Macon County, Illinois - Chapter 13: Patriotism of Macon County, 1880

Chapter 13: Patriotism of Macon County

N the year 1767, there was born in the Sauk village an Indian boy, destined to be a great leader of his people. Tracuta Wahicatah was the name given him, but the whites in after years called him Black Hawk. As he grew tomaturity, he gave evidence of superior talents. He proved himself brave in battle, and sagacious and eloquent in the councils of his tribe. Inferior no doubt he was to the great Shawnee warrior, Tecumseh, or to the Pequot chief, Philip, but his portrait reveals the passion of deep lines of character. His forehead is broad and high, his jaws massive and mouth firm. He was ambitious of a warrior's fame; but he was always merciful to the weak and to the women and children of the pale faced-foe who fell into his hands. In 1810 and 1811 Black Hawk and comrades were "nursing their wrath to keep it warm," against the whites. A party of Sacs, by invitation, went to see the prophet at Tippecanoe. They returned more angry against the Americans. A party of Winnebagoes had massacred some whites, which excited for murder the Sac band headed by Black Hawk. A part of his band and some Winnebagoes attacked Port Madison in 1811, but were repulsed. Black Hawk headed the Sacs in this attack.

In 1812 emissaries from the British arrived at Rock Island with goods, and secured Black Hawk with five hundred warriors to go with Col. Dixon to Canada. When they reached Green Bay there were assembled there bands of the Ottowas, Pottawatomies, Winnebagoes, and - Kickapoos, under the command of Col. Dixon. Black Hawk and band participated in the battles of River Raisin, the Lower Sandusky, and other places, but getting dissatisfied with the hard fighting and small amount of spoils, he and twenty comrades, left for the Sauk village at Rock Island, wThere he remained for many years at peace, with the exception of a small battle on the Quiver river settlement in Missouri, in the present limits of St. Charles county, where one white man and an Indian were killed.

Campaign Of 1831-32

The principal cause of the Indian troubles in 1831-32, better known as the Black Hawk war, was the determination of Black Hawk and his band to remain in their ancient villages, located on Rock river, not far from its junction with the Mississippi. The government having some time previously, by various treaties, purchased the village and the whole country from the Sac and Fox tribe of Indians, had some of these lands surveyed, and in 1828 some of the lands in and around the ancient village were sold ; the collision between the two races for the possession of the property produced the first disturbance between the Indians and the government. Seeing that war was inevitable the Governor of Illinois made a call on the militia of the state for seven hundred men on the 26th of May, 1831, and appointed Beardstown, on the Illinois river, as the place of rendezvous. The call was responded to with that promptness characteristic of the early pioneers of this state. Their habits of life were such that all were familiar with the rifle. After marching eight days, the mounted militia reached a point a few miles below the Sac village on the Mississippi, wdiere they joined the United States forces under Gen. Gaines, and encamped in the evening. The next morning the forces marched up to the Indian town prepared to give the enemy battle ; but in the night the Indians had escaped and crossed the Mississippi. This ended Black Hawk's bravado and his determination to die in his ancient village. The number of warriors under his command was estimated at from four to six hundred men. Black Hawk and his band landed on the west side of the Mississippi, a few miles below Rock Island, and there camped. "Gen. Gaines sent a peremptory order to him and his warriors that if he and his head men did not come to Rock Island and make a treaty of peace, he would march his troops and give him battle at once. * * * * In a few days Black Hawk and the chiefs and head men to the number of twenty-eight, appeared at Fort Armstrong, and on the 30th of June, 1831, in full council with Gen. Gaines and Governor John Reynolds, signed a treaty of peace."

The Black Hawk War In 1832

During the winter of 1831-32 rumors were rife that Black Hawk and his band were dissatisfied, restless, and preparing for mischief. A chief of the Winnebago Indians who had a village on Rock river, some thirty miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, joined Black Hawk, who wras located on the west bank of the Father of Waters. The chief had great influence with Black Hawk and his band. He made them believe that all the tribes on Rock river would join them, and that together they could bid defiance to the whites. By this unwise counsel Black Hawk resolved to re-cross the river, which he did in the winter of 1832. That move proved to be their destruction. Through his influence and zeal Black Hawk encouraged many of the Sacs and Foxes to joiu him at the head of his determined warriors. He first assembled them at old Fort Madison on the Mississippi; subsequently, marched them up the river to the Yellow Banks, where he pitched his tent April 6th, 1832. This armed array of savages soon alarmed the settlers, and a general panic spread through the whole frontier, from the Mississippi to Lake Michigan. Many settlers in terror abandoned their homes and farms, and the Governor decided, on the 16th of April, to call out a large number of volunteers to operate in conjunction with Gen. Atkinson, who -was in command of the regular forces at Rock Island. The Governor ordered the troops to rendezvous at Beardstown on the 22d of April. We give Governor Reynolds' circular which he addressed to the citizensoldiers in the crisis then pending :

" Your country requires your services. The Indians have assumed a hostile attitude, and have invaded the state in violation of the treaty of last summer. The British band of Sacs and other hostile Indians, headed by Black Hawk, are in possession of the Rock river country, to the great terror of the frontier inhabitants. I consider the settlers on the frontiers to be in imminent danger. I am in possession of the above information from gentlemen of respectable standing, and also from Gen. Atkinson, whose character stands high with all classes. In possession of the abo\ie facts I have hesitated not as to the course I should pursue. No citizen ought to remain inactive when his country is invaded, and the helpless part of the community are in danger. I have called out a large detachment of militia to rendezvous at Beardstown on the 22d. Provisions for the men and food for the horses will be furnished in abundance. I hope my countrymen will realize my expectations, and offer their services, as heretofore, with promptitude and cheerfulness in defence of their country.

