Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 59

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois > Part 59

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fifth of August. They were met at the wharf by Captain Penfield and Captain Rose with their infantry commands, by Captain Delano with his dragoons and one company of the Fourteenth infantry. Captain T. W. Macfall left for Camp Butler with his mounted cavalry company on the 16th of Angust. About this time the "Needle Pickets" gave a reception to Gen. Prentiss and Col. Morgan. They also made one hundred and seven needle-books for Captain Sheley's company. This company after its three months' service enlisted for three years and was Company C of the Tenth In- fantry.

The troops which had crossed the river here had now taken possession of north Missouri. Bush whackers and guerilla bands wandered about the country, but aside from some skir- mishing with these, the Union soldiers held the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad entirely across the State. and with it, its military con- trol. The extreme west wing of the con- federate army was driven southward beyond the Missouri river. During the summer and autumn of this year, several events of interest occurred. An effort led by Joseph Kolker was made to raise an artillery company. Captain Powers and Dr. S. G. Black were authorized to raise cavalry companies. The Tenth cavalry arrived in Quincy and paraded the streets eight hundred strong. Many steamboats, some with barges attached loaded with troops, passed down the river. Col. Williams' Sharp Shooters left camp for the front. The Fox river regi- ment passed through Quiney for St. Lonis.

Gen. Phillip St. George Cooke of the regular army passed through Quincy with his com- mand six hundred strong, with three hundred horses and six cannon. They came from Utah. Col. Glover with his command crossed into Missouri. In a few days he was at Paris, Monroe county, and levied a sum of $2,500 upon the citizens to repair the railroad which had been damaged by the confederates. On the 11th of November, Lieutenant Shipley of Com- pany A. 27th Infantry. killed in the battle of Belmont, was buried in Woodland cemetery, with military honors. On the 8th of Decem- ber, the C. B. & Q. railroad company presented a cannon to the local artillery company. About this date the bridges across the North and Fabius rivers southwest of Quincy were burned by confederates.

Col. W. A. Richardson was tendered com- mand of a "Kentucky Brigade" to be organ- ized at Camp Du Bois near Jonesboro. Illinois. Captain Delano's company of dragoons left for Camp Butler, and by the 9th of September, were in camp at Bird's Point on the river op-

posite Cairo. At the close of the year. most of the regiments which had been organized at Quiney and were in part composed of men from Adams county, had been sent southward and assigned to varions brigades and divisions. The Tenth, Sixteenth and Twenty-seventh were at the front. The Fiftieth left Quincy Jan- uary 26, 1862. Most of the Adams county soldiers were with Pope's command, and par- tieipated in the campaign which resulted in the capture of New Madrid, and about 5,000 men near Tiptonville. The Fiftieth was with Grant of Fort Donelson. Subsequently they were all engaged in the movement under Gen. Halleck upon Corinth, Miss.

During the spring and early summer months, Quiney began to see the results of active cam- paigns. in sickness, wounds and deaths. There were two hospitals established, and numbers of siek and wounded soldiers were brought from the camps and battlefields. Rev. Horatio Foote and Rev. S. H. Emery were appointed chaplains. Dr. D. G. Brinton had charge of a hospital. Dr. I. T. Wilson served as surgeon. Other local physicians were assigned to hospi- tal duty.

THIE LEVY OF 1862.

It required several bloody battles to con- vince many people that the South was des- perately in earnest, and engaged in a supreme struggle to dissolve the Union. On July 2, 1862. the President called for more troops. This awakened all patriotic people to renewed efforts, to induce men to enlist. Qniney again became a center for the collection of recruits and the organization of new regiments. A Union war meeting was held July 21. A large number of leading citizens signed the call. Committees were formed to solicit funds for soldiers' families, to encourage enlistments and secure meetings throughout the county.

Prof. Roberts of the Iligh School tried to raise a company. J. P. Steritt of Payson was authorized to raise a regiment. Col. Duff tried to raise a regiment, and subsequently, entered the artillery service with a number of men. The prospect of a draft indneed some men to enlist, some to hire substitutes, and others to hire substitutes to serve, even though they were not drafted. Large amounts of money were raised and bounties were given to en- courage enlistments. Some recruits joined various commands according to their individual interest. and were not eredited to Quincy or the county. But as the results of strong effort. Companies B, E, F, G and K, and part of Company D. were recruited in the county, and joined the 78th Illinois Infantry. W. H. Benne-

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son was made Colonel, and (. Van Vleck, Lt. Colonel. Adams county furnished Companies E and I for the 84th Illinois Infantry. Lewis H. Waters was commissioned Colonel of this regiment. Thomas Hamer was made Lt. Colonel, and Charles H1. Morton of Quincy was commissioned Major. This regiment was or- ganized in Quiney. Companies D. F and K recruited in Quincy, joined the 118th Infantry. John J. Fonda was Colonel, and Robert M. MeClanghry, Major. On September 18, the 119th Infantry was organized, with Thomas J. Kinney as Colonel. Companies A, G and I were recruited in Adams county. Rev. Mr. -Jagnes, president of Quincy College, was com- missioned Colonel, and took command of the 73rd Infantry, Companies I and II being mainly raised in Adams county.

An effort was made during this year to estab- lish a military college in Quincy. It was hope- fully announced by the press that it "would soon take high rank in the west." Another incident of the year was the return of Gen. B. M. Prentiss, who had been taken prisoner at the Battle of Shiloh. He arrived on the Steamer Black Hawk, and was escorted from the wharf by the 119th Infantry. Jackson Grimshaw was Chief Marshal. The General was presented with a sword, a gold-headed cane and a silver pitcher.

In the autumn of 1862, the Hush of patriotic enthusiasm which pervaded all parties had. with many, been chilled by the burden and horrors of war. Some were discouraged by the uncertain issue of the struggle. Others felt that it was assuming anti-slavery features. It was sometimes stigmatized as an "abolition war." Soldiers of the Union armies were sometimes branded as "nigger thieves." The partisan press prononneed the war to be "a failure" and the volunteer soldier was called a "Lincoln hireling." Senator Douglas was in his grave. His eloquent voice was no longer heard. Some of his former followers forgot his words and his example. They shrank from the sacrifices which the last full measure of de- votion to the Union called for. They began to question the right of the administration to coerce a rebellious state.

The result of the November election was to send representatives to the next General As- sembly who were bitterly opposed to the vigor- ous prosecution of the war. The representa- tives from Adams county voted for the so- called "Copper-head Resolutions," which de- nonneed the war and called for an "armistice." This Assembly was prorogued by the Governor. The representatives from Adams county were elected by a majority of 1.796 votes. The

political condition of affairs at home, however, did not seriously impair the efficiency of the patriotic soldiers in the field. There were a few deserters. Some extreme partisans en- couraged desertion. "Law and order" meetings were ontspoken for the war, now denounced opposition to the "draft." Some who in 1861 were out-spoken for the war, now denounced it. "Gen." Singleton said he "was an op- ponent of the war, and never pretended any- thing else.

The "draft" was sustained and added to the number of soldiers in the field. James Wood- ruff was the Provost Marshal, then Captain Henry Asbury, who was succeeded by W. H. Fisk. Not many local events of military in- terest occurred during the closing period of 1862 and the spring of 1863. On the 13th of December, 500 men of the Second Ohio Cavalry passed through Quiney. The musical society. the popular "Old Folks" continued to give successful concerts in the city and neighbor- ing towns, including Jacksonville, Alton and St. Louis. They raised in this way several thousand dollars.

At this time there were about eight hun- dred soldiers in the hospitals. Ladies from the adjoining townships assisted those of Quincy in sewing garments and cooking delicacies for them. Efforts were made at this time to enlist negro troops. Black men from Missouri crossed the river and enlisted. This caused much agita- tion. The master of the slave pursued him across the river and insisted that he had the same right to him under the Fugitive Slave Law, as he had to his hog or his horse which might have strayed away. Thirty-six men were enrolled in the colored regiment of Col. Bross, some joined a Massachusetts regiment. Every one so enlisting was credited upon the draft in the district. Great demonstrations of popular joy were made after the battle of Gettysburg and the fall of Vicksburg. The "Needle Pickets" held a fair which netted $1,065.

In January 1864, the 10th. 16th and 50th regiments, having largely re-enlisted came home on veteran furlough, and were received with the booming of cannon, speeches of wel- come and sumptuous banquets. They were largely re-inforced by new reernits during their furlongh, and upon its expiration. re- joined the army at the front. The earnest and patriotie spirit of these veterans encouraged the loyal people, and deepened their deter- mination to sustain the administration in pros- eruting the war till the rebellion should be completely subdued.

In the spring of 1864. Ohio, Indiana, Ilinois

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and Iowa believing that the rebellion was near its close, tendered the President a volunteer force of 85,000 one-hundred-day men, to re- lieve the veteran soldiers of guard duty at the forts, arsenals and along the railroads. In response to this eall, the 137th Infantry was mustered in June 5th at Camp Wood. Ex- Governor John Wood was made Colonel. The citizens of Quiney, presented Colonel Wood with a fine horse, saddle, hostler's pistols, etc .. the outfit costing about $400, as a testimonial of their personal regard. The regiment left Quincy June 9. A salute was fired of seven- teen rounds and a flag was presented to them. They proceeded to Memphis, Tenn., by boat. Assigned to pieket duty on the Hernando road, it was attacked by Forrest's Cavalry and met with seven losses in killed, wounded and pris- oners. After honorable service it was mustered ont at Springfield September 24.

June 24. the 138th regiment of one-hundred- day men left Quincey for Fort Leavenworth. The 29th colored regiment. Colonel Bross com- manding, also left Quincy going to the east. They filled twelve coaches. Two companies were from Adams county. This regiment made a glorious record. Colonel Bross and many of his men fell in a desperate charge in front of Petersburg. An effort was made to establish a Home for the children of deceased and dis- abled soldiers. Gen. Prentiss was made agent of the association, and made addresses in its behalf throughout the state. On September 5, a mass meeting was held to give expression to Union sentiment. O. H. Browning, Jackson Grimshaw and Gen. Prentiss made speeches. A strong effort was made to adjust publie senti- ment to the pressure of the "draft." Quite a number of our citizens not liable for military duty. volunteered and hired able-bodied men to represent them in the army. Individual subscriptions of from $300 to $1,000 were made to constitute a bounty fund. The supervisors met and proposed a tax of $2.30 upon the hun- dred so as to be able to offer a bounty of $300 to each man entering the military service. The year passed with noisy denunciations, but with- out serions or organized resistance to the en- forcement of the conscription law.

The vote in the county in the presidential election gave the opponents of the Administra- tion 1,066 majority. During the year local contractors were busy in making accountre- ments for infantry, artillery and cavalry. The "Government Clothing Hall" used three hun- dred and sixty thousand yards of blue kersey, made two hundred and fifty thousand pairs of "pants" and drawers, shirts, etc .. in like pro- portion. Quiney was a busy military center.

February. 1865, the 148th regiment was or- ganized. Company D of this regiment was enlisted in Quiney, with llenry A. Dix as Cap- tain. Enlisted for one year's service. they were mustered out September 9th. In the spring months the draft was being made. The fol- lowing is a specimen notice taken from the Whig. "The wheel turned again for Ursa and Lima. Recruiting is dull. Our turn will come soon unless volunteering becomes more brisk. There is plenty of money to pay bounties, all that is lacking, is the men.

On April 4, news came that Richmond was in the possession of the Union soldiers. The news ereated indescribable excitement and joy. Bonfires were kindled. speeches were made. houses were illuminated, patriotic musie was sung by all who had a voice, flags were un- furled, bells were rung, whistles blown, and every imaginable demonstration of joy indulged in. Men who had been doing all they could to discredit the Administration and a vigorous proseention of the war, were "converted" and gave outward signs of enthusiasm. One hun- dred guns were fired, stores closes, streets bloomed with Hags. turned out, decorated paraded the streets.

The fire department with banners, bands Intoxicated with en- thusiasm, some one set fire to a load of straw which happened to be passing the square.

The surrender of Gen. Lee stopped the draft. The 146th regiment was sent April 21 to Springfield to be mustered out. The barracks which had sheltered so many thousand sol- diers, were dismantled and the lumber sold. The local press expressed the hope that "now that the soldiers have vacated Franklin Square, we trust that our authorities will turn their attention to its embellishment." Quiney ceased to be a military camp.

In addition to the enlistments mentioned in this sketch. quite a number of men from this locality were on the muster rolls of miscel- laneous commands, some of them credited to Missouri. Others served in the regular army.

As rapidly as they were mustered out of the service, the volunteers usually returned to their homes by the shortest route. About fifty of the 10th Infantry returned to Quincy with Col. Tillson. They were received with grate- ful feeling and enthusiasm. The 50th reached Quiney July 22nd. This regiment was the pet of Adams county. It had been nick-named the "blind half-hundred." This was a vague name of no special significance. except that, in the spirit of humor, names are sometimes given exactly because they do not apply at all. The record of the 50th showed that it certainly was not "blind." but had eyes to see duty and the

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way to do it nobly. The regiment began its service in Missouri, thence went to Cairo. thence to Forts Henry and Donelson. It was in the battle of Shiloh, when Colonel Bane lost an arm. It was engaged at Corinth, Miss., and in all the active campaigns in Tennessee and Alabama. For a time it served as mounted infantry. It was in the bloody fight at Allatoona, when Col. Hanna received a severe wound and the regiment lost 87 in killed and wounded. Going with Sherman to the sea, it was on the march through the Carolinas en- gaged in the battle of Bentonville, and par- tieipated in the grand review in Washington. Ordered to Louisville to be mustered ont, it won the prize banner in a competitive drill with the 63d Illinois and 7th lowa Infantry.

The volunteers who went from Adams conn- ty to the call of their country were the very flower of her youth. They became the equals of the best soldiers who ever made a campaign or stood in the fighting line in the shock of battle. There were those, who as students of history, anticipated that the return of large numbers of soldiers would endanger the peace of society. They had the Shakespeare ideal of the soldier :

"Full of strange oaths, and bearded like a pard,

Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the canon's mouth."

But the volunteer with his ideals raised rather than lowered by his years of patriotic service, came back to civil life better fitted than ever to take up its duties and share its responsibilities. From camp and field they eame to take again their place as citizens so modestly that there is nothing to distinguish them except the Grand Army button of bronze, and the comradeship which is conspicuously in evidence, on days of regimental "reunion." So many rendered glorious service and accom- plished their full measure of duty, that it is impossible to give adequate notice of all mer- itorious achievement. Captain Prentiss, rising from command of a company to be brigadier general, won high honor at Shiloh, where he commanded a Division at what was called the "hornet's nest." He attained the rank of Major General.

Captain Morgan, a company commander at Cairo, attained to the rank of a Major Gen- eral, and was in charge of the 2nd Division of the 14th Army Corps at the end of the war.

Colonel Bane survived his wounds received at Shiloh, and after a long period of service in the field, resigned to take a distinguished rank as a citizen.

W. A. Schmidt was breveted Brigadier Gen- eral.

Colonel Tillson commanded a brigade in the great march to the sea, was breveted a Brig- adier General and was given a commission as captain in the regular army.

Colonel Hanna, Colonel Swartout, Colonel Prince are survivors, who respond to the roll call of men who did conspicuous service. Equally entitled to honor and grateful con- sideration are the many less conspienous, but not less deserving, those of the rank and file who were behind the guns.

QUINCY SOLDIERS AND THE SPANISH WAR.

On the 25th of April, 1898. Captain II. D. Blasland, commanding Company F of the Illi- mois Militia, received an order from the Ad- jutant General to report at the State Fair Grounds, to the regimental commander, for "service in war." Immediate preparations for departure were made. A meeting of citizens was held at the rooms of the Chamber of Com- merce, and arrangements made to give the "boys" a fitting "send-off." At five o'clock on the morning of the 27th. a procession was formed to escort the company to the Wabash station. First came a platoon of twenty-six policemen. The veterans of the civil war took their place behind them. Then came honorary members of the company. The post office em- ployes came next. then Gordan's band with the Naval Reserves followed by Company F. Thousands of people thronged the sidewalks, and Front street about the station was packed with a dense multitude. Cheers and huzzahs with martial music, rang out on the air. Flags and handkerchiefs, a great wave of them, Huttered in hundreds of hands. Arriving at the station, the company went aboard the train, while the band played "Marching Through Georgia." There were many hearty "good- byes" as well as tearful farewells. The train pulled slowly out of the depot on its way to Springfieldl. It was mustered into the United States service on the fifth of May. H. D. Blas- land was commissioned Captain : H. D. Whip- ple. First Lientenant: J. McClellan. Second Lieutenant. F. B. Nichols, who had some ex- perience in the English army, both in South Africa and in India, was made Major. Alfred Castle was commissioned Adjutant of the batal- lion, with rank of Lientenant. Eugene Hard- ing, who had achieved marked efficiency in the school of the soldier was selected Captain for Company E, from Hillsboro, Ill.

On the thirteenth of May, the regiment to which Company F belonged left camp for

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Chattanooga, Tennessee. Somewhat unlike the march of the "boys" in the civil war who were glad to get into cattle cars, these boys rode in Pullman palace cars!

They laid in camp for many weeks engaged in drill and earnest preparations for the field of war. They were impatient to go to the front. There was great rivalry between the varions regiments in camp as to which should have orders to proceed to Cuba or Porto Rico. Political friends in the Senate and Congress were appealed to, to seenre the requisite order. At last. after weary and anxions waiting, the company with its regiment took the cars at Ringgold, Georgia, for Newport News and ar- rived on the sixth of August. They were destined to disappointment. They embarked on board a transport only to disembark again. The vietory at Santiago and the destruction of the Spanish fleet led to speedy negotiations for peace and the end of the war.

The command was next ordered to Lexing- ton, Kentucky. Here a vote was taken and the regiment voted to be mustered out of service. Returning to Springfield, they were paid off and disbanded. Company D arrived in Quincy. on the twelfth of September. and were ac- corded an enthusiastic welcome,

THE QUINCY NAVAL RESERVES.

The Quiney Naval Reserves were organized May 21. 1897. The first meeting was held at the Chamber of Commerce, when nearly 100 of the best young men of the city signified their willingness to form a new company and were > worn into the state service for three years by Commander D. C. Daggett, of Moline. Col. (. S. Hickman, who had served in the U. S. Navy during the civil war, and also as Lieu- tenant Colonel in the State Guards, was elected Lieutenant, commanding the division, with Roy A. Morehead as Junior Lieutenant. and Earl H. Toole and George Horton as Ensigns. New sailor uniforms and Lee rifles were duly re- ceived and in August the division went into camp near Chicago, on Lake Michigan, where a very profitable week was spent in infantry and signal work, with boat drills, seamanship and gun practice on board the U. S. Ship Michi- gan, which was anchored in the lake.

The following fall Lieut. Hickman was pro- moted to the Captain's staff. and Ensigns Toole and Horton resigned. At an election held Dec. 20, 1897. Roy A. Morehead was put in com- mand: W. A. Simmons raised to lieutenant junior grade, with Marion A. Krieder and Hugh E. King as ensigns, and these officers were in charge at the outbreak of the Spanish- American war. So great was the interest mani-

fested that drills were held every night, and then came the word that the government could not take the Naval Reserves as an organization, but would enlist them as individuals. The re- sult was that fifty-eight men were enlisted in the regular service and were distributed on various ships. The ernisers Newark and Cin- cinnati received the most of them. These two ships were cruising in West India waters most of the time, and took part in several bombard- ments. Three of the officers, Lieut. Morehead and Ensigns Krieder and King, received com- missions as Ensigns in the Regular Navy, More- head serving first on the Receiving Ship Frank- lin, and afterwards on the Gunboat Castine. Krieder was assigned to Lancaster, and King to the Caesar. The first two did not leave the United States, but the Caesar was ordered to the West Indies where she remained about six months, and was at San Juan, Porto Rico, on the 18th of October, 1898, when the United States took formal possession of the Island. The 11th Infantry U. S. Army took possession of the city, the Spanish flags were ordered down and "Old Glory" raised on five of the most important buildings. To Ensign Ingh E. King, as a representative of the navy, was accorded the honor of raising the first Ameri- can Hag on the Intendentia Palace, while an- other former Quincy boy, Lient. Castle, U. S. Army, a nephew of Col. C. H. Castle, officiated at the Governor's Palace. Other army officers were doing like duty at the City Hall and Moro and San Christobal Colon Castles.

At the close of the war the officers and men were honorably discharged and sent home with the thanks of the Government and two months extra pay to their eredit.

Early in the summer of 1899, the Quincy Naval Reserves were re-organized with Lient. II. E. King at the helm. Lieutenant junior grade M. A. Krieder. Ensigns Samson C. Strauss and Wm. Burton as assistants, who took the division up to Wankegan, for the week's camp and training on board the U. S. Michigan. In 1902. the U. S. Government gave U. S. Ship Dorothea to the State of Illinois for a training ship to be used on Lake Michigan. A crew of the Illinois Naval Reserves, con- sisting of seventy-five men and ten officers under the captainey of Lient. B. T. Collins of Chicago, bronght her from Leagne Island Navy Yard at Philadelphia to Chicago, via the Gulf and River St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes. Lieut. King and several of the men of the Quiney Division formed a part of the crew. Since then the Naval Reserves take a ernise on the Dorothea each summer instead of going into camp.

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 59

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228