Winnebago County, Illinois - The whole text, 1877 (part 8 of 17)

"I do entreat you to devote your few remaining days on earth to an earnest preparation for your future state of existence, upon which you are so soon to enter ; delay it not in the hope that you may yet escape punishment. Your counsel, who have ably defended you and done all that legal abiUty could do in your behalf, have made strenuous etibrts to obtain for you a new trial, and their zeal may yet lead them to attempt to procure a reversal of your seutence. If so. rely not on any hope of success; regard your doom as fixed, and act accordingly.

"Human Tribunals administer justice only, and punish - but you have the consolation that mercy and pardon belong to that tribunal on high before which you must hereafter answer for your violation ol the divine law. By meditation upon your spiritual concerns, and by true repentance and contrition of heart, may you become a lit subject of divine mercy, and obtain from your final judge forgiveness of your crimes.

" The sentence of the court is, that you, Alfred Countryman, be taken to the jail of this county and detained in close custody until the twentyseventh day of March instant ; that on that day, between the hours of ten iu the morning and five in the afternoon, you be taken thence to the place of execution in this county, and there be hung by the neck until you are dead. And may God have mercy on your soul,"

The place of execution was on what is now the farm of Samuel I. Oharct, about two miles west of the city of Rockford, and was the first and last (to date, 1877) execution of the death penalty in Winnebago County. The execution was jiublic, and thousands of people were present to witness it. When life was pronounced extinct, his body was cut down and deliv. ered to his friends.

Alfred Countryman was born in Montgomery County, New York, June 28, 1830, and was consequently in the twenty-seventh year of his age at the time of his execution. His father's family came to Ogle County in 1845-6, according to the condemned man's confession or written statement of the events of his life, where they were living at the time when Alfred committed the crime that forfeited his life. His life does not seem to have been a smooth one, but full of changes and shiftings and wanderings from one part of the country to another. Some time in the latter part of 1853 or in the early part of 1854, while working for the railroad company at Pecatonica, he made the ac([uaintance of a woman whose home was at Hampton, Michigan, to whom he was married by George Arnold, a justice of the peace of that town. At the time ol his execution he had two children - a girl and a l)oy - one about two years old, and the other an infant.

Wak Recced

With the exception of the recurrence of State and National elections and the ever-to-be-remembered Senatorial contest between two of America's political giants, Lincoln and Douglas, in 1858, there was nothing in the history of Winnebago County worthy of especial mention after the execution of Countryman until the coming of thegreatand final conflict between freedom and slavery, in 1861. Up to that time the people were busily engaged in perfecting their plans against the coming of declining years - improving their farms, building houses, shops, manufacturing establish- merits, railroads, etc. Crime and criminals, and evil doers, with few exceptions, had been banished from the connty, and an era of local tranquility and prosperity had been fnlly and successfully inaugurated, so that when the electric wires conveyed to them the intelligence that, on Friday, the 12th day of April, 1801, Fort Sumter, at Charleston, South Carolina, had been fired upon by rebels in arms against the government, th-y were startled from the contemplation of undertakings nearly completed. When, a day later, news was borne along the same wires that Major Anderson had been compelled to surrender Fort Sumter, individual enterprises were abandoned, at least for the time, and with one purpose the people rallied to a common centre to take counsel together, and inaus^urate such measures as miffht become necessary to meet the Government's call for volunteers to defend and maintain the integrity of the Union. While the people of Charleston were holding high revel over the surrender of Fort Sumter, the people of Winnebago County wei-e preparing to take part in the measures that were sure to be inaugurated to punish their treason. An impromptu meeting was called in liockford, and a committee appointed to prepare and issue a call for a mass meeting of citizens to consider the exigencies ot the occasion, and to adopt such measui'es as the times seemed sure to demand. That committee issued the following call:

"The citizens of W^innebago County, without distinction of party, are requested to meet at the court house in Rockford, on Wednesday, April 21:th, 18()1, at one o'clock p. m., for the purj»ose of holding counsel together and adopting such measures as in their judgment the present alarming crisis demands, and properly responding to the President in his call for support to the General Government. A full attendance from all the towns in the county is anxiously desired. - E. F. W. Ellis, S. M. Chuech, L. F. Warner, Committee.'''' Dated April 17, 1861.

"Our city, in common with all other places throughout the North, has been the scene of almost continuous excitetiient on the war question during the whole week. The prevailing subject and constant theme of conversation in all circles, at home as well as on the street, has been the excitingnews in connection with the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, and the war thus inaugurated. Party lines have for the time been laid aside in devotion to the Union, and with few exceptions our Democratic citizens, to their honor be it said, join heartily in sustaining the Administration in the crisis thus forced upon the country. It is no time now to argue who is right or who is wrong upon the questions of national policy which have heretofore created dissensions into parties. One common purpose should animate all hearts in this hour of our country's peril - that of preserving it from irretrievable ruin. We hope we have no Cow Boys in Rockford or Winnebago County."

The mass meeting called for the 24th was an imposing demonstration. Every man present and participating in the action of the meeting had, for the once, divested himself of political bias, and was governed alone by patriotic inipulsos. There was no halting between two opinions - tliere was but one expression, but one purpose - "the Union must and shall be preserved." Sti'ong resolutions were adopted, and men and money j)ledged till the rebellion was conquered, peace restored, and the integrity of the Union vindicated.

But even before this meeting had assembled and taken action in the premises, enlistments had commenced, and the organization of several companies undertaken, and within a week after the news of the surrender of Fort Sumter had been received the Rockford Zouaves had completed their organization and tendered their services to the Government. The citizens, equally patriotic, in a few hours subscribed and paid in the sum of $1,270.49 to purchase the uniform for this company, and with hearts full of love for their country and the prayers of the citizens they marched away under command of Captain JS^evins, and went into camp at Springtield. During the week ending May 4, five other companies were raised, as follows: Kockford Zouaves, Company B, Ellis Rifles, Rockford Rifles, a company of Dragoons, and a company of Irish citizens. On the 20tli of Septembei*, six companies had been raised and officered in Winnebago County, and accepted for service as follows:

Besides these, Captain Austin was raising a cavalry company, Captain Boyd's company was nearly full. Lieutenant Ivetcheson was recruiting for a Missouri regiment, and Major P. Fiynn was forwarding recruits for Mulligan's Irish Brigade at St. Louis.

This uprising of the patriotic men of Winnebago was in the first months of the war - the spring and summer of 1861. While the younger portion of the community were thus responding to their counti'y's call for men to defend and uphold its honor, the older men were no less active in providing ways and means to help their boys ofl" to the field of battle. Nor were mothers, wives and sisters inactive. They had a duty to discharge and they discharged it faithfully. The county authorities, within a very few days after the surrender of Fort Sumter, met in special session and appropriated $10,000 to be expended in the equipment of volunteers, and the support of the families of such of them as were married. This sum was increased by subsequent appropriations for bounties, etc., until very nearly $500,000 were paid out for war purposes. In addition, each township provided a liberal bounty lund, while private subscriptions were also made from time to time, and whenever occasion or necessity demanded. There was no penuriousness either in the county authorities or private individuals. And thus the good work went on from the beginning to the end of the war. To every call for volunteers, a ready response was made, and the quota assigned to the county promptly filled.

In Kaufl'man and Burch's Rockford City Directory and County Gazetteer, published in 1869, there is an article under the caption of "Winnebago County in the War," from which we make the following statistical extract: enrollment returns made to the Assistant Marshal General's office at Springfield, was 2,037 men; the enlistments credited to the county, 1.921, leaving the county short, according to this estimate, 116 men. These were more than made up, however, by men who had enlisted in the regiments raised in other States, and who nad not up to this time been allowed to the credit of the county. It was subsequently ascertained that about 325 men from this county had enlisted in Wisconsin and Missom-i regiments.

"In 1864 a new enrollment was made by Halscy G. Clark. Esq., enrolling officer of the county. This enrollment showed 4,627 persons between the age of 20 and 45 years, liable to military duty.

"The quota of the county, upon this enrollment, under the various calls for troops to July 1, 1864, was 2,778, apportioned to the different towns and wards of the city as follows:

" In December, 1864, when the last call for men was made by the President, it was resolved by the county authorities to make a new and thorough enrollment, it being claimed that the one last made was incorrect, and that it reported a greater number of men liable to military duty than there really was in the county. Accordingly, in December, 1864, a thorough canvass of each enrollment district was made, which gave 3,269 persons liable to draft, a decrease of 1,361 from the previous enrollment. Upon this enrollment the last quota of the county was based, amounting to 398 men. They w^ere divided among the towns and wards of Eockford as follows :

" The apparent unequal distribution of these quotas to the different towns was the cause of much complaint among the county authorities; their complaints, however, were of no avail, and the men had to be furnished as apportioned. This was done by the 15th of April, 1865, the last man having been mustered in previous to that date. These, with those furnished under fornier calls, made 3,176 of her patriotic citizens who risked their lives on Southern battle-fields to sustain the Government.

"Although the county has within its limits a large number of persons of foreign birth, to their credit be it said, but 36 of this number were willing to shield themselves behind foreign protection papers, and while enjoying all the privileges of residents of the United States, refused to assist in supporting its Government. They are divided among the towns as follows:

Having thus preserved the patriotic offerings of the people of Winnebago County as a community, there is one other duty that devolves upon our pen - that is, to gather the names of the brave men who were so ready to forsake home, friends, and the comforts of peaceful avocations, and ofier their lives in defense of their country's honor. This is not only a pleasure, but it is a duty, not only due to those whom the fate of the war spared to return to their homes, but to the memory of those who fell with their faces to the enemy - many of whom sleep the last, long sleep in unmarked and unknown graves. This Record was well earned, and it is our purpose to present the Record as complete as possible, and that it shall embrace the names, companies, regiments, terms of enlistments, the battles in which they engaged, etc. What more fitting tribute can be ofiered to their soldier lives ? It will be a wreath of glory encircling every brow, and a memento which each and every one of them earned in defense of our country's honor, integrity, and unity. Monuments may crumble; cities fall into decay; the tooth of time leave its impress on all the works of man; but the memory of the gallant deeds of the army of the Union in the great war of the rebellion, -in which the sons of Winnebago bore so conspicuous a part, will live in the minds of men so long as time and civilized governments endure.

The regiment was called into service under proclamation of the President, April 16, 1861 ; organized at Springfield, and mustered into service April 30, i86i,by Captain Pope, for three months.

