Warren Township (part 4 of 5)

The Fifteenth R giment 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' setvice. It then proceeded to Alton, III., 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 Holla, 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; tht^n 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.

The regiment was then assigned to the Fourth Di-' vision, Gen. Hurlbut commanding, and matched 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. Among the former were Lieutenant-Colonel E. T. W. Ellis, Major Goddard, Captains Brownell and Wayne, and Lieutenant John W. Puternaugh. Captain Adam Nase, wounded 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 6. 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; thence to Vicksburg, taking an active part in the siege of that place. After the surrender of Vicksburg, marched with Sherman to Jacksin, Miss.; then returned to Vicksburg and embarked for Natchez; Marched thence to Kingston; returned to Natchez; then to Harnsonburg, La., capturing Fort Beauregard, on the Washita River. Returned to Natchez, remained there until Nov. 10, 1863. Proceeded to Vicksburg and went in o winter quarters. Here the regiment reenlisted as veterans, remaining until Feb, i, 1864, when it moved with Gen. Sherman t rough Mississippi. On Champion Hills had a severe engagement with rebel Carney. Marched to Meridan; thence south to Enter- prise; thence back 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.; th.-nce to Kingston; and joined Gen. Sherman's army, marching on Atlanta.

At Allatoona 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 Allatoona 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, r. arching 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 transfered to Gen. F. P. Blair, and marched with Gen. Sherman through Georgia.

After the capture of Savannah, the regiment proceeded to Beaufort, S. C.; thence to Salkahatchie 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, and the organization of the Veteran Battalion discontinued, and the Fifteenth re-organized. The campaign of Gen. Sherman ended by the surrender of Gen. Johnson. The regiment then marched with the army to Washington, D. C., via Richmond and Fredericksburg, and participated in the grand review at Washington, 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, Kan., arriving there July i, 1865. Joined the army serving on the Plains. Arrived at Fort K"earney, August 14; then ordered to return to Fort Leavenworth, Sept. i, 1865, where the regiment was mustered out of the service and placed en route for Springfield, 111., for final payment and discharge - having served four years and four months.

Captain Jn'o. W. Luke, commissioned second lieutenant, April 24, 1861. Promoted first lieutenant, April 7, 1862. Promoted captain, April 18, 1863. (See Co. E, Veteran Battalion.)

First Lieutenant Allen P. Barnes, e. as first sergeant, May 24, 1861. Promoted second lieutenant, April 7, 1862. Promoted first lieutenant, April 18, 1863. (See Co. E, Veteran Battalion.)

The igth was enrolled Tune 4, 1861 ; mustered in for three years' service, at Chicag ', June 17. Part of the regiment first moved to Cairo, where their duty was chiefly guarding railroad property. John B. Turchin was appointed Colonel ; Jas. R. Scott, Lieutenant Colonel ; Frederick Harding, Major; C. C. Miller, Adjutant; and H. W. Wetherell, Quartermaster. The officers of the Chicago companies had een members of the renowned Ellsworth Zouaves. The regiment left Chicago July 5, for Palmyra, Mo., where they received some notoriety on account of foraging on the enemy. In August they joined Pope's Command, and moved to Pilot Knob ; thence to Cape Girardeau ; thence toward Columbus, Ky. September 15 were ordered to join Army ot the Potomac. On t.le way, about eightyfour miles west cf Cincinnati, on Ohio & Mississippi R. R., a bridge gave way, after the engine and two cars had passed. The six following passenger coaches were precipitated a distance of sixty feet. In this disaster the regiment lost more than in their severest battle. Detained by this accident, the regiment joined Mitchell's Division, Sherman's Army, Colonel I urchin commanding brigade, and operated in Kentucky. At the time of the battle in Shiloh, Mitchell's Division marched to Nashville, and thence to Huntsville, Ala., where they captured a large amount of rolling stock and commissary stores. The command was then scattered around, guarding important points. At Athens, Ala., the i8th Ohio wa- driven out by Scott's rebel cavalry. General Turchin, with balance of brigade, recaptured the place. As many prominent citizens had derided our troops as they were being driven out of Athens, on their return the\ demolished a large part of the business portion of the place. General Buel soon after visiied Athens, and was easily influenced by stories of citizens, to the effect that great improprieties had been practiced by the soldiers during the sacking of the place. A c-. urt martial was convened and Colonel Turchin dismissed from the service. Two days before the findings of the court martial, Colonel Turchin had be n appointed Brigadier General by the President. The 171(1, as a mark of disgrace, was cut up into small squads and assigned to guarding bridges. It then moved to Nashville and placed under General Negley's command. At the memorable battle of Stonj River, in a critical juncture, General Ne^ley cried: "Who will save the left?" "The Nineteentu ! " said Colonel Scott ; and forward dashed tuis heroic regiment, capturing lour pieces of artillery, and, many say, saved the day. Thiscommand were from tnis time actively moving over the country, principally after Bragg, ending in the battle of Chicamauga, and then Mission Ridee, in both of which the igth distinguished itself. Thence they proceeded toward Atlanta until their term of ser- - vice expired,, when they returned to Chicago and were mustered out.