To the stirring appeal of the Governor, the patriotic citizens of the state and Macon county nobly responded. Many of the best and most prominent men of the county enlisted to protect the frontier and preserve the honor of the state, and did signal service in the memorable events of the Black Hawk war. Among the citizens of Macon county, who went out in the campaign of 1832, there were as follows :

The company was mounted rangers, and became a part of the fifth regiment. Captain Johnson was promoted to the rank of Colonel, on the 16th of May, and placed in command of the fifth regiment, and Lieut. Pugh became Captain, They were a part of the Brigade under command of Gen Samuel D. Whiteside. On the 12th of May they reached Dixon's ferry, where they were joined by Major Stillman and his detachment of 275 men ; Stillmau declined to join Whiteside's Brigade. Majors Stillman and Baily received orders to go to "Old Man's Creek," now Stillman's run, to ascertain the movements of the Indians. The two battalions camped about ten miles from the ferry on the evening of the 13th. The next morning Stillman took command of both battalions, continued the pursuit until sunset, when they camped in " front of a small creek," (Stillman's run), about thirty miles from Dixon. Black Hawk, learning of their approach, sent out three men to escort them to his camp, that a council might be held ; but the men were taken prisoners. Five others were sent out for the same purpose, but two of them were killed. This aroused Black Hawk, and with about forty men he met the assailants - the main body of his warriors being about ten miles away - and routed them completely, and in great confusion. In the fight, Major Perkins, Capt. Adams, and nine men were killed, one of whom, James Milton, was from Macon county. William Cox, and others from this county, had their horses shot.

Captain William Warnick organized (the second Company) in the summer of 1832. It was called "The Rangers." The officers were Wm. Warnick, Captain, Elisha Freeman, 1st Lieut., Isaac Pugh, 2d Lieut., Alexander Bell, Orderly Sergeant. The company was fifty strong. They enlisted for sixty days, and furnished their own horses, arms, ammunition, and provisions. This company was organized for the protection of the frontier counties. They left Decatur June 4th, 1832, and marched to where Monticello, 111., now stands, where they went into camp. While here they learned that the Indian village of Kickapoo near the head of the Big Vermillion, had been deserted by the warriors, who had gone to assist Black Hawk, and left their squaws, pappooses, and a few old men in charge of the village. The company proceeded to the village, but found that it had been entirely deserted about three days before their arrival. At the expiration of the sixty days, Capt. Warnick and men returned to their homes, but were told to hold themselves in readiness for further service. They were finally discharged 113 days after their enlistment. Each man of this company received for his services, $52.00, and a land warrant for 160 acres of land.

There may have been others, but these are all the names that we have been able to gather, as no official record has been preserved at Springfield. Few of the hardy soldiers of this war remain with us ; many after the war was ended moved to other sections of the country, and many have passed over the river and are now in the embrace of the silent sleep of death.

The force marched to the mouth of Rock river, where General Atkinson received the volunteers into the United States service and assumed command. Black Hawk and his warriors were still up on the Rock river.

The army under Atkinson commenced its march up the river on the 9th of May. Gov. Reynolds, the gallant "Old Ranger," remained with the army, and the President recognized him as a major-general, and he was paid accordingly. His presence in the army did much toward harmonizing and conciliating those jealousies which generally exist between volunteers and regular troops. Major John A. Wakefield and Colonel Ewing acted as spies for a time in the campaign of '32, to discover the location of the enemy, if possible. A Mr. Kinney acted as guide for them ; he understood the Sac dialect. On the 14th of May, 1832, Major Stillman's command had a sort of running battle with the Indians at or near what is now known as Stillman's run, a small, sluggish stream. In this engagement eleven white men and eight Indians were killed. Black Hawk and warriors fought with the spirit born of desperation. Black Hawk says in his book that he tried at Stillman's run to call back his warriors, as he thought the whites were making a sham retreat in order to draw him into an ambuscade of the whole army under Gen. Whiteside. The hasty retreat and rout of Stillmau and his army was, in a measure, demoralizing to the entire forces. Undoubtedly the cause of the defeat was a lack of discipline. When Gov- Reynolds learned of the disaster of Major Stillman, he at once ordered out two thousand additional volunteers. With that promptitude characteristic of the old " War Governor, ' he wrote out by candle-light on the evening of Stillman's defeat, the order for the additional troops, and by daylight dispatched John Ewing, Robert Blackwell, and John A. Wakefield to distribute the order to the various counties. The volunteers again promptly responded ; however, the soldiers from this county did but little fighting. On the 10th of July the army disbanded for want of provisions. Gen. Scott arrived soon after with a large force at the post of Chicago, to effect, if possible, a treaty with the Indians. Small detachments of Black Hawk's warriors would persistently hang on the outskirts of the main body of the army, thieve and plunder, and pounce upon and kill the lonely sentinel or straggling soldier. On the 15th of July the soldiers were reviewed, and those incapable of duty were discharged and returned home. Poquette, a half-breed, and a Winnebago chief, the " White Pawnee," were selected for guides to the camp of Black Hawk and band. Several battles and skirmishes occurred with the enemy, the principal of which was on the banks of the Mississippi, where the warriors fought with great desperation. Over one hundred and fifty were killed in the engagement, and large numbers drowned in attempting to swim the river. After the battle the volunteer's were marched to Dixon, where they were discharged. This ended the campaign and the Black Hawk war. At the battle of the Bad Axe, Black Hawk and some of his warriors escaped the Americans, and had gone up on the Wisconsin river, but subsequently surrendered himself. Fort Armstrong, on Rock Island, was the place appointed where a treqty woqld be made with the Indians, but before it was effected, that dreadful scourge, the cholera of 1832, visited not only the regular army, depleting its ranks far more rapidly than the balls of the Indians had done, but it also sought out its many victims in the dusky bands of the Black Hawk tribe.

On the 15th of September, 1832, a treaty was made with the Winnebago Indians. They sold out all their lands in Illinois and all south of the Wisconsin river and west of Green bay, and the government gave them a large district of country west of the Mississippi, and ten thousand dollars a year for seven years, besides providing free schools for their children for twenty years, oxen, agricultural implements, etc., etc.

