Fifteen years ago; or, The patriotism of Will County, designed to preserve the names and memory of Will County soldiers, both officers and privates - both living and dead: to tell something of what they did, and of what they suffered, in the great struggle to preserve our nationality

Front matter

.0

T„,m

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO:

Preface

fHIS work is no attempt at a history of the late war. Its aim is to do some justice to the soldiers of Will Cou nty, both ofiBcers and privates, both living and dead. It is simply the story of "our toys" and of our county during the rebellion period. It has been written for no political, or rather for no partizan purpose. In the largest and best sense of the word, the author does desire that it may have a political bearing); that it may. help to deepen the sense of the value of, and strengthen the attachment of our people to, THE Union, and the principles of freedom and equal rights which that Union represents and secures. He w ould be glad if it should help to " make treason odious " to the young men w ho are so soon to wield the destinies of our republic. This aim, however, is only secondary. The work has been undertaken and prosecuted mainly as an act of justice to those who went out from our county to fight in the cause of the Union.

In accomplishing this task, the author has availed himself of all information within, his reach. Much has been gleaned from the files of our county papers. The matter has, however, been gathered mostly from original sources ; from the journals and letters of the actors, both living and dead, and from the personal recollections of those who survive. Very much of the narrative is given in the language in which it has been obtained. I cannot specify the sources from which it has been gathered, except in this general way. The manner of its compilation will account for the variation in its style, and the changes in tense and person.

Especial pains has been taken to make the registry of soldiers full an(S correct, and to embody the main facts of each one's military record. Theaim has been to record the name of every soldier from Will county, without regard to the place where he may have enlisted or been credited, and to> exclude the names of those who were not actual residents of Will county. To this I have admitted some exceptions. Where, as in the case of the lOOthj Regiment, nearly all of the members were Will county men, I have thought, that a full muster roll of the organization would be pleasing to the members. Some others have probably been admitted by mistake. It has been a work of great labor to collect these names, inasmuch as in many instances they are credited, in the Adjutant General's Report, to the place where they en-

VI PREFACE.

listed, and in many other instances no residence is given. Some also enlisted in other states. It is probable therefore that the list is not absolutely perfect, and the thought that some names may have been omitted that should have gone upon the record, gives me pain. The fear too, that in making special mention as I have of many, I may seem to have ignored others who are as much entitled to such mention; this fear makes me hesitate to throw the work upon the public. Imperfection however is inseparable from all such undertakings, and the limitations of time and space cannot be transcended.

One thing will be noticed, I have recorded nothing to any person's dis- ■ credit, and perhaps the question will be asked- were all the Will county men brave and patriotic? Wei-e there no cowards— no deserters? I do not suppose that every man was a hero, or that no inferior motives mingled with the love of country, which in the main, inspired our volunteers. Some deserted. I have made no such entry in the record of names, because I have found so many instances in which the Adjt. General's report is incorrect in this parucular, that I have preferred to drop the entry altogether, lest I might perpetuate an injustice to some one. In more than one case I have found a man put down as having deserted, who was killed when bravely fighting the enemies of his country. I have preferred also to reverse the sentiment of Mark Anthony— and let the good "men do live after them," and to inter the evil " with their bones."

The author claims no literary merit for the work. His main desire has been to collect and preserve the facts of our war record. Much time and labor have been devoted to the undertaking, and he cannot but hope that the result will be found deeply interesting to many families in Will county, of general interest to all our citizens, and at the same time not entirely worthless to the general reader. To some probably he will only seem to have furnished another illustration of the adage— ne sutor ultra crepidam; which • might be liberally construed —the apothecary should stick to his pills !

NOTES.

On page 72, I have left the impression that the amount there recorded was all that was raised in the county for war purposes. It should be said 'that other towns raised more or leas, of which I have found no record. The town of Dupage, I have since learned, raised $12,667.

Some few typographical errors have escaped correction, but they are generally such as will be readily detected, and are not important.