Captain John R. Madison, comiui>sioned second lieutenant, July 30, 1861. Promoted fi st lieutenant Oct. 20, 1861. Promoted captain March 24, 1862. Resigned Dec. 19, 1862.

Captain Jas. Longhorn, e. as private June 17, 1861. Promoted first lieutenant March 24, 1862. Promoted captain Dec. 19, 1862. Term expi.ed July 9, 1864.

First Lieutenant Wm. Quinton, commis-ioned second lieutenant Oct. 20, 1861. Promoted first lieutenant Dec. 19, 1862. Resigned Sept. 10, 1864.

The Seventh Congressional District Regiment was organized at Mattoon, 111., on the gth of May, 1861. On the i5th of May it was mustered lato the state service for 30 days, by Capt. U. S. Grant. On the 28th of June, it was mustered into United States' service for three years, by Capt. Pitcher, U. S. A., with Capt. U. S. Grant as colonel. Col. Grant was commissioned brigadier general Aug. 6, 1861, and was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel J. W. S. Alexander, who was killed Sept. 20, 1865, at C hicamauga. On the 4th of July,

1862. Marched, with Gen. Steele's expedition, to Jacksonport, Ark., when it was ordered to Corinth via Cape Girardeau. Arrived at Hamburg Landing, May 24, 1862. On evacuation of Corinth, pursued enemy from Farmington, Miss., to Booneville. Returning from the pursuit, it formed a part of an expedition to Holly Springs. On the i4th of Aug., 1862, was ordered to join Gen. Buell's army in Tennessee. Marched via Eastport, Miss., Columbia, Tenn., Florence, Ala., Franklin, Murfreesboro and Nashville, Tenn., and arrived at Louisville, Sept. 27, 1862. Engaged in battle of Perryville, Oct. 8th, and Chaplin Hill. Company F, Capt. David Blackburn, was the first in Perryville. From thence, marched to Crab Tree Orchard and Bowling Green, Ky., and to Nashville, Tenn. When the army marched from Nashville, Dec. 26, 1862, this regiment formed a part of the Second Brigade, First Division, Twentieth Army Corps, and was in ihe skirmish at Knob Gap. December 30, in connection with Fifteenth Wisconsin, Thirty-eighth Illinois, and One Hundred and First Ohio, it had a severe engagement with the enemy near Murfreesboro, where it charged the famous Washington (Rebel^ Light Artillery, twelve Parrott guns, and succeeded in driving every man from the battery, when it was compelled to fall back by a division of Rebel Infantry. During the battle of Murfreesboro it was fiercely engaged and did gallant duty, losing more men than any other regiment engaged. The Twenty-first was with Gen. Rosecrans' army from Murfreesboro to Chattanooga ; was engagtd in a severe skirmish at Liberty Gap, June 25, 1863 ; was engaged in the battle of Chicamauga, Sept. 19 and 20, where it lost 238 officers and men. Col. Alexander being killed, and Lieut. Col. McMackin being wounded, Capt. C. K. Knight took command of the regiment. After the battle of Chicamauga, the Twenty-first was attached to First Brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps, and remained at Bridgeport, Ala., during October, November and December, 1863. Mustered out Dec. 16, 1865, at San Antonio, Texas. Arrived at Camp Butler, Jan. 18, 1866, for final payment and discharge.