September 21st, 1832, a treaty was made with all the Sac and Fox tribes, on which they ceded to the United States the tract of country on which a few years afterwards the State of Iowa was formed. In consideration of the above cession of lands, the government gave them an annuity of twenty thousand dollars for thirty years, forty kegs of tobacco and forty barrels of salt, more gunsmiths, blacksmith shop, etc., etc., six thousand bushels of corn for immediate support, mostly intended for the Black Hawk band.

The treaties above mentioned terminated favorably, and the security resulting therefrom gave a new and rapid impetus to the development of the state, and now enterprising towns and villages, and beautiful farms, adorn the rich and alluvial prairies that before were only desecrated by the wild bands who inhabited them. Agricultural pursuits, commerce and manufactures, churches and schools, are lending their influence to advance an intelligent and prosperous people.

War was declared with Mexico in May, 1846, and Illinois, under the call for volunteers, was entitled to three regiments. The sheriff of Macon county, under the proclamation of Gov. Ford, called for the enlistment of volunteers. Under this call company C of what was afterwards the 4th regiment was raised, consisting of 78 men. When the company reached Springfield thirty companies had already reported, and the three regiments were full. E. D. Bakerf, then a prominent man of Illinois, through the influence of Hon. O. B. Ficklin, our member in Congress, prevailed on President Polk to allow him to raise a 4th regiment from Illinois, and by this means the Macon county men entered the service. Mr. Baker was elected Colonel, Lieut. Gov. Moore was elected Lieutenant Colonel, and Thomas Harris^ was elected Major of the regiment. The late Gen. I. C. Pugh was elected Captain of company C, and Senator

The following is a list of the volunteers: Madison Bradshaw, P. T. Bebee, Laban Chambers, J. M. Dicky, W. P. Davidson, James Greenfield, J. Horner, Wm. Hawks, Levi Hite, T. Johnson, H. Lord, J. C. Malson, I. Martin, Chris. Mayers, G. M. Braden, A. Botkin, George Carver, G. W. Dillow, Dial Davis, David Huffman, D. Howell, M. M. Henry, John Henry, J. A. Lowrie, Thomas Lord, G. J. Malson, H. Martin, Chas. Nelson, W. W. Chapman, G. W. Church, J. B. Case, W. Dean, A. Greenfield, Sterne Helm,

Company C marched from Decatur to Springfield about the middle of June, 1846, where the regiment was formed. After remaining at Springfield a short time, the regiment marched to Alton, where arms were in store, which the regiment procured by a little maneuvering on the part of Col. Baker and Capt. J. S. Post. Col. J. J. Hardin, believing that he was entitled to these arms, stoutly protested against their appropriation by Col. Baker, and a wordy warfare ensued which came near resulting in a duel. From Alton the regiment was transferred to Jefferson Barracks, and there placed under charge of Col. Churchill, commandant, under whom it received thorough discipline and drill. About the 20th of July the regiment was mustered into service by Col. Crogan, of Fort Meigs notoriety. In a few days the regiment received orders and embarked for Now Orleans, and thence to Brazos, Santiago Bay, four miles north of the mouth of the Rio Grande, where it disembarked. After remaining at this point for about a week orders were received to march up the Rio Grande eight miles where occurred the first death in Co. C, viz : Second Sergeant George Galbreath. As Col. Baker and a squad of twelve men, all from Macon county, detailed to bury Mr. G-, were about to return to camp, they heard a disturbance on board of a steamboat nearby, and on arriving at the scene, they learned that an Irish company, in a drunken melee, had driven from the boat the Kennesaw rangers. Baker ordered his handful of men on the boat to quell the disturbance; but no sooner had he done so, than a hand-to-hand encounter ensued, in which the colonel and his squad were soon overpowered and compelled to retire : but not without loss. Col . Baker received a rapier thrust, penetrating his mouth and extending through the back of his neck; Capt J. S. Post was wounded in the breast, having a rib broken ; Charles Dillow, f killed ; R. H. Stewart, bayoneted in the thigh ; and seven others of the squad more or less injured. At this point orders were received to move still further up the river to Matamoras, on the Mexican side, where they remained a few days, and then moved on to Camargo, where a great deal of sickness ensued. Returning to Matamoras, they then marched to Victoria - marching on Christmas day forty-five miles. About the first of January, 1847, orders were received to march to Tampico, two hundred miles distant, at which place preparations were made for an attack on Vera Cruz. Taking ship at Tampico about the first of February, Vera Cruz was reached in sixteen days, and Company C assisted in the construction of the batteries and the bombardment of the city, which surrendered March 29. After the taking of the city of Vera Cruz, Scott's army marched for the City of Mexico, and en wide met Santa Anna, at the mountain pass of Cerro Gordo, on the eighteenth of April, where a battle was fought. Company C had but forty-eight men in this engagement, two of whom were killed and ten wounded. The killed were J. C. Malson and George Nelson.

At this battle Santa Anna came near being taken prisoner, and in his effort to escape left in his carriage $25,000 in silver and his conk leg, which were captured by Company C, it being at the head of the brigade. The next morning ensuing the battle, Gen. Scott followed on to Jalapa where Company C remained about a month, when the time of enlistment expired, and the company returned via New Orleans and St. Louis, arriving at home about the first of June, 1847, bringing with them the banner received from the citizens on their departure. They were very enthusiastically received. A grand barbecue was prepared for the returning volunteers, aud a day of general rejoicing was had, still remembered with satisfaction by the participants.

