Logan County, Illinois - Chapter 10: Early Wars, 1911

Chapter 10: Early Wars

At the outbreak of the Winnebago War in 1827, there were few settlers in Logan County, this war, short though historic, occurring twelve years before Logan County was carved out of Sangamon. When lead was discovered in the extreme northwestern portion of the state, the white people flocked there in great numbers. For some years previous, the different Indian tribes inhabiting Northern Illinois and Wisconsin, had been at war among themselves and in the spring of 1827, a small party of Winnebagoes surprised a party of twenty-four Chippewas and killed eight of them. The government arrested four of the Winnebagoes guilty of this crime and turned them over to the Chippewas for punishment. This incensed Red Bird, chief of the Sioux, who took up the cause of the Winnebagoes and determined to wreak his vengeance on the white people, who had assisted his enemies, the Chippewas, and had invaded his country. On June 27, 1827, two white men were killed near Prairie Du Chien, and on July 30th, of the same year, two of the crew of a keel boat, carrying supplies to Fort Snelling, were killed by the Winnebagoes. The news soon spread among the settlers, and upon a call from Governor Edwards, five companies were made up in Sangamon County, one of cavalry and four of infantry. The cavalry company was commanded by Edward Mitchell and the four infantry companies were commanded by Captains Thomas Constant, Reuben Brown, Achilles Morris, and Bowling Green, all forming a regiment under Col. Thomas M. Neale, with James D. Henry as Adjutant. A number of the earlier setlers in the Lake Fork country joined these companies, but as no roster of the rank and file has been preserved, it is impossible to individualize. The regiment marched from Springfield to Peoria, where it was formally organized and then proceeded to Galena. Before their arrival at the seat of the disturbance, however, Red Bird voluntarily surrendered and the campaign being ended, the Sangamon troops were ordered back home.

The Black Hawk War

The Black Hawk War was a sort of aftermath to the Winnebago War, but was much more extensive and much more disastrous in its results. In the year 1829, the President had issued a proclamation opening up the Rock River country to settlement, under a prior treaty with the Sacs and Foxes, in which these tribes agreed to surrender possession to the lands occupied by them and to peacefully remove from the Illinois country. This was confirmed by another treaty between the Sacs, as represented by their chief, Keokuk, and the government of the United States. A portion of the Sacs, with Keokuk at their head, complied with the treaty and retired across the Mississippi. Black Hawk, however, a restless and uneasy spirit, refused to recognize the authority of Keokuk to cede away the lands of the tribes, and conceived the gigantic scheme of uniting all the Indians from the Rock River to the Gulf of Mexico, in a war against the United States. In April, 1831, he recrossed the Mississippi at the head of five hundred of his own braves and two hundred allies of the Pottawattomies and our own 'Kickapoos, and notified the whites, who had begun to settle in that section to immediately retire under penalty of death. The settlers immediately called upon Gov. Reynolds for protection, whereupon, on May 27, 1831, the governor made a call for volunteers. No county south of St. Clair or east of Sangamon was included in the call, which was limited to 700 men. More than twice that number responded. The point of rendezvous was Beardstown and here 1,600 men were mustered into the service and organized into two regiments and two battalions. On June 15, 1831, they took up their march to Rock River, where they arrived June 25th. Black Hawk being apprised of the number of the white forces, beat a hasty retreat across the Mississippi. Later, on June 30th, he and his chiefs signed an agreement, in which they pledged themselves to forever remain west of the Mississippi River, the volunteers returned home and thus ended the first campaign. Nowithstanding this agreement, the trouble was not yet ended, for in the Spring of 1832, Black Hawk recrossed the Mississippi with 500 warriors on horseback. Governor Reynolds called at once for a thousand mounted volunteers, from Central and Southern Illinois. As a result 1,800 men met at Beardstown and were organized into a brigade of four regiments with an "odd" and a "spy" battalion. Eleven companies were raised in Sangamon County, of which Logan County was then a part, and many of the Logan County pioneers joined these companies. The companies were under the captaincy of Captains Jesse, Claywell, Alexander White, L. W. Goodan, J. M. Early, John Dawson, Japlet A. Ball, Reuben Brown, Thomas Moffett, Jacob Ebey, Abraham Lincoln, and Elijah Iles. Captain Claywell's company contained more Logan County pioneers than any other, although in nearly all of the Sangamon companies, familiar Logan County names are found, but all being classified together as Sangamon County volunteers. Captain Claywell's Company was enrolled June 5, 1832, and mustered out Aug. 16, 1832. The roster of this company contained the names of John R. Burns, John Copeland, William Dement, David A. Glenn, Thomas

