Knox County, Illinois - Chapter 13: The War - at Home the Tocsin of War, 1878 (part 2 of 2)

Was organized at Chicago, as the 1st Regiment of the Chicago Board of Trade. Its first bills were put out for one company, calling itself the "Hancock Guards," ou July 23, 1*62, and exactly one month afterward the entire regiment was complete and mustered into service for three years. The very day of their muster they were started for Cairo, where they arrived on the 24th. Their strength at that lime was 37 officers and 930 men. On the 6th of September they were ordered to Paducali, Kan. March 1, the division of which the 72nd Regiment formed a part, started down the Yazoo Pass; but finding Fort Pemberton in their way, and not being able to take it then, went back April 23, then landed at Milliken's Bend, La., and, from there, marched with Grant's army to Vicksburg. May 16, they arrived at Champion Hill, just in time to turn the enemy's left, and by that movement decided the fate of the day. Oct. 30, 1864, they were ordered to report to Maj.-Gen. Howard, and in pursuance of this order, arrived at Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 13. They there found tLemselves too late to join Sherman in his " great march to the sea."

Schofield's army found it convenient to retire toward Nashville. On Nov. 29 they evacuated Columbia, and the 72nd was in a severe skirmish with the enemy at Spring Hill, on the road between Columbia and Franklin. On the succeeding day they arrived at Franklin, and hastily threw up some light earthworks. About 4 o'clock that afternoon Hood attacked them, and the battle raged from that hour until midnight with terrific fury. In that fight the 72nd lost 9 officers out of 16 engaged, and 152 men. who were either killed or severely wounded. On Aug. 6 they were mustered out of service at Vicksburg, and then marched directly home to Chicago. During their term of service they received 450 recruits, and when ordered home they transferred 270 of these to the 32nd Illinois Veteran Vols., at Meriden, Miss. They brought home 22 officers and 310 men.

at Vicksburg, May 25, 1864. Scott, Wm. H., Knoxville, e. Jan. 5, missing in action at Franklin, Tenn.. Nov. 30, 1864. Thurman, Isaac, Galesburg, absent, sick at m.

This regiment was mustered into the United States service Sept. 3, 1862, at Peoria ; remained in camp there till Oct. 4. It then proceeded to Covington, Ky., and reported to Maj.-Gen. Gordon Granger. Nov. 20, 1862, the regiment embarked on steamer for Memphis; remained there until Dec. 20. The division was re-organized and reported to Maj.-Gen. Sherman. Embarked at Memphis on the 20th, and proceeded down the river wilh Sherman's army for the capture of Vicksburg. The 77th occupied the extreme right of the line, and participated in the attack on rebel works. After four days fighting the attack was abandoned, and the army proceeded to Milliken's Bend, La. Left there Jan. 5, 1863, and arrived at Arkansas Post on the 10th. Participated in the assault on the following morning; alter a few hours' hard fighting, carried the place, capturing all it contained. The loss of the regiment here was 6 killed and 39 wounded - some of the latter mortally. The regiment in this battle behaved admirably, and was complimented by the commanding general for its gallant conduct.

The regiment remained with Gen. Grant's army during the entire campaign around Vicksburg, and the siege of the latter place, until its surrender. It was engaged in the actions at Champion Hills, May 17; Black river Bridge, May 19; first charge on Vicksburg, the 22nd and 23rd ; losing in these engagements 20 killed, 86 wounded and 26 missing. Vicksburg surrendered on the 4th of July, and the next day the regiment marched to Jackson with the army under Sherman. Arrived July 9, and was under the fire of the enerny at that place till the 16th, when Jackson was evacuated, and the 77th returned to Vicksburg, where it remained till Aug. 25, when it embarked for New Orleans, where it remained in camp until Oct. 3. Left New Orleans at that time for Western Louisiana; marched up Red river, driving tbe the enemy until Sabine Cross Roads was reached, on the 8th of April, 1864, where it met the enemy in force. The 77th belonged to the division under Gen. Ransom, which was ordered forward to support the advance cavalry: Before the army could be brought forward to their support the whole rebel army came down on them and overwhelmed the entire division. In this engagement the 77th suffered terribly: Lieut.-Col. Webb was killed instantly, besides 170 officers and men killed, wounded, and made prisoners, leaving only 125 men in the regiment for duty. On the next day Gen. A.J. Smith's corps came up, and at Pleasant Hill another battle was fought, ending in the complete defeat of the rebels. The regiment w as with Gen. Canby's army during the entire siege and capture of Spanish Fort, Blakely, and Mobile, and was under fire the entire time. It remained in camp at Mobile until July 10, 1865, at which time it was mustered out of service.