The War Of The Rebellion

Our nation has passed through four great wars, viz: The Revolutionary War, waged in behalf of national independence ; the War of 181*2, in defence of the rights of American seamen and the national commerce; the Mexican War, caused by the annexation of Texas ; and lastly, the War of the Rebellion, whose rise, progress and results are still fresh in the memory of the present generation. To enter upon a discussion of the causes which plunged the country into the last of these great struggles, the fiercest and bloodiest civil conflict known in ancient or modern times, would entirely transcend the aim of the present chapter. That is a duty incumbent upon the general historian. It is our purpose, rather, to collate and compile, in a succinct form, all the accessible facts pertaining to the part taken by Macon county in the war of the rebellion. No county in the State has greater cause to be proud of its military record. When the nation was in peril and called for defenders, the sons of Macon county responded nobly to the call, and their brave deeds, on scores of bloody fields, extending from Gettysburg to Shiloh, will ever constitute the brightest pages in the annals of the county. The total number of men furnished by Macon county during the war was about twenty-five hundred ; the amount of bounty money raised and paid to the soldiers, $180,000. To the sketch of each regiment here given is appended as complete a roster of the members recruited in this county as it is possible to make from the data preserved. Taking the regiments in numerical order, the record begins with the

Which was organized at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Illinois, and mustered into service October 13, 1861. Companies A, C, J, and G were ordered directly to Bird's Point, Missouri, where they were joined by the other companies of the regiment on the 25th of the following December. In January the regiment, except companies B, C, J, and L moved to Cape Girardeau, Mo. ; company J, to which most of the men from Macon county belonged, remaining at Bird's Point aud engaging in scouting during the winter. At New Madrid the regiment was again united, and moved to Island No. 10 ; thence to Hamburg Landing, Tennessee River, and in the direction of Corinth ; participated in the battle of luka and afterwards in the battle of Corinth, October 2d, 3d and 4th, 1862. December 1st the regiment was assigned to the cavalry command of Col. Dickey, and moved to Holly Springs, Mississippi ; pursued Price to Coffeeville and returned to Western Tennessee.

April 17th, started on "Grierson's Raid" to Baton Rouge; December 26th the regiment fought the entire force of Forrest, and afterwards took part in an engagement at Moscow, Tennessee; shortly thereafter moved to Decatur, Alabama, and thence returned to Nashville.

Having been in active service four years and three months, with an untarnished record, the regiment was mustered out of service, and received its final pay and discharge at Camp Butler, Illinois, November 17th, 1865.

Eighth Illinois Infantry

On the 25th of April, 1861, this regiment was organized for the three months' service, Col. R. J. Oglesby, commanding. It was stationed at Cairo, Illinois, throughout its term of service, at the expiration of which it was mustered out.

The regiment was reorganized for the three years' service, July 25th, 1861. It was stationed at Cairo, Illinois, till October, when it was ordered to Bird's Point, Mo., where it remained till February 2d, 1862, and then embarked for the Tennessee River ; met the enemy near Fort Henry, February 5th, and repulsed them ; was in advance of attack on Fort Donelson, February 11th, Lieut.- Col. Rhoads commanding, Col. Oglesby commanding brigade.

On February 15th, the Eighth for nearly four hours withstood the shock of the enemy, attempting to cut their way out of the Fort, losing 57 killed, 191 wounded and 10 missing, among the latter being Major John P. Post. March 6th, moved to Savannah, and thence to Pittsburgh Landing, and participated in that battle, having in line 25 officers and 453 men, and losing 26 killed, 95 wounded, 11 missing; thence through the siege of Corinth, where Col. Oglesby was dangerously wounded. From Corinth the regiment was ordered to Bethel, thence to Jackson, Tennessee, November 10th, 1862, remaining at the latter place till January 4th, 1863, when it was ordered to Grand Junction, and thence toward Memphis, camping five days at Lafayette, where it was joined by Col. Post who had been a prisoner since the battle of Donelson.

On January 19th, the regiment entered Memphis: embarked February 22d,for Lake Providence: April 12th, moved to Milliken's Bend; May 1st, reached Thompson's Hill, and commenced the fight; marched to Utica; May 12th, met the enemy near Raymond, and did distinguished service ; May 14th, took part in the capture of Jackson; May 16th, participated in the hard-fought battle of Champion Hill ; May 18th, crossed Big Black River, and, on the 19th, drove the enemy into the fortifications of Vicksburg; on the 22d, was engaged in the terrible assault on Fort Hill, and bore a conspicuous part in the memorable siege of Vicksburg. August 21st, marched to Monroe; October 12th, moved toward Canton, and, after a severe skirmish at Brownsville, returned to Vicksburg, where it remained till February 3d, 1864, when it started on the Meridian campaign under General Sherman. Having re enlisted in 1863, and been veteranized March 24th, 1864, after a veteran furlough at Camp Butler, Illinois, the regiment left Vicksburg July 1st, for Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, which it occupied July 5th ; July 6th and 7th, took part in a hot engagement three miles from Jackson, losing 3 killed, 21 wounded and 2 missing. From July 29th to September 3d, engaged in the Morganzia expedition ; from September 3d to December 31st, the regiment was at the mouth of the White River, Fort Pickering, Duvall's Bluff, Moscow and Memphis. January 1st, 1865, left Memphis for New Orleans ; February 4th, moved to Dauphin Island, remaining there till March 17th, when, in the campaign against Mobile, it marched to the head of Mobile Bay, and intrenched itself near Spanish Fort ; March 30th, moved toward Blakely, Alabama, camping several days near that place ; April 9th, charged the enemy's works, and after doing gallant service, was the first to plant the flag on the rebel fortifications, losing, in the charge, 10 killed and 54 wounded ; April 12th, marched to Mobile ; May 27th, embarked for Lakeport ; May 29th, camped near New Orleans; May 31st, moved to Shreveport, La. ; June 16th, marched to Marshall, Texas. This regiment, after having been in active service over five years, was mustered out at BatonRouge, La., May 4th, 1866, and received final pay and discharge at Springfield, Illinois, May 13th, 1866.

It. S. Grant, Colonel

The following communication from the first colonel of this regment in view of his subsequent illustrious career, will be of special interest : -

" I was appointed colonel of the twenty-first Illinois volunteer infantry, by Governor Richard Yates, some time early in the month of June, 1861, and assumed command of the regiment on the 16th of that month. The regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, in the latter part of the same month. Being ordered to rendezvous the regiment at Quincy, Illinois, I thought, for the purpose of discipline and speedy efficiency for the field, it would be well to march the regiment across the country, instead of transporting by rail. Accordingly, on the 3d of July, 1861, the march was commenced from camp Yates, Springfield, Illinois, and continued until about three miles beyond the Illinois river, when dispatches were received, changing the destination of the regiment to Ironton, Missouri, and directing me to return to the river and take a steamer, which had been sent there for the purpose of transporting the regiment to St. Louis. The steamer failing to reach the point of embarkation, several days were here lost. In the meantime a portion of the sixteenth Illinois infantry, under Col. Smith, were reported surrounded by the enemy at a point on the Hannibal » and St. Joseph railroad, west of Palmyra, and the twenty-first was ordered to their relief. Under these circumstances, expedition was necessary ; accordingly, the march was abandoned, and the railroad was called into requisition. Before the twenty-first reached its new destination, the sixteenth had extricated itself. The twentyfirst was then kept on duty on the line of the H. and St. Jo- R. R., for about two weeks, without, however, meeting an enemy or an incident worth relating. We did make one march, however, during that time, from Salt River, Mo., to Florida, Mo., and returned in search of Wm. Harris, who was reported in that neighborhood with a handful of rebels. It was impossible, however, to get nearer than a day's march of him. From Salt River the regiment went to Mexico, Mo., where it remained for two weeks ; thence to Ironton, Mo-, passing through Saint Louis on the 7th of August, when I was assigned to duty as a Brigadier General, and turned over the command of the regiment to that gallant and Christian officer, Colonel Alexander, who afterwards yielded up his life, whilst nobly leading it in the battle of Chickainauga.

This regiment wTas organized atMattoon, Illinois, May 9th, 1861. May 15th, it was mustered into the state service, for thirty days, by Captain U. S. Grant. June 28th, mustered into the United

States service, for three years, with Capt. U. S. Grant as Colonel, August 6th, Col. Grant promoted Brig. General, and Lieut- Col. J. W. S. Alexander was made Colonel of the regiment.

October 20th, marched from Ironton, Mo., and on the next day took partin the battle of Fredericktown ; returned and remained at Ironton till January 29th, 1862, when it marched to Jacksonsport, Ark. ; thence to Corinth. On evacuation of Corinth, pursued the enemy to Booneville ; returning, it joined an expedition to Holly Springs ; August 14th, was ordered to join Gen. Buell's army in Tennessee ; marched to Louisville, Ky., and participated in the battle of Perryville, October 8th, company F. Captain David Blackburn, being the first to enter the town ; marched thence to Crab Tree Orchard, Bowling Green, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn. December 30th, it had a severe engagement with the enemy near Murfreesboro, gallantly charging the famous Washington (rebel) Light Artillery, 12 Parrott guns, and driving every man from the battery. During the battle of Murfreesboro, it did heroic service, losing more men thau any other regiment engaged.

It was with General Rosecrans' army from Murfreesboro to Chattanooga ; took part in the battle at Liberty Gap, June 25th, 1863 ; distinguished itself in the famous battle of Chickainauga, September 19th and 20th, losing 238 officers and men ; after this battle the regiment remained at Bridgeport, Alabama, till the latter part of December, 1863. Having made a brilliant record in some of the hardest fought battles of the war, it was mustered out De cember 16th, 1865, at San Antonia, Texas, and reached camp Butler- Ill., January 18th, 1865, for final pay and discharge.

Wagoner

Killed at Stone 'river Dec. 30, '62. Re-enlisted as vet. ; mustered out July 13, 65. Prisoner of war Re-enlisted as vet. ; transferred to eng. corps Aug. 2, '64.

Unassigned Recruits Col. G. A. Smith

The Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry was organized at Decatur, July 3d, 1861, and on July 23d, was accepted by the Secretary of War, as Col. G. A. Smith's Independent Regiment of Illinois Volunteers.

August 4th. Left Decatur, and reached Jefferson Barracks, Mo. next day. One week afterward eight companies were mustered into the United States' service, making the aggregate strength of the regiment seven hundred and ninety-three. -

January 23d, 1862. Began the advance on Springfield, reaching that place on the 13th. Next followed Price's retreating army, and after a hard and fatiguing march, arrived at Cross Hollows, Ark., January 21st, having formed line of battle, and skirmished nearly every day with the enemy for a distance of two hundred and twentyeight miles.

March 7th. Participated in the hotly-contested battle of Pea Ridge, winning fresh laurels by its bravery, and driving the stubborn enemy from every commanding position. The regiment lost, in this contest, fifteen killed, forty-five wounded, and fifty-five prisoners, Col. Smith having been so severely wounded that he never afterward resumed command of the regiment.

April 5th. Major Mcllwain in command. Commenced march to Batesville, Ark., arriving May 8th, the distance being two hundred and ninety-one miles. The regiment afterward participated conspicuously in the following battles : - Siege of Corinth, Perryville, Stone River (losing in the latter battle eleven killed, forty-four wounded, and twenty-nine missing, out of twenty commissioned officers and four hundred and nineteen that went into action), Chiekamauga (losing three commissioned officers and fifteen men killed; five commissioned officers and one hundred and twenty-five men wounded ; twelve men missing out of eighteen commissioned officers and two hundred and eighty-one enlisted men that entered the battle), Mission Ridge, gallantly leading the storming columns, and being the first to plant the stars and stripes on the enemy's stronghold, all the color-guard of the regiment having been either wounded or killed, and Lieut. Col. Chandler, commanding regiment, carrying the colors " into the jaws of death ; into the mouth of hell." The losses in this battle being six men killed; two commissioned officers, and forty-six men wounded, out of two hundred and twelve officers and men engaged; Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Mud Creek, Kenesaw, losing in these last campaigns, six commissioned officers and one hundred and eighteen men. Major Mcllwain was killed at Kenesaw, June 22d, 1864. He was a brave and efficient officer, having greatly distinguished himself in the battle of Stone River.