Lucas, Abraham Primm and other Logan County pioneers. The full roster of the Sangamon County men in the company, in addition to those named, included Alexander Lewis, James and Washington Anderson, William I. Barnet, John Brewer, William and Hugh Barnett, Anderson B. Cass, Nathan Rezin and Isaac Constant, Harvey Crockett, George Curry, Haddon and Richard Elliott, George Green, Guy Helm, Samuel Hagen, John Hide, Jeremiah Kelly, James Langston, Joseph Martin, Jeremiah Dooley, Hugh McGary, William T. Neucam, Benjamin F. Pickerel, John and Hiram Powell, William F. Rodgers, James Riddle, John W. Snelson, James Shearley, Joseph, Philip and Eliphas Smith, William A. and Caleb Stone, William Turner, James Waldon, Ephraim Wilcox and Joseph R. Young.

Captain Brown's Company included Allen B. and James Lucas and the well known pioneer preacher, Peter Cartwright. Captain John Dawson's Company was enrolled April 21, 1832, mustered out May 28, 1832, and its roster included John Scroggins, Montgomery and Jacob Warrick, George B. Lucas, John Musick, James F. Reed, John Bracken, William Clark, Lewis Barney, Squire Foster, Samuel Evans, all well known Logan County names. In Jacob Early's company, Montgomery and Jacob Warrick were also enrolled and stood shoulder to shoulder with another private, who in thirty years more was to be President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, by name. There were perhaps other Logan pioneers in other conipanies but the records are so incomplete their names cannot be located. The troops left Beardstown, April 29, 1832, and arrived at Dixon on Rock River on May roth. In two battles which occurred in July and August, Black Hawk was defeated, and he and his two sons and six other chiefs taken prisoners. They were afterwards set at liberty, by authority of the government, and Black Hawk rejoined his tribe and lived quietly thereafter to the day of his death.

The Mexican War

On the 11th day of May, 1846, Congress passed an act, declaring that "by the act of the Republic of Mexico, a state of war exists between that government and the United States." This was the first war known to Logan County, as a political entity, and it was the one event in the whole history of Postville, then the county seat, which even approximated the exciting. Upon the declaration of war, the President called for fifty thousand volunteers and Illinois was called upon for three regiments, with pay at $15.50 per soldier per month. The militia having been in an unorganized condition, Governor Ford called for thirty full companies of volunteers, of a maximum of eighty men, to serve for twelve months and with the privilege of electing their own company and regimental officers. The response to the call was prompt and enthusiastic. Within ten days, thirty-five companies had organized and reported. By the time the place of rendezvous (Alton) had been selected, there were seventy-five companies recruited, all furious to go. The Governor was compelled to select thirty companies from this number and the forty-odd unsuccessful companies were doomed to the disappointment of remaining at home. These thirty companies were organized into three regiments. Edward D. Baker, then the Congressman from this district, induced the Secretary of War to accept another regiment from this state and thereupon the Fourth Illinois was organized and mustered into service July 18, 1846, and served in the same brigade with the Third Regiment until both were discharged.

The Fourth Regiment included companies from the following counties: Sangamon, Logan, Macon, McLean, Menard DeWitt, Tazewell and Edgar. For the first time in its history, Logan County presented to the nation a company of volunteers all of its own, to fight for the flag. Captain John C. Hurt, of Postville, was the leading spirit in arousing patriotic fervor in and around Postville. He was instrumental in raising the company, was elected captain and the next year after his return from the war, was rewarded for his courage by being elected sheriff of the county over Ezekiel Bowman, who was himself very popular among the old settlers, had been elected sheriff two years before and was a candidate for re-election. Captain Hurt's company was composed as follows: First Lieutenant, George M. Cowardin; Second Lieuenant Jacob P. Shaum; Sergeants, John M. Handschey, Uriah Davenport, Willis Phillips, William H. Young, John Cowardin; Corporals, Wm. Donavan, N. H. Milton, Wm. Laughery, A. Vonderleith, James R. Phillips; Privates, John Allison, David A. Brown, Chris C. Mason, Wm. J. Dudney, Hiram A. Bristol, W. J. Allison, Thomas _Ashing, Fred Braucher, Leroy T. Brown, Joseph Barnes, Elmore S. Brown, Sol Brundage, M. W. Barney, John Bentley, Merrick Chapman, John E, Downing, Cyrus Davis, John Davenport, Charles Fanning, James Glenn, John W. Gibson, John Greenwood, Eli H. Hutchinson, Francis McGarvey, Austin P. Melton, Leo W. Myers, Perry Melton, Thomas Mason, James Randolph, Wm. Salmonds, Robert Sands, James I. Todd, C. Trumbull, Henry Wiley, James McGraw, Thomas Collins, Peter Clark, James Douglas, Robert Davis, L. M. Gregory, G. D. Glenn, Franklin Lee, F. A. Lucas, John G. Ray, George W. Robinson, James Stapleton, Wm. Sutton, Emanuel Turner, Wm. White, Wm. Beason, John Bowman, John E. Brown, John Cavenaugh, Joseph Donavan, Abram Devault, Alexander McGarvey, Henry Mundy, Henry McGarvey, Thomas Rudder, Charles Rees, Robert Downing and Andrew Wilkinson.

place of appointed rendezvous. It was a red letter day in Postville, that marked their departure. The early settlers from all portions of the county collected, martial music stirred the air and, amid loud acclamations, the new volunteers turned their horses' heads to the south and took up their journey to the Mississippi. In the meantime, Capt. Daniel Newcomb raised a company in DeWitt County and a number of volunteers from Mt. Pulaski and the eastern portion of the county joined this company. Among them were Conrad Starr, Anderson Scroggin, A. Hamilton, Wm. Allsop, Charles H. Benson, Thomas Hutchins, Elias and Andrew Brock and perhaps many others. Other Logan County settlers may also have joined the companies raised in Sangamon, McLean and Tazewell, but as the rosters do not give place of enlistment, a complete list outside of Captain Hurt's company cannot be given. Capt. Hurt's company was mustered in as Company I, of the Fourth Regiment. The regiment was transported down the Mississippi from Alton to the gulf, then across the gulf to near the mouth of the Rio Grande, thence from Matamoras on foot to Tampico, where it formed part of General Shield's force, while in command of that city. On March gth, 1847, it took part in the descent on Vera Cruz. In the battle of Cerro Gordo, April 18th, the regiment was hotly engaged and gained great credit for bravery. In this battle, Lieutenant George M. Cowardin and Nathaniel H. Milton were instantly killed, being the first Logan County lives that were sacrificed upon the altars of the country. Sergeant Uriah Davenport received wounds at Cerro Gordo, of which he subsequently died. Other fatalities in the company were: William Beason, died Sept. 15, 1846, on the Rio Grande; John Bowman died Noy. 15, 1846, at Camargo; John E. Brown, died March 17, 1847, at Matamoras; John Cavenaugh, drowned in the Mississippi, July 3, 1846; Joseph Donavan, died Sept. 15, 1846, on the Rio Grande; Abram Devault, died Nov. 7, 1846, at Camargo; Alexander McGarvey, died July 11, 1846; Henry Mundy, died Sept. 29, 1846, on the Rio Grande; Henry McGarvey, died Feb. 6, 1847; Thomas Rudder, supposed to have been killed by the Mexicans; Charles Rees, died Sept. 30, 1846, on the Rio Grande. Sergeant John M. Handschey and Privates Todd and Fleming were wounded at the battle of Cerro Gordo, and Leroy T. Brown left sick at the hospital in Matamoras. The following promotions took place in the company: David A. Brown, private to lieutenant; Chris C. Mason, John Allison, James McGraw, private to sergeant; Wm. J. Dudney, Hiram A. Bristol, W. J. Allison, private to corporal. The Fourth Illinois had the distinction of capturing 6,000 prisoners, together with Gen. Santa Anna's carriage and his famous wooden leg. Cap. Hurt's company was brought to New Orieans, where it was discharged May 25, 1847, and from which point the survivors journeyed by river and overland back to Logan County.