During this term of service, the regiment was stationed at Vill.i Ridge, 111., to June 20th, then removed to Bird's Point, Mo., where it remained performing garrison and field duty until July 30th, when the regiment was mustered out, and re-enlisted for three years' service. During the three months' term, the lowest aggregate w^s. S82, and the highest 933, and at the muster out was gi6.

Upon the re-muster, July 13th, the aggregate was 2S8. During the months of August, September, October and November, the regiment was recruited to an aggregate of 801. In the meantime were doing garrison and field duty, participating in the following expeditions ; September gth to nth, expedition towards New Madrid ; October 6th to nth, to Charleston, Mo.; November 3d to 12th, to Bloomfield, Mo., via Commerce, returning 7na Cape Girardeau ; January 7th and Sth, expivdition to Charleston, Mo., skirmished with a portion of the command of Jeff. Thompson ; January 13th to 20th, reconncisance of Columbus, Ky., under Gen. Grant ; January 25th to 28th, to Sikestown, Mo ; February 2d, embarked on transports for Fort Henry, participating in campaign against that place ; February nth, moved towards Fort Donelson ; P'ebruary 12th, 13th and 14th, occupied in investing that place , 12th, heavily engaged with the enemy about five hours, losing 329 killed, wounded and missing, out of about 500 engaged, of whom 72 were killed and 182 wounded ; March 4th and 5th, <?« route to Fort Henry ; 5th to 13th, en route to Savannah, Tenn., in transports ; 23d to 25th, en route from Savannah to Pittsburg Landing ; April 6th and 7th, engaged in battle of Shiloh, losing 27 killed and wounded, out of 150 engaged ; April 24th to June 4th, participated in siege of Corinth, thence marched to Jackson, Tenn., making headquarters there to August 2d ; participated in two engagements, July ist and 2d, towards Trenton, Tenn.; July 23d to 28th, to Lexington, Tenn.; August 2d, moved to Cairo, 111., for purpose of recruiting; remained at that point urtil August 23 ; thence to Paducah, Ky., remaining there until November 20th ; in the meantime engaged in two expeditions - August 24th to September i6th, to Clarksville, Tenn.. I'/flTForts Henry and Donelson - October 31st to November 13th, expedition to Hopkinsville, Ky.; November 20th to 24th, <?« route to Lagrange, Tenn., where the regiment reported and was assigned to Brigadier General McArthur's Division, Left Wing, 13th Army i^orps. From this time 10 Jan. i2_, 1863, participated in campaign in Northern Mississippi, marching via Tallahatchie (where the regiment wab engaged in a sharp skirmish) ; from thence to Abbeville ; thence seven miles below Oxford ; thence to Holly Springs, Moscow and Memphis, Tenn. Remained in Memphis until the 17th, when embarked on transport and en route to Young's Point until 24th, remaining there until February nth ; then moved to Lake Providence, and assigned to the Seventeenth Army Corps, making headquarters there until April 20tli, participating in expedition to American Bend, from March 17th t028th. April 23, 1S63, the One Hundred and Ninth Illinois Infantry was transferred to the Eleventh, 589 being the aggregate gained by the transfer. April 26th, regiment moved with column to rear of Vicksburg, via Richmond, Perkins' Landing, Grand Gulf, Raymond and Black River, arriving before the works May i8th ; May 19th and 22d, engaged in_ assaults on the enemy's works ; then in the advance siege works to July 4th, at time of surr-nder ; the regiment losing in the siege and assault i field officer (Colonel Garrett Neviusfkilled, 3 line officers wounded, and 40 men killed and wounded. July 17th, moved with expedition to Natchez, Miss., participating in expedition to Woodvillf , Miss. October 12th, returned to Vicksburg, Miss., making headquarters there to July 29, 1864 ; in the meantime engaged in the following expeditions ; February ist to March 8ih, up Yazoo river to Greenwood, Miss., having skin ish at Liverpool Heights, February 5th, losing 4 killed and 9 wofnded ; action at Yazoo City, March 5th, losing i line officer killed, 8 men killed, 24 wounded, and 12 missing ; April 6th to 2Sth, at Black River Bridge ; May 4th to 21st, expedition to Yazoo City, Benton and Vaughn's Station, Miss-, taking prominent part in three important skirmishes ; July ist to 7th, with an expedition to Jackson, Miss., under Major General Slocum, eng.iged with the enemy three times ; July - 9th, moved to Morganza, and was assigned to Nineteenth Army Corps, staying there to September 3d ; in the meantime participating in an expedition to Clinton, La., August 24th to 29th ; September 3d, moved to mouth of White river. Ark.;

October 8th, moved to Memphis, Tenn., returning to White river October 27th ; November 6th and 7th, expedition to Gaine:.' Landing; November 8th, moved to JJiivall's Blufr, Ark.; November 30th to December 4th, en route to Memphis, Tenn.; December 20th to 31st, expedition to Moscow, Tenn.; January ist to 5th, en route to Kenner, La.; February 4th to 7th, en route to Dauphine Island, via Lake Ponchartrain ; March 17th to April i2th, engaged in operations against Mobile, Ala., marching from Fort Morgan, participating in the investment and siege and final capture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, and in the assault on the latter. April 12th, marched into and took possession of the city of Mobile, staying there until the 27th of May, when embarked in transport and moved via Lake Ponchartrain to New Orleans ; from thence to Alexandria, La., remaining there until June 22d ; thence to Baton Rouge, La., to be mustered out of service ; mustered out July 14, 1S65, and left for Springfield, HI., for payment and final discharge.

The Fifteenth Regiment Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Freeport, Illinois, and mustered into the United States service May 24, 1861 - being the first regiment organized from the State for the three years' service. It then proceeded to Alton, 111., remaining there six weeks for instruction. Left Alton for St. Charles, Mo., thence, by rail, to Mexico, Mo. Marched to Hannibal, Mo., thence, by steamboat, to Jefferson Barracks ; then, by rail, to Rollo, Mo. Arrived in time to cover Gen. Siegel's retreat from Wilson's Creek; thence to Tipton, Mo., and thence joined Gen. Fremont's army. Marched from there to Springfield, Mo.; thence back to Tipton ; then to Sedalia with Gen. Pope, and assisted in the capture of 1,300 of the enemy a few miles from the latter place ; then marched to Otterville, Mo., where it went into winter quarters, Dec. 26, 1861. Remained there until Feb. i, 1862.' Then marched to Jefferson City ; thence to St. Louis, by rail ; embarked on transports for Fort Donelson, arriving there the day of the surrender.

'I'he regiment was then assigned to the Fourth Division, Gen. Hurlbut commanding, and marched to Fort Henry. Then embarked on transports for Pittsburg Landing. Participated in the battles of the 6th and 7th of April, losing 252 men, killed and wounded. Am^ng the former were Lieutenant Colonel E. T. W. Ellis, Major Goddard, Capiain- Brownell and Wayne, and Lieutenant John W. Puterbaugh. Captain Adam Nase, wouiided and taken prisoner. The regiment then marched to Corinth, participating in various skirmishes and the siege of that place, losing a number of men killed and wounded.

After the evacuation of Corinth, the regiment marched to Grand Junction ; thence to Holly Springs, back to Grand Junction; thence to Lagrange; thence to Memphis, arriving there July 21, 1862, and remained there until September 6th. Then marched to Bolivar ; thence to the Hatchie river, and participated in the battle of the Hatchie. Lost' fifty killed and wounded in that engagement. Then returned to Bolivar ; from thence to Lagrange ; thence, with Gen. Grant, down through Mississippi to Coffeeville, returning to Lagrange and Memphis ; thenc= to Vicksburg, taking an active part in the siege of that place. After the surrender of Vicksburg, marched with .Sherman to Jackson, Miss.; then returned to Vicksburg and embarked for Natchez. Marched thence to Kingtton ; returned to Natchez ; then to Harrisonburg, La., capturing Fort Beauregard, on the Washita river. Returned to Natchez, remained there until Nov. 10, 1863. Proceeded to Vicksburg and went into winter quarters. Here the regiment reenlisted as veterans, remaining until Feb. i, 1864, when it moved with Gen. Sherman through Mississippi. On Champion Hills had a severe engagement with rebel Carney. Marched to Meridian ; thence south to Enterprise ; thence b,ick to Vicksburg. Was then ordered to Illinois on veteran furlough. On expiration of furlough joined Seventeenth Army Corps and proceeded up the Tennessee river to Clifton ; thence to Huntsville, Ala.; thence to Decatur and Rome, Ga.; thence to Kingston, and joined Gen. Sherman's army, marching on Atlanta.

At AUatoona Pass the Fifteenth and the Fourteenth Infantry were consolidated, and the organization was known as the Veteran Battalion Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry Volunteers, and numbering 625 men. From AUatoona Pass it proceeded to Ackworth, and was then assigned to duty, guarding the Chattanooga and Atlanta Railroad. Whilst engaged in this duty, the regiment being scattered along the line of road, the rebel Gen. Hood, marching north, struck the road at Big Shanty and Ackworth, and captured about 300 of the command. The remainder retreated to Marietta, were mounted and acted as scouts for Gen. Vandever. They were afterwards transferred to Gen. F. P. Blair, and marched with Gen. Sherman through Georgia.

hatchie river, participating in the various skirmishes in that vicinity - Columbia, S. C, Fayetteville, N. C., battle of Bentonville - losing a number wounded; thence to Goldsboro and Raleigh. At Raleigh, recruits sufficient to fill up both regiments were received, ana the organization ot the Veteran Battalion discontinued, and the Fifteenth reorganized. The campaign of Gen. Sherman ended by the surrender of Gen. Johnson. The regiment then marched with the army to Washington, D. Q,.,via Richmond and Fredericksburg, and participated in the grand review at Washiui>ton, May 24, 1865 ; remained there two weeks. Proceeded, by rail and steamboat, to Louisville, Ky.; remained at Louisville two weeks. The regiment was then detached from the Fourth Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, and proceeded, by steamer, to St. Louis; from thence to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, arriving there July i, 1865. Joined the army serving on the Plains. Arrived at Fort Kearney, August 14th ; then ordered to return to Fort Leavenworth, S,-pt. i, 1S65. where the regiment was mustered out the service and placed t?« ro/</t' for .Springfield, 111., for final payment and discharge - having served four years and four months.

Captain Hampden S. Cottel, e. as Sergt. May 24, 1861. Promoted Second Lieutenant, Aug. 21, 1862. Promoted Captain, May 28, 1863. Mustered out at consolidation.

