Woodford County, Illinois - Chapter 12, 1910

Chapter 12

IN the great civil strife that threatened to destroy the nation, Woodford county maintained her loyalty to the union. When hostilities broke out party prejudices were laid aside and with but few exceptions the citizens were loyal to the national government, while President Lincoln received their support in his effort to put down the rebellion. The approach of the war cloud had been watched with growing interest. Slavery had many opponents thruout the country, as was shown by the existence of the branch of the underground railroad thru the county.

When the president's call for troops was issued, Woodford responded with alacrity. Governor Richard Yates, famous as the war governor of Illinois, found a ready response to each call that he made upon the county. In apportioning troops, it was customary to divide the number called for among the various counties of the state according to population.

Women were no less loyal than the men and suffered untold hardships that husbands, brothers and fathers might enter the field. The privation endured during those four years of war can never be adequately described. Men suffered untold hardships on the battlefield, but the dangers from battle were but a small part of those suffered in camp or on the march. Privation and exposure wrought far greater havoc in the ranks than ever shot and shell.

War Records

ing difficulty in getting the necessities of life. Everything possible was done to minimize those hardships, but even these, efforts availed but little in meeting the actual needs of the hour. Woodford county expended $41,761.24 in aiding the families of soldiers, while the husbands and fathers were at the front.

At the breaking out of the war the population of Woodford was given as 13,281, out of which number 1,643 soldiers were accredited to the county, during the four years of the struggle. In other words fully twelve per cent of the total population of the county was in the field. These were scattered among various regiments and companies but a number of these were almost entirely recruited in this county while still others often had two or three soldiers from it. The government did all that was possible to prevent a draft. A bounty was offered to each soldier enlisting but it finally became necessary to resort to a draft in some townships. Substitutes were frequently employed to take the place of the man who had been drafted but did not care to go. Various figures were paid for these substitutes, $500 to $600 being a popular price, but in some cases it reached $1,000. Some townships sought to guard against draft by the offer of a liberal bounty in addition to that offered by the national government. In other instances a number of men banded themselves together to protect themselves from draft. Sometimes there were ten and at other times twenty members, each agreeing to pay his part toward the purchase of a substitute, should one of their number be drafted. In some cases men were drafted and accepted, who had enlisted earlier in the war and had been rejected because of some physical disability that rendered them unfit for service. This was due to the great need for men later in the war that rendered the government less exacting.

The union plan of the war contemplated four great movements, 1st, the opening of the Mississippi river; 2nd, the blockading of the southern ports; 3rd, the marching thru the enemies' country to the sea; 4th, the capture of

The first company having a large part of its enlistment made up of Woodford county men, was Company G of the Seventeenth Infantry. It was captained by Otis A. Burgess, a Christian minister, who was at one time president of Eureka College. Burgess Memorial Hall, of that institution was erected in his honor, largely thru the generosity of his widow. On his resignation in April, 1862, Lieutenant Johnathan II. Rowell was promoted to the captaincy. He had been a student in Eureka College, and made an excellent record both during and after the war. He became prominent in the political life of Bloomington and later represented that district in congress. The regiment of which this company was a part was mustered into the service at Peoria, May 25, 1861, and June 17th it left for Alton, where it spent some time arming and drilling, after which it entered into the active hostilities of Missouri. It took part at Fort Henry and Donaldson, and also in. the terrible conflict at Pittsburg Landing, April 6th and 7th. The regiment was under fire the entire day of the sixth. The battle raged with varying success, and at nightfall General McClernand formed his ranks for the eighth time. Thru the entire bitter contest the seventeenth fought valiantly, and in the morning took part in the stubborn conflict that resulted in driving the enemy from the field. In the two days' battle the regiment lost 130 killed and wounded, several of whom were from Woodford county. During the next six months the regiment was engaged in numerous movements in that region, and later went to Vieksburg and took part in the final investment of that city. After the surrender of Vieksburg took place, it remained there doing garrison duty and making excursions into the enemy's country. The regiment was mustered out at Springfield in May, 1864, their term of service having expired.

many from Woodford, companies B and I being largely made up from the county. Captain Daniel Miles of Washington, for whom the Dan Miles Post, G. A. R., of Eureka, is named, was the first captain of company B, but was soon promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and was followed in turn by Captain Joseph B. Miles, Benjamin F. Biser, and Diego C. Ross. Company I was captained by Samuel S. Jackman and Chester Andrews, the former being from Linn township and the latter from Minonk.

The regiment was organized and mustered into the service of the United States at Peoria, August 16th, 1861. On the 23rd of September it moved to St. Louis, going into quarters at Benton Barracks near that city. It remained there doing garrison duty and* drilling until December. In February, 1862, it joined Pope's command, and accompanied him on his advance toward Corinth. In the engagement October 3rd and 4th, the regiment lost 30 killed and over 100 wounded. It joined General Rosecrans, and on the first of April, 1863, the regiment disembarked near Vicksburg. Here the men were assigned to various duties. May 22nd, it participated in a charge on Vicksburg, suffering quite a heavy loss. The remainder of the time of service after the fall of that city was spent by this regiment guarding the Memphis and Charleston line of railroad, and in service in the vicinity of Vicksburg. It returned to that city after a severe campaign lasting three months. October 11th, the regiment was discharged at Springfield. It was re-organized, and again went south into Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi. After the fall of Mobile, the regiment marched with the Sixteenth army corps to Montgomery, Alabama, and was later stationed at Selma. It was mustered out Jan. 21st, 1866.

The Seventy-seventh Infantry contained three companies in which a number of Woodford county men were enlisted. Company C was the first of these and was captained by Joseph M. McCulloch, who was succeeded by Charles F.

McCulloch on the promotion of the former. Company F was under the command of AVilliam W. Cromwell, until May 17, 1864, when James A. Secord succeeded him. Company II was under the command of Captain G. Keedy, up to the time of his death in January, 1863, when Milgrove B. Parmeter succeeded him. The Keedy Post, G. A. R., of Minonk is named in honor of Captain Keedy.

The Seventy-seventh infantry was organized and mustered into the service September 3, 1862, at Peoria. It advanced to Covington, and reported to Major General Gordon Granger. It remained in Kentucky without anything of special importance transpiring, until November, when the regiment went to Memphis, and later advanced to Vicksburg, and participated in the attack on the rebel works. After four days' fighting the attack was abandoned. The regiment behaved admirably in the attack on Arkansas Post January 10th, and was complimented by the general in command. After this the regiment engaged for two months in digging a canal across the point opposite Vicksburg. It remained with Grant during the entire campaign around Vicksburg, and upon the surrender of that stronghold, it took part in the capture of Jackson. The seventy-seventh went south into Louisiana and accompanied General Banks on his advance to Alexandria. The army marched up the Red river, driving the enemy, until they reached the Sabine Cross Roads. The regiment belonged to the division under command of General Ransom and was first ordered to support the cavalry. Before the army could be brought forward, the whole rebel army came down on their force and overwhelmed the entire division. It suffered terribly in this battle, losing 176 officers and men, killed, wounded or made prisoners, leaving only 125 men in the regiment for duty. After this campaign it took part in the reduction of Forts Gaines and Morgan, later joining the army of General Canby, and was with his army in the siege and capture of Spanish Fort Blakely and Mobile. It was mustered out of service in July, 1865, having been engaged in sixteen battles.

Company C of this regiment was made up of men from the vicinity of Cazenovia, Metamora and Linn townships. Company F also contained several men from the region of Metamora and other AVoodford county points, no one place being represented by more than a few men. Company I was composed of Minonk and Clayton township volunteers.

Company A of the Eighty-sixth Infantry was recruited in Olio and ElPaso townships. It was under the command of William S. Magarity and later of Joseph Major. It was mustered into the United States service at Peoria, August 27, 1863. On the 8th of September, it went to Louisville, Kentucky, where it joined Buell in his pursuit of Bragg. It was in the advance in the charge at Perryville and suffered a correspondingly heavy loss. The regiment marched into Tennessee, and on Sept. 19th and 20th, participated in the battle of Chickamauga. After this the regiment was engaged in a series of movements, first assisting General Sherman to float his pontoons down the river at night, cross his army and capture a post, following Bragg afterward, then joined an expedition for t-he relief of Burnside, taking part in a reconnoissance as far as Buzzard Roost, and in the fight at Resaca, Ga. It lost heavily in the charge at Kenesaw.

The regiment joined Sherman in his famous march to the sea, reaching Savannah, Dec. 11th, 1864. In January it started north thru the Carolinas, arriving at Richmond, May 7th, and Washington, May 19th. It participated in the grand review at Washington, D. C, in which thousands of battle tried veterans marched down the streets and were reviewed by the chief officers of the union. June 21st, the regiment received its discharge.

Company D, captained by David R. McCutcheon, contained men from Eureka, Panola, Minonk and other Woodford county points, while company E, captained by Winfield M. Bullock, and later by William A. Davison, contained volunteers from Eureka, Metamora, Secor and Roanoke. The regiment was organized at Peoria and mustered into the service Aug. 28th, 1863. Leaving Peoria it went into Kentucky, where it remained until December, when it joined Sherman in his expedition against Vicksburg. On the disembarkment of this army, the enemy was found strongly fortified on the bluffs northeast of the city. The regiment took a prominent part in the union attack. Sharp skirmishing took place during the day, and the soldiers remained under arms during the night. In the morning they were ordered to retake the position of the previous day. They remained at the front until midnight, when they withdrew and with a battery from Chicago, covered the retreat of the army. This withdrawal of the forces was so well planned that the enemy did not know of the retreat until it was accomplished. The 108th was highly complimented for its conduct in this conflict It also took part in the capture of Arkansas Post, after which the regiment moved to a point almost opposite Vicksburg. The months of February and March witnessed the death of 135 members of the regiment from disease, due to exposure and unsanitary conditions. During the two months of their stay opposite Vicksburg, they were engaged on the famous canal. One day during its occupation of Young's Point, the 108th received a command to go down the river on guard duty; shortly after a second order came to go up to Milliken Bend to take part in a charge. The officers sent an inquiry as to which order to obey, and were told to follow the first while an Iowa regiment was assigned to the charge. As soon as the enemy witnessed the preparations for attack, they charged the Iowa regiment and half of them were killed. The 108th thus escaped practical annihilation by obedience of the first order. The last of April the iron-clad gunboat, La Fayette, carrying the 108th, ran the batteries of Vicksburg and reached the battlefield of Fort Gibson in time to participate in the victory. It won honorable mention by its admirable conduct in the battle at Champion Hills. It later returned to Vicksburg, and was engaged in various duties. It furnished heavy details of men for the heavy mortars of the boats,

Later it marched into Tennessee and took part in the battle at Brice's Cross roads, which resulted in a union defeat, but the 108th was the last to leave the field, and then only when it had used its last cartridge and found it impossible to gain a fresh supply. The regiment took part in the capture of Mobile, Captain W. M. Bullock being severely wounded in the siege. It was discharged from the service at Chicago, Aug. 11th, 1865.

Early in the spring of 1864, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Ohio tendered the president 85,000 one-hundred day men to to relieve the veteran soldiers from guard duty at our forts, arsenals and elsewhere. Illinois furnished thirteen regiments and two battalions of the above number.

Company C of the 139th regiment had the names of a number of volunteers from Eureka. It was under the command of Dietrich C. Smith, and was mustered into service at Peoria, June 1st, 1864, and on the 8th of June, was moved to St. Louis. From there it went to Columbus, Ky., and later to Cairo, where it remained until August as garrison, a part of its duty being to guard prisoners. It took part in the pursuit of a guerilla party that had been preying on the neighboring country. September 25th, it was ordered to Peoria to be mustered out, but just at that time General Price was moving toward St. Louis, which was imperfectly guarded. President Lincoln ordered the 139th to that city. The time of enlistment had expired, but when the men understood the situation they willingly obeyed the order. President Lincoln commended the men highly for their patriotism in going to his command after the expiration of their time. The regiment was mustered out of the service after having been on duty five months.

Woodford county also sent loyal soldiers to the front in the cavalry regiments. Cavalry duties were quite severe as these soldiers were so frequently employed on scouting expeditions.

Company G of the Fourth Cavalry was made up of numerous Woodford county men. It was under the command of Harry D. Cook, until his promotion, when he was succeeded by Elijah II. Baker. The greater portion of the recruits came from the region of ElPaso or over the line in McLean county. The regiment was mustered into the service September 26, 1861, having been organized by Judge T. Lyle Dickey, of Ottawa. It went to Springfield, where it received arms, which were left in their cases until Cairo was reached. In December, 1861, a reconnoissance of Columbus was ordered and the Fourth Cavalry became the advance of the movement. It took part in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, and April 6th and 7th, participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing. After that victory it was kept pretty busy scouting the front. It wrent with the army against Corinth. The time between that and the arrival of the regiment at Vicksburg was spent in scouting. It was mustered out of the service at Springfield, in November, 1864. When it left Cairo to enter the field it numbered 1,100 men, when it came back it had but 340.

In October, 1861, Robert G. Ingersoll, of Peoria, and Bazil D. Meek, of Eureka, received permission to organize a regiment of cavalry, made up of recruits from Woodford, Tazewrell, Peoria and other neighboring counties. It was mustered into the United States service Dec. 20, 1861, but remained in Camp Lyon, Peoria, until Feb. 22nd, 1862, when the regiment broke camp and marched to Benton Barracks, near St. Louis. The first experience under fire was at Pittsburg Landing. The regiment was on duty between Pittsburg Landing and Corinth up to the capture of that place. The eleventh saw hard fighting at Bolivar, Tenn., Corinth and Iuka, and during the winter of 1862- '63 Col. Ingersoll, with several others, was captured and paroled. The entire history of the regiment was one constant activity, moving from place to place, taking part in a great number of movements and battles. Bazil D. Meek, one of the organizers, wTas Lieutenant Colonel, and after the resignation of Inger- soil, owing to his parole, Mr. Meek acted as colonel for a time, resigning his position in 1863. The close of the war brought joy to the hearts of the members of many Woodford county homes, and all rejoiced that the long, weary war was over, but there were many who went out who never returned, and the tribute of a grateful nation can never be too fully given to the valiant, sacrificing soldiers of the civil war.

At home the loyal patriots, who were prevented from going to the front by one reason or another, banded themselves together in a League, known as the Loyal Sons of America and gave moral support to the cause of the Union in every way possible.

The settlers suffered but little actual trouble from the Indians, altho the Black Hawk war produced a feeling of dread among them. The conflict with the rebellious chief was farther north than Woodford. Black Hawk had watched the encroachments of the whites with a jealous eye, and when the Indians were asked to yield the region of the mouth of the Rock river, he refused to obey, and in 1831 made his open defiance. The first campaign was without bloodshed, but the second, in 1832, was far more serious. There were constant rumors of impending dangers that kept the pioneers in a state of unrest. Henry B. Meek, of Walnut Grove, was captain of the Home Guards and was called to gather twelve men for the conflict with the Indians. He is said to have been at the plow when the command came and immediately set about the task of raising men. Among those who were in this war from Woodford county are found the names of John and James Benson, Jonathan Baker, John E. Davidson, Thomas A. McCord, Jesse Oatman, Allen Patrick, William Blair, John and Robert Bird, Josiah Moore and James Phillips.

It was but a day's travel to the point where depredations were being committed, and it was not known how soon the Indian forces might fall upon the unprotected settlers. The people were on their guard. In the vicinity of Walnut Grove, the dogs one night kept up a constant barking about, the home of Mr. Watkins, and the family feared that Indians were skulking about the woods, altho no attack was made. This anxiety led him, together with Joseph, Daniel, Henry Meek and others to take their families south to the vicinity of Little Mackinaw, in the Railsback settlement, where there would be less danger. As soon as they had brought them to a place of safety, the men returned to protect their homes and stock. A party stayed at night in a log barn belonging to Daniel Meek and watched lest there be a night attack. It was composed of Noel Meek, Joseph Meek, Jonathan Baker, John Kellum, William Blair and Daniel Meek. They were armed with rifles and were prepared to give the enemy a warm reception, should any attack occur, but they had no opportunity of showing what could be done. The feelings of the settlers were being constantly harrowed by reports of what the Indians had done. On one occasion they were reported to have captured two young girls north of here. So great was the excitement over the fate of the girls and so deep was the anxiety for their safety that a ransom was offered and accepted for their release. The settlers in the vicinity of Greene township were also considerably disturbed and left their cabins to seek safety in the more thickly settled region of Walnut Grove. The soldiers, who were in the war from this county, were only in the service a short time, being enrolled May 4th, at Bloomington, and mustered out May 27th, 1832 at the mouth of Fox river, 130 miles from the place of enrollment. No lives were lost among them. They were under command of Captain Robert McClure, of

McLean county. After a severe defeat Black Hawk was finally captured, and the war ended. All the fighting had taken place in the region of the Rock river. This war put an end to the trouble with the Indians in this part of the country. From that time forward the whites had undisputec possession of the land. Black Hawk himself went to low?: and in time built him a house and settled on a farm, wher<- he died at the age of 72 years.

Woodford county was not greatly affected by the Mex:- can war, and was not so largely represented in that cot flict as might have been expected. As in all other wars me i were valiant and unflinching in their performance of duty, ever ready for service, whatsoever that might be. Spanish-American War.

The Spanish-American war also found volunteers fro-i? Woodford county, altho the actual enlistment was smaii. yet there were many ready to volunteer at once should t'nv need become manifest.

Of those enlisted, the name of Captain Kerrick is m<;^f. prominent. By faithful service he rose to the lieutenancy of Company D of the Second Illinois Infantry. On July 25th, 1899, he was commissioned captain of Company F of 't>o Thirtieth Illinois Infantry. Since the close of the war b<; has remained in the regular army and is now stationed f-.t ,.j inland, Avhere he has done excellent service, in ';b.u coast defence.