The regiment having marched, during its term of service, in all three thousand and fifty-six miles, was mustered out at Springfield, 111 , September 27th, 1864.

Second Assistant Surgeon

7th, took part in the siege of Corinth, Col. Pugh commanding brigade ; July 6th, marched to Memphis via Holly Springs, reaching the former place, July 21st, and remaining there till September 6th, when it marched to Bolivar ; thence to Grand Junction, Hatchie River, Lagrange, Lamar, Somerville, Holly Springs, Waterford, Beaver Creek, Yocona Creek, Water Valley, returning to Holly Springs, January 5th, 1863. The regiment went into camp at Moscow, Tennessee, and remained till March, when it was ordered to Memphis as a part of the Sixteenth Army Corps, under command of Major General Hurlbut ; April 3d, engaged in an expedition to Hernando, Mississippi ; at Cold Water, met the enemy under General Chalmers, and was under heavy fire seven hours, fully sustaining its former reputation for dauntless courage and daring deeds; May 12th, moved to Vicksburg, where it bore a prominent part in the great siege and battles around that confederate stronghold; July 5th, marched to Jackson, and participated in the battle near that city, leaving 40 killed on the field, and having 122 wounded, Major Long being among the former. Returning to Vicksburg, the regiment was ordered to Natchez, where it remained till November 28th ; December 3d, marched to Big Black River, where it erected winter quarters, and was afterwards consolidated with the Fifty-third regiment.

Isaac C. Pugh, Colonel

The Forty-first Infantry was organized at Decatur, Illinois, in August, 1861, by Col. Isaac C. Pugh, companies A and E and pait of company I being recruited in Macon county. A few belonging to other companies of the regiment were also enlisted in this county.

The regiment moved to Bird's Point, Missouri, August 29th, and was assigned to the command of General Prentiss ; September 8th, it was ordered to Paducah, Kentucky ; thence February 5th, 1862, to Fort Henry; February lltli, to Fort Donelson, engaging in the siege, February 13th, 14th, and 15th; March 10th, moved to Pittsburgh Landing, and engaged in the battle of Shiloh ; April 6th and

Second

Discharged Dec. 20, '61; disability. Killed at Shiloh April 6, '62. Discharged Feb. 14, '63; disability. Discharged Sep. 1, '62, as corporal ; disability.

Second Lieutenant

Transferred to Co. A, vet. bat. Transferred to vet. bat Transferred to vet. bat. Transferred to vet. bat. Transferred to vet bat. Transferred to vet. bat.

One Hundred And Fifteenth Infantry

Of the 115th Regiment, parts of Companies E, F, and II were recruited in Macon county. The regiment, Col. Jesse H. Moore, of Decatur, commanding, was ordered to the front from Camp Butler( 111., Oct. 4th, 1862, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Army of Kentucky.

the post, and remained about two months scouting between that place and the gaps of the Cumberland Mountains. December 21st, marched to Danville, Ivy., and joined the main part of the Army of Kentucky; January 26th, 1863, moved to Louisville ; February 10th to Nashville, remaining in camp there till March 1st, and thence to Franklin, Tennessee, and camped. No casualties from battle had as yet occurred to the regiment; but from exposure on marches during the severe winter of 1862-3 it had lost two hundred men either by death or permanent disability. During the month of March the regiment encountered the rebel general, Van Dorn, and drove him across Duck river ; returned to camp, remaining there till June 1st, and then marched to Triune, Tenn. ; June 24th, marched against the confederate army under Gen. Bragg, driving it across the Tennessee river, and afterward, with the brigade, camping at Wartrace, Tenn. ; thence the regiment moved to Tullalioma, and held that place till Sept. 5th, setting out then in the direction of Chattanooga ; Sept. 14th, made forced march across the Cumberland mountains to within five miles of Chattanooga ; Sept. 19th, engaged in the battle of Chiekamauga, losing six men ; Sept. 20th, supported Gen. Thomas on the extreme right, and in the fearful struggle that ensued bravely held the ground from 1 p. M. till night put an end to the sanguinary contest. Half of the entire command was cut down. The colonel and his invincible regiment received special commendations in orders - an honor richly merited by deeds of valor that will live forever. The regiment participated in all the great engagements around Chattanooga and Mission Ridge, in which campaign it lost in killed, wounded, and captured, during the fall of 1863, two hundred and thirty-five men and ten officers, among whom was Lieut.-Col. Kinman, of Jacksonville, a brave and efficient officer.

February 21st, marched, under command of Gen. Palmer, against Dalton, Georgia, skirmishing ten days and losing six men ; remained there till May 3d, and then, with Sherman's Grand Army, started on the Atlanta campaign ; May 7th, the regiment gallantly led the charge upon Tunnel hill, Georgia, driving the enemy through Buzzard Roost gap ; May 15th and 16th, took part in the battle of Resaca, Ga., stubbornly sustaining the charge on the left flank, for which the regiment was commended in orders. It lost in this contest thirty men and one officer ; the entire loss of the regiment during the Atlanta campaign was one hundred men. By special order all the principal engagements of the Military Division of the Mississippi, which resulted in the fall of Atlanta, were inscribed upon the regimental banner.

October, 1864, Company D, 115th Regiment, occupied a blockhouse in Buzzard Roost gap, and held in check for ten hours Hood's whole army, heroically refusing to surrender till the house had been demolished by the enemy's artillery and one-third of the company killed or wounded. For this special act of bravery the captain, Samuel Hymer, of Schuyler county, 111., was brevetted major, and has since been appointed captain in the regular army. In November and December, 1864, the regiment took an active part in the series of battles which destroyed Bragg's veteran army, then under command of the rebel general Hood, and known as the Army of the Tennessee.

The Second Brigade, to which the 115th Regiment belonged, had, by its magnificent deeds of daring, won the title of the " Iron Brigade, and on the 23d of December, 1864. Col. Moore of the 115th took command of this splendid brigade, which position he held till the close of the war. Having achieved a most glorious record, the 115th was mustered out of service June 11th, 1865, and received its final pay and discharge at Camp Butler, 111., June 23d, 1865.

Second Lieutenants

Died at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 3. '63. Killed at Chiekamauga, Sept. 20, '63. Discharged June 20, '63; disability. Trans, to V. R. C., April 30, '64. Discharged Jan. 5, '63; disability. Mustered out June 11, '65, as corporal. Mustered out June 11, '65, as corporal. Discharged March 23, '65; wounds. Missing in action, Sept. 20, '63. Discharged Dec. 14, '62; disability. Mustered out June 11, '65, as corporal. Absent, sick, at muster out of regiment. Mustered out June 11, '65.

Died in Christian Co., 111., Nov. 6, '62. Died at Nashville, Tenn., March 4, '63. Mustered out June 11, '65, as sergeant. Promoted hospital steward.

Discharged May 15, '65 ; wounds. Mustered out July 1, '65; was prisoner. Died at Nashville, Tenn., March 3, 63. Discharged April 3, '63; disability.

First Lieutenants

Discharged May 30, '63 ; disability. Discharged April 1, '63; disability. Mustered out .June 11, '65, as corporal. Mustered out June 11, '65.

Mustered out June 11, '65, as sergeant. Muetered out June 11, '65, as corporal. Promoted principal musician. Dicharged Dec. 16, '63 ; disability. Mustered out June 11, '65, as sergeant. Mustered out June 11, '65.

Died at Franklin, Tenn., April 6, '63. Discharged April 14, '63; disability, Discharged Jan. 22, 63; disability. Sergeant; killed at Chiekamauga Sept, 20, '63.

Sixty-Third Infantry

The Sixty-third regiment, to which company H was attached, belonged mostly to Macon co., and was organized at Camp Dubois, Anna, Illinois, Dec. 1861, Colonel Francis Moro, commanding, and was mustered into the United States' service, April 10th, 1862. It was ordered to Cairo, April 27th, and thence to Henderson, Ky., July 12th ; Aug. 4th, was sent to Jackson, Tennessee, and assigned to the Fourth Brigade, Seventh Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, Brig.-General, John A. Logan, commanding division. September 29th, Col. Moro resigned, and Lieut. Colonel McCown took command ; Nov. 10th, moved to La Grange ; Nov. 28th, was in the advance against Pemberton, driving him to Grenada, Miss ; May 10th, 1863, ordered to Vicksburg, and crossing the river, completed the investment of the city on the extreme left ; May 24th, narrowly escaped capture; June 7th, was assigned to Mower's Brigade, Seventeenth Army Corps, and moved to Milliken's Bend, to protect that place; June 16th, took part in the fight and destruction of Richmond, Louisiana, and returned to Young's Point, remaining there till after the surrender, and then going on post duty at Vicksburg, July 5th, 1863; Sept. 12th, moved to Helena, Arkansas; thence, Sept. 28th, to Memphis; Oct. 6th, to Chattanooga; Nov. 16th, reached Bridgeport, Alabama ; Nov. 23d and 24th, participated in the famous battle of Mission Ridge, and afterward pursued the enemy to Ringgold, Ga. ; December 21st, ordered to Huntsville, where it went into winter quarters, Dec. 26th ; January 21st, 1864, 272 men of the regiment re enlisted as veterans, and after a furlough of thirty days, commencing April 3d, and doiug various guard duty, the regiment w'as ordered, Nov. 11th, to join the army under General Sherman, and Nov. 15th, 1864, left Atlanta, reaching the defenses of Savannah, Dec 10th, and taking part in the attack on the Ogeechee canal ; performed picket duty till Dec. 21st, when the city surrendered. January 19th, 1865, started on an expedition through the Caroliuas, participating in all the skirmishes and battles of that celebrated campaign ; lost one officer and twenty-five men by the explosion of the arsenal at Columbia, South Carolina; also, lost five men at Little Lynch's Creek; did gallant service in the battle of Beutonville, North Carolina, March 21st, and entered Goldsboro', March 24th, 1865. The regiment was highly complimented by the Inspector General of the Army of the Tennessee, for the fine appearance of the camp and the soldierly bearing of the men The non-veterans of the regiment were mustered out April 9th. April 10th, moved to Raleigh ; April 29th, left Raleigh, and May 10th, reached Richmond ; May 24th, participated in the grand review at Washington, and after having made a brilliant record in defense of the nation's life, was mustered out of service, July 13th, 1865. The original number of men in the regiment was 888 ; present when re-enlisted, 322 ; veterans of eight companies, (two companies being ineligible), 272; arrived at Camp Butler for final discharge, 272; distance the regiment traveled by railroad, 2208 miles; distance by water, 1995 miles; marched, 2250 miles; total, 6453 miles.

The 116th Illinois Infantry, Colonel N. W. Tupper, belonged almost exclusively to Macon county. The regiment was organized at the fair grounds, near Decatur, during August and September, 1862. On the sixth of September, the companies, not yet being full, were sworn into the United States service and mustered as a battalion. September thirty-first, the ranks having been filled up, the regiment was mustered, and November eighth was ordered to Cairo; thence, November ninth, to Memphis, remaining at the latter place till the twenty-sixth ; the Fifteenth Army Corps having meanwhile been organized under command of Gen. W. T. Sherman, and the 116th assigned to the first brigade, second division. Gen.

Morgan L. Smith was assigned to the command of the division, and Gen. Giles A. Smith to the command of the brigade. The regiment marched from Memphis and reached Tallahatchie December thirteenth ; December twentieth started down the Mississippi river; December twenty-sixth entered the Yazoo river, and landed fifteen miles above its mouth. For the next three days the regiment received its first baptism of fire in the battle of Chickasaw. January, 1863, passed down the Yazoo and up the Mississippi and the Arkansas to the Arkansas Post, where, January tenth and eleventh, it fought its second battle ; January twenty-second, landed at Young's Point, Louisiana, opposite Vicksburg and during the winter took part in the attempt to construct canals around that strongly fortified city. In the spring crossed the river near Port Gibson, and participated in the battles at Black river and Champion Hills, and the bloody charges upon the works in the rear of Vicksburg, May eighteenth and twenty-second, and in the final siege of that city, which resulted in its surrender, July fourth. July fifth started in pursuit of the rebel general Johnston, and followed him to Jackson, Mississippi ; afterward drove him beyond Pearl river.

July twenty-fifth, went into camp, called Camp Sherman, near Black river, remaining there until October ; then moved back to Vicksburg ; thence to Memphis and Corinth, whence the regiment marched to Chattanooga, reaching that place November twenty-first. During the night of November twenty-third, the 116th and the 6th Missouri floated down the Tennessee river on pontoons, and landed at the mouth of the Chickamauga, distant less than a mile from the rebel entrenchments on Missionary Ridge. Holding the position there till the remainder of the corps had been brought over, and all of Bragg's pickets had been captured, the regiment marched to the foot of the Ridge, on the evening of the twenty-fourth, and engaged in a skirmish in which Gen. Giles A. Smith was wounded, leaving Col. Tupper to command the brigade. November twentyfifth took part in the storming of Missionary Ridge, and, after this victory, marched to the relief of Knoxville, being constantly on the move till January ninth, 1864, when it went into winter quarters at Larkensville, Alabama, remaining there till May sixteenth ; was afterwards engaged in the charge and capture of Resaca ; was, also, in the battles of Dallas and Big Shanty, from May twenty-fifth to twenty-eighth; June twenty -seventh fought the battle of Kenesaw mountain ; thence crossed the Chattahoochie, and participated in the battle of Stone mountain, driving the enemy to the vicinity of Atlanta where the severe battles of July twentieth, twenty-second and twenty-eighth were fought, the federal forces recapturing the works after the enemy had taken them ; shortly after fighting the battle of Ezra Chapel, beating the rebels badly and repulsing them at every point ; August third, formed battle line within eight hundred yards of the Atlanta fortifications, and took part in the siege of that place, fighting the battle of Jonesboro' August fourteenth, thereby virtually ending the siege ; went into camp at Atlanta and remained there till orders came for Sherman's famous " March to the Sea," in which the regiment bore a conspicuous part, participating, on the way, December thirteenth, in the capture of Fort McAlister ; marched to Savannah and went into camp there, December twenty-first; next moved by water to Beaufort, S. C., and marched thence to Pocotaligo, where a battle was fought, and general skirmishing ensued until the city of Columbia was reached; after the burning of the city, the regiment went into camp there; moved thence to Bentonville, N. C., where a heavy battle was f night; marched then to Raleigh, which surrendered without opposition ; thence, the great rebellion being virtually crushed, the regiment was ordered *to Washington, where it remained till mustered out of the service, June seventh, 1865. For some cause, unknown to the writer, no record of this noble regiment and its memorable deeds appears either in the Adjutant General's Reports or in the Patriotism of Illinois. The data for the foregoing imperfect sketch were partly taken from Smith's History of Macon County, to which indebtedness is hereby acknowledged, and partly furnished by the kindness of some of the surviving members of the regiment, who, we hope, may live many years yet, to enjoy the rich blessings of a united country, in defense of which they, with thousands of other patriots, endured untold hardships in camp and field. The brave Colonel Tupper, after having faced death in many a hard-fought battle, died at Decatur, March tenth, 1864, and beneath the beautiful monument in Greenwood cemetery, Decatur, erected to his memory by the citizens of Macon county, his remains now repose in the bivouac of the dead. Peace to his ashes, and to the other noble dead of the regiment whose patriotic deeds, though no pen may portray, or tongue describe, are emblazoned in golden letters of immortality on freedom's eternal scroll.

Died at Benton Barracks, July 17, '63. Mustered out June 7, '65, as Sergeant. Andersonville Prison Record says died. Died at Young's Point, La.

Died at Lawson Hospital, Blay 5, '63. Mustered out Jun. 7, '65 ; was prison'r. Died at Memphis, Tenn., April 3, '64. Blustered out June 7, '65 ; wounded. Blustered out June 7, '65 as Corporal. Absent, sick, at mustering out of regiment.

Discharged February 16, '63, disability. Died at St. Louis, September 2, '63. Died on steamer Planet January 5, '63. Died at Louisiana, April 27, '63. Discharged Feb. 25, '63; disability. Died at Memphis, March 16, '63. Mustered out June, '65.

Transferred to Co. K, before muster in, Transferred to Co. F, 55th 111. Inft. Transferred to Co. F., 55th III. Inf. Transferred to Co. K, before muster in.

Mustered out June 7, '65 as corp. Mustered out June 7, '65, as corp. Mustered out June 7, '65 as sergt. Sergeant ; died at Cleveland, Tenn., Jan. 28, '65.

Mustered out June 7, '65, as private. Mustered out June 7, '65, as sergeant. Mustered out June 7, '65, as private. Mustered out June 7, '65.

Musician

Transferred to Co. A, 55th 111. Infantry. Discharged May 5, '65; disability. Discharged April 8, '63; disability. Sergeant; absent, sick at muster out of regiment.

Absent, sick at muster out of regiment. Mustered out June 7, '65 ; was prisoner. Died at Young's Point, La., Jan. 29, '63. Transferred to Co. A, 55th 111. Infantry. Mustered out June 7, '65.

Died at Young's Point Feb. 23, '63. Absent, sick at muster out of regiment. Died at Young's Point Feb. 3, '63. Mustered out June 7, '65, as sergeant.

Discharged May 6, '65, as corporal. ] Died on hospital boat Jan. 31, '63. Absent, sick at muster out of reg. Transferred to Invalid Corps Sept. 30, '63.