In this regiment were 154 men from Knox county, in four companies. Of these 3 were killed, so far as we can learn, 17 died, 10 wounded, and 5 taken prisoners.

Was organized at Monmouth, 111., in August, 1863, by Col. A. C. Harding, and mustered in Aug. 21. Knox county furnished for the 83rd, 416 men, represented in five different companies. They moved from camp to Cairo, 111., Aug. 25th, arriving there on the 29th, and reported to Brig.-Gen. Tuttle, Sept. 3rd. Moved to Fort Henry, and on the 5th, leaving two companies at Fort Heiman and three at Fort Henry, was ordered to Fort Donelson, where the headquarters remained during the year, Col. Low, 5th Iowa Cavalry, commanding brigade. The companies remaining behind afterwards rejoined the regiment, and it remained at Fort Donelson until Sept. 20, 1863, when the right wing moved to Clarksville. The whole country, especially the banks of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, was infested with guerrillas ; the regiment had daily skirmishes with the enemy; some of them were quite severe, as at Waverly, Tenn., and at Garretsburg, Ky., where the lamented Gen. Ransom, then colonel of the 11th Illinois, had command.

On the 3rd of February, 1863, nine companies of the 83rd, with Company C, 2nd Illinois Light Artillery, successfully resisted the attack of Forrest and Wheeler, with 8,000 men. The battle lasted from half-past 1 o'clock till half-past 8, P. M., when the enemy was compelled to retire, with a loss of 800 killed and wounded. The loss of the regiment was 13 killed and 51 wounded. Col. Harding was promoted to brigadier-general for gallant conduct on this occasion, and Lieut.-Col. A. A. Smith, to colonel.

While at Clarksville the regiment was engaged in several expeditions under Maj.- Gen. L. H. Rosseau, in pursuit of Forrest and Wheeler, who were attempting the destruction of Gen. Sherman's communications.

During the year 1864 the regiment had some 200 miles of communication to guard, and much heavy postal duty. During the winter of 1864-5, the 83rd was on postal duty at Nashville, Tenn.

Of the men furnished by Knox county, there were 30 died from various diseases, 6 killed and 3 wounded. On the 26th of June, 1865, the 83rd was mustered out at Nashville, and moved for Chicago, Brevet-Brig.-Gen. Arthur A. Smith commanding, where it received pay and final discharge.

Was organized at Peoria, 111., in 1862. Moved for Louisville. Marched from camp Oct. 1, and on the 8th was engaged in the battle of Perryville; engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 19, 20 and 21. Moved into Lookout Valley Oct. 29. In the night of Nov. 23, crossed the river on a pontoon and camped at the foot of Missionary Ridge. Pursued the enemy on the 26th to Ringgold, and was then ordered to Knoxville, Tenn. Marched as far as Little Tennessee River, and returned to Chattanooga Dec. 18, after a most severe march. Was engaged at Buzzard's Roost, May 9, 10 and 11 ; Resaca, May 14, 15 ; Rome, 17th - 6 killed, 11 wounded ; Dallas, from May 27 to June 5 ; Kenesaw Mountain, from June 11 to 27, - losing 110 killed and wounded. It again engaged the enemy on the banks of the Chattahooche on the 18th of July ; at Peach Tree Creek on the 19th, and near Atlanta. 20th and 22nd. Engaged in the siege of Atlanta. Commenced the " march to the sea" Nov, 16. Arrived at Savannah Dec. 21. After the surrender of Johnson, marched, via Richmond, to Washington City, at which place was mustered out of service, June 6 1865. Died, killed and wounded, 346. Marched 3,500 miles ; by rail, 2,000.

The "Railroad Regiment" was organized by the railroad companies of 111., at Chicago, in August, 1863; ordered to Louisville, Ky., Sept. 4. The regiment, on leaving Louisville, started in pursuit of the rebel forces under Gen. Bragg, and after a fruitless and wearisome march of a month, reached Bowling Green. Cliickamauga seemed to fix the seal of its devotion. There fell Lieut-Col. Duncan J. Hall, Capts. Rice, Spink, and Whiting, and Lieut. Ellis, besides the scores of brave men who fought with noble heroism, and who dared to "do and die" in defense of the "old flag." At Mission Ridge the regiment again encountered the foe. It then marched to the relief of Burnside, besieged at Knoxville. This accomplished, it moved on with the brigade, in the marches and counter-marches through East Tennessee.

Early in April, 186'4, it marched with the command to South Tennessee, preparatory to Gen. Sherman's glorious campaign through West Georgia, for the occupation of Atlanta. With the brigade it participated in the splendid victories of Rocky Face, Resaca, Pickett's Mills, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, and the flank movement of Atlanta, and pursued the routed enemy in his retreat to Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station. The regiment passed winter quarters at Huntsville, Ala., in January, 1865, and on the 1st of February traveled by rail to Nashville. About the middle of March the command embarked on the cars for East Tennesee to re-establish communication through to Virginia and prepare to repel rebel invasion. On the surrender of Lee's army further movements in that section were abandoned. On June 10, 1865, the 89th was mustered out of the United States service.

County Treasurer

as music'n. Buckhart, J., Walnut Grove, m. o. June 10, 1805. Buckhart, W., Walnut Grove, m. o. June 10, 1865. Bestor, D. II., Walnut Grove, killed at Stone disability. Cragan, J.. Lynn, trans. V. R. C. Codding, Jasper C, Victoria, died at Andersonville prison, Dec. 27, 1864, no. of grave, 12,348. Campbell, John, Walnut Grove, m. o. June 10,

The 102nd Inf. 111. Vols, was organized at Knoxville, 111., in August, 1862, by Col- Wm. McMurtry, and mustered in Sept. 1 and 2. Knox county was represented in this regiment by 414 men, in 9 different companies.

On the 22nd September the regiment moved to Peoria, 111., and Oct. 1, to Louisville, Ky., and was assigned to Ward's brigade, Dumont's division, and immediately moved southward, marching via Shelbyville, Frankfort, Bowling Green, and Scottsville to Gallatin, Tenn., arriving Nov. 26.

The regiment went into winter quarters at Gallatin. On June 1, 1863, moved to Lavergne, and from thence marched to Stewart's Creek, where the regiment was divided and stationed to guard bridges. On the 9th of November, 1863, moved to Lebanon, and returned on the 11th. Surgeon Stanley was severely wounded by guerrillas. On Feb. 25, broke winter quarters at Lavergne, and marched, via Tullahoma, Decherd, Stevenson, Ala., and camped in Wauhatchie Valley, Tenn. The regiment was assigned to the 20th Army Corps, Gen. Ward's brigade. While at Wauhatchie five companies of the regiment, which had been mounted, gave up their horses, but retained their Spencer rifles during the Atlanta campaign. May 2, commenced the campaign. May 14, was engaged at Reseca, leaving Skilled and 19 wounded. On the 15th the brigade captured a battery from the enemy at Camp Creek ; the 102nd lost 18 killed, 6 mortally wounded, and 70 wounded. May 25, encountered the enemy at Burnt Hickory, and was engaged four days, leaving 4 killed and 14 wounded. June 1, was engaged at Big Shanty. June 15 and 16, engaged, losing 13 wounded, including Col. Smith and Capt. McManus. Engaged July 20, at Peach Tree Creek, losing 2 killed and 11 wounded. Sept. 16, moved to Atlanta. Nov. 15, 1864, commenced the Savannah March, arriving on the 22nd, at Milledgeville ; crossed the Ogeechee on the 29th; and Dec. 11 established lines of battle at Savannah, and on the 21st entered that city. Jan. 5, 1865, moved to Hardesville, and on the 30th to Robertsville, near Sister's Ferry. Feb. 2, marched westward to Blackville and Willistown, thence northward, to Columbia, arriving Feb. 19. March 11, reached Fayetteville. March 16, was engaged at Averysboro, losing 2 killed and 19 wounded, among the latter were Capts. Merritt and Matteson, and Lieut. Trego. March 22, camped at Goldsboro. April 10, marched toward Raleigh where the army remained until Johnson's surrender. On the 30th, marched for "Washington, arriving May 19.

