We are in favor of furnishing our share of soldiers to suppress this unholy rebellion, but express our opinion that the Government in making war on the rebels should use rebel property for the support of our armies, subsist off the enemy's country, use negroes as laborers and put arms in their hands when necessary."
About this time an itinerant clock cleaner was severely thrashed by Rev. J. D. Taylor at the residence of John M. Ashbaugh. His offence was insulting and disloyal language and conduct to Mrs. Ashbaugh. As soon as she learned of his character she refused to let him continue the work and upon his refusal to quit undertook to recover the clock from his possession. He resisted and a scuffle ensued, during which Rev. Mr. Taylor, who was passing, was called in; he promptly stretched the secessionist on the floor with a blow of his first. The reverend gentleman became so thoroughly in earnest that he offered to throw the scamp over the fence into the road if Mrs. Ashbaugh so desired. During the encounter the minister's coat was badly torn, but the citizens, as soon as they learned of the occurrence, promptly made up a purse and bought him a bran new suit, which they presented to him at the Barton House, Aledo, on July 25, 1862, with speeches and much ceremony. On the same occasion Elisha Miles presented him with a fine new hat. One of the speakers exhorted Mr. Taylor to remain with the church militant until the war should end. It was while he was out assisting to recruit volunteers that the above fistic battle occurred.
The war meetings were attended with steady and most gratifying success. Young men came forward at every meeting when volun- teers were called for. Pepper and Ball secured a squad at Millers- burg, at Aledo, at Bridger's Corners, at North Henderson, at Perry- ton, at Ohio Grove and elsewhere. In Ohio Grove fourteen young
112
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
men were secured and ten more were promised. This was the banner township in July, 1862. At a rousing war meeting in New Boston on July 26th, ten volunteers were secured. Speeches were delivered by Thompson, Campbell, R. W. Smith (of Chicago) and Rev. C. M. Wright. By the evening of July 26th Pepper and Ball had enrolled sixty-five men for their company.
It was reported in July, 1862, that fully eighty men had enlisted from a single township in this county in companies raised in other counties and that fully thirty-five men from this county were in Company B, Sixty-fifth Regiment. Others were in companies raised at Rock Island, Monmouth, Young America, Burlington, Gales- burg, Muscatine, Moline and elsewhere. It was now demanded by all that a record of such enlistments should be made in order that this county should receive due credit.
On July 2Ist a stirring war meeting was held at the courthouse, Aledo, on which occasion Rev. William Townley was chosen chair- man and J. A. Forsythe, secretary. Patriotic speeches were delivered by Messrs. Pepper, Ball, Campbell, Thompson, Reed, Williams, Townley, Taylor and Edwards. Several recruits were secured. A committee of the citizens was appointed to secure others. A recruit- ing station was at once opened at the office of M. L. Marsh.
Pepper and Ball visited the City of Berlin, Richland Grove Township, on July 29th, but encountered much opposition from persons with southern sympathies and failed to secure any recruits. Their meeting was interrupted with cheers for Jeff Davis and curses for the abolitionists. It was stated that the draft would be a good thing for a few of the residents there. There were too many men at this time who wanted to raise companies and not enough enlistments in the companies already commenced, it was declared. The Record said that all could not be brigadier generals at once. James Henderson, Frank Shedd, J. E. Harroun and others received commissions to raise companies. When they became aware of each other's efforts they withdrew in favor of the companies already commenced. It was about this time that a man at Viola was treated to a free ride on a rail, with suitable embellishments, for outspoken disloyal sentiments.
On August 5th the New Boston Company numbered about forty men. Snyder and Robb were securing recruits in the eastern part of the county. Often wounded boys home from the front on fur- loughs were exhibited at the war meetings and never failed to rouse the audiences to enthusiasm. A. C. Harding and A. A. Smith were engaged at this time in raising a regiment in this congressional district. By August 5th their regiment was about half filled. Here
113
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
and there in this county citizens who discouraged enlistments were found but they were usually squelched before doing much damage to the cause. Jackson Thornton began to raise volunteers at Millers- burg but finally transferred his men to the New Boston company. He had seen four years' service in the army of the United States.
At a big war meeting in Preemption early in August, 1862. Dr. J. S. Matthews served as chairman and E. S. Robertson, secre- tary. John Whitsitt, L. T. Ball, W. L. Campbell, J. C. Pepper, Rev. J. D. Taylor and S. H. Rodgers delivered addresses. The sentiment was thoroughly loyal and warlike. Thirteen recruits were secured. Sheriff Rodgers offered a bounty of $25 to any and every married man who would enlist. Three men promptly responded, whereupon Mr. Rodgers just as promptly paid over the cash amid the hearty cheers of the audience. Already Preemption Town- ship had fifty men in the field and now thirteen more were added. By August 8th the New Boston company had eighty-seven men. About this time Sheriff Rodgers and J. M. Mannon raised about fifty men for a new company. Other companies were commenced at Keithsburg by Wycoff and McManus, by Cabeen and Gayle and by the Lloyds. James S. Gilmore commenced the formation of a company at Millersburg. Thomas Likely and S. R. Moore were raising volunteers in Suez Township. They filled their company in six days. It was stated on August 12th that this county thus far, under the last call of the president, had raised not less than six hun- dred men for the Union army. Six or seven war meetings were held in the county each evening during the week ending August 12th.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.