The Forty-fourth was organized in August, 1861, at Camp ElUworth, Chicago, under the supervision of Col. Chas. Knoblesdorff, and was mustered into seivice Sept. 13, and immediately embarked for St. Louis, Mo. Thence on 22d to Jefferson City. On 2qth marched to Sedalia, and was assigned to Gen. Sigel s famous division. (J)ct. 13th took up line of march for Springfield, Mo. The Forty-fourth was too late to participate in the battle of Wilson Creek. It then moved to Rolla, where it encamped for the winter. Gen. Curtis having assumed command, on Feb. 2d the Forty-fourth moved toward Springfield, to attack Price's army, but found him gone ; pursued him into Arkansas. The two armies concentrated their whole strength and met at Pea Ridge, where a bloody battle was fought, defeating the enemy, and in which the Forty-fourth took a prominent part. It was also one of the most effective regiments in the pursuit of the retr<"ating rebels, capturing one stand of colors, many prisoners and several pieces of artillery. Resumed march April 5 to Forsythe, Mo, and Batesville, Ark., where the army was re-organized, and the Forty-fourth placed in Col. Osterhaus' brigade. It thence proceeded to Cape Girardeau, Mo., and thence by steamer to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn . , where it arrived May 26th, and proceeded to army then besieging Corinth. Two days after arrival, rebels evacuated and the Forty-fourth was assigned to Gen. Pope's command, and went in pursuit of the fleeing enemy.

Was in camp at Rienzi, Miss., two months. Cincinnati, Ohio, being threatened, the Brigade, under command of Col. Grensel, marched thither, w ere it arrived Sept. ist, and on the 17th moved, by rail, to Louisville. Here the army was again reorganized, and the Forty-fourth assigned to the Army of the Ohio, under Gen. Buell, and was in the battle of Perrysville, Oct. 8th, in a division commanded by Gen. P. H. Sheridan. Marched to Crab Orchard and Bowling Green, when Gen. Rosecrans assumed command.

Marched to Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 26. Moved, with the army, against Murfreesboro, Tenn., and was attached to Second Brigade, Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps, Col. Shaffer commanding the Brigade, Gen. Sheridan the Division, and Gen. McCook the Corps.

June 26, 1863, was engaged at Hoover's Gap, Shelby. ville, and Tallahoma, Tenn. Thence it moved to Stevrnson and Bridgeport, Ala., and to Chattanooga, Tenn., ami took part in the battle of Chickamauga. In the battle of Mission Ridge, soon after. Gen. Sheridan gave the Forty-fourth the praise of placing their flag among the very first on the Rebel works. It then made a forced march to relieve our army at Knoxville, arriving three days after the siege was raised. The Twentieth and Twenty-first Corps being consolidated, the Forty-fourth was assigned to the Fourth Corps, and Gen. F. T. Sherman to the command of Brigade.

After many marches and hardships the Forty-fourth arrived at Chattanooga, Feb. 3, 1864, and, for the first time in four months, drew full rations from the Government. Here the regiment re-enlisted and went home on veteran furlough, arriving in Chicago March 1st, having marched during its term of enlistment over 5,000 miles.

April 14th, it arrived at Nashville, and immediately marched to Chattanooga, and Irom thence entered on the memorable Atlanta campaign, and participated in the following skirmishes and engagements : Buzzard Roost, Rocky-Faced Mountain, Resaca, Adairsville, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Gulps Farm, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, and Jonesboro. Its movements then were to Chattanooga, Tenn., Athens, Ala. , Pulaska, Tenn., and from thence gradually fell back on Nashville, closely pursued by the enemy, and took a very prominent part in the battle of Franklin. Thence proceeded, via Nashville, to Huntsville, Ala., arriving January 5, 1865, March 28th, was ordered to Knoxville, thence to Blue Springs, Tenn.

fourth was ordered to New Orleans, arriving June 22d. It then moved, by steamer, to Port Lavaca, Texas, where it remained until Sept. 25th, when it was mustered out and proceeded to Springfield, 111., arriving Oct. 15, 1865, and received its final payment and discharge.

Major Gustavus Freysleben, e. as Sergeant Co. G Aug. I, i36i. Promoted Second Lieutenant Feb. 28, 1862. Promoted Captain Co. A June 27, 1862. Promoted Major Sept. 30, 1864. Resigned (as Captain) Feb. 24, 1865.

Captain Nathan Rnndell, e. as Corporal Aug. i, 1861. Re-enlisted as veteran Jan. i, 1864. Promoted First Lieutenant Sept. 25, 1864. Promoted Captain May 10, 1865. Mustered out Sept. 25, 1865.

First Lieutenant Hollam R. Smith, e. as private Aug. I, 1861. Re-enlisted as veteran. Promoted Sergeant. Promoted First Lieutenant May 10, 1865. Mustered out Sept. 25, 1865.

Second Lieutenant Edgar J. Davis, e. as Sergeant - Aug. I, 1861. Promoted Sergeant Major. Promoted Second Lieutenant Oct. i, 1862. Mustered out as Sergeant.

First Lieutenant Thos. J, Abbott, e. as private Aug. i, 1861. Re-enlisted as vet. Jan. i, 1864. Promoted Sergeant, then First Lieutenant, Sept. 15, 1864. Mustered out Sept 25, 1865.

The Washburne Lead Mine Regiment was organized at Chicago, 111., Dec. 25, 1861, by Col. John E. Smith, and mustered into the United :^tates' service as the Forty-fifth lufantry Illinois Volunteers. Jan. 15,1862, m:ived to Cairo, 111. February ist* assie;ned to Brigade of Col. W. H. L. Wallace, Division of Brig. Gen. Mc- Clernand. February 4th, landed beloA- Fort Henrj^on the Tennessee, and on the 6th marched into the fort, it having been surrendered to the gun-boats. February - nth, moved toward Fort Donelson, and during the succeeding days bore its part of the suffering and of the battle. The flag of the Forty-fifth was the first planted on the enemy's works. Loss - 2 killed and 26 wounded. March 4th, moved to the Tennessee river, and nth, arrived at Savannah. Was engaged in the expedition to Pin Hook. March 25th, moved to Pittsburg Landing, and encamped near Shil. h Church.

The Forty-fifth took a conspicuous and honorable part in the two days' battle of Shiloh, losing 26 killed and 199 wounded and missing - nearly one. half of the regi'.nent. April 12th, Col. John E. Smith, of the Forty-fifth, took command of the Brigade. During the seige of Corinth, the regiment was in the P irst Brigade, I'hird Division, Reserve Army of the Tennessee, and bore its full share of the labors and dangers of the campaign. June 4th, the regiment was assigned to Third Brigade, and moved toward Purdy, fifteen miles. On the 5th, marched to Bethel; 7th, to Montezuma, and on the 8th to Jackson, Tenn., the enemy flying on its approach.

During the months of June and July, engaged in garrison and guard duty. August nth, assigned to gnarding railroad, near Toon's Station. On the 31st, after much desperate fighting. Companies C and D were captured. The remainder of the regiment, concentrating at Toon's Station, were able to resist the attack of largely outnumbering forces. Loss - 3 killed. 13 wounded and 43 taken prisoners. September 17th, moved to Jackson ; November 2d, to Bolivar, and was assigned to First Brigade, Third Division, Right Wing, Thirteenth Army Corps. Nov. 3, 1862, marched from Bolivar to Van Buren ; 4th, to Lagrange, and were assigned to Provost duty ; 28th, marched to Holly Springs ; December 3d, to Waterford ; 4th, to Abbeville ; 5th, to Oxford, to Yocona river, near Spring Dale.

Communications with the north having been cut off, foraged on the country for supplies. December 17th, notice received of the promotion of Col. John E, Smith to Brigadier General, ranking from November 2gth ; December 22d, returned to Oxford ; 24th, m.oved to a camp three mil s north of Abbeville, on the Tallahatchie river, where the regiment remained during the month. Mustered out July 12, 1865, at Louisville, Ky., and arrived at Chicago July 15, 1865, for final payment and discharge.

Captain Jos. R. Baxter, e. as Corpl. Sept. 21, 1861. Re-enlisted as vet. Jan. 5, 1864. Promoted First Sergeant, then First Lieutenant Dec. 28, 1864. Promoted Captain July 9, 1865. Mustered out (as First Lieutenant) July 12, 1865.

The Fifty-Second Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Geneva, Kane county, Illinois, in November, 1861, by Colonel J. G. Wilson, and mustered into United States' service November 19th, by Lieutenant J. Christopher.

November 2Sth, moved with 945 men to St. Louis, Mo., and went into quarters at Benton Barracks. Here Col. Wilson resigned. December 8th, the reglmei.t, Lieut. Col. J. S. Wilco.x commanding, moved to St. Joseph, Mo. Jan. 16, 1862, moved to Cairo, -ina Palmi ra, Quincy and Mississippi river. January 24th, moved to Smithland. February 7th, T. W. Sweeny was commissioned Colonel of the Fifty-second. Feb. lo, 1862, embarked for Fort Donelson, and arrived 17th; i8th, was sent with prisoners to Chicago. March 7th, arrived at .St. Louis. March 13th, left tor Army of the Tennessee, and 20th, disembarked at Pittsburg Landing, and were assigned to Third Brigade, becond Division, Col. Sweeny commanding Brigade and Gen. Smith the Division.

The regiment took a prominent part in the battle of Shiloh, April 6th and 7th, losing 170 killed, woumJed and missing - Major Stark commanding first day and Captain Bowen on the second. The regiment was engaged in the siege of Corinth, May, 1862. Pursued the retreating enemy to Booneville, Miss., and returned to Corinth, where the regiment remained uniil the battle of Corinth, October 3d and 4th. Was heavily engaged in this action. Col. Sweeny commanding the regiment - the loss being 70 killed and wounded. Pursued the retreating enemy as far as Ruckerville, and returned 12th. October 13th, moved to Hatchie river, and returned. Dec. g, 1862, moved with an expedition to Alabama. Met the enemy near Little Bear cieek, drove him 15 miles, and returned to Corinth, arriving 14th. December igth, under command of Lieut. Col. Wilcox, left Corinth, with the expedition of G'-n. G. M. Dodge, to intercept Forrest. Marched 100 miles, in four and onehalf days, and returned, weary and foot-sore. Jan. 2, 1863, moved to Tennessee river, to intercept Forrest, as he had already crossed Crump's Landing. Expedition returned. January 26th, moved to Hamburg, Tenn.; embarked on a little steamer, and on the next day, disembarked and returned to Cor'nth. Feb. 25, 1863, moved. Major Bowen commanding rrgiment. Col. Sweeny commanding expedition, to Jacinto, Miss. Arrived 27th. Remained until March 4th, when it returned to Corinth.