The Washburne Lead Mine Regiment was organized at Chicago, 111., Dec. 25, 1861, by Col. John E. Smith, and mustered into the United States service as the Forty-fifth Infantry Illinois Volunteers. January 15, 1862, moved to Cairo, III.; February i, assigned to Brigade of Col. W. H. L. Wallace, Division of Brig. Gen. McClernand ; February 4, landed below Fort Henry, on the Tennessee, and on the 6th marched into the fort, it having been surrendered to the gun-boats. February ii, 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 4, moved to the Tennessee River, and nth, arrived at Savannah. Was engaged in the expedition to Pin Hook. March 25, moved to Pittsburg Landing, and encamped near Shiloh Church.

The Forty-fifth took a conspicuous and honorable part in the two days' battle of Shiloh, losing 26 killed and igg wounded and missing - nearly one-half of the regiment. April 12, Col. John E. Smith, of the Forty-fifth, took command of the Brigade. During the sieg^e of Corinth, the regiment was in the First Brigade, Third Division, Reserve Army of the Tennessee, and bore its full share of the labors and dangers of the campaign. June 4, the regiment was assigned to Third Brigade, and moved towards Purdy, fifteen miles. On the sth, ma-ched to Bethel ; 7th to Montezuma, and on the Sth to Jackson, Tennessee, the enemy flying on its approach.

During the months of June and July, engaged in garrison and guard duty. August ii, assigned to guarding railroad, near Toon's Station. On the 3151, 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 - skilled, 13 wounded and 43 taken prisoners. September 17, moved to Jackson ; November 2, to Bolivar, and was assigned to First Brigade, Third Division, Right Wing, Thirteenth Army Corps. November 3, 1862. marched from Bolivar to Van Buren ; 4th, to Lagrange, and were assigned to provost duty ; 28th, marched to Holly Springs ;- December ^d, to Waterford ; 4th, to Abbeville ; sth, to Oxford, to Yocona River, near Spring Dale.

Communications with the north having been cut off, foraged on the country for supplies. December 17, notice received of the promotion of Col. John E. Smith to brigadier general, ranking from November 29 ; December 22, returned to Oxford ; 24th, moved to a camp three miles north of Abbeville, on the Tallahatchie River, where the regiment remained during the month.

Co. D, Sept. 3, 1861. Promoteil first lieutenant March i, 1862. Promoted captain April 6, 1862. Promoted major June 25, 1863. Promoted lieutenant colonel Jan. 10, 1865. Promoted colonel May

Major Joshua Van Devert, e as sergt. Co. B, Aug. 30, 1861. Promoted first lieutenant June i, 1862. Promoted captain Nov. 29, 1862. Promoted m jor July 13, 1865. Mustered out (as captain) July 12,1865.

First Lieutenant Daniel W. Cowen, e. as sergeant Sept. n, 1861. Prompted second lieutenant June 4, 1862. Promoted first lieutenant Nov. 29, 1862. Term expired Dec. 25, 1864.

Mustered out (as sergeant) July 12, 1865. Commi.->sioned second lieutenant, but not mustered. Sergt. John B. Laillet, e. Aug. 30, 1861, disd. July 23,

Captain Jos. Vincent e. as first sergeant Sept. 2, 1861. Prompted first lieutenant May 9, 1862. Prompted captain April 20, 1861. Musteied out (as first lieutenant) May 29, 1865.

Captain Jas. Clifford, e. as sergeant Sept. 2, 1861. Promoted second lieutenant June i, 1862. Promoted adjutant Sept. 22, 1864. Promoted captain July 9, 1865. Mustered out (as adjutant) July 12, 1865.