Of the number from Knox county in the 102nd, 37 died from disease and wounds received during the war, 12 killed, 14 wounded, and 3 prisoners. On May 24 the regiment passed review with our army, and June 6, 1865, was mustered out of service and started home, arriving in Chicago, 111., on the 9th. June 14, received payment and final discharge.

The One Hundred and Thirty- eighth Illinois Infantry Volunteers was organized at Camp Wood, Quincy, 111., by Col. John W. Goodwin, and mustered in June 21, 1864, for one hundred days. On July 26 the regiment moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and was assigned to garrison duty, Col. Goodwin commanding post. Major Tunison with Co's C and F, occupied the post of Weston, Mo., from July 7 to August 3. Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Davis, commanding District of Northern Kansas, and Maj. Gen. Curtis, commanding Department of Kansas. The regiment was mustered out of the service of the United States at Springfield, 111., Oct/14, 1864. The 138th regiment had 100- day men to the number of 122 from Knox county.

Seventh Cavalry was organized by Col. Wm. Pitt Kellogg, then of Canton, in 1861. In this regiment were 212 men from this county; two of whom were killed, 28 died, 5 were wounded, and 8 were taken prisoners.

The Eleventh Cavalry was organized by Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, of Peoria. This county had men in companies B, C, E, H, K, and M - 108 in all, two of whom were killed ; 8 died.

Company A of the Fourteenth Cavalry was from Knox county, and numbered seventy-two men. They were under command of Captains Marvin S. Can- and John S. Henderson.

Miscellaneous

The 4th Regiment Illinois National Guards was first organized at Peoria, February 2, 1876. Capt. John Huff, commanding the National Blues, was elected Colonel; Capt. W. Whiting, command ing the Altona Rifle Company, was elected Lieut.-Colonel, and Capt. A. T. Johnson elected Major. The Adjutant-General notified Lieut.-Colonel Whiting that he was in full command of the regiment, owing to the refusal of the Legislature to confirm Col. Huff. During the same winter the State Legislature passed a very imperfect code, to organize and govern the militia of the State. The new code went in force July 1, 1877. As commanding officer of the regiment, Col. Whiting ordered an election at Galva, on the 29th day of June, for the purpose of electing a Colonel to command until February 2, 1878, as that was the time agreed upon to hold the first election. There wTas some question about the time designated for the election, some commands claiming February 2, others February 12, and others February 22. On February 1, Gen. Jasper N. Reese, commanding this Brigade, whose duty it was under the new code to order elections, issued special order No. 3, ordering an election to be held at Altona, February 12. The order was promulgated by Col. Whiting. On the 7th he received a telegram from Gen. Reese, revoking order No. 3, without any explanation. On the 12th there was a meeting of the field and line officers at Oneida. Col. Whiting, with .the expectation of receiving a reprimand for something be had or had not done, was called into an adjoining room, when he was notified why order No. 3 was revoked, and handed a petition, signed by the field and line officers, with the information that they would not submit to an election, and insisted that he was duly elected for five years under the new code. Col. Whiting refused to comply with the request, and issued an order calling the field and line officers to meet at Kewanee for consultation. At said meeting it was moved and carried unanimously that there should be an election ordered for the purpose of electing a Lieut.-Colonel and Major, but no election for Colonel. Col. Whiting requested Gen. Reese to issue an order to elect a Colonel, Lieut.-Colonel and Major, or accept his resignation. March 22 he received Gen. Reese's order jSTo. 7, ordering an election at Galva April 4, at which time Gen. Reese was present. Col. Whiting received the entire vote for Colonel, Major Wm. Jackson was elected Lieut.-Colonel, and Capt. O. L. Higgins, Major. The forepart of July, 1877, it was thought best to re-district the State under the new law. Peoria, with three companies, was detached frbui the 4th, and with several companies in that district formed the 7th Regiment. Two companies from Moline were detached from the 8th and assigned to the 4th, and a company was formed at Princeton and assigned to the 4th. Another company formed at Moline and one at Rock Island when the conmanies were detached from the 4th, and the four companies at Rock Island and Moline were formed into the 4th Battery. Owing to the re-organization it became necessary for the members of the 4th Regiment to re-enlist; but it being in the busy season, it was not deemed necessary to muster the men in until cooler weather. On the 23d of Julv, when the great " strike" assumed such formidable proportions that it hung like a pall over the commerce and manufactories of the country, threatening not only to block the wheels of the nation's industries, but the life of the nation itself, the companies were all notified to hold themselves in readiness for marching orders at any moment. History furnishes few instances where men responded with such alacrity. Twenty minutes after Capt. C. A. Smith, commanding Co. C at Altona, had received his orders, he had twenty men in uniform at the armory; and where a few moments before all was quiet, and no thought of trouble, now could be seen and heard the tramp of tlie military and the commands of officers. In four hours all the companies of the 4th Regiment reported their men ready for duty. On Friday, July 27, Col. Whiting received orders from Gen. E. N\ Bates, then in command of the 2d Brigade, to which the 4th Regiment belonged, to take any train and proceed to Alton Junction as fast as possible. Col. Whiting received the order at 5