On the 15th of April, Lieut. Col. Wilcox commanding legiment, moved with an expedition ot four Brigades of Infantry, one of Cavalry, and foiirteen pieces of artillery, Brig. Gen. G. M. Dodge commanding, to Northern Alabama. Marched to Burnsville on the 15th; through luka on the i6th; crossed Bear creek on the 17th - Col. Cornyn's cavalry skirmishing with the enemy.

April 20th, Col. Sweeny promoted to Brigadier General. 23d, the whole force advanced, driving the enemy. That night lay in line of battle. 24th, moved forward and entered iuscumbia, Ala. April 27th, moved toward Courtland. Met the enemy at Town creek, and skirmished till night. 23th, gained possession .if the railroad bridge, effected a crossing, and drove the enemy three miles, zgth, returned, arriving in Corinth. May 2, 1863. August i8th, moved to Germantown, and regiment assigned to guarding railroad. October 29th, moved to luka; 31st, bivouacked three and a half miles east of luka. November 6th, the whole Left Wing of the Sixteenth Corps moved eastward. Arrived at Eastport and crossed the Tennessee. November nth, arrived at Pulaski, Tenn. Remained, doing provost duty. January gth, three-fourths of the regiment having re-enlisted, it was mustered as a veteran organization. Started for Illinois, and arrived at Chicago, January 17th. Proceeded to Geneva, Kane county, and was furloughed, 20th. February 24th, moved for Pulaski, Tenn., under command of Lieut. Col. E. A. Bowen, Col. Wilcox hiving resigned. Arrived at Pulaski, 29th. April 29th, in Col. E. W. Rice's Brigade (First Brigade), Gen. Sweeny's Division (Second), Left Wing, Maj. Gen. G. M. Dodge, Sixteenth Army Corps. Moved southward, arriving at Chattanooga, May 2d. May 3d, 1864, commenced the Atlanta campaign. The regiment participated in the battles of Snake Creek Gap, Resaca Lay's Ferry, Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Decatur, July 22d and 28th, before Atlanta and Jonesboro, and, went into camp at East Point. September 26th, 1864, the Second Division, Left Wing, Sixteenth Army Corps, was transferred to Fourth Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, moved to Rome, and, by rail, to Cartersville ; and from thence marched to Ailatoona. Arriving too late for the battle, it returned to Rome. October nth, Lieut. Col. Bowen being mustered out. Major Boyd took command.

The regiment marched with the Division, Brevet Major General J. M. Corse commanding, to Savannah, Ga. December iSth, the non-veteran officers were mustered out, and J. D. Davis, having received a commission as Lieutenant Colonel, took command of the regiment. December 21st, marched into Savannah. Jan. 2g, 1865, started on the Carolinas campaign. Was present at the battle of Bentonville, and arrived at Goldsboro, March 24th. April loth. marched to Raleigh. Lay at Morrisville during Johnson's surrender. Marched, via Richmond and Alexandria, and was in the grand review at Washington, May 24, 1865. June 2d, moved to Louisville, Ky. July 5th, mustered out of United States' service. Moved to Camp Douglas, Chicago, 111., and received final payment and discharge, July 12, 1865.

First Lieutenant Chas. H. Watson, e. as private Oct. i, 1861. Re-enlisted as Vet. Dec. 29, 1863. Promoted Sergeant then First Lieutenant Nov. 23, 1864. Mustered out July 6, 1865.

Second Lieutenant Harvey Smith, e. as First Sergeant, Oct. I, 1S61. Re-enlisted as Vet. Dec. 2g, 1863. Commissioned Second Lieutenant July Si 1865. Mustered out as Sergeant July 6, 1865.

The Fifty-fifth Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Camp Douglas, Chicago, 111., and mustered into the United States' service Oct. 31, 1861. Nov. 9th left Camp Douglas for Alton, 111.; the loth, left for St. Louis, by steamer; Jan. 12, 1862, ordered to Paducah, Ky., by boat; March -th, embarked on steamer for Tennessee River and moved down to Pittsburg Landing, and was soon in camp, east of Shiloh Church - the Fifty-fifth being on the left of the Union line. The opening of the battW, Sunday morning, found the regiment in position, with an effective force of 873 men. Col. Stuart was wounded, and nine of the line officers, three of whom died of wounds. 102 enlisted men were killed and mortally wounded, and 161 wounded and taken prisoners. The regiment was with the army in advance on Corinth, and at Russell's house. May 17th, lost in skirmish, 8 men, 2 killed and 6 wounded. Entered Corinth May 30th; thence westward, along Memphis & Charleston Railroad. With Sherman's Division, marched into Memphis, July 21st, and remained, doing camp duty, until November 25th, when it marched, with Sherman's Division, for ihe Tallahatchie River. Was marched back to Memphis, to descend the Missibsippi River to Vicksburg. Embarked | with che expedition, and si.K companies were engaged in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, December 29th, losing I Captain killed and i wounded, i enlisted man killed and 7 wounded. W;(s present and under fire at battle of Arkansas Post, Jan. 10 and 11, 1863. Moved from Arkansas Post to Young's Point, La. May 16, 1863, joined army in rear of Vicksburg, and on 17th, was under fire at Champion Hills. Participated in-the assaults of 19th and 22d of May, losing Lieut. Levi Hill, of Company A, killed; Col. Mahnborg aiid 2 line officers wounded, and 4 enlisted men killed and 33 wounded. During the siege, the regiment lost i man killed and 3 wounded. Was present at the surrender, July 4th. July 5th, marched, with Sherman's expedition, for Jackson, Miss. Participated in th** siege, and lost i officer wounded, i enlisted m'ln killed and I wounded. Embarked at Vicksburg for Memphis, and moved out with the army, past Corinth, to luka. On Oct. 30, 1863, marched from East Point, on the Tennessee River, for Chattanooga. November 25th, marched with Sherman to the relief of Knoxville, East Tenn. Returned and encamped at Bridgeport during the winter, and at Larkin's Landing in the spring, at which place the regiment veteranized, and returned to Illinois on furlough of thirty days. June 27, 1864, participated in assault upon Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., led by Capt. Augustine, who was killed on the field. Loss of regiment was 2 officers killed and 3 wounded, 13 enlisted men killed and 30 wounded. July 22, the regiment was again engaged, with an effective force of 239 men, commanded by Capt. F. H. Shaw, and came out of engagement with 180 men - i officer killed, 3 enlisted men killed, 12 wounded and 17 taken prisoners. In the siege of Atlanta, the regiment lost i officer and 6 enlisted men killed, and 18 wounded. Aug. 31, 1864, in battle of Jonesboro, Ga., lost 23 men. In a short campaign of but little over two months, the regiment lost about one-half its number. Joined in pursuit of Hood, through Northern Alabama, and returned to Atlanta, Ga., where 162 non-veterans were discharged. The regiment lost, near Bentonville, N. C i man killed, I wounded and 6 taken prisoners. Marched with army, via Richmond, to Washington. Participated in the grand review at Washington. Then moved to Louisville, Ky. Remained in camp but a few weeks, when moved, by steamer, to Little Rock, Ark., where it remained until Aug. 14, 1865, when it was mustered out of service. Left for Chicago, 111., Aug. 19th, and arrived Aug. 22, 1865, where it received final payment and discharge. During its term of service the regiment marched 3,374 miles.

First Lieutenant Luther J. Keyes, e. as Corporal Sept. 9,1861. Re-enlisted as vet. March 31, 1864. Promoted First Sergeant; then First Lieutenant, Aug. II, 1864. Mustered out Aug. 14, 1865.

Organized at Rockford and mustered into U. S. service Sept. 6, 1862. Companies G and I were from Ogle and Stephenson Counties ; all the rest were from Winnebago County. Left Rockford Sept. 27th for Jefl'er- sonville, Ind. Arrived there'Oct. ist, and moved to Louisville, Ky., immediately. Assigned to Army of the Cumberland, First Brigade, Second Division, under Gen. Buell. Moved from Louisville Oct. 7th. and was in the battle of Chaplain Hills, Ky., Oct. I3ih ; from there to Crab Orchard, Ky., pursuing Bragg, participiting in many skirmishes. Returned from Lebanon, Ky., Oct. 25th ; from there it went to Nashville, Tenn., where a re-organizalion was effected, under Gen. Rosecrans. Dec. 25th, received marching orders, with three d.iys' rations. Participated in the battle of Stone River, Dec. 30-31, 1862, and Jan. i, 1863, the regiment losing 16 men killed and wounded. Went into winter quarters at Camp Little, south of Murfreesboro, and vi'ere engaged in numerous raids in the surrounding country. Moved from winter quarters July iSth ; was in battle of Liberty Gap, Julv 2olh; one man killed; was engaged at Tulahoma, Tenn.; from hereit was ordeiedto Winchester, Tenn., where it encamped. Moved, Aug. 20th, to Stevenson, Ala. Engaged at Chickamauga, Sept.' i8th, 19th and 20th ; lost 3 men. The regiment on the latter date was in charge of hospital and supply trains, arriving in Chattanooga, Tenn., 55ept. 22. While here it had very short allowances until Nov. 22d, when they participated in the fiyht of Mission Ridge, Nov. 25, their colors beipg the first to pass over the rebel lines, capturing a battery of four pieces at Bragg's headquarters ; loss to regiment, 6 privates. Col. Jason Marsh wounded, Lieut. Col. Kerr wounded in the arm.

Returned to Chattanooga on the 26th, and marched to Knoxville, Tenn., to relieve Gen. Burnside, and then went into winter quarters about Dec. 15. May 2, 1864, it joined the main army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga, where it arrived on the 3d ; on the 5th marched under orders and ivas in the battle of Rocky Face, or Buzzard Roost, Ga.; was at Resaca, Ga., May 14th and 15th ; Calhoon, May 17th; Adairsville, Ga., May iSth ; Dallas, Ga., May 25th to June 5th ; Lost Mountain, Ga., June 16th ; was in the battle at Kenesiw Mountrun, Ga., June 20th and June 27th; lost 52 men, 6 commissioned officers, Lieut. Col. J. B. Kerr being among the number. Battle of Smyrna, Camp Ground, Ga., July 4ih, lost 16 men ; was also at Peach Tree Creek, July 20th; Atlanta, July 22d, and was continually engaged until the battle of Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. i, 1S64, and Lovejoy Station, Sept. 2d ; then returned to Chattanooga, 1 enn., where it was assigned to the army of the Tennessee. Engaged the enemy, Nov. 28th, at Columbia, Tenn.; Spnne Hill, Nov. 2gth; Franklin, Tenn., Nov. 30th ; Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 15th and i6th, following Hood to Huntsville, Ala., fighting him all the time until he crossed the Little Tennessee; and then went into winter quarters. March 26. 1865, it marched to Bulls Gap, 'i'enn., to intercept Lee, leaving there April 17th for Nashville, Tenn., where the regiment was mustered out June 20, 1S65. Returned to Rockford with 157 enlisted men and 13 officers. Col. Jason Marsh was at the head of the regiment until about January i, 1865, when Lieut. Col. Thos. J. Bryan took command.

private, disab. Corpl. Frank Chapman, m. o. June 10, 1865. Musician Mancinas C. Goucher, disd. Dec. 20, 1864. Musician Thomas T. Boyen, died at Nashville, Tenn.,

Second Lieutenant Robt. Simpson, e. as Corporal, Aug. 6, 1S62. Promoted First Sergeant. Mustered out June 10, 1865. Commissioned Second Lieutenant, but not mustered.