Second Lieutenant John B. Annetts,e. as private Sept. 2, 1861. Re-enlisted as veteran Jan. 5, 1864. Mustered out July 12, 1865, as sergeant. Com. second lieutenant, but not mustered.

Captain Jos. W. Miller, e. as first sergeant Sept. 21, 1861. Promoted second lieutenant March i, 1862. Prompted first lieutenant April 6, 1862. Promoted captain June 25, 1863. Promoted by president.

Captain Otto C. Hager, e. as private Sept. 3, 1861. Promoted sergeant, first «ergeant, then second lieutenant. May i, 1862. Promoted first lieutenant June 25, 1863. Promoted captain June 25, 1863. Mustered out July 12, 1865.

Histobt Of Jo Davtjes8 County

Captain Charles K. Erwin, e. as sergt. Oct. 22, 1861. Promoted first sergeant, then second lieutenant, Nov. 4, 1862. Promoted first lieutenant May 22, 1863. Promoted captain April 20, 1865. Mustered out July 12, 1865.

First Lieutenant John D. Spragins e. as corporal Sept. 18, 1861. Re-enlisted as veteran Jan. 5, 1864. Mustered out as first sergeant July 12, 1865. Commissioned first lieutenant but not mustered.

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 27, and to Columbus, Ky., 3Oth. From thence proceeded to Lagrange, Tenn., where the regiment arrived December 2. On the 4th, ordered to Coldwater, Miss., where it relieved the Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry. On the morning of the 2oth of December, a detachment of Second Illinois Cavalry ar- rived at Coldwaler, having cut their way through Van Dorn's forces, out of Holly Springs. Soon after, four companies of One Hundred and First Illinois came 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 was 4,000 or 5.000 strong, and, after some skirmishing, he withdrew. The regiment was mustered out of service June 6, 1865, at Washington, D. C., and arrived at Chicago June 12, 1865, where it received final pay and discharge.

The Ninety-sixth Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers was recruited in July and August, 1862, and mustered into the United States' service at Camp Fuller, Rockford, III., Sept. 6, 1862.

ThU regiment was recruited largely from Jo Daviess County, six of its companies, A. E, F. H, J and K, being composed entirely of Jo Daviess County mtn, white companies B, C, D and G were from Lake County, thus forming a union of the northeast and northwest counties of this state, counties so long united in the old First Congressional District.

The Rebel forces, under Get*. Bragg, being on' the march toward Louisville, while those under Kirby Smith were threatening Cincinnati, October 8 the Ninety-sixth was ordered to the latter place, taking position in the defences in front of Covington and Newport, Ky. October 19 the regiment moved in two detachments to Lexington, where, uniting, they proceeded to Harrodsburg, there employed in scouting and guarding Rebel prisoners. November .28, marched toward Lebanon Junction after Gen John H. Morgan, returning to Danville two days later, Morgan having escaped.

Reached Louisville, Ky., January 31, when the Third Division, Army of Kentucky (the 2d Brigade to which the Ninety-sixth was attached) embarked on board steamers, and arrived in Nashville, February 7. Disembarked on the 8th and went into camp south of the city, where they remained until March 5, when they proceeded to Franklin, Tenn., to reinforce the First Brigade of the division under Col. Coburn, who was then engaged at Spring Hill.

On the loth. Van Dorn attacked our lines and drove in the Grand Guard, but was repulsed. The regiment moved, on the 2d of June, to Triune, and on the nth skirmished with the Rebels under Gen. Wheeler.

June 14, the Army of Kentucky was re-organized and attached to the Reserve Corps of the Army of the Cumberland. The Ninety-sixth I. V. I. was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division of said corps.

On the 23d, joined the forces moving against Bragg. Marched to Salem and joined the right wing of the army. Reached Walnut Gruve Church, where the Ninety sixth Regiment was detached to guard prisoners (who were captured at Liberty Gap) back to Murfreesboro.

Having re-joined their command, they reached Shelbyville on the 3oth, and July 3 marched to Wartrace ; there performed garrison duty until August 12, when the line of march was taken up for Elk River. Here engaged in scouting until September 7, when tents were once more struck, and the Ninety-sixth, together with all the troops of the Reserve Corps, were hastened forward to reinforce Gen. Rosecrans, now south of the Tennessee River.

