USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Past and present of Mercer County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 11
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The Pepper-Ball company was completed early in August and the following officers were elected : J. C. Pepper, captain; L. T. Ball, first lieutenant. This company rendezvoused at Aledo on the 14th and the same day went to Keithsburg, whence they took the boat to Quincy, where they went into camp.
A big war meeting to raise recruits for Robb and Snyder's com- pany was held at Viola on August 9th. Addresses were delivered by Reverends Poage, Warren, McAlister and Stratton and by the two recruiting officers. Several recruits were secured, among whom was a young man who said his father was in the rebel army. He was loudly cheered. An old gentleman present said that he had but one son and he was in the rebel army. "He was taught to love his country, but has gone over to its enemies," he sobbed. The Robb-Snyder Company received its first recruits on August 2d and its last on August 7th and all were mustered in on the 11th. The company challenged any quicker recruiting anywhere in the county. Captain
114
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
Likely's company was full, its officers elected and its complete muster roll was in Springfield by August 15th. Thomas Likely was captain; D. W. Sedwick, first lieutenant; Mr. Brown, second lieutenant. It became a member of Colonel McMurtry's regiment. At this time Doctor Craig and Messrs. Miller and Cox of Company E, Ninth Regiment, were here to secure recruits for that organization.
On August 14th an immense crowd gathered at Aledo to see the Sheriff-Mannon company parade and witness the departure of the Pepper-Ball company. A splendid dinner was served to the boys; speeches and music enlivened the occasion. In the evening before their departure by boat the citizens of Keithsburg gave the latter company a bountiful supper and God speed on their mission to the battlefield. About one-fourth of the men in Captain Mannon's com- pany were furnished by Eliza Township and over one-fourth of Captain Pepper's company were furnished by Preemption Township. The Wycoff-McManus company was quickly completed and was in Springfield before the citizens of the county generally knew of its existence. This made seven full companies that were raised in three or four weeks' time under the call of President Lincoln for 300,000 men.
If you look upon our valleys where the growing harvests shine You may see our sturdy farmer boys fast forming into line; And children from their mother's knee are pulling at the weeds, And learning how to reap and sow against their country's needs ; And a farewell group stands weeping at every cottage door: We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more.
Of the Sheriff-Mannon company the following officers were elected : J. M. Mannon, captain; S. H. Rodgers, first lieutenant; William A. Wilson, second lieutenant. Upon the departure of Cap- tain Pepper's company Doctor Edwards, of Aledo, placed at their disposal $25 to be expended for their sick and announced that he held in reserve $25 more for their families when needed. Much of the excellent result in so quickly raising the companies was due to the excellent and persistent work of Col. M. R. Good of New Boston. For a year he had worked early and late to secure volunteers for the war. Lieut. E. B. David, of Company A, Thirtieth Regiment, was here in August to secure recruits for Captain Shedd's company. The numerous fragmentary companies in the county continued their organ- izations and drills. Capt. Frank Shedd's company was completed before August 26, 1862, and the following officers were elected :
115
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
Frank Shedd, captain; A. Shaw, first lieutenant; Curtis Trego, second lieutenant. At this time John McClure recruited here for Company G, Thirtieth Regiment, and S. G. Wright for Company C, Thirty- sixth Regiment. A military company for home service was formed at Aledo in August under Capt. L. F. Jobusch, who had seen three years' service in the Prussian army. By the last of August this county had about fifteen hundred men in the service, or ready for service. It was at this time that the county, with the rest of the North, de- plored the failure of the dreary campaign of the Army of the Potomac in the marshes of the Chickahominy and the James.
In August, 1862, Captain Scudder raised a company at and near New Boston, and late in the month went to Springfield and encamped at Camp Butler. It became a part of the One Hundred and Twenty- fourth Regiment. Capt. J. M. Mannon became major of his regi- ment (McMurtry's) in August. Capt. J. M. Snyder raised a com- pany in August and was chosen captain. H. MI. Robb was made first lieutenant and F. M. Sykes, second lieutenant. A. C. Harding was elected colonel of the Eighty-third Regiment, Pepper's com- pany became H of the Eighty-fourth, and Snyder's, D of the Eighty- third. By September, 1862, Millersburg Township had furnished 144 volunteers for the war; Ohio Grove, 143, and Suez, 129. Others had done nearly as well.
The Keithsburg Soldiers' Aid Society was organized in Septem- ber, 1862, with Mrs. Margaret Ungles, president; Mary A. Cabeen, secretary; and Samuel Hart, corresponding secretary. This society at once began a vigorous campaign to secure books, magazines, papers, etc., for the soldiers in the field and in the hospitals. It appealed to every township in the county to organize at once a soldiers' aid society, the duty of which should be (1) to provide extra clothing for the men in the ranks-shirts, drawers, socks, hand- kerchiefs, suspenders, etc .; (2) to furnish them with suitable clothing in the hospitals-sheets, quilts, comforters, blankets, pillows, slippers, wrappers, bandages, lint. etc .; (3) to supply them with fruit and vegetables, etc .- tomatoes, grapes, sweet corn, dried corn, dried apples, dried rhubarb, canned plums and cherries and pickles ; (4) to provide them with pins, needles, thread, buttons, awls, wax, testa- ments and Sunday school papers. Complete arrangements were made at Keithsburg and New Boston for the shipment of all such supplies to the hospitals and camps.
The militia company organized at Aledo was nearly completed about the middle of September and the following officers were
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
elected : G. G. McFadden, captain ; H. Scott, first lieutenant ; G. A. Luvin, second lieutenant.
In September, 1862, Governor Yates appointed Matthew Sheriff, the county treasurer, enrolling officer to make and issue a complete and correct enrollment of the county militia, which was to be used as the basis for future enlistment credits.
At the September session, 1862, of the county board a tax of 5 cents on every $100 was levied for the benefit of volunteers and their families. It was also ordered that $25 out of the military fund should be paid to each supervisor to be expended in furnishing necessaries for the families of volunteers who might be destitute.
In September, 1862, James Henderson called for a company and promised a large bounty and pay in advance to all who should enlist under this call.
On October 21 the Aledo Soldiers' Aid Society gave a fine supper at the Barton House for the benefit of the hospitals, and were aided by the ladies of the Good Templars' Society. About forty dollars was realized.
COUNTY ENROLLMENT, 1862
NUMBER
TOWNSHIPS
ENROLLED
NUMBER ENLISTED
North Henderson
2.16
96
Rivoli
138
+2
Richland Grove
210
106
Suez
218
131
Greene
161
77
Preemption
208
72
Ohio Grove
300
134
Mercer
252
95
Perryton
192
84
Abington
224
91
Millersburg
223
134
Duncan
195
72
Keithsburg
302
154
New Boston
398
178
Eliza
155
50
Totals
3,452
1,516
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
Number subject to draft, 1,936. Millersburg was the banner township.
The Emancipation Proclamation was up for discussion in this county in the fall of 1862 and kindled a great diversity of views. The subject was debated here and there, and numerous verbal clashes occurred. Strange as it may now seem, there were found very few who warmly and enthusiastically advocated the measure, because they feared the results of granting freedom to the colored race.
In October J. M. Mannon became lieutenant colonel of the One Hundred and Second Regiment. Colonel McMurtry had resigned and Smith was advanced to colonel. Lieut. E. B. David secured a squad of recruits here for Company A, Thirtieth Regiment, in October.
Tidings of the great Battle of Murfreesboro came early in Jan- uary, 1863, and aroused deep concern, because several Mercer County companies were engaged. The aid societies at once sent forward hospital and store supplies for the wounded.
At the January meeting ( 1863) of the county board the clerk of the county court was authorized to get printed the sum of $1,000 in county orders to be drawn on the military fund, payable to Wil- liam M. Hays, or bearer. The orders were to be drawn as follows : $200 in the denomination of 10 cents; $400 in the denomination of 25 cents; $400 in the denomination of 50 cents. They were to be signed by the county clerk and countersigned by the county treasurer. Provision for their issuance was made.
The Soldiers' Aid Society of Aledo met every Tuesday evening during the winter of 1862-3, collected supplies of every description and forwarded them in boxes to the hospitals. They solicited con- tributions of clothing and food products and promptly shipped them to the front. Large quantities of butter, eggs, onions and potatoes were thus dispatched. Other similar societies throughout the county did the same, and all worked under a general county organization which accomplished a great amount of good.
In April, 1863, an effort was made to secure an indictment against certain persons for bringing several negroes into the county; but the evidence against any person presumed to be guilty was unsatisfac- tory. The jury also investigated the report of a threatened resistance to the draft. Elisha Miles was charged by certain democrats with having brought three negroes to the county. Judge Gilmore was charged with aiding and abetting Mr. Miles in this act. The demo- crats threatened to go and drive the negroes to the South or out of Vol. I-8
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
the county, but were informed by Judge Gilmore that any such course was not only unlawful, but would be resisted. An account of this transaction was published in the Keithsburg Observer in April, 1863.
Much disloyalty was manifested throughout the county in 1863. Butternut badges and pins were often worn by Southern sympathizers at public gatherings, and more than one fistic encounter over such and other evidences of disloyalty occurred. It was said that a returned soldier tore such a pin from the coat of a judge in this county.
In May, 1863, came news of the bloody battles on the Rappahan- nock. In June five Mercer companies participated in the awful assaults on the trenches of Vicksburg-I of the Seventeenth; A and G of the Thirtieth; I of the Forty-fifth; and G of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth. Calls for aid from the wounded at Vicksburg were promptly met at Aledo when the news first became known, with the result that $45 cash was raised at a called meeting in about five minutes. Joseph Lair raised in the eastern part of Mercer Township in one day's ride about the same amount. The Ladies' Aid Societies all over the county promptly donated their cash and raised additional sums for the same object.
The invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania by the Army of Northern Virginia, under General Lee in June, kindled the keenest interest in this county. All realized that a decisive battle must result or that General Lee would capture Washington. Times were ominous with mighty events along the whole battle line, which stretched like a stream of blood from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains. Rosecrans was trying to pierce the heart of the Con- federacy in Tennessee; Meade was concentrating a large army to checkmate General Lee; Grant was pounding without cessation at the earth-walls of Vicksburg. One line or the other must surely break soon.
The Fourth of July ( 1863) oration of Rev. W. W. Williams, delivered to a large audience in the open air at Sugar Grove, was so full of patriotic and eloquent utterances that upon request it was published in full in the Aledo Record. It was one of unusual beauty, eloquence and power.
In June, Samuel W. McCoy was appointed enrolling officer for Mercer County. At this time there were several cases of smallpox in the county, brought here, it was presumed, by soldiers who had recently returned from the South.
The events of the week ending July 4, 1863, will long be remem- bered by Union-loving people everywhere. The national cause was
119
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
at its darkest hour; the rebel army, 100,000 strong, was marching almost without interruption, through the richest section of Penn- sylvania, marking its trail by desolation and destruction; Vicks- burg, after a siege of six weeks, and many hand-to-hand engage- ments, still frowned defiance on the besiegers; Port Hudson was firm in its resistance and fears for the safety of Banks' army were openly expressed ; Price at the head of a force twice as strong as the Union army at Helena was marching upon it, confident of an easy victory; along the whole rebel line Bragg only was retreating, and he merely falling back upon a position of greater security. Add to this the defiant attitude of rebel sympathizers at home, resisting the laws in some places, shooting officers in the discharge of their duties at others. and chuckling over the presumed inability of the Government to crush the rebellion anywhere-and you have the gloomy picture over which loyal men pondered at the opening of the week; the dark cloud grew darker and darker at each new point of observation, until the stoutest heart was oppressed with fears for the safety of the Republic.
Then came with lightning rapidity the first tidings of victory in Pennsylvania. The people had been so often deceived by false reports that they were slow to believe this one; but when the con- firmation came, rendering the victory still more complete, a loud and prolonged shout of joy went up from every loyal throat. Hope took the place of despondency ; smiles supplanted despairing looks. Before the masses had full time to congratulate each other and their former friends and neighbors in the old Keystone State on their de- liverance from rebel rule, came the stirring news, in a laconic note from the commander of the Mississippi Squadron, that Vicksburg had fallen. The shouts with which patriots welcomed the reception of this glorious finale of a protracted siege were rendered louder and longer by the fact announced at the same time that Price had been driven back at Helena and some twelve hundred of his men captured; and all these brilliant achievements were the work of a single week. The boasting rebels were thoroughly whipped in three different battles; dislodged from their foothold in Pennsylvania, and the Great Father of Waters was almost released from their grasp. Such were the stirring events of a single week. In importance they outshine everything that has gone before. A few more such vigorous blows would break the backbone of the rebellion. Already its votaries stood aghast. Richmond was in a panic; Lee was peremp- torily ordered back to Virginia. These events showed the strength
120
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
of the Government, the weakness of its adversaries and roused the drooping spirits of the North.
The Ladies Soldiers' Aid Society under the bluff near New Boston donated a portion of their funds to the purchase of fruit cans, which were distributed among the members and filled for the boys in the field. The society had been organized but a few months in 1863, but their active and effective work indicated that they intended to make up for lost time. Scores of cans were thus filled with fruit and sent to the front.
There was great joy in the county when the news came that Port Hudson had surrendered to General Banks on July 8, 1863, and when it became thus known that the Mississippi River was at last opened to the Gulf. Now the river could be used as a base to strike east and west at the vitals of the Confederacy. At once the event was celebrated at half a dozen places in the county, but at no spot with half the enthusiasm as at New Boston and Keithsburg, situated as they were on the "Father of Waters." An immense barbecue at the former to celebrate the fall of Port Hudson was held by the two villages· combined, there being present an immense assemblage for that day. Feasting, speaking and shouting with happiness were the order of the hour. It was estimated that over five thousand people were present.
In August, 1863, William I. Nevius estimated the number of men in the Union army from Mercer County to be 1,577, distributed as follows :
First, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Forty-seventh Cavalry Regiments; Seventh Missouri Cavalry; Seventh and Eighth Kansas Cavalry; First Pennsylvania Cavalry; Second Iowa Cavalry; Captain Jones' Cavalry; Captain Dodge's Cavalry; Mississippi Flotilla; Berge's Sharpshooters; First Iowa Artillery; Captain Waterhouse's Artillery; First Pennsylvania Ar- tillery; Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, Seventeenth, Nineteenth, Twenty- seventh, Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty-seventh, Thirty-eighth, Forty-third, Forty-fifth, Fiftieth, Fifty-sixth, Sixty- fifth, Sixty-ninth, Seventy-fourth, Eighty-third, Eighty-fourth, Eighty-eighth, One Hundred and Second, One Hundred and Sev- enth, One Hundred and Twelfth, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth, One Hunred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry Regiments; Third, Fourth, Seventh, Eighth and Thirty-second Iowa Infantry Regi- ments; Fourteenth Indiana Regiment; Eighteenth Missouri Regiment; Eighty-fourth and One Hundredth Pennsylvania Regi-
121
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
ments; Irish Brigade, Virginia. In August, 1863, it was thus shown that Mercer County had furnished about forty-four men out of every hundred of its citizens liable for duty for the Union army.
Capt. James Burnett, killed in battle in May, 1863, was brought here for burial at Candor Churchyard in August. A large and sorrowful crowd received the remains, wrapped them in the Stars and Stripes and escorted them to the grave. The special escort was a body of soldiers, headed by martial music. Colonel Shedd, Cap- tain Sanders, Captain Scudder, Lieutenant Gibson, Lieutenant McClure and Lieutenant Blackburn were the pallbearers. He was duly buried with military honors, a salute over the grave ending the sorrowful services. This was only one of many such scenes in this county during the continuance of the war.
The Keithsburg Soldiers' Aid Society, from August 11, 1862, to July 9, 1863, received $286.36 and spent $189.30 for soldiers' fami- lies and soldiers in field and hospital. The receipts came from De Haven's Circus, canvassing committee, quarterage members, socia- bles, donations, Thespian Club, festivals, etc. The report of the secretary reveals the most commendable and persistent efforts to help the cause. Many boxes of supplies were sent from time to time; the articles being shirts, drawers, socks, pillow-cases, pillows, blankets, quilts, bandages, lint, linen, cornstarch, canned strawberries, rasp- berries, apple butter, cranberries, etc. One such large box was sent to Mound City Hospital, another to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and another to Quincy, Illinois. Mrs. E. C. Gurley was president of the society in 1863, and Mary E. Wolfe, secretary. It made the best showing of any society in the county.
Under the conscription act of 1863 the following record of the militia of Mercer County was made out in August, 1863, by S. W. McCoy, county enrolling officer :
FIRST CLASS
SECOND
TOWNSHIPS
CLASS
TOTAL
North Henderson
108
40
148
Suez
72
48
I20
Ohio Grove
127
57
184
Abington
75
42
117
Keithsburg
98
55
153
Rivoli
45
30
75
Greene
68
38
106
Mercer
87
58
145
122
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
FIRST CLASS
SECOND
TOWNSHIPS
CLASS
TOTAL
Millersburg
92
49
141
New Boston
136
86
222
Richland Grove
97
56
153
Preemption
98
46
144
Perryton
95
42
I37
Duncan
82
42
1 24
Eliza
75
33
108
Totals
1,355
722
2,077
On September 8, 1863, the Ladies' Union League of Aledo and other ladies of the village gave a festival and supper at the Barton House for the benefit of the county's sick and wounded soldiers; tickets for gentleman and lady, $1. The hotel was crowded and the festival was a notable success. The hall was beautifully deco- rated with flowers, evergreens and mottos. The receipts were nearly $150, of which about $125 was net. After the feast came speeches, sports and social observances.
The Millersburg Soldiers' Aid Society from January 3, 1863, to September 2, 1863, sent the following supplies to the sanitary com- mission at Chicago: 50 comforters, 32 pair drawers, 59 pillows and pads, 65 pillow-slips, I sheet, I bedsack, 24 dozen handkerchiefs, 4 dozen towels, I pair socks, 14 pair slippers, 6 wrappers, I vest, 1/2 bushel beans, I sack onions, 150 pounds dried apples, 8 pounds dried grapes, 10 pounds dried plums, 10 pounds dried cherries, 5 pounds dried currants, 2 pounds dried strawberries, 10 pounds dried blackberries, 51/2 pounds dried corn, 6 pounds dried hops, 2 cans gooseberries, I can strawberries, 2 can cherries, I can pickles, I can of cheese, besides lint, linen, bandages, needles, thread, pins, buttons, yeast, peppers, cookies, pamphlets, papers, etc. Elizabeth F. Thorn- ton was secretary of the society in 1863. The young people of Mil- lersburg gave a concert in the town hall for the benefit of the soldiers, charging 25 cents admittance and netted over $30. The Ladies' Union League of Aledo employed Dr. S. Macy as their agent to buy vegetables and other products for the sanitary commission; they advanced him $100 to start with and instructed him particularly to secure potatoes and onions, the two food products most needed in camp and hospital. When that sum was expended more cash was forthcoming. At this time the county board levied a tax of 10 cents on each $100 for the county military fund. At the county fair in
123
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
1863, the stand of the Soldiers' Aid Society of Millersburg realized $125 net for the soldiers. At the same time the young people of that village raised $53.05 for the same cause by an exhibition at the church.
There was much disloyalty in the vicinity of Bridger's Corners during the latter stages of the war. Children of disloyal parents began to wear butternut breastpins and badges to the school taught by J. S. Hughes. This was forbidden by the directors and the teacher, but was persisted in by several young ladies. When they were forcibly removed, a personal encounter between the parents and the teacher ensued. Similar scenes occurred in other parts of the county. The Knights of the Golden Circle, a disloyal organization, were established at several places in the county in 1863; and in order to counteract their teachings and practices lodges of the Union League were likewise organized.
A company called the Union Protectors was organized in Suez Township in October, 1863, of which S. R. Moore was captain; George W. Sedwick, first lieutenant; Martin Pease, second lieuten- ant, and Thomas Greenwood, third lieutenant. A soldiers' aid fes- tival, held at the residence of R. R. Mathers, North Henderson Township, November 4th, netted over thirty-five dollars. In Octo- ber, Philip Gore donated $30 to the Keithsburg Soldiers' Aid Society. A soldiers' festival at the United Presbyterian Church, Ohio Grove Township, November 19th, netted over one hundred and fifty dol- lars. At this festival speeches were made by Rev. J. S. Poage, Rev. J. N. Edie, Rev. Kinnie and others.
In November, 1863, Col. W. I. Nevius was appointed recruiting officer for the county. He immediately made appointments to speak in every township in the county with the object not only of thoroughly organizing the militia but of securing new recruits for the Mercer companies already in the field. At this time the county claimed to be the banner one of the state in furnishing volunteers in proportion to population. "When this gigantic rebellion shall be known only in history and our generation shall have mingled with its kindred dust, the patriotic deeds of the gallant sons of Mercer will furnish themes for the entertainment of their youthful descendants during the tedious watches of the long winter evenings." The quota of the state under the recent call was nearly twenty thousand, and Mercer County prepared to do still better by raising at once men enough to clear itself of the draft.
In November, 1863, Col. W. I. Nevius, Col. M. R. Good, of New Boston ; Col. J. C. Pepper and H. S. Senter entered actively into the task of recruiting in this county. They held meetings in
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
about every schoolhouse and made stirring appeals for volunteers to replace in the old companies the gallant Mercer County boys who had fallen in battle or through disease.
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