Second Lieutenant Morgan J. Conradt. e. as private Aug. 9, 1862. Mustered out June 10, 1865, as First Sergeant. Com. Second Lieutenant, but not mustered.

Second Lieutenant Jno. Hartwell, e. as private Aug. 4, 1862. Mustered out June 10, i8£s, as First Sergeant. Commissioned Second Lieutenant, but not mustered.

Second Lieutenant Chester A. Weston, e. as private Aug. 8, 1862. Mustered out June 10, 1865, as First Sergeant. Commissioned Second Lieutenant but not mustered.

Second Lieutenant Wm. Cain. e. as Sergeant Aug. 4, 1862. Promoted First Sergeant, Sergeant Major. Mustered out June 10, 1865. Com. Second Lieutenant, but not mu-,tered.

The Ninetieth Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Chicago, Illinois, in August, September, and October, 1862, by Colonel Timothy O'Meara. Moved to Cairo. November 27th, and to Columbus, Ky., 30th. P'rom thence proceeded to Lagrange, Tennessee, where the regiment arrived December 2d. On the 4th, ordered to Cold Water, Mississippi, where it relieved the Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry. On the morning of 20th December, a detachment of Second Illinois Cavalry arrived at Cold Water, having cut their way through Van Dorn's forces, out of Holly Springs. Soon after, four companies of One Hundred and First Illinois can e in, and were followed by the enemy to our lines. The demonstrations made by the Ninetieth deterred the enemy from making any severe attack, although he was4,oooor 5,ooostrong, and, after some skirmishing, he withdrew. The regiment was mustered out of service June 6, '865, at Washington, D. C, and arrived at Chicago, June 12, 1865, where it received final pay and discharge.

The One Hundred and Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteers was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, Sept. 18, 1864, for one year, and Henry H. Dean' appointed Colonel. Companies C and B were ordered to Brighton, Illinois, Companies D and H to Quincy, Illinois, and Co. F to Jacksonville, Illinois, and were assigned to duty guarding drafted men and substitutes. The remaining companies were assigned to similar duty at Camp Butler, Illinois. On 5th July, 1S65, the regiment was mustered out of service at Camp Butler, Illinois. Colonel Henry H. Dean, com. Captain Co. B,Sept. 17,

The One Hundred and Forty-seventh Infantry Illinois Volunteers was orgmized at Camp Fry, 111., by Col. Hiram F. Sickles, and mustered in for cne year, on the i8th and i9ih cf February, 1865. On the 2ist of February, moved, via Louisville, Ky., to Nashville, Tenn., arriving 25th. On the 28tli, moved to Chattanooga, and thence to Dalton, Ga., Col. Sickles commanding post. On March 13th, went en expedition to Mill Creek, on Cleveland road, and broke up a nest of guerrillas. On 20th, under command of Major Bush, went on an expedition to Spring Place. March

15th, the regiment was assigned to First Brigade, Second Division, Army of the Cumbeiland, Brig. Gen. H. M. Judah commanding. On March 28th, went on an expedition to Ringgo'd. On April 23d, moved to Pullen's Ferry, on Coosawatchie River, and had several skirmishes with the enemy, killing Major Edmeston, their commander, and several officers and men. On May 2d, the regiment moved to Reseca, Ga., and were engaged in repairing the railroad. On May 12th Wofford, commanding rebel forces in Northern Georgia, surrendered his forces to Gen. Judah. May 14th, Col. Sickles took command of the Brigade. Marched to Calhoun, June 26th, and July 27th, moved to Marietta. From tlience, ordered to MacoM, Ga.. and to Albany, Ga., arriving July 31st. October 16th, brigade organization dissolved. October 23th, ordered to Hawkinsville, Ga. November 25th, the regiment was ordered to Savannah, Ga., z'/'rt Macon, Atlanta and Augusta, where it remained, Itecember 31st, 1865. Mustered out January 20th, 1866, at Savannah, Ga., and ordered to Springfield, 111., where it received final pay and discharge.

Second Lieutenant Smith T. Harding, e. as First Sergeant Feb. 4, 1865. Prfimoted Second Lieutenant March 13, 1865. Absent, sick at muster-out of of Regiment.

The One Hundred and Fifty third Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Camp Fry, Illinois, by Colonel Stephen Bronson, and was mustered in February 27, 1865, for one year. On March 4th, moved, bv rail, 2iia Louisville and Nashville, to Tullahoma, reporting to i\>ajor General Millroy. The regiment was a.ssigned to the Second Brigade, Defenses of Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. Brevet Brigadier General Dudley commanding Brigade. In the latter part of March, Major Wilson, with three companies, went on a campaign into Alabama and returned. On July ist, moved, via Nashville and Louisville, to Memphis, Tennessee, and was assigned to the command of Brevet Major General A. L. Chetlain. Was mustered out September 15, 1S65, and moved to Springfield, Illinois, and September 24th, received final pay and discharge. Colonel Bronson received appointment as Brevet Brigadier General. Second Assistant Surgeon Amos Scott, com. May 27,

First Lieutenant Jabez Jennings, e. Feb. 28, 1865, com. Second Lieutenant, but not mustered. Mustered out Sept. 20, 1865, as First Sergeant.

The 8th Cavalry was organized at St. Charles, Sept., i86i,byCol. J. F. Farnsworth. October, moved to Washington, D. C, and operated in Virginia, and was in many engagements, inchiding Manasas, battles of Peninsula, Antietam, etc , etc. Was in advance of Army of Potomac in fall of 1862. Loss, 29 killed ; 71 wounded ; 20 missing. During the campaign of 186 j, was in some 25 enijagements and skirmishes. Loss, 2^ killed; 115 wounded; and 57 missing. Was muUered out at Benton Barracks, Mo., July 17, 1865.

Was organized by Col. Aro Voss, in March, 1862, and mustered into the United States' service Feb. 1st, and proceeded immediately to Virginia and immediately participated in several minor engagements, in all of which the Twelfth came out victorious. At Harper's Ferry, when the pi. ice was entirely surroundeil, the Twelfth had permission to cut through the enemy's lines, which it did, and surprised and captured 112 wagons loaded with ammunition and provisions, 100 beef cattle, and 50 prisoners. The loss of the regiment in this brilliant feat was 50 men. The Twelfth was constantly on the move, harrassing the enemy and capturing its trains, and picking up small bands of the enemy. It shared in the following battles : Aldie, June 20, 1863 ; Upperville, June 22d ; Gettysburg, luly ist, 2d, and 3d ; Boonesboro, July 5th ; Burevola, July 7th; Funkstown, luly 8th; Williamsport, July loth ; Jones' Cross Roads, July nth; Falling Waters, July 17th; Chester Gap, July 28th; Rappahannock, Aug. 3d ; Culpepper C. H., Aug. 24th ; Raccoon Ford, Aug. 27th ; Madison C.H., Sept. 12th ; Germania Ford, Oct. loth ; Stevensburg, Oct. 13th; and Brentsville, Oct. 17th.

At the close of the campaign of 1S63, the reg ment was sent to Chicago, to recruit and reorganize. It immediately filled to ma.\imum, and on Feb. 9, 1864, left for St. Louis, 1,250 strong. It thence moved to New Orle.ins, and joined in the Red River expedition. Was in action at Alexandria, La., Markville, Yellow Bayou, and Morgamzia. Returned to New Orleans June ist ; thence to Napoleor.ville, La. In October, marched to Baton Rouge. Was moved to Vicksbiirg, Memphis, into Arkansas, and through Northern Louisiana, and back to Memphis, Feb. 14, 1865, during which time it had many encounters with the enemy, doing noble service for its country. Here 120 officers and 200 men left the regiment, on account of expiration of service, and the regiment was reduced to eight companies.

First Lieutenant Jos. E.Fisher, c. as private Dec. i, 1861. Promoted Sergeant, then First Lieutenant, Jan. 27, 1864. Term expired Ahirch 2, 1865.

Second Lieutenant Robert Canfield, e. as Corporal. Mustered out May 29, 1866, as Sergeant. Commissioned Second Lieutenant, but not mustered.

The Seventeenth Cavalry Regiment Illinois Volunteers was organized under special authority from the War Department, issued Aug. 12, 1863, to Hon. John F. Farnsworth. 'i"he rendezvous w.is established at St. Charles, Kane County,' Illinois. By the approval of the Governor of the State, the Colonelcy of the Regiment was offered John L. Beveridge, then Major in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, who assumed the work of recruitment and organization, and opened the rendezvous Nov. 15, 1863. tight companies were mustered in Jan. 22, 1864. Four other companies were mustered in and the organization of the Regiment completed, Feb. 12, 1864. The Regiment was sent to Jelilerson Barracks, Mo., where 1,100 sets of horse equipmer.ts were received. From there it moved to Alton, 111., and relieved the Thirieenth Illinois Cavalry in guarding the Military Prison at that place.

Early in June following, the First Battalion was ordered to St. Louis, and the Second Battalion followed immediately. Both being fully mounted were ordered at onci to North Missouri District. The First Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Dtmiis J. Hynes commanding, proceeded to ^t. Joseph, Mo., where the commanding officer reported in person to General Fisk, commanding District of North Missouri. The Second Battalion, Major Lucius C. Matlack commanding, was assigned by General C. B. Fisk to the post ot Glasgow, Mo. From this period, for four months, the three battalions were separate and remote from each other, and so extended were their movements, that it is impossible to follow them in this brief sketch. They seem to have been all over Missouri after Price's and Jeff. Thompson's Guerilla Bands, following them into Kansas and Arkansas, doing most efficient service.