On the izth of September, reached Bridgeport, Ala., crossed the Tennessee, and camped on the south side. September 13 and 14, crossed Lookout Mountain to Rossville, Ga. On the i8th moved out on a reconnoissance toward Reid's Bridge, and skirmished with the enemy. SEPTEMBER 19 AND 20, BATTLE OF CHICA-

Hi8Tokt Of Jo Daviess County

At this time, weather bad, reduced to one fourth rations ; men without proper clothing ; camp and garrison equipage none ; and on the morning of the 26th the only rations issued were one ear of corn per man t About this time thearmv was re-organized, the Reserve Corps abolished, and the Ninety-sixth Regiment attached to the Second Brigade, hirst Division, Fourth Army Corps.

October 27, crossed the river to reinforce Gen. Hooker in the Wauhatchie Valley, and returned to bivouac on the Point. Re-crossed on the 291(1 to support Hooker, in which engagement the regiment lost several men. Again return: d to the Point, and November i, 2 and 3 crossed to the south side of Tennessee, and marched down the river to Shell Mound ; there placed on outpost duty in Nickajack Cove, Ga. The troops were more c mifortable than when at Moccasin Point, being in receipt of full rations and an abundance of clothing.

November 20, six days' rations being issued, reconnoitered the enemy's lines, and returned to camp. Marched, on the 23d, to the Wauhatchie and joined the column under Gen. Hooker, for the storming of Lookout Mountain.

On the 24th. crossed Lookout Creek at daylight, ascended the mountain, and moved forward, driving th« enemy. The Ninety-sixth was then ordered to the extreme right, on the front line, climbing up the mountain side to where it rise? perpendicularly, the regiment rapidly advanced ; flanking the enemy's works, they poured a destructive fire down the rifle pits, which caused the Rebels to give way and fall back to the mountain point near Craven's house.

Night coming on, a heavy firing was kept up, under cover of which the enemy evacuated the mountain. November 20, the Ninety-sixth Illinois and Eighth Kentucky advanced and occupied the mountain, where they remained until December i, when orders were received to return to out post duty at Nickajack Cove, and here camped until Jan. 26, 1864. The Ninetysixth was then ordered to cover the working party repairing the East Tennessee R. R. Reached Blue Springs February 7, where the regiment reconnoitercd until the 22d, and then joined the column operating against the enemy in front of Dalton. Moved to the extreme left of the army on the 25th, and took position in fr nt line, and were heavily engaged all day in the action known as " Buzzard Roost, after which skirmished until the 28th, when the regiment returned to camp at Blue Springs. March i, ordered to Cleveland, to fortify and garrison, where they remained until April 23, when camp was broken, and the Ninety-sixth again joined to its command, preparatory to commencing the Atlanta campaign.

May 3, 1864, the regiment moved with command ; engaged the enemy on the gth at Rocky Face, losing heavily ; entered Dalton on the I3th ; engaged again at Reseca on the 141)1 and isth, with heavy loss ; skirmished with the enemy on the igth, and drove him to Kingston, where the army rested until the 24th. Engaged at New Hope Church on the 25th, and again, from the 27th to June 5. in the rifle pits in front of Dallas, between Lost and Pine Mountains. Skirmished on the loth and nth of June ; in action at Pine Mountain on the i4th, where the rebel. Gen. Bishop Polk, was killed ; marching and fighting from the isth to the igth ; 20th and 27th, assault on Kcnesaw Mountain, and again the Ninety-sixth lost heavily. July 3 and 4, skirmishing, and in action at Smyrna campground; crossed the Chattahoochie River on the I2th ; in action on the iqth and 2oth at Peach Tree Creek ; from the 22d to August 25, continuous fighting in front of Atlanta; again in action, at Rough and Ready, on the 3ist ; September i and 2, engaged in battles of Jones boro and Lovejoy Station, and skirmi-hed until the 6th. Atlanta having been captured, the regiment returned to camp near city, where it remained until October 3, when the march back to the Tennessee River was commenced, camping on the many battlefields of the campaign. From Chicamauga, the command crossed to Pulaski, Tenn., which place was reached November 3. On the 23d, Hood appeared before Pulaski, and the march for Nashville began. Franklin was reached on the 3oth, when the regiment was again engaged in a desperate battle.

