USA > Illinois > Jo Daviess County > The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Illinois Constitution of the United States > Part 38
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
son-many a wife from her beloved husband-many a sister from a fond brother. Then came the train, the hurried 'Good-byes,' the shaking of hands, the filling of the cars, and, although many hearts were sad, as the whistle sounded the moment of departure and the train moved off, thou- sands of hats and 'kerchiefs waved, and cheer upon cheer for the Guards and the Union they went to uphold, rang out on the evening air."
And so went out from among the people of Galena the gallant Chetlain and his brave company.
While this first company was being organized, uniformed and sent out to join in freedom's battle against treason and slavery, others were forming. In the Galena papers of the 20th of April, there appeared the following call :
Attention, Company! All those that are willing to volunteer, and are in favor of the Union, the enforcement of the laws, protection to our flag, and of responding to the call of the President of the United States, in suppressing rebellion, repressing invasions, dispersing mobs, and in re-capturing and protecting government forts, property, etc., to form a com- pany for that purpose, and will hold themselves in readiness subject to a call by the Gov- ernor, are requested to enroll their names at my office. Said company, when formed, may elect its own officers. B. B. HOWARD.
In a few days Captain Howard's company was full, and on the evening of the 25th of April proceeded to the election of officers.
Captain, B. B. Howard; First Lieutenant, Thaddeus B. Drum; Second Lieutenant, Orrin Smith. Jr .; Sergeants, First, George Richardson; Second, James S. Charles; Third, William Kamphouse: Fourth, William Pittam; Corporals, First, Conrad Schlosser; Second, A. J. Brace; Third, John C. Leek; Fourth, John S. Jolly.
April 24, the Courier had the following: " Captain Howard's Com- pany-Capt. Howard received a dispatch from the Adjutant-General at Springfield, last evening, informing him that they were full under the first call, but advising him to keep up his organization, as he thinks another call will be made soon."
Thursday, May 2, Captain Howard advertised as follows :
Attention, Anti-Beaure Guards !- You will report at headquarters (Jackson Hall), at 9 o'clock A. M. and 4 o'clock P. M., of each and every day, until further orders. By order of B. B. HOWARD, Captain.
JAMES S. CHARLES, Sergeant.
Thus it will be seen that Captain Howard and his "boys in blue " were not only ready but waiting for the summons to march against the enemy. They were soon ordered to march, and were escorted to the depot as the first company had been, with music, banners, and thousands of citizens.
While these and other companies were being raised in Galena, other parts of the county were not idle.
The people of Morseville assembled at their school-house on Friday evening, the 19th of April, to take counsel together, and give expression to their sentiments. S. Tyrrell, Esq., was called to the chair, and S. Church chosen as secretary. A committee on resolutions was appointed, who reported the following :
WHEREAS, It becomes American citizens to know no political law but their country's welfare; and whereas, the flag of our country has been insulted, and the laws set at defiance by formidably organized bands of lawless men whose avowed purpose and overt acts are high treason against the government, therefore,
Resolved, That in the present endangered state of our country we will ignore all party differences and distinctions and will unite in rendering all the aid within our power, to the Federal Executive in executing the laws and defending the honor of our national flag.
382
HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
2. That we recognize the form of government formed by our fathers-and baptized in their blood-as the best in the world; the birthright of American citizens, and to be given up but with our lives.
3. That we are unalterably for the Union of the States, one and inseparable, now and forever.
4. That the Secretary of this meeting forward a copy of these proceedings and resolu- tions to be published in the Warren Independent, Galena Courier and Galena Gazette.
Speeches full of patriotism were made by several gentlemen, when the meeting adjourned to be heard from again.
The citizens of Nora were actively at work. P. F. Parks, writing from that place to the Courier, under date of the 25th of April, said :
" On Sunday, in our church, the state of our country was presented. A telegraphic report at noon that Washington was actually attacked raised the feeling to the highest pitch of excitement; men, women and children were ready to enlist all their energies, in any form possible, to save our country. Never before have I seen such an outbreak of enthusiasm.
" A call was made on Monday evening to form a body for home protection, or to be ready to repel invasion. Mr. Lucius Blackman was chosen chairman. Patriotic speeches were made by G. F. Bennett, J. P. Harriman, Rev. Mr. Luke, Rev. Mr. Coolly, Lucius Blackman and others. A committee of three, Captain Stanchfield, Rev. O. W. Coolly and L. Blackman, was chosen to draft a constitution and by-laws for the company, and report on the next evening.
"On Tuesday evening the committee reported. The constitution was adopted, and sixty men immediately responded with their names. They proceeded to organize under the name of the " Nora Home Guards." This company was officered as follows :
" Captain, George B. Stanchfield; First Lieutenant, Charles T. Sisson; Second Lieutenant, Lucius Blackman; Clerk and Orderly Sergeant, P. F. Parks; Second Sergeant, W. E. Harriman; Third Sergeant, Ezra Turner, Fourth Sergeant, Alfred Stevens; Corporals, First, Thomas H. Leland; Second, Henry Lawrence ; Third, Alexander Boileau ; Fourth, H. J. Harriman."
So spake the patriotic people of Nora.
Wednesday evening, the 24th (April), the people of Elizabeth and vicinity assembled at the school-house to discuss the situation. The meet- ing was called to order by Dr. W. A. Little, on whose motion Stephen R. Elwell was made chairman. H. Green was chosen secretary. Mr. Elwell stated the object of the meeting, after which short, sharp, stirring speeches were made by Messrs. Cummings and Hicks, of Galena, which elicited hearty responses from the audience. As expressive of the sense of the people of that vicinity, the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, 1. That we, the people of Elizabeth, in view of the contest now pending in our country, involving our existence as a nation, and the existence of constitutional free- dom, will hereafter know no party save that of patriot and of traitor.
2 .. That we will, as one man, give our support to the national' administration in its endeavors to defend the national honor, execute the laws and maintain the perpetuity of the Union.
3. That the policy of the administration in the endeavor to maintain the integrity of the government, the possession of the forts and public property of the United States, meets with our hearty approval.
4. That we are filled with indignation when we think that the flag of our country has been torn down and trampled under the feet of traitors; and we pledge our lives and fortunes to the service of our country to vindicate that flag.
Information having been received that the companies called for by the
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
governor had reported themselves ready for orders, and that no more could be received at that time, it was resolved to form a company for drill prac- tice, in order to be prepared to respond to any future call. A call was made for volunteers for such company, and forty-four persons immediately responded.
Up to Saturday evening, the 27th, eighty-three men had enrolled their names, when they proceeded to an election of officers, as follows:
Captain, John Barker.
First Lieutenant, John Calvert.
Second Lieutenant, Charles Oversteel.
Sergeants, First, Stephen R. Elwell; Second, John Atchison; Third, John G. Byers; Fourth, Wayne Milligan.
At Millville, on the 28th, the people held a meeting to receive a flag from the ladies of that hamlet and neighborhood-an emblem of loyalty and devotion to the whole Union. A flag staff eighty-seven feet in height was raised, from the top of which the flag was unfurled. Guns were fired- one for each state and territory, after which the following sentiments were read :
1. Our motto is union and the preservation of the national flag, or death on the field of battle in its defense.
2. We regard all repudiators of the Constitution of the United States as rebels, and will treat them as such.
3. May the flag of our country be a terror to all rebellious or invading forces.
4. May the flag of our country float triumphantly over land and sea.
At Warren, Scales Mound, Apple River, Dunleith, Hanover-in fact, in almost every school-house and church building in the county-meetings were held, resolutions of patriotism adopted, and measures inaugurated for the enlistment of volunteers. The people spoke as if with one voice. There was no halting between two opinions, but all "rallied around the flag," and solemnly declared, as Andrew Jackson, America's soldier presi- dent declared-" The Union must and shall be preserved."
A company was fully organized at Warren on Tuesday, the 23d of April, by the election of the following officers:
Captain, James Raney.
First Lieutenant, D. J. Benner.
Second Lieutenant, John W. Luke.
Third Lieutenant, A. T. Barnes.
This company was accepted under the second call for volunteers, and went into camp at Freeport a few days after its election of officers. On the morning of their departure for Freeport, they were escorted to the depot by a large concourse of citizens, where, on behalf of the ladies of Warren, Rev. Mr. Probst presented the company with a very handsome flag, accompanied by an appropriate address. The flag was received for the company by Dr. Marvin, who responded to the remarks of Mr. Probst in an easy, graceful manner, and pledged the men of the company to return the flag unsullied and unstained by any act of cowardice or dishonor to the fair hands of the ladies who made it, or to die in its defense. Soon the train bore them away to the camp of Freeport, and from thence they were soon assigned to regiments and ordered forward to meet the enemy at the outposts of danger.
Onr pen conld be employed for months in sketching the uprising of the people, the formation of companies, and telling of the deeds of valor and beroism of the " Boys in Blue " from Jo Daviess County. There is
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
inaterial here for volumes upon volumes, and it would be a pleasing task to collect and arrange it, but no words our pen could employ would add a single lanrel to their brave and heroic deeds. Acts speak louder than words, and their acts have spoken-are recorded in pages already written. The people of no county in any of the states of the freedom and Union-lov- ing North made a better record during the dark and trying times of the great and final struggle between freedom and slavery-patriotism and trea- son-than the people of Jo Daviess. Monuments may crumble; cities may fall into decay; thie tooth of time leave its impress on all the works of man, but the memory of the gallant deeds of the army of the Union in the war of the great rebellion, in which the sons of this county bore so conspicuous a part, will live in the minds of men so long as time and civilized govern- ments endure.
Leaving these companies and others organizing and to be organized, to follow to the field of danger, we turn back to take up some other matters of local importance as forming a part of the war record we are seeking to pre- serve.
Thursday, April 25, there was a great powder excitement at Galena. On that day the steamboat " La Crosse," bound for St. Louis, had an order to ship 224 kegs of blasting powder from the Platteville Powder Mills, ostensibly for Pike's Peak. A number of Galenians, fearing the powder might fall into the hands of the secessionists, either at Hannibal or St. Louis, requested Mayor Brand to forbid the captain of the "La Crosse" from taking it. The mayor complied with their request, and also tele- graphed to the governor to know if he should allow the powder to be shipped, to which Governor Yates replied, "Detain it by all means." The powder was thereupon taken back to the powder house, aud the Pike's Peakers never saw it, nor did it fall into the hands of those who would have used it to blast the union. Plattsville powder was not made for such pur- poses.
The people were liberal, as well as patriotic, and while the men were busy enlisting, organizing and equipping companies, the ladies were active in taking up subscriptions and making arrangements to secure the families of volunteers against want. Committees were appointed, and right nobly did they do their duty. The first fund raised was in the interest of the Jo Daviess Guards-Captain Chetlain's company. Friday evening, April 27, . the sum of $1,600 was reported subscribed and subject to the order of the relief committee, and, it having been ascertained that some of the families were in need, an assessment of ten per cent was immediately made, and promptly paid and distributed " where it would do the most good." And so the good work went on. As the war continued, and more volunteers were needed, the county authorities came to thie assistance of the people. The several townships were equally generous, and in most of them large sums were raised-not only by taxation, but by voluntary contributions. What these sums were, as provided by the authorities of the several town- ships, we could not ascertain. Each one of the town clerks was written to for information upon this subject, but for some cause unexplained, only a very few of them responded, much to our regret.
As an evidence of the liberality of the Galenians, the following inci- dent was related to the writer, by Captain D. S. Harris: When a company of one-hundred-day men was being raised, Captain Harris started out to raise some money for the benefit of the company. He went up on one side of Main Street, and down on the other, and in one hour's time secured in
385
HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
1
cash a sum equal to $50 to each man of the company. When the company was ordered to Dixon, he and Mr. John Lorrain accompanied it to camp, and as soon as the men were all mustered in, paid over to each of them fifty dollars as the patriotic offering of the business men along Main Street, Galena.
The Courier, of April 30, contained the following personal announce- ment:
" AT SPRINGFIELD .- Capt. U. S. Grant, of this city, a graduate of West Point, and a Captain in the regular U. S. Army at the time of the Mexican War, is now absent at Springfield, where, it is understood, he will act as a drill officer for the soldiers at Camp Yates. Captain G. is said to be an excellent tactician, and the Governor, no doubt, con- siders himself fortunate in securing the aid of such an experienced man to assist in drill- ing the forces of the state."
May 11, the same paper made this additional personal mention:
"CAPT. GRANT .- Capt. U. S. Grant, of this city, who has been detailed by Governor Yates to muster the regiment for the Seventh Congressional into camp, was at Mattoon on the 9th inst., engaged in that service."
It was not supposed at this time that the war between the states would last long-not more than a few months, at the longest; and no one dreamed that the retiring, unassuming Captain U. S. Grant, assigned to drill service by order of Governor Yates, would, in less than two years' time, be made Commander-in-Chief of the United States Army, or that in less than ten years he would rise to a distinction and confidence that would command the highest office within the gift of the American people; or that in less than twenty years he would be the honored and courted guest of the crowned heads and titled courts of the Old World. Yet time has brought all these things about. No man in all the world has now brighter honors, or is more honored and respected than Captain Grant, once an humble leather dealer of Galena.
May 10, 1861, Daniel Wann, Surveyor of Customs at the port of Galena, caused to be published in the Galena papers the following
OFFICIAL NOTICE:
CUSTOM HOUSE, GALENA, May 10, 1861.
Notice is hereby given, to all whom it may concern, that under instructions received at this office, under date of May 2, 1861, in relation to the proclamations of the President of the United States, of the 19th and 27th of April, A. D. 1861, declaring the ports of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia, and Northi Carolina under blockade, a careful examination of the manifests of all steamers or other vessels arriving and departing from this port with cargoes whose destination I have reason to believe is for any port or place in control of insurrectionary persons or parties, will be made by me and compared with the cargoes on board. I will also make a careful examin- ation of all flat boats, and other water craft without manifest, and of railroad cars, and other vehicles arriving at or leaving this port loaded with merchandise, the ultimate des- tination of which I may have satisfactory reason to believe is for any port or place under the control of insurrectionary parties now opposing the constituted authorities of the United States; and that if any arms, munitions of war, provisions, or other supplies are found on board such vessel, railroad car, or vehicle, having such destination, the same will be seized and detained, to await the proper legal proceedings for confiscation or forfeiture.
All persons are cautioned against furnishing arms, munitions of war, provisions, or other supplies to persons or parties now in insurrection to the constituted authorities of the United States, and are hereby notified that I will use all diligence to prevent the ship- ment of such arms, munitions of war, provisions, or other supplies to any port or place un- der the control of such insurrectionary parties, and that I shall use all the care and dili- gence in my power to bring to punishment any person or persons engaged in furnishing arms, munitions of war, provisions, or supplies, to parties now in open insurrection against the government of the United States.
In carrying out my instructions, I shall endeavor to make as little interruption or delay as possible of the lawful commerce of the country from this port.
DANIEL WANN, Surveyor of Customs.
Such were some of the more important events connected with the war
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
history of Jo Daviess County. There were others, but, as previously stated, they can not all be taken up in detail. It has only been our pur- pose to do justice to the spirit and patriotism of this people, by showing the spirit that prompted them to action in the early days of America's great and bloody internecine conflict. It is a proud record-a record ren- dered doubly proud by reason of the fact that from their midst great lead- ers and military chieftains, like Grant and Rawlins, went out to lead the patriot hosts on to victory and the maintenance and perpetuity of the Union.
" A union of lakes, a union of lands- A union that none can sever- A union of hearts, a union of hands, The American Union forever."
The world never witnessed such an uprising of the masses-such a unamimity of sentiment-such willingness to sacrifice men and money.
As we have before remarked, when the first companies were being raised measures were inaugurated and carried out to raise money by sub- scription for the support of the families of volunteers. But there were so many calls for men, that the needs of families increased. so rapidly it became an impossibility for private purses, however willing their holders, to supply the demand, and at last the county authorities were petitioned to make an appropriation for the 'support of such of the families of the volunteers as needed help. The petition was granted, and the sum of $6,000 appropriated for that purpose. Some of the townships were equally liberal, and besides large sums raised for bounty purposes, sundry amounts were raised and applied to the support of wives and little ones whose husbands and fathers were in the army fighting for their homes. This money was raised in the midst of the war excitement, when the exigencies of the times demanded it, and the people never took the thought to inquire how much they were giving. Nor will it ever be known how much was given. Aside from the sums appropriated by county and township authority, no account was ever kept. Had there been, the sums would now seem almost fabulous.
We have sought by every possible means to arrive at the actual amounts appropriated by the county and its several townships for bounty and other war purposes, but for reasons already stated have failed to obtain the desired information. Only a part of the townships responded to our letters of inquiry. But so far as reports were received, the following is the showing :
Total bounty paid by Jo Daviess County from 1862 to the close of the war .. -$229,120 00
Relief by county for soldiers' families, in the same time
6,471 47-$235,591 47
Dunleith Township, for bounties, etc. 9,500 00
Menominee
2,200 00
Thompson
66
3,750 00
Derinda
7,800 00
Ward's Grove "
2,454 00
Rush
4,000 00
Rush Township for relief of families 00
Warren
66
1,000 00
Elizabeth " bounties
3,960 00- $35,364 00
It is fair to presume that the other twelve townships not named appropriated at least.
40,000 00
To which may be added, for voluntary contributions, etc., at least.
50,000 00- $90,000 00
Grand total, from all sources, for war purposes, according to the best sources of information $361,955 47
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
The reports from Ward's Grove and Rush Townships are not official, but are believed to be correct. 3 Mr. J. G. Mitchell, clerk of the Township of Ward's Grove, wrote, under date of February 14: "The record in my hands does not show the whole amount paid for bounties to soldiers. It does show $2,454 paid soldiers' bounties, but afterwards there was a tax of one and one half per cent levied for the purpose of liquidating the balance of the war debt. How much that amounted to, my books do not show."
The amount credited to Rush Township was not raised by taxation, but by voluntary contributions.
July 22, 1862, a paper was circulated among the people of Galena, of which the following is a copy, and which is worthy of preservation:
The Union-it must be Preserved. For the purpose of encouraging and assisting in the organization of a new company from Galena, the undersigned offer to contribute the sums attached to our names, to be paid to persons who shall regularly enlist in such com- pany, and be mustered into the service of the United States, under the late call of President Lincoln for volunteers. The sum of $50 is offered to each person who shall enlist from the City of Galena, to be paid when the company is accepted by the Governor of the State of Illinois. Provided, That the undersigned shall not pay such subscription should the bounty be provided for by the Board of Supervisors of Jo Daviess County.
Henry Corwith $250 00
R. S. Harris
50 00
Samuel Hughlett
150 00
Jas. Rood
50 00
Augustus Estey
150 00
Benj. R. Sheldon
50 00
N. Corwith
150 00
E. Č. Ripley
25 00
B. H. Campbell
150 00
T. H. Gilson
25 00
J. A. Packard
125 00
H. McNeill
25 00
Foster & Stahl.
100 00
Wm. Carey 25 00
W. and J. M. Ryan
100 00
W. and J. Fiddick.
100 00
S. S. Lorrain
20 00
L. S. Felt
100 00
S. O. Stillman D. Le Better
20 00
Wm. C. Bostwick
50 00
A. Philleo
15 00
Gordon & Willis.
50 00
R. Barrett
15 00
Jas. B. Young.
50 00
R. Butcher.
15 00
D. B. Morehouse.
50 00
H. Strohmeyer
10 00
Joseph N. Waggoner
50 00
Jacob Thorworth
15 00
A. H. Davis Total.
50 00
$2,130 00
Henry Fricke 25 00
20 00
John Bennett.
50 00
The above was not an isolated case of the readiness and willingness of the more affluent people of Jo Daviess County to contribute largely of their means to help carry on the war for the Union. There were many such cases. As long as the war continued, money was ready-men were ready. Men of wealth furnished the former; the less affluent filled the ranks-fur- nished the brawn, the muscle and the bravery. Sometimes the former fur- nished not only their share of money, but shouldered their muskets and followed the flag, as well.
Having noticed the financial sacrifices and readiness of the wealthier part of the people to sustain the Union, we comne now to the volunteer sol- diery. And of these, what can we say ? What words can our pen employ that would do justice to their heroic valor-to their unequalled and unpar- alleled bravery ? Home and home comforts-wives and little ones-fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers-were given up for life and danger on the tented fields of battle-for exposure, disease and death at the cannon's mouth. But they reckoned none of these, but went out with their lives in their hands to meet and conquer the foes of the Union, maintain its supremacy, and vin - dicate its honor and integrity. We can offer no more fitting tribute to their patriotic valor than a full and complete record, so far as it is possible to make it, that will embrace the names, the terms of enlistments, the battles
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