P. M., and promulgated It, and at 12 P. M. the same night Cos. A, C and H were at Galva. Soon after midnight Co. G., of Toulon, came to Galva in wagons; a train from the east soon brought Co. F, from Kewanee. At 8 A. M. they took the cars for Peoria, by the P. & R. I. R. R. At Wyoming Co. I joined them, and they all continued their journey toward East St. Louis, arriving there early on Sunday morning. They went immediately on duty, and continued so until Tuesday morning, when they were ordered to proceed to Galesburg. This being the point of intersection of four of the branch lines of the C, B. & Q., and the residence of a large number of the striking employes of the company, it was feared serious trouble might ensue; and the fears were founded upon the fact that the strikers congregated about the depots, held consultations, and, by persuasion or intimidation, prevented the running of nearly all the trains over the road. But by the prompt though considerate action of the authorities, and the good sense of the more intelligent strikers, who cautioned moderation and no violence to property or person, the trouble ended peaceably on the first day of August, after six days' duration, without the destruction of life or property or the shedding of blood. The Regiment arrived at Galesburg soon after dark, hungry, dirty and tired, and remained there until Wednesday evening, when all the companies except C and F were sent home; they remained until Saturday afternoon. In justice to the field, staff and line officers, and especially to the private soldiers, upon whom the brunt of- the labor rested, it is but proper to say that their ready and willing response to the order, calling them from their work in the shops, business-places, fields and homes, will ever be remembered as a proud record. There was no duty required of them that they were not ready and willing to perform at any moment.

The organization of the militia is for the purpose of assisting the civil authorities to enforce law and obedience, when called upon. The citizens of the great State of Illinois need have little fear that that duty will be well performed, when necessity requires it, by the men who have shown such willingness to discharge it in the past.

Band

The 4th Regiment Band was organized in the fall of 1865, and has kept up a continuous organization ever since. Previous to the summer of 1877 it was known as the Oneida Cornet Band. At that time

Regimental Officers Drum Corps

This drum corps, consisting of twenty-one boys ranging in ages from 7 to 15, was organized at Galesburg on the 25th of May, 1878, by Geo. W. Williams, Drum Major of this regiment. This is the third regiment of which Drum Major Williams has rilled the position of Drum Major. He tendered this corps to Col. Whiting, who accepted May 28.