It must not be inferred that all whose record is a blank in Part Fourth were deserters. In i-espect to many of these, the record is simply unknown.

Roster and Muster Roll of Will County Soldiers (5171 1

Introduction

One of the most interesting characters found in all tlie wonderful creations of Sir Walter Scott, is the one he has delineated under the name of Old Mortality. The character is really a historic one, known to his age and locality by the uni-omantic name of Patterson; and he earned his sowbfiquet by his devotion to the singular work to which he conseci*ated his later years, and in the prosecution of which death found him. I scarcelj- need tell what that work was, for who is not familiar with the writings of the <^reat "Wizard of the North?" Filled witli a most reverential admiration for the men, and in the heartiest sj'mpathy with the religious faith and principles of those old Scotch Covenantei's who had yielded up their lives in the defense of civil and religious freedom, during the reign of the two last •Stuarts, Old Mortality devoted himself with a strange and absorbing enthusiasm, to the work of wandering from countj'- to county, and from parish to parisli, and searching out in the lonely and neglected cemeteries the graves of such martyrs, and removing from the headstones the moss and rust which had rendered illegible the inscriptions which recorded their names and virtues, all unnoticed,

"From early moru to dewey eve,"

lie busied himself, with patient industry, in cutting deeper and afresh each fading letter.

In some such a spirit,— animated, I think, by some such feelings and motives, I have sought to accomplish a work somewhat analagous to that of Old Mortality. I confess to a profound admiration for, and a deep gratitude toward those, who periled their lives to maintain the vinion of these states. and the blessings of freedom and equal laws which that union secures. I profess the most tliorough sympathy' with them in the work of maintaining the Supreme Federal Authority, and staying the tide of anarchy, oppression and barbarism, which threatened the ruin of our fair land. And this feeling I have toward the poorest, humblest man who carried a musket, no Je.ss than the one who guided the movements of brigades and army corps ;

X INTRODUCTION.

and I never see one, that my heart does not say— this man stood between me and rebel bullets!— this man helped to stay the torch from my home!— this man helped to secure to me and my children the blessings of free government, and the protection of equal and just laws ! And I have thought it a good work, one which it behooved to be done, to rescue from oblivion the names of those who went out from our coimty — the humblest of them — and to place them upon that most imperishable of records — the printed page. I especially desire to carve deeper and afresh, in all our memories, the names of those who laid down their lives in our behalf. True, no lapse of centuries has obscured the few records tliat have been made in "monumental marble," but scores and hundreds lie buried in unknown graves: falling amid the carnage of the battle field, their bodies received a hasty and promiscuous burial at the hands of strangers— perchance of enemies — and

" Their ashes flew—

No marble tells ns whither" —

or, dying, perhaps of starvation in some rebel prison pen, or ©f wounds or disease in hospitals, their graves are distinguished from others in the long tiles of the dead, only by silent and unmeaning numerals ! In these days, too, uticades do the Avork of centuries, in etfacing names and events from the memory, so great is the rush with which one event treads upon the heels of another. Already, too, there is a generation just coming upon the stage of active life wlio were but children when our boys went forth to battle for the right, and it is but just that they should be told the story of fifteen years ago.

It has formed no part of my purjiose to give a general history of the war, or to attempt a general resHme of events which transpired upon the national or state arena, but simply to tell the story of our own county. I have sought to record, if possible, the name and military history of every man who enlisted from our county, and to follow those regiments and batteries in which we were largely interested, through all their wearj' marches, skirmishes and battles, and to make — in most instances of course very briefly— special mention of those who sealed their devotion to the cause with the sacrifice of their lives. Our course will take us through many a weary march, over many a bloody battle-field; and we shall have to look in upon the foul and crowded apartments of Libby, and to go down into the hell of Andersonville !

My aim has been to make the record one of personal interest to every family in Will county. The general history of the times, political or military, will therefore only be noticed so far as necessary to render intelligible that of our own countj', and of the men she sent forth to the struggle. Few, I think, will question the propriety of such a record. We owe it to the men

INTRODUCTION. XI

who periled life auJ limb in our behalf. Especiallj' do we owe it to the memory of those who perished in tlie struggle. Our county, as such, has erected no monument to their memory,— has taken no steps for the preservation of their names. It seems but just, therefoi-e, that their names and deeds should be recorded ujion the printed page, where their children and ours can read them, and recall tlie story of their sufferings and services.

In a general history, of course, we hear and know nothing except of those who became conspicuous as the leaders of brigades, divisions, and army corps. I would do justice, as far as possible, to the humblest private. It was a characteristic of our armies generally, — certainly it was of the men from Will county,— that the ranks were largely composed of as good men as those who held commissions. From every rank and pursuit in life, from our schools, colleges and workshops, from our offices, farms, and places of trade and commerce, our young men, in m.any instances sacrificing brilliant business prospects, rushed to the conflict. I believe that in no other war that was ever waged did men— the majority of them— enter the strife with so high a spirit of self sacrifice, of pure and holy patriotism. The ranks were composed largely of young men, in whose bosoms were still glowingall the enthusiasm and romance of youth, undimmed by the sordid motives, and unabated by the cautious selfishness, which settles down upon our riper years.

There is another reason why the work I have attempted should be done, viz. : the influence it will have upon those who shall come after us. For tlie sake of the future, it behooves us to cherish the memory of those who stood in the "imminent deadly breach,"' in our behalf. The safety of the institutions we love, and desire to see perpetuated, demands that we place upon the roll of honor the nanies of those who were tnartyra in their defense. I know that it is the opinion of some that the war, and all its incidents, and especially the questions at issue, should now beforgotton, and that we should treat alike both parties in the struggle, bestowing the same honors and favors upon patriots and rebels. Great names liave given their sanction to such a policy. Now, while I would not cherish a vindictive spirit, I must beg leave to differ from such a doctrine. I have no sympathy with that false and dangerous liberalism, that ignores the eternal distinctions between right and wrong, l^etween loyalty and treason. I do not believe that any government, human or divine, can safely do this. If there was no essential ditterence, a moral dift'erence, wide as the poles asunder, between the part taken by the rebels against the best and mildest government the world has ever seen, in which, as in no other government that ever existed, the rights of all were conserved, — and that of those who took up arms in its defense, — then the precious lives and the treasure spent

XII INTRODUCTION.

by us were worse than wasted. Such a doctrine puts a premium upon rebellion, and invites a repetition of the scenes of tifteen years ago, and opens the way for the successful pushing of those outrageous claims which are only kept in abeyance until the time when such a false and dangerous liberalism shall have become the prevailing sentiment at the North. We must not, for the sake of the future, so stultify ourselves, and so slander the loyal dead, as for a moment to admit that there was little or no difference in the moral status of those who were so lately contending in the greatest civil war the world lias ever known. Rather let us ever and always, insist upon the moral and political gravity of the questions in issue, and upon the fact that they have been definitely settled upon the side of freedom and the Union. Let us still insist, that the late rebellion was the most causeless in which men ever engaged ; that it was not like that of the fathers of the revolution, made in the interests of freedom and humanity, but against both,, and in the interests of slavery and barbai-ism ; and that its success would have turned back the hand on the dial of human progress, at least a century. Surely if the attempt to destroy otir nationality, — if the inauguration of a long and bloody war, with no justification excejit the failure to carry an election, and solely from the promptings of unholy ambition, coupled with th-u purpose of perpetuating and extending human bondage, — if thiswas not a sin and a crime on the part of its leaders and wilful abettors, then let us blot the words from our creeds and from our statute books, — aye, and from our dictionaries, for then there is no such thing as sin and crime ! The slaveholders' rebellion not a crime ! It was the crime of the nineteenth century /' Let us not forget this, and let us tell it to our children, and let them tell it to their children, that the generations to come, all down the ages, may know and profit by the truth.

All honor, then, to the men who went out from Will county, and served honorably and faithfully in the Grand Army of the Republic, and periled their lives in our behalf All honor to the most humble private, as well as those who received honors, and rank, and public recognition. And hallowed, thrice hallowed, the memory of those of whatever rank, who fell upon the battle field, or on the lone outpost, or died of disease or exposure in camp or hospital. I claim for them the honors of martyrdom in the most holy of causes, next to that of Christianity itself. Let us deepen in our memories the story of their deeds and sufferings. Let us cut afresh their names on the enduring tablet of history. Not long ago, multitudes gathered from all parts of our land, at Springfield, to pay fitting honors to the memory of our martyred president. And most richly has he deserved such an apotheosis. But not less, in their own measure, does the humblest private who gave his life for the cause. He did what he could,— he gave his all— his life— the martyred Lincoln could do no more !

INTRODUCTION. XIII

Much of the information which is embodied in the regimental histories has been derived from the letters of men who died in the service. These letters were, of course, written without any expectation that any other eyes than those of the home circle would ever look upon them. But tliey have kindly been submitted to mj'' perusal, and I cannot exjiress the melancholy interest which I have taken in gleaning from them matter for this work.

Those old, faded, worn and yellowed letters,— cherished as the most precious mementoes of the dear, dead boys, who wrote them, — what volumes of pathetic interest are folded up in them ! And how many packages of such letters there are all over the land, carefully laid away in secret places, and preserved with religious care ! Letters, written in sickness and in health, in camp and in hospital, on the march and the bivouac. Some, written when the time hangs heavy, and the writer unburthens all his heart. Others, written in haste, when about to go into action, or in a lull of the storm of death, or, when all is over, and a line or two is hastily scrawled with pencil, and with no rest for the paper but the writer's knee, and almost illegible, except to the eye of love — saying just enough to assure the anxious friends at home, that— thank God!- -the writer has gone through the fiery tempest unharmed.

These old letters— written, many of them, on those old .sheets emblazoned with the dear old flag, or edged with the " red, white and blue,"— so familiar a dozen years ago— how suggestive they are of those days of anxiety and doubt, yet of pronounced fidelity to the Union ! These letters of dead soldiers — what a world of pathos, I repeat, do they contain ! What breathings of love for the dear friends at home ! What longings to see the old familiar faces and places ! What tender regrets that they cannot be at home to lift the burden of care and labor from father and mother ! What regrets, too, that they were not more careful in their demeanor while under the old roof! What gentle exhortations to the brothers and sisters still at home, to do all they can to make the dear parents happy ! What hopeful anticipations, too, of what they will do " when this cruel war is over !" What thanks for the remembrances they have received from home, mingled with urgent appeals for letters, long and often ! What assurances that they will never grumble again at any home fare, however plain, and what longings expressed for the good things in mother's larder— seeming so rich now, in contrast to a soldier's rations ! And what cheerful exhortations to the dear father and mother not to worry for the absent boy, as he is well, and all right, and will soon be home.

One poor boy, just before the advance which brought the '-Hundredth" to Stone River, sends his thanks for the box of good things which had come to hand the day before the advance, just in time for his Christmas dinner — (alas ! though he little dreamed it, his last Christmas dinner)— which were

XIV INTRODUCTION.

so good, so like homo— and whicli, while the\' gratitied his soldier's appetite, were j'et more liighly prized as an assurance that, though absent, he was not forgotten; and tlion he assures the old father and mother that lie is wellantl heart3', and hopes soon to be home and help them on the farm, and bids them not worry al)out him! Alas! alas! at the verj' time these parents were reading poor George's letter, he lay stiif and cold on the field of Stone River! Oh, what anguish, think you, was there in such a conjuncture ! To be reading one moment these cheering words from the dear boj'— and the next, to know that he was dead— and that thej^ will never see him again in this world.— that the stay and hope of their old age has been suddenly taken away, without one farewell, — that they cannot even look upon his mangled form,— that he has been hastily buried, without one prayer; and that even the spot where he sleeps they can never see or know !

One spirit pervades all these letters, whether written by olliccrs or privates— wlioUier by men of culture, or tlie sons of toil. They all breathe the spirit of patriotic devotion to the country. While the writers are evidently not in love with their calling, as such, — while they take no pleasui-e in exposing their own lives, or seeking the destruction of their enemies,— j-ot thej"- all express the determination, cheerfully to endure every hardship, privatior and peril, until victory crowns the cause of the Union.

Chapter I. Home History During The Years 1861 And 1862

Introductory— First Public Meeting— A Remarkable Sabbath— First Meetiug for Enlistment — First Volunteer— First Company — Second Meeting —Second Company— Great Uprising— Lockport and Plainfield Batteries — The Army at Home — Clergy — Meeting of Supervisors— Judge Douglas in Joliet — Camp Goodell — A Patriot Mother — Recrui's pour in — One who was too Large — l^Oth Regiment — Enthusiasm — Regimental Election — Death of Douglas — Funeral Observances iu Joliet — A S'rong Contrast — Wedding in Camp — 20th Regiment Leaves— Activity in other Tow^ns — Wilmington — Y'ates Phalanx — Horner — Lockpori — Capt. Felter's Cavalry Company — Some Citizens go to see the Elephant — A Joliet Boy— Keith's Battery— Dr. Danforth changes his Weapons — Recruiting in Eastern Towns — Meeting of Suj)ervisors — Will County in N. Y, 7th— Recruiting for Y. S. S.— Sensation at Wilmington— Company I, 46th Regiment — Companies K and F, 8th Cav. — Other Enlistments — Good News— More Good News and Bad News — Colonel Erwin's Funeral — 22d February'- More News— Shiloh— More Funerals — Call for 300,000 more— Effect in Will County— Twelve Companies being Enlisted — War Meetings — Supervisors Meet — Bounties — Patriotic Mothers — 100th Regiment— Election at Camp Erwin— 90th Regiments— Other Enlistments — Mysterious Disappearance — War Poet— 100th leaves— Home Guard-i — Supervisors Meet — More News— More Funerals— Som^ Citizens interview Morgan— An Officer of the 100th meets his fate— How 1862 closed,

'X 1832, South Carolina undertook to nullify the execution of the laws of the United States within her borders. Fortunately for the country, at that time, a man and a hero occupied the executive chair, and so prompt and energetic was his action, that South Carolina concluded to postpone the task she had undertaken to a more convenient season.

In Doccmbor 1860, South Carolina, by a solemn act of her convention, dissolved her connection with the United States, and dechired herself an independent and sovereign state. From words she soon proceeded to acts of treafjon and defiance ot federal anthority. Her opportunity had come, for now a weak and timcrous old man sat in the executive chair, who never dared to lift a linger for the preservation of the Union, or the maintainance of the Federal rights, but sat in stupid imbecility, while members of his own cabinet, senators and representatives, were j)lotting treason and inaugurating measures which should render helpless, not only himself, but his successor; and whih} one after another, traitors took ])ossessiou of federal forts, arsenals, mints, custom houses, and munitions of war.

Those were dark and gloomy days, when every patriot heart was sad. How well we remember them ! The country seemed for the time almost paralyzed by the blow of treason. But not for long. And yet, how little did we realize what was to follow through the long years of the rebellion !

All over the Northern States public meetings were held to consider the crisis, and to make an expression of public sentiment, so emphatic that it should reach the executive ear, and strengthen the executive spinal column, and induce action suited to the exigency.

On January oOth, 1861, a public meeting, irrespective of party, was held at the court house in Joliet, at which H. N. Marsh, Esq., was chosen chairman. The meeting was addressed by W. C. Goodhue, W. T. Jones, T. Q. Hildebrant, Jesse O. Norton, J. E. Streeter, and others, and resolutions were passed in favor of the preservation of the Union, and the enforcement of the laws. But, although this was the ''Banner City," and although many of those who took part in the meeting were the political friends of the executive, and had helped to place him in the presidential chair, the meeting did not seem to have the least etfect upon the weak old man. All its eloquence and enthusiasm seemed to be Nvasted. Indeed I think it quite probable that he never heard of it — let us charitably believe so — certainly he did not enforce the laws any better, but let the ship of stiite drift, drift on, toward the fi\tal rocks of disunion, until the fourth of March, when he stepped down from the helm he had held with so feeble a grasp, and handed over to his successor the ship of state, with nearly half her crew in mutiny.

What a sabl)ath was April 14th, 1861! when we received the startling news that Fort Sumter had surrendered to traitors, and that the Jiateful Palmetto flag — the emblem of treason and oppression — had displaced the stars and stripes, and now floated over its ruins ! Never were the words of ^yebster : " there are no sabbaths in revolutionary times," so well illustrated. People on their way to church, hearing the news, forgot their errand and the day, and gathered at the street corners, and discussed the situation. Ministers preached to dull ears, and scantily filled pews, except such as had the tact to throw aside their preparations, and seize upon the theme of the hour. One of our citizens, a retired clergyman, on hearing the news, took down his rusty rifle, cleaned it up, moulded a lot of bullets, and then went down the river a mile or so, and refi'eshed his practice in gunnery by shooting at a mark. Having satisfied himself that he had not lost his skill, he marched back in line of battle, with his gun loaded and capped, ready for the combat! After which he retired upon his laurels !

The news reached the quiet village of Plainfield about noon. McAllister's old gun was at once taken to the common, and vigorously fired. The bells were rung, the Congregational Church was thrown open to the people, and the re-organization of the battery on a war basis, was at once commenced, and, as we shall see by and by was soon on its way to Cairo.

On Wednesday succeeding (April 17th), on receipt of the call of the President for 75,000 men to "suppress the combinations which had been made against the laws of the United States," a meeting was held at the court house. Mayor Bo wen in the chair. The meeting was called for the purpose of expressing public opinion, and for taking preliminary steps toward forming a company to defend the stars and stripes. The court house was filled to overflowing. A committee was appointed to draft resolutions, and the meeting was addressed in stirring speeches by Snapp, Bowen Streeter, Breckeuridge, and others. But it was felt that the crisis called for something more than words. A paper pledging those who signed it to enlistment in defense of the government was drawn «p, and an opportunity was given to any who were willing to do 3

SO, to siga. A young lawyer of the name of Frederick A. Bar- TLESOX, sprani* to his feet, and after a brief and elor^iient speech^ walked up to the table, with the remark that he would ask no one to do what he was not willing to do himself, signed his name as the first volunteer in our city and county. This act was received with cheers long and loud. We heard something more of this young^ lawyer during the next three or four years, and we shall have ' something more to say of him elsewhere. Others followed his example the same night to the number of twenty-seven. The meeting then adjourned until Friday of the same week. Meanwhile^ the ground having been taken by many citizens of the state, (the same ground taken by James Buchanan) that the general government had no power to coerce a state, an informal meeting had been called ofthe Supreme Court of Illinois, to give an advisory opinion on the question, and a committee had been appointed at a meeting^ of our democratic citizens to go to Springfield, and hear and report their opinion. This committee, of which T. Q. Hildebrant was a prominent member, returned from their mission on Friday nighty and were met at the St. Louis Depot, and escorted to the court house. Hildebrant, having got to the rostrum by being passed over the heads of the crowd, reported the decision of the court to be "that the government clearly had the right, inasmuch as such a right was essential to its own existence." The announcement was received with loud demonstrations of satisfaction, and was hailed by all parties as removing all doubts as to the duty of the hour. The usual amount of patriotic speeches were made, and patriotic songs were sung, and a committee of six, viz : Alex. Mcintosh, A, McNerney, T. Hattou, F. Mack, J. Kelly and Wm. Adam, was appointed to raise funds for the benefit of the families of the volunteers. Also a committee, consisting of K,. E. Goodell, Judge McRoberts, and C. E. Munger, to procure uniforms and outfit.