First Lieutenant Thos. A. Stevens, com. Frst Lieutenant Co. K, ist III. Cav., Dec. g, 1S61. Transferred to this Regiment. Mustered out at consolidation.

Second Lieutenant Wm. Hebard, com. Second Lieutenant Co. K, ist JU. Cav., Dec. 9, 1861. Transferred to this Regiment. Mustered out at consolidation.

Cherry Valley

The war ended, peace concluded and the union preserved in its integrity, those sons of Winnebago who hud volunteered their lives in defense of the unity of the government who were spared to seethe triumph of patriotism over treason, returned to their homes to receive grand ovations of welcome and tributes of honor from friends and neighboi's who had eagerly and zealously followed them wherever the fortunes of war directed. Exchanging their soldiers' uniform for citizens' dress, they fell back to their old vocations - on the farm, at the forge, the bench, in the shop, and whatever else their hands found to do. Brave men and honorable always; and no class of AVinnebago's citizens are entitled to greater respect and consideration than the volunteer soldiery, not only because they were soldiers in the hour ot the country's peril, but because in their association with their fellow-citizens their walk is upright, and their honesty and character without reproach.

Forty-three years have come and gone since white men began to exercise dominion in the Rock River Valley - erst the home of the Winnebagoes and their kindred. These years have been full of changes, and the visitor of to-day, ignorant of the Past of the county, could scarcely be made to realize that within these years there has grown up a population of about 30,000, that, in all the accomplishments and acquirements of life, are as far advanced as are the people of the counties of the older States. Schools, churches, colleges, palatial-like dwellings, beautiful grounds, large, well-cultivated and productive farms, as well as cities, towns and busy manufactories, have grown up and occupy the hunting grounds and camping places of the Winnebago tribe of red men, and in every direction there are evidences of wealth, comfort and luxury. There is but little left of the old land-marks. Advanced civilization and the progressive demands of revolving years have obliterated all traces of Indian occupancy, until they are only remembered in name.

The beginning of these changes was made in August, 1834, when Germanicus Kent and Thatcher Blake landed their little canoe at the mouth of Kent creek. In June of the following year, the entire population numbered only eleven persons, but during the remainder of that year, and notably during 1S36 and up to 1840, immigration was rapid. All the arrivals up to and during the year 1840, are classed as "Old Settlers," and as such are recognized by the "Rockford Society ot Early Settlers." When the census was taken in 1840, the population had increased to 4,609, while the election returns for that year show that a total of 1,114 votes was cast for President. [Of these votes, 789 were cast for General Harrison, 321 for Martin Van Buren and four for the candidate of the Abolition party.]

Of the voters and heads of families representing the population of 1840, many removed from the county to find homes in other states, while the spirits of others were called to join the immortal throng gathered around the great white throne in the far-away realms of eternal life and light. Others preferred to remain in the homes they commenced in the lands of the Wiiinebagoes, and, by the goodness and mercy of God, have grown in wealth, wisdom and nsefulness, until in their declining years, they are respected and honored patriarchs in the community that owes much of its character to the inflnences they established in pioneer times.

It is not strange that among the pioneer settlers of any new country a deep-seated and sincere friendship should spring up, that would grow and strengthen with their years. The incidents peculiar to life in a new country - the trials and hardships, privations and destitutions - ai'e well calculated to test not only the physical powers of endurance, but the moral, kindly, generous attributes of manhood and womanhood. They are times that try men's souls and bring to the surface all tliat there may be in them of either good or bad. As a rule, there is an equality of conditions that recognizes no distinctions. All occupy a common level, and as a natural consequence, a brotherly and sisterly feeling grows up that is as lasting as time, for "a fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind." With such a community, there is a hospitality, a kindness, a benevolence and a charity unknown and unpracticed among the older, richer and more densely populated commonwealths. The very nature of their surroundings teaches them to "feel each other's woe, to share each other's joy." An injury or a wrong may be ignored, but a kindly, generous, charitahle act is never forgotten. The luetnory of old associations and kindly deeds is always fresh. Raven locks may bleach and whiten ; full, round cheeks sinken and hollow ; the tires of intelligence vanish from the organs of vision ; the brow become wrinkled with care and age, and the erect form bowed with accumulating years, but the true friends of the "long ago" will be remembered as long as life and reason endure.

The surroundings of pioneer life are well calculated to test the "true inwardness" of the human heart. As a rule, the men and women who first occupy a new country - who go in advance to spy out the land and prepare it for the coming of a future people - are bold, fearless, self-reliant and industrious. In these respects, no matter from what remote sections or countries they may come, there is a similarity of character. In birth, education, religion and language, there may be a vast diflerence, but imbued with a common purpose - the founding and building of homes - these differences are soon lost by association, and thus they become one people, united by a common . interest, and no matter what changes may come in after years, the associations thus formed are never buried out of memory.

In pioneer life there are always incidents of peculiar interest, not only to the pioneers themselves, but which, if properly preserved, would be of interest to posterity, and it is a matter to be regretted that the formation of "Old Settlers' Associations" has been neglected in so many parts of the country. The presence of such associations in all the counties of our common country, with well kept records of the more important events, such as dates of arrivals, births, marriages, deaths, removals, nativity, etc., as any one can readily see, would be the direct means of preserving to the literature of the country, the histoiy of every community, that, to future generations, would be invaluable as a record of reference, and a ready method of settling important questions of conti'oversy. As important as these Associations are admitted to be, their formation has not yet become general, and there are many counties in the Western country whose early liistory is entirely lost because of such neglect and indifference. Such organizations would possess facts and figures that could not be had from any other source. Aside from their historic importance, they would serve as a means of keeping alive and further cementing old friendships, and renewing among the members associations that were necessarily interrupted by the innovations of increasing population, cultivating social intercourse, and creating a charitable fund for such of their members as were victims of misfortune and adversity.

Actuated by the purposes suggested in the last ])receding paragraph, the pioneers of Winnebago County organized a s ;ciety in 1870, that is known as the Rockfokd Society of Early Settlers. The first formal meeting was held in the City Council rooms, January 10, 1870, when a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and signed by such of the old settlers as were then present. Some other preliminary arrangements were perfected, when the Society adjourned until the following Saturday, January loth, when the following officers were elected:

President - Thatcher Blake; Yice President - David S. Pentield; Secretary - Duncan Ferguson; Treasurer - A. C. Spafford; Directors - John Lake, Thomas D. Robertson, and David D. Ailing.

At the time of this election twenty-six of the Old Settlers had signed the constitution and thus become members of the society. A residence in the county of thirty years, and the payment of three dollars as an initiatory fee, and one dollar per year as annual dues, are qualifications of membership. If at any time a further sum is needed for any specific charitable purpose, the Board of Directors are clothed with power to levy an assessment upon the members. The object of the Society is thus defined in article two of the constitution:

''It is designed to be a moral and benevolent association for the purpose of cultivating social intercourse among its members, and creating a fund for charitable purposes in their behaU. To collect and preserve information connected with the early settlement and subsequent history of Winnebago County; and to perpetuate the memory of those whose sagacity, energy and enterprise, induced them to settle here and to encounter the toils and privations incident to those who first settle in a new country."

Article three provides that "this Society shall be composed of those male residents who settled in this county previous to the year 1840, and who are now residents of the town of Rockford and vicinity. That hereafter thirty years residence in the town of Rockford or vicinity, will be a sufficient qualification for any such settler becoming a member of this Society."

There are now (October, 1877) ninety- two members, whose names, date and place of birth, and date of arrival in the county, are given below: kell and Levi Monlthrop, were born in the county, but as will be seen by reference to article three of the constitution, already quoted, are fully entitled to membership. A lar^e majority of the others came here before 1840, and ha\e seen the wiJd prairies disappearing year b}^ year before the well-directed industries of themselves and their followers. Nearly all- of those whose names appear in this catalogue are well preserved intellectually and physically, and surrounded by all the necessary comforts of life, and in their declining years are enal)led to take life easily - to sit beneath their own vines and tig trees, and enjoy the accumulations of the industry and economy of their pioneer days.

For many years the improvement of Rock River so as to render it navigable was an enterprise that enlisted a good deal of attention from the people, not only of AVinnebago, but of all the counties along the banks of this beautiful tributary of the Mississippi. In Winnebago, and especially among the people of Rockford, a river improvement fever would break out every once in a while, meetings would be called, resolutions adopted, committees appointed, petitions drafted, signed and forwarded to Congress, and great plans inaugurated for this purpose. And indeed, it seems almost a pity that after so much time, money and labor spent in this direction, the efforts were not rewarded as the people hoped. But then, there i3 this consolation - what they failed to accomplish by these efforts and expenditures was at length compensated by damiuing the river, building up large manufacturing establishments, and securing railway communication with every part of the country.

Failing to obtain assistance Irom the national government to aid in the improvement of Rock River, the Legislature of Illinois was invoked, and a special law passed by that body, about 1845-6, to enable the people of the several counties along the river, from Rock Island to the Wisconsin State line, to vote for or against the assessment of a river improvement tax. The measure carried in all the counties, a tax was assessed and collected, and the work commenced. At Rockford, a part of the money so collected was expended in 1846, in attempting to cut a channel through the rapids where the dam has since been built. Work was also commenced at Sterling and other points, but was linally abandoned. What money remained on hand was paid back pro rata to the counties from whicli it had been collected, and public attention generally turned to railroad enterprises. Now the river is daTTh'd from Milan, near its confluence with the Mississippi, far up into Wisconsin.

Educational

The first schools taught in the county were family or subscription schools; the first house erected especially for school purposes was built in Guildford township, in the spring of 1837, and was a round log structure, 12x20 feet in size, and in which a school was commenced in May of that year, by Miss Charlotte Greggs, of St. Charles, Kane County. The house was built and the school sustained by Ave of the settlers: A. R. Dimmick, whom are now dead. There was neither loft nor ceiling in this school house, which stood one and a half miles east of the present school house in District No. 1, in that township. The next school was commenced in Rock- ford the same year, by Miss Eunice Brown, wlio subsequently married Mr. J. G. Lyon. Her school house was a log cabin on the East Side. About the same time, Miss Frances Bradford also commenced a school on the West Side. The building she occupied was a small log cabin belonging to the late William E. Dunbar, and stood a short distance soutli of the residence of S. C. Withson, in South llockford. In 1838, Miss Sarah A. Danforth taught on the West Side. In lSo9, Miss Wood was a West Side teacher. In the winter of 1838-9, James M. Wight taught in a building on the corner of Main and Market streets, East Side, on the ground now occu- }3ied by the American House. In 183!), Miss Hyde taught in the same building. In the same year ('39), Andrus Corbin taught in a house owned by himself, on the West Side. But it is unnecessary to continue a detailed mention of the names of those who engaged in " teaching the young idea how to shoot," in the pioneer days of Rockford or Winnebago County, for their name is legion. But it is due alike to them and their patrons to say that they all made good records as educators. To name all of those who engaged in the honorable profession of teachers from the date of the opening of the first school, in 1837, to the time when lands became taxable, thus enabling the people to sustain free public schools, would be a work of supererogation. As the population increased in town and country, schools increased in like proportion. As the years increased, and the people increased in wealth, the old log school houses, with their mud and stick chimneys, puncheon floors, and puncheon seats, greased paper windows, and other primitive accommodations, went down before those more in keeping with the progressive march ot time. But the old school houses and the old teachers are kindlj^ remembered by many of the leading men of the county. In them the foundations of usefulness were laid that have enabled many of their scholars to go out in the world ana make honorable records among the learned men of nations.

In no one interest of the country have fort}^ years marked such wonderful and gratifying changes as in the educational. Forty years ago a knowledge of the higher branches could only be obtained at the colleges of the older States - Yale, Harvard, Amherst, Dartmouth and their cotemporaries. ISTow, there is not a school in Winnebago County that doesjnot furnish advantages almost equal to those offered at the beginning of the last half century by the colleges named. All over the Winnebago prairies neat and comfortable school houses are to be seen, while the teachers are proficient and competent to impart instruction in any of the branches necessary to any of the ordinary pursuits of life. In reality, they are the people's colleges, and no system is dearer to the people than the system that supports and maintains them. To make war upon this system would only be making war upon our nation's life.

The following is a statistical exhibit of the school interests, as shown by the Superintendent's report for the year ending Sept. 30, 1877 :

Number of males under 21 years of age, 7,070; number of females do., 7,287; total, 14,357. Number of males between 6 and 21 years, 4,893; females, do., 5,155; total, 10,048. Number of school districts, 130. Number of districts having school five months or more, 128; average number of months school sustained 7.7. Number of male pupils enrolled, 3,451; females, do., 3,549; total number of pupils enrolled, 7,000. Number of male teachers employed, 63; females, 221; total number of teachers employed, 284. Grand total number of days attendance, 790,677 - equal in school time, /. <?., nine months of four weeks each, and live days to a week, to 4,392 years and 117 days. Highest wages paid any male teacher, $150; do. paid any female teacher, $80; lowest wages paid any male teacher, $25; do. paid any female teacher, $13.50; average wages paid male teachers, $50.73; do. paid female teachers, $30.31. Total receipts during the year, $72,H90.25; expenditures, $55,114.90; leaving a balance on hand of $17,575.35. Estimated value of school property, $117,585; apparatus, $1,987; libraries, $727. Principal of township fund, $41,077.19; county fund, $5,980.06; total of school assets, $167,356.25. JSI umber of applicants for certificates examined, 286; number of first-grade certificates issued, 10; second grade, do., 195; number of applicants rejected, 81. The number of days employed by the Superintendent in visiting schools, was 120; in the examination of teachers and office work, 80; total, 200.

The present County Superintendent of Schools is Mary L. Carpenter, who was one of the ten lady superintendents selected in November, 1873. December 28-9, 1874, a meeting of the State Association of County Superintendents was held in Chicago. Five of these lady superintendents had been appointed to read papers and lead in their discussions. These appointments included Mrs. Carpenter, and the manner in which they acquitted themselves, the ease, grace, fluency and force with which they treated the subjects that had been submitted to them, was highly complimented in the report of State Superintendent Etter. On the 28-9th of December, 1875, another meeting of this association was held at Rock Island, when Mrs. Carpenter read an essay on the '-Best Method of Bringing Directors up to Their Duty," and submitted the following conclusions: "First, bringing County Superintendents up to their duty. We should be active ourselves; never dilatory; prompt to meet all engagements; ready to co-operate with school officers in the performance of their duties, thereby inspiring them with our enthusiasm. Divide the time in supervision between teachers and school officers."

County Associations of School 0 fleers. - This is a movement in which Mrs. Carpenter has taken a warm and active interest. A meeting of the Association was held at Eockford, Feb. 24, 1876, which was largely attended, not only by school officers and teachers, but by citizens; As showing the esteem in which Mrs. Carpenter is held, we quote the following resolution from a series adopted by that meeting :

''Resolved^ That we, as School Directors of Winnebago County, tender to the County Superintendent of Public Schools, our hearty thanks for that energy and zeal which she has manifested in the interests of our public schools."

The standing of Mrs. Carpenter, and her efficiency as a superintendent, compared with the other superintendents of the State, is unexceptiouably good, and is thus complimented by State Superintendent Etter, in a letter to H. R. Enoch, Esq., editor of the Pockford Journal:

"1st. The reports that have been made to this department by Mrs. M. L. Carpenter, the Superintendent of schools of your county, since I have assumed the duties of the office, have been correct in every particular. Every item of information required has been freely and correctly given. The financial statistics balance to a cent, and show ability on her part in this work. For the year ending September 30, 1875, only two reports out

"2d. So far as I am able to judge from the work I have seen of Mrs. Carpenter's, both at Teachers' Institutes and Teachers' Association, I am clearly of the opinion that she is well qualified for the position she now holds. I consider her one of the best County Superintendents in the State.

"3d. Iler standing among the leading teachers and with the superintendents, so far as I know, is high, and slie is regarded as a thorough and efficient officer. She has attended three meetings of the Superintendents' Association, and has been called upon to read a paper at each one of them. Last year she was elected Secretary of the State Teachers' Association, which of itself is some evidence of her standing among the class of teachers who are members of the Association.

Biographical

Mrs. Mary L. Carpenter was born in Greenbush, K." Y., in 1839. When quite young her parents removed to Rochester, and in one of the public schools of that city, she received her early education. She pursued a classical course of studj' at tJie Fort Plain Collegiate Institute, graduating with much honor at the age of seventeen years. Coming West soon after, she taught the village school of Waterloo, Iowa. In 1857 she was married, and has since resided in Rockford. Mrs. Carpenter has ever taken an active interest in the cause of education, and for several years was a successiul teacher in the public schools of this city. In 18 "3 she was elected County Superintendent of Schools, which office she has filled with much ability; the 136 schools in the county have been visited by her faithfully; she has studied the wants of each, rooting out objectionable methods of instruction and introducing new systems. During the past four years she has also had charge of the Normal department in the liockford Female Seminary. In reports to the State Department of Public Instruction, her promptness and correctness have met the flattering approbation of its officers. The following we extract trom a letter written by one of the j^rominent educators in this State: "Tne high culture and great energy which Mrs. Carpenter possesses, eminently tit her for the Superintendency. The esteem in which she is held by her fellow teachers is shown by her election as Secretary of the State Teachers' Association."

Religious Interests

Have been carefully fostered, not only in the city of Rockford, but in all the towns and villages of the county as well as in the country districts. In a community so thoroughly alive to educational interests as the people of Winnebago have always proved themselves to be, it could not be otherwise. The first religious sermon preached on Kent creek (near Rockford) was rendered by Rev. Aratus Kent (brother of Germanicus), a Congregational minister, of Galena, on the second Sunday of June, 1835, on which occasion the log house of Germanicus Kent was converted into a temple of worship. Commencing in January, 1876, a local historian furnished the Rockford Gazette a series of articles on early events, and among other inci- dents referred to this meeting. He said : ''The city was more Godly and righteous then than it is now, and i;pon this occasion every one came out to church. There were no backsliders in those days, and when the minister began his prayer on that bright Sabbath morning, he had the entire village for an audience. They mustered eleven in all, including three ladies - Mrs. Kent, Mrs. Haight and her sister, and eight gentlemen - Germanicus Kent, Thatcher Blake, Albert Sanford, Daniel S. Haight, his hired man, and a Mr. Vanzandt (Kent's millwright). The sermon was an impressive, though not a learned one. Aratus Kent was a thoroughly good man, although not an eloquent preacher, and his simple, missionary way of exhortation suited the pioneers better than faultless rhetoric. This gentleman died a few years ago in Galena."

This primitive meeting was the beginning of better things - the dawning of that religious sentiment that has grown with increasing years, until Kockford has become pre-eminently a city, and Winnebago a land, of churches and religious light. In the city of Kockford there are eighteen church edifices, as follows: *First Methodist Episcopal, First Congregational, First Baptist, Emmanuel, Church of the Christian Union, Second Congregational, St. James Catholic, Court Street Methodist Episcopal, First Presbyterian, Swedish Evangelical Lutheran, Westminster Presbyterian, State Street J3aptist, *Third Street Methodist Episcopal, Swedish Methodist Episcopal, Woodruff's Addition Methodist Episcopal, South Kockford Methodist Episcopal, Disciples, and German Lutheran - 18.

In the outside districts there are twenty-six church edifices, representing as many diflerent religious organizations. They are distributed as follows :

Cherry Valley, 3; New Milford, 3; Harlem, 2; Koscoe, 2; Rockton, 2; Shirland, 2; Harrison, 2; Owen, 1; Burritt, 2; Durand, 2; Pecatonica, 2; Winnebago, 3; Seward, 1 - 26. Added to the Kockford churches makes a grand total of 44 church edifices in Winnebago County.

The Kockford church edifices are handsome, substantial buildings, and in style and finish well in keeping with the character ol the people by whom they were built and by whom they are maintained. The country church edifices are for the most part frame buildings, l)ut neat and tasty in finish. The_ Scotch Presbyterian church, erected at Argyle during the summer of 1877, is one of the best in the country, and its style, architecture and finish would do no discredit to aristocratic congregations of large cities. This temple ol worship is built of handsomely dressed stone, and will cost about $12,000.

The seed sown by Kev. Aratus Kent, in his brother's log cabin on the bank of Kent creek, on the second Sunday in June, 1835, grew and ripened into the fullness of a j^lentiful harvest. Until then the stillness of the country of the Winnebagoes had never been broken by the voice of prayer and praise, unless the songs the birds sang were offered as a tribute to the glory of the Great Architect whose hand unfolded these rich prairies and reared their grove-covered hill-sides. Since Kev. Aratus Kent preached to the Kockford population of eleven persons, all told, a population of 30,000 has grown up in Winnebago County, who -

Methodism was established in the county when the Enochs settled in what is now Guilford township, in 1835. Preaching, however, was unknown until the followino- June. In the earl}^ part of that month, Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, a very prominent Methodist divine in those days, came along in the discharge of the duty assigned him by the annual conference, and stopped with the family of Henry Enoch, the fatlier of Abraham I. and Hiram E,., now well known and j^romincnt business men of liockford. Four o'clock p. m. was set for preaching, and the neighbors (what few there were) noti- Hed. Abraham 1. and Pichard H. Enoch were hauling rails to fence their broken grounds, and their father was building the fence as the rails were delivered. When four o'clock came the teams were turned out to graze on the prairie, and the family assembled for worship. Style and fashion and dress were not so elaborate in those days as at present, and it may be readily assumed that that first Methodist meeting was a rather primitive affair in all its cliaracteristics, but it will be casting no reflection on the Methodism of the present to remark that a more earnest meeting, of any kind, was never held on any parf of the Winnebago prairies. If the congregation was small and plainly dressed, as compared with the present, what they lacked in numbers was more than compensated in their zeal and earnestness. About early Methodism there was never any half-way work. Every professor and believer gave his whole soul to it, and to the zeal of the founders and pioneers of that faith can justly be attributed the great work accomplished through it in later years - the reclamation of untold thousands from the paths of sin and moral degradation - the founding of theological schools, seminaries and colleges, and the perfecting of that system of work that not only challenges the admiration of civilization and intelligence everywhere, but which has carried light and hope and peace to multitudes of people even in the remotest ends of the earth. Early Methodists never stopped to measure the size of church edifices, the heighth of church steeples, to look for cushioned pews, to see what their neighbors wore, nor its ministers to reckon what field would pay the most in dollars and cents. They only sought those fields where the Master's work needed most to be done, and thither they went, regardless of all else. And so came Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, peace and honor to his memory, to the pioneer home of Henry Enoch in June, 1836.

The sermon of Rev. Pillsbury on that occasion was an earnest and devoted one, and the foundation of a society that, in later years, became the First M. E. Church of Rockford, being organized at the house of Henry Enoch, in August, 1830, with five members: Samuel Gregory and wife, Daniel Beers and wife, and Mary Enoch, the wife of Henry Enoch. Rev. William Royal was the first regular pastor or circuit rider. Thus were the seeds of Methodism planted in Winnebago County. The first preacher (Rev. Mr. Pillsbury) and probably the second (Rev. Mr. Royal), Henry and Mary Enoch and Mrs. Samuel Gregory, have gone

Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet, Their Saviour and brethren transported to greet; While the anthems of rapture unceasingly roll, And the smile of the Lord is the life of the soul -

A. I. Enoch, who was present at the first sermon, related to the writer that, after preaching, the entire congregation, tlie preacher inchided, remained to supper at the invitation of his mother. Aside from the eight members of Henry Enoch's family, only two otliers - Mrs. Jacob Enoch and another lady whose name is forgotten - were present, making a congregation of ten persons to listen to the first Methodist sermon preached in Winnebago Coimty. There are now, perhaps, half as many thousand, as there were then individual, members of this branch of the Christian church.

The New Court House

The first county business was transacted in a private residence on the East Side. The first Circuit Court was held in Haight's Rockfurd Hotel, also on the East Side, and the first court-house was also erected on that side, but in April, 1843, the County Commissioners entered into a contract with Gr. Haskell, Charles I. Horsman, H. W. Loomis, M. Burns, Charles Hah, Thomas D. Eobertson, G. W. Dewey, D. D. Ailing, H. R. Mavnard, Dr. A. Thomas, Skinner G. Barrows, J. Fisher, D. Harper and D. Dow, for the erection of the old frame court-house building on the public or county square on the West side - the old building that is now overshadowed by the finely finished and towering walls of the grandest court-house in the State. The one whose front bears the figures " 1492," was completed and accepted by the county authorities, in jS'ovember, 1844. Then it was considered a model of excellence and convenience, and the pride and credit of the county. In the fall and winter of 1845-6, one Julius P. Bolivar McCabe (that's the way he wrote his name) compiled a history of Winnebago County, and among other things gave a description of this new temple of justice. As the subject of his description will soon be torn away, we will preserve its memory in these pages as Julius P. Bolivar McCabe saw it:

"The court-house stands on State street, on the west side of the river. It is a handsome and well finished frame building of one story, measuring about 56 feet hmg, 35 feet wide, and 17 feet high. It is crowned with a magnificent and well proportioned cupola, which rises 15 feet above the roof of the buildiug. The front is finished with a tastefully executed pediment, supported by four fiuted columns, and forming a portico which projects nine feet from the body of the building, and having a wing on either side, in which the county offices are held.* The court room measures 54x32 feet; 9 feet of the building in the rear of the bench being partitioned ofi' into the jury rooms. Two rows o± slips, made in the style of those erected in. churches, fill up the portion of the court-house without the bar, and are capable of accommodating 300 persons. The whole of this edifice, including the pediment and columns, is built in the Grecian Doric order of architecture, and speaks much for the skill of the architects, Messrs. Beattie and Harper, both citizens of Rockford."

But grand as it may have been considered thirty-three years ago (the date of its completion), it had to give way before increasing population, wealth, and public business, and at the February session, 1875, of the Board of Supervisors, Messrs. Duncan Ferguson, C. A. Hemenway, A. Haines, F. E. Latham, and A. C. Gleason, members of the Board, were appointed a committee to examine and report to the Board what kind of a Court House would be suitable for this county. Monday, April 19, 1875, this committee reported as follows: .

In IbSl a stone building was erected near tliis building, into which the county records were removed, and in which all the county business has since been transacted.

" That we have examined the court-houses at Janesville, Wis., and at Freeport, Macomb and Princeton, in Illinois, and got such information as we considered essential to enable us to arrive at a correct decision as to the size, materials, general construction, and probable cost of such a courthouse as will be required by this county. That accompanying are sketches of the ground-plans of the offices, court room, etc., on the first and second floors of said buildings, and a detailed statement of the same as we found them, and what we thought necessary in reference to each of them. After making the said examinations, and fully considering the matter given in charge to us, we have unanimously come to the conclusion that a courthouse nearly similar to the one in Freeport, with the alterations mentioned in our detailed statements, constructed of like materials, both externally and internally, and of the same or nearly the same kind of workmanship, would in our opinion be such a court-house as is required by this county.

" In reference to the manner of raising the sum that would be required for building such a house, we may suppose that the amount necessary for building it will be raised by tax in four years in equal amounts (that being the longest time that any of the counties referred to took to pay for the same). It is probable that the taxes would be raised for the first three years in nearly sufficient amounts to meet the outlay, as it is likely that the house would not be finished until the third year, and there would then be no difficulty in the county borrowing what money they needed at 8 per cent, to pay for finishing the building, should money be as plenty then as it has been for the past two years.

" Accompanying this report is a statement showing the proportion of tax that each town in the county would have to raise, to make the sum of $104,000 in tour equal annual payments, on the basis of the assessment of 1874, as fixed by the State Board of Equalization, and adding to said valuations the proportion of railroad taxes to which they were entitled.

TaUe showing the amount that each town in the county would have to pay to make up %100fiOO in one year, and also hy dividing it into four years; assuming as a basis the valuation fixed by the State Board on the assessment of 1874, and assigning to each town, as near as may be, its share of the railroad tax.

Town

After the reading of the above report, a motion was made to postpone the further consideration of the question of building a court-house until the next meeting of the Board, which elicited considerable discussion, in which most of the members of the Board participated. Finally, at the request of Mr. Herring, of Dura'nd, the question was laid over for one day. On Wednesday, the 21st of April, the question again came up, when, on motion of Mr. Budlong, the report of the committee appointed at the last session of this Board, to investigate in relation to building a court-house, was adopted, and the committee discharged.

That the Board of Supervisors appoint Duncan Ferguson as chairman, and Anthony Haines, J. B. Merritt and Hugh Mackey, as a committee to be known as the Court House Building Committee."

^''Resolved, That this Board do now appoint a committee consisting of five members to be known as a special Court House Building Committee, that Duncan Ferguson be one and chairman of that committee, and that he as chairman of 'this Boai'd appoint the other four members of it."

On which the ayes and nays were called, with the following result: Ayes - Whittlesey, Hance, Herring, Kowley, Cowles, Hemenway and Derwent - 7. JN'ays - j-'erguson, Atkinson, Sweet, Haight, Budlong, Haines, Scoville, Smith, Manny, Barnum, Latham, Merritt, Mackey, Kirk, Fabrick and Ehoades - -16. Mr. Herring moved to amend the original resolution so as to make Mr. Hemenway a member of said committee, and Whittlesey seconded said motion, on which the ayes and nays were called, with the following result: Ayes - Ferguson, Herring, Rowley, Scoville, Smith, Barnum, Latham, Merritt and Whittlesey - 9. Nays - Hance, Cowles, Atkinson, Sweet, Haight, Budlong, Haines, Derwent, Manny, Mackey, Kirk, Fabrick and Ehoades - 13. Lost.

Mr. Herring - then made a motion to adjourn, which was lost by a vote of 8 for and 13 against. Then upon a vote being taken upon the original resolution, offered by Mr. Budlong, same was carried. On motion the Board adjourned until two o'clock in the afternoon.

" Resolved^ That the Building Committee on the Court House are hereby instructed to give notice, by advertising or otherwise, that plans for building a court-house in Winnebago County will be received at any time previous to the first Monday in July next."

At the July meeting, on Tuesday, the 13th, the Building Committee was instructed by resolution to examine all the plans submitted by competing architects for the proposed court-house for this county, to select such number of said plans as they may think advisable, and lay the same before the Board, either for the Board to make a selection, or to take such further steps in the matter as they may think the best interests of this county require.

On Wednesday evening, July 15th, the Board adjourned until Monday, the 26th, at which session of the Board the Building Committee reported that eighteen different plans and specifications had been received from architects of Illinois and other States, and that they had given the architects an opportunity of explaining to tliem all the points to which they (the architects) wished to call the committee's attention, and of answering any questions the committee wished to submit to them, and that from the eighteen plans submitted, they had selected the designs offered by E. E. Myers, of Detroit, Mich. ; Henry L. Gay, Cass Chapman, J. C. Cochrane, and Alexander Kirklaiid, of Chicago; and David S. Dory, as the most likely to meet the demands of the contemplated building. Accompanying this report was a condensed statement of the most important points "in each of the plans submitted. The committee also reported that in the plans rejected they had found many points that they could freely recommend, etc. On Friday, July 30, 18T5, the Board passed the following resolution: