USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 21
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Left Milliken's Bend April 11, 1863, New Car- thage the 12th, was a short time.at Perkins' plan- tation, at Grand Gulf, Miss., April 29, at Bruins- burg, Miss., April 30, and at Magnolia Hills May I. At Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Mis- sissippi Springs and Black River Bridge; May
19 at the defense of Vicksburg and left Vicks- burg July 5 for Jackson, Miss.
Left Jackson, July 20 and Vicksburg, August 21. Went to New Orleans and Brashear City, and October 3 left Berwick for a scouting tour up the Teshe country. Was at New Iberia, Franklin, Opelousas and Grand Coteau, La. Left New Or- leans and crossed the Gulf of Mexico. Was at Point Isabel and Aranzos Pass in November, and at Fort Esperanza, Texas, at Indianola and La- vacca, Texas, and on Matagorda Island.
Left Texas June 15, 1864. Returned to New Orleans. Was at Greenville, Kennerville, Don- aldsonville and Algiers. Left New Orleans July 29, was at the mouth of the White river, St. Charles and Duvall's Bluff, Ark., Memphis, Mos- cow and Wolf River, Tenn.
Left Memphis January 1, 1865. Went to New Orleans and thence out the mouth of the Missis- sippi river to Dauphin Island, Ala. Was at Span- ish Fort, Blakely, Mobile and Spring Hill, Ala., till June 2, 1865. At Shreveport, La., till about July 17, sent to Baton Rouge, Ala., and mustered out July 21, 1865, sent to Springfield, Ill., August, 1865. for pay and final discharge.
The Ninety-ninth was in battle at Beaver Creek and Hartsville, Mo., Grand Gulf, Miss., Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Black River Bridge, Vicksburg, and under fire daily from May 19 to July 3. Was at Spanish Fort and Blakely, Ala. A detachment of the regiment was in a battle at Grand Coteau, La. The losses of the Ninety-ninth in the various battles during its three years of active service were nearly 300 killed, wounded and missing.
In November, 1864, the regiment was so re- duced in numbers that by order of General Reyn- olds it was consolidated into a battalion of five companies. During its service the old Pike coun- ty regiment had all told nearly 1,100 men. Now, after the war has closed nearly forty years, there are only about 225 left. Of the officers who took the regiment to the field there are left only Col. Bailey, Capt., now Col., Matthews, Capt. Tray Edwards, Capt. J. G. Johnson and Adjutant Mar- cellus Ross.
Old Pike, the infant of 1821, in its history making of three-fourths of a century has been a
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strong factor in the march of progress and de- velopment, and has buds from the old vine in all the coast states west, and scattered over what was once the great American desert. Go where you may the Piker is to be found.
In quasi prohibition times, thirty-five years ago, a Pike county town was known as a good one to "keep the lid on." An old-timer from St. Louis came and his friends knew that he needed a "drop," so one called to him and said, "Joe, I have a little for sickness. Try it. It is all there is in town." Joe tried it, and the next place he called the same story was told and another drink taken. The third call was a repetition, his friend saying with a wink, "What a good one I am!" The St. Louis man called about ten places, meet- ing the same reception at each. Joe told it on the prohib. boys and had a dozen drinks out of the "only bottle in town." The entire crowd has passed away, and the story is all that is left.
A candidate for a county office was once intro- duced to a blunt old German voter. The old man heard his tale of woe, how the other fellow was not so well fitted to hold the office, how much he had done for the party, etc. The old voter said, "Vell, if you bin on my dicket I vote for you, if you don't, I vont. Goot py." So it has been since the first election and will still continue, but there is a fine change now, the old-time scurrility and abuse is eliminated and the old cry is not so savage.
Pike county's first probate court was at Coles Grove, May 23, 1821, the judge being A. Beck. The first circuit court was held at the same place October 1, 1821, Judge John Reynolds presiding. Among the first grand jurors were David Dutton, who died in New Canton in 1854, Comfort Shaw, of Hadley, who died near Barry about 1864, Nathaniel Shaw, John Shaw and J. M. Seeley. These I knew in my boyhood days.
Atlas was laid out in 1823. Chambersburg and Pittsfield 1833, Griggsville 1834. Milton, New Canton, Florence, 1835; Perry, Eldara, Kinder- hook, Rockport, Barry, New Hartford, Martins- burg, Pleasant Hill 1836; Detroit, 1837, Summer Hill 1845. New Salem 1847, Pearl 1855, Time 1857, Baylis 1869, Nebo 1870, Hull 1871.
In the olden times the stage coach was the means of transportation. After the close of the civil war the county was fortunate in getting the present system of railroads, and now it is con- servative to say no county has any better or cheaper means of transporting freight and pas- sengers. The county has telegraph and telephone connection with all the civilized world. What would the old pioneers say could they return for a brief visit! They would be lost in wonder- ment to see the strides the good old county has made.
Forty-three years ago Pike county had in the trenches at Vicksburg what was left of the Nine- ty-ninth Illinois regiment, and it will not be un- interesting in another forty-three years for those who will be here to read of and know how the Pike county soldiers reached there and what they did.
In August, 1862, nearly 1,000 men were mus- tered into the United States service at Florence and were called the Ninety-ninth Illinois Volun- teers. After service in Missouri they had gone down the Mississippi river to Milliken's Bend in Louisiana, and thence began the movement on Vicksburg, the Gibraltar of the great river, that was strongly fortified and in possession of the confederates. It was freely asserted, and too often in our own homes, that they could never be dislodged or driven out. The federals under General Grant were certain, however, that the ob- struction could and would be removed, and the river flow "unvexed to the sea."
Our march began from Milliken's Bend, April II, 1863. After marching down Roundaway bayou in the state of Louisiana we reached New Carthage, La., on April 22, 1863. There we re- mained a brief period till the gunboats and trans- ports of our own navy ran the batteries at Vicks- burg and brought supplies and medical stores to the army. then below Vicksburg.
One of our transports, the Henry Clay, was dis- abled and burned .. On board were James Worth- ington and Capt. L. Hull, of the Ninety-ninth. - The former was our hospital steward and had charge of the medical stores. They quickly re- moved the most valuable drugs and anesthetics
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to a barge and got away from the burning steamer, and the next morning they were safely delivered to our medical directors.
The ninety-ninth left Perkins' plantation, April 27, and embarked on steamers and flats for Grand Gulf, a strongly fortified place, which was soon evacuated. April 30 we crossed the river at Bruinsburg, Miss., and after marching all night met General Bowen's army near Port Gibson on Magnolia Hills, at midnight. . The Ninety-ninth unslung their knapsacks and started into the fight, and from that day to this they have never seen their knapsacks or the few valuables therein.
The battle lasted all day. At night the boys slept on their arms, and when morning came not a "Johnnie" was seen, except their dead and wounded left on the field. James Allen Lee, of Company F, was the first one of our boys that fell. He was shot through the head and killed instantly. Our loss in killed and wounded was thirty-seven of the Ninety-ninth boys.
Our brigade at that time was composed of the Eighth and Eighteenth Indiana, Thirty-third and Ninety-ninth Illinois, with General Benton in command, Carr's division and McClernand's Thirteenth army corps. We were short of rations, but General Grant said, "I will have supplies," and sent men to carry hard tack, coffee and meat up to the regiment. We had no baggage or for- age wagons across the river at that time.
While the pioneer corps were building a bridge over the bayou near Port Gibson my company was sent to guard and run a steam corn mill. We kept it running night and day while the corn held out, and General Sherman's corps and our own had corn bread for a luxury. If not a luxury it was a change from very old and poor hard tack. When the call was made on the boys for a miller and engineers, there were three or four who were experts. Not only millers and engineers, but the Ninety-ninth had all vocations and professions, preachers, lawyers, doctors and farmers. In fact, the federal army was not small in useful men of all kinds.
May 14, 1863, the army was near the capital of Mississippi, and on the 16th was held in reserve till nearly night at the battle of Champion Hill, one of the most desperate one-day battles fought in the west. The Ninety-ninth was marched in
line of battle till late in the night, when we bivouacked at Edwards Station, where we cap- tured a train load of meat, meal, sugar and mo- lasses, and had a midnight supper.
We went into the fight at Black river at 7 a. m. After four hours' fighting and a charge led by the Twenty-third Iowa on our right, the confed- erates were driven out of their works and the battle was over. Capt. Cooper, of Company K, lost an arm, and two New Canton boys were slightly wounded.
An occurrence just as we started on the charge fully illustrates how little some officials at a dis- tance knew about an army in the field. While the fight was at its height, General Grant was given an order from the secretary of war to fall back to Grand Bluff and make that his head- quarters and base of supplies. Just then the colonel of the Twenty-third Iowa led his regiment into the charge, losing his own life. The charge was general all along the line and victory was ours. General Grant didn't disobey orders, but the staff officer got lost in the excitement, or as the boys said, "in the shuffle," and that was the last ever heard of Grand Gulf headquarters.
On the 18th day of May we crossed Black river on specially constructed pontoon bridges. The 19th we started at 4:15 a. m., and were in the fight at 10 a. m., also the 20th and 21st, gaining position with light losses. May 22d the troops were ordered to charge the works at Io a. m. While the boys were waiting for the hour many were reading their testaments, given them by the United States Christian Commission, and all that had playing cards threw them away. Many generals and colonels were making short ad- dresses to the boys, as all realized the frightful and dangerous move.
The Ninety-ninth led the charge for our brigade, and in a few minutes the old regiment had lost in killed, wounded and missing over 200 men. Col. Bailey and Maj. Crandall were wounded, and Capt. A. C. Matthews rallied the men and held the confederates in check. Colonel Boomer, of a Missouri regiment, was killed about the same time the Ninety-ninth drove the John- nies back.
The writer was stunned by the explosion of a shell, and lay for about four hours in the hot sun,
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with Joseph James and two other Ninety-ninth boys lying dead near him. When night fell the weary sank down to rest and the wounded to die. Morning found the survivors in line, set- tling down to the siege that lasted till the 4th of July, when 30,000 hungry and weary confederates marched out, stacked their arms, ate hard tack and fat meat and drank black coffee with our boys. Quite a change for them from mule meat and Mississippi river water.
One tall Georgian said to the boys of our mess, "Yes, sah, I am gwine home, and thar's three things I never want to hear again. That word 'at- tention,' 'fall in,' and that old kettle drum I never want to hear any more." Vicksburg and Gettys- burg, both on Old Glory's day, did more to inspire the north and hasten the close of the war than any other two events.
After the fall of Vicksburg the Ninety-ninth went to Jackson, Miss., and was under fire there for a day or so, with small losses. Then went to Bryan Station and was engaged in tearing up the Jackson & New Orleans Railroad. A lot of Pikers went to Pearl river near by for a bath. There they saw a soft place in the bank, and as our boys had curiosity in common with all other mortals, they investigated the river bank and found about thirty barrels of Louisiana rum. Of course they sampled it, and appearing satisfactory they took the whole lot. The Ninety-ninth boys as well as the boys of other regiments were very rummy and rich for the balance of the day.
The regiment returned to Vicksburg July 24, and August 21 went to New Orleans. In October went into the Tesche country, the Italy of America. November 16 embarked and crossed the Gulf of Mexico. Remained in Texas till June, 1864, when it reported to General Reynolds at Algiers, La., and was brigaded with Twenty- first Iowa, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin and Forty- seventh Indiana.
At Memphis, Tenn., in November, 1864, the regiment was made a battalion of five companies under command of Lieut. Col. Matthews. Feb- ruary 1, 1865, moved to Dauphin Island, Ala- bama. Was in the last battles of the war at Spanish Fort and Blakely, entered Mobile April 12th, in June went up the Red river, thence to
Baton Rouge, La., where it was mustered out, and reached home in August, 1865, after three years' absence.
In the more prosperous days of old Pike the fol- lowing towns had tobacco factories : Pittsfield, Eldara, Rockport and Pleasant Hill, and first- class woolen mills were at Pittsfield, Barry and Perry ; a plow factory at Stebbinsville, pork and beef packing plants at Cincinnati, Barry, New Canton, Pittsfield, Florence, Kinderhook, Rock- port, Griggsville, Perry and Milton. Flour mills : Two at Pittsfield, three at Barry, two at Griggs- ville, and one each at Rockport, New Canton, Time, Summer Hill, Pleasant Hill, Milton, Perry, New Salem, Eldara and Kinderhook. With about three exceptions the mills are abandoned, "and a quiet that crawls round the walls as you gaze has followed the olden din."
The tobacco made in Pike was prepared by skilled workmen and had good sales. The woolens, blankets, yarns, cassimeres and satinettes were all wool and gave excellent satisfaction. The mills had to close up because the public pre- ferred shoddy and cheap stuff, and with the clos- ing of the tobacco factories and woolen mills all the expert labor went elsewhere, and those alone are said to have cut the population fully 300.
The packing establishments had to close be- cause of too sharp competition, and the hog and cattle men seemed to prefer selling at five and six cents and buying back from Chicago, St. Louis and elsewhere at ten to fifteen cents for the cured product. In the old times the public had pure kettle rendered lard; now they have cottolene and other adulterations that are called lard.
The flour mills gave up the race because the big concerns could make a barrel of flour for from two to four cents, while to the others it would cost perhaps 20 cents or even more.
But the worst feature in Pike as well as else- where out of the big cities, is the lack of a re- ciprocal feeling toward home enterprises. In the . old times the farms were smaller and had many tenant houses. Now, some men who were hap- py in the possession of a hundred acres are un- happy with 2,000 or 3,000 acres, and the good tenants have nearly all moved away.
It is strongly asserted by many that greed and
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selfishness now are holding the trump cards and it seems that the old postmaster's story will fit in ยท here. A man said to another, "Would you let me have fifteen cents?" "What do you want of fifteen cents ?" "I wish to cross the river." Have you no money ?" "No." "Well, just stay where you are. If you have no money it doesn't make any difference which side of the river you are on."
With the changes noted it seems as if the old- fashioned hospitality and "a man's a man for a' that" has become obsolete. Too many are in- terested in you for the dollar that can be gained from you. This state of affairs is no worse in old Pike than elsewhere, and the old county has a host of good citizens that generally endorse the words of a noted man who said, "We care not what you believe politically or religiously, or where you were born, or how much money you have, but we do care as to how good a citizen you are." With all the name "good citizen" has a potent power and is recognized as the great de- sideratum.
A recent magazine article mentioned the de- struction of the City of Madison, a large river steamer, at Vicksburg in 1863, by the explosion of fixed shells that were being loaded on the boat. The boat was torn all to shreds, and only a few pieces were seen after the terrific blast. The second vessel from the one destroyed was a hos- pital boat. Frank Thomas, a Ninety-ninth boy from New Canton, had been sick there and his death was reported to his captain, H. D. Hull, who invited me to go with him and take care of Frank's effects, a small book and a few dollars.
We were in the hospital boat when the City of Madison was blown up, and our boat came nearly breaking in two. I sent the soldier's money and book to his father, and reported his death as given to us by the boat's surgeon. About three month's latter the company was surprised to see the sup- posed dead soldier return in recovered health. A year later he was captured by guerrillas near Memphis, Tenn., with two others of the Ninety- ninth and put to death.
The only solution of his reported death on the hospital book was: The cots were numerous and the occupant's name and number was in the
surgeon's and hospital steward's books. Possi- bly in the absence of nurses Frank Thomas had changed cots with someone. The new occupant had died, and the number being that of Thomas, it was reported the Ninety-ninth boy was dead.
The day of the explosion a large number of soldiers and contrabands were killed, but only a few were known. The old hotel known as the Prentiss, was stripped of all the glass in the west and north sides, and many other buildings were more or less injured.
In 1862, when the Ninety-ninth Illinois was in the Ozark mountains of Missouri, the writer with a detachment of soldiers was sent to guard a wagon train to Beaver Creek. When night came the pickets were put out and instructions given. Morning came and we moved on without accident or incident.
The trip was about forgotten till in 1866 Gen. Jack Burbridge, of the C. S. A., came to New Canton on business. He was well known by many in the two Pikes as his home had been at Louisiana. He called my attention to the Beaver Creek pickets and said : "I was there with about 500 men, heard your instructions to the picket guard and could have captured you and your en- tire force. I knew you and many of your boys, but we did not want you. We were after a loaded train, and as your wagons were empty we did not care for them. But two nights later we took your wagons that were loaded and took all your boys prisoners but one, and if he had not said too much we would not have shot him. The others we paroled when morning came."
The boy that was killed was a New Canton boy, Blackburn by name. A few weeks later the soldiers of the two Pikes met at Hartsville, Mo., and had a short but bloody struggle, with many killed and wounded on both sides. The federals were victorious, but it is true that if the confed- erates had not overestimated the federal force the victory could have been theirs. James Montieth, of New Canton, and Phil Donohoe, of Rockport. were both wounded at Hartsville.
There were two General Burbridges that the Ninety-ninth boys knew. The U. S. A. was a Kentuckian, while the C. S. A. was from Pike
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county, Mo. Both are on the other shore, but they will be long remembered for their dare-devil ways, and for being good officers.
The past with its flood of memories recalls many changes from the old to the new. Those of you in the old days who went fishing and got a fish hook in your hand or fingers remember it took a small surgical operation to remove it. The old method was observed until about six years ago, when a young and progressive doctor de- veloped sense enough to take a file, cut off the end of the hook and pull it out without cutting the hand.
The old-timers always bled the sick person for any or all ailments. Now that has passed away and we have more improved ways in caring for the sick. In old times a sea-going vessel had to take in sand or stone for ballast, and carry a sup- ply of fresh water. Now they pump water out of the sea for ballast, and supply their vessels with fresh water by condensing sea water, also making ice on shipboard. As the old darkey said, "De world do move," and the people are keeping up with the procession.
In the happy past divorces and alimony were almost unknown. Now the majority of cases in the courts are for divorce. Pike county had one case in 1821, and that was for desertion. My old friend, J. M. Bush, an 1838 man, told a good joke on himself. He said he was elected justice of the peace in an early day, and stated that his first marriage ceremony would be free. A young Piker came to him one wet and stormy night to go about five miles out of town to marry a couple. He went and the evening was so inclement he could not get back to town so remained over night. The couple came down to breakfast, looking a little sheepish, and after the meal the young man said, "How much do I owe you, Squeer?" He told the youngster that what he had. stated when elected and the new benedict said, "Well, Squeer, I'm much obleeged to you. We wouldn't a had you if we could a got Squeer Scanland."
The old-style camp meeting was another cus- tom that now is about obsolete, but in those days was a week or two in duration and was greatly enjoyed. The old-time preachers and singers made the woods resound with their music and
earnest appeals to the congregation to abandon the broad road and to travel in the narrow way that leads to life beyond this vale.
Pike county had an eminent and distinguished citizen in the person of Judge Chauncey L. Hig- bee. In the trying times of the Civil war he was noted for one act that endeared him to the citi- zens of that period. That was when he visited an alleged disloyal camp on the northwest side of the county and by a brief but able address caused the misguided and almost disloyal ones to break camp and go home to pursue their vocations and not endanger the best interests of the county. He also by word and act was a power in getting the Hannibal & Naples Railroad, now the Wa- bash, through our county. He was so able and noted that he was mentioned as candidate for the vice-presidency of the United States.
Pike county now has two banks at Pittsfield, at Griggsville two, Barry two, Perry one, Milton one, Nebo one, New Canton one, Baylis one, Hull one, Pleasant Hill one. It is commendable to the thrift and economy of our citizens to say that more people now have bank accounts than were ever dreamed of a few years ago. The county should have all optimistic people and none of the other order, for the simple reason that there is an opportunity for all to do well if they so will it. Look on the bright side, and think of the jolly son of Erin's song, "Trust to luck, stare fate in the face. Sure your heart will be aisy if it's in the right place."
In answer to the query, "Why are we called suckers," there are two versions. About 1777 Gen. George Rogers Clark applied to the Gover- nor of Virginia for permission to take a small army and conquer the Northwest Territory. The Governor consenting, he marched from where Shawneetown now is to Kaskaskia, where the French had a settlement. He moved on the little town, and it being "in the good old summer time," and very hot, the French were discovered sitting on their verandas, quietly sucking their juleps through straws. He charged upon them and shouted, "Surrender, you suckers," which they did, and from that day to this Illinoisians have been known as "suckers."
Once Senator Stephen A.' Douglas said in a
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speech at Petersburg, Va., "We honor you for a Washington, a Jefferson, a Marshall, and many other distinguished sages and patriots. We yield that you gave us territory for a great and sov- ereign state, but when you claim the glory of the mint julep we say, 'hands off.' Illinois claims that."
'Tis said a traveler once taught an old Virgin- ian how to make a mint julep. Going back a year later he asked a darkey, "Where is your master?" "Dar he." No, your old master." "O, he bin dead for six months. A man from de norf showed him how to drink grass in his whiskey and it done killed him."
The other version is that in 1826, at the Ga- lena lead mines, a lot of Illinois boys were start- ing home in the fall. A Missourian said, "Boys, where are you going ?" "Home." "Well, you put me in mind of suckers. Up in the spring, spawn, and all return in the fall."
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