until the isth, when the battle of Nashville began, and continued two days, during which time the regiment behaved gallantly, carried the enemy's line near the Franklin Pike, planted the first colois on his earth works, and captured a battery of i2-pounds Napoleons, together with prisoners far exceeding their own number. Joining in pursuit of the remnant of^ Hood's command to the Tennessee, the Ninety- sixth exchanged the last infantry >hots with that army.

The regiment reached Athens Jan. 4, 1865. From thence, marched to Huntsville, Ala., where it camped until March 15, when the march to Bull's Gap and Shields' Mills, in East Tennessee, commenced. The regiment scouted until the surrender of Lee's army, when the command was ordered to Nashville, en route for Texas, to operate against the rebels under Kirby Smith ; but. he having surrendered to Gen. Canby.thus ending the war, on the nth of June, the Ninety-sixth Regiment was ordered to Camp Douglas, 111., for final pay and muster out of the United States' service, where it arrived on the i4th. Received pay on the 2gth and 3oth day of June, 1865, the Ninety-si >tth Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers had passed into history, after an eventful existence of three years, rendered historic by deeds written in blood on many a battle-field. The sufferings and privations of the brave men who conposed that organization can be best understood when the casualties they met, the battles in which they were actively engaged, and the number of miles traveled are made known, and not even then can their devotion and sacrifice to their country be sufficiently estimated.

A careful estimate of the marches made, including the distance transported by rail, shows that the regiment traveled over five thousand miles in their three years' s»rvice.

Commissioned Officers Enlisted Men

: following were the principal actions and battles ich the Ninety-sixth Regiment was engaged - urn T1,..,,, VT-_~U -o£_ . Tr_~.,d;,, 1*=-,-

The One Hundred and Forty-second Infantry Illinois Volunteer- was organized at Freeport, Illinois, by Col. Rollin V. Ankey, as a battalion of eight companies, and ordered to Camp Butler, 111., where' two companies were added and the icgiment mustered June 18, 1864, for 100 day;. On 2ist of June the regiment moved for Memphis via Cairo and Mississippi kiver, and arrived on the 24th. On 26th moved to White's Station, n miles from Memphis, on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, where it was assigned to guarding railroad. Mustered out of United States service Oct. 27, 1864, at Chicago, 111.

The One Hundred and Fifty third Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Camp Fry, 111., by Col. Stephen Bronson, and was mustered in Feb. 27, 1865, for one year. On March - moved by rail via Louisville and Nashville to Tullahoma, reporting to Major General Millroy. The regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Defenses of Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, Brigadier General Dudley commanding brigade. In the latter part of March, Maj. Wilson, with three companies, went on a campaign into Alabama and returned. On July i moved via Nashville and Louisville to Memphis, Tenn., and was assigned to the command of Krevet Major Gene al A. L. Chetlain. Was mustered out Sept. 15, 186=, and moved to Springfield, 111., and Sept. 24 received final pay and discharge. Col. Pronson received appointment as brevet brigadier general.

The Seventeenth Cavalry Regiment Illinois Volunteers was organized under special authority from the War Department, issued Aug. 12, 1863, to Hon. John F. Farnsworth. The rendezvous was 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 bad organization, and opened the rendezvous Nov. 15, 1863. Eight companies were mustered in Jan. 22, 1864. F .ur other companies were mustered in, and the organization of the Regt. completed Feb. 12, 1864. The regiment was sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., where 1,100 sets of horse equipments were received, prom there it moved to Alton, 111., and relieved the

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 once to North Missouri District, The First Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Dennis J. Hynes commanding, proceeded to St. 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 of Glasgow, iVlo. From this period, for four months, the three battalions were separate and remote from each other, and so extended weie 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.

The war ended and peace restored, the Union preserved in its integrity, the sons of Jo Daviess who had volunteered their lives in defense of their government, who were spared to see the army of the Union victorious, returned to their homes to receive grand ovations and tributes of honor from friends and neighbors who had eagerly and jealously followed them wherever the fortunes of war called. Exchanging their soldiers' uniforms for citizens' dress, most of them fell back to their old avocations - on the farm on the mines, at the forge, the bench, in the shop, and at whatever else their hands found to do. Some of them were called to higher honors, and their names have become as familiar to the people and governments of the Old World as their noble deeds in the hour of their country's peril are dear to the hearts of the people whom they so faithfully served. Brave men are honorable always, and no class of citizens are entitled to greater respect than the volunteer soldiery of Jo Daviess County, not alone because they were soldiers, but because in their associations with their fellow-men their walk is upright, and their honesty and character without reproach.

Their country first, their glory and their pride ; Land of their hopes - land where their lathers died; When in the right, they'll keep their honor bright; When in the wrong, they'll die to set it right.

The deeds of daring and glorious achievements of the army of the Union during the Great War of the Rebellion will always be dearly cherished by patriotic hearts. But there were scenes and incidents, and accidents, the memory of which will shade with sadness the bright reflections engendered by the contemplation of a heroism, devotion and sacrifice, the like of which the world never knew before. To die on the field of battle, in face of an enemy's guns, is a crowning earthly glory. To die or be maimed for life by accident or treachery, when one is seeking to serve his country, is pitiable and lamentable. That there were such instances of commiseration, the pages of history amply verify. The memory of at least one of these deplorable occurrences is familiar to the present people of Jo Daviess County, but fifty years hence, in the " sweet by-and-by," when the fathers and mothers of to-day will have been gathered in an eternal home, they will be remembered by their posterity more as matters of tradition than absolute, written history. And it is only an act of justice - a tribute of respect to the memory of the killed and the sufferings of the maimed, that a record should be made in these pages of a treacherous accident that deprived the country of the services of a number of as brave men as any that ever faced an enemy. We refer to an accident that occurred at Beaver Creek bridge, on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, one hundred and forty miles west of Cincinnati, on the night of September 17, 1861, by which Captain B. B. Howard, of Galena, and a number of his company were hurried into eternity. September 18, 1861, the telegraph wires bore to ail parts of the patriotic North the following sad announcement:

" CINCINNATI, September 18, 1861. - Last night, at half-past eight o'clock, a train on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, containing a portion of Col. Turchin's 19th Illinois Regiment, while passing over a bridge near Huron, Indiana. 140 miles west of Cincinnati, fell through, killing and wounding over one hundred soldiers.

The bridge where this accident occurred is known as bridge No. 48, is of sixty feet span, 10 feet high, over a depth of three feet of water.

Captain Howard's Galena Company, known here as the " Auti-Beaure- Guards," formed a part of the 19th, and the intelligence of the catastrophe fell like a death pall upon the community from which the company had mostly been made up. Captain Howard and seventeen of his men - Corporals Samuel Clark, Jerry Ingraham, and A. Fainter, William Frost, L. Carroll, Isaac Coleman, Henry Conners, J ohn Brown, Joseph Smith, - - McConnolly, Robert Bruce, H. C. Burroughs, William Hard wick, AntoineRaffner, Peter Fowler, William Ringer, John Douglas, and Henry Hunt - were either instantly killed or died immediately after being recovered from the wreck. Seventy-one were wounded and crippled.

As soon as the people sufficiently recovered from the shock occasioned by the sad telegraphic news to act intelligently, communication was opened with Cincinnati, and measures inaugurated for the recovery and burial of the Galena dead. A meeting of the City Council was held on the 20th of September, and under resolution thereof, Mayor Robert Brand was directed to proceed immediately to Cincinnati and receive the bodies of the dead and bring them home for burial. He left on his sad mission on the evening train of that day, and returned early in the next week with his charge. Wednesday, September 25, a meeting of the City Council and a committee of citizens was held at the custom house for the purpose of making further arrangements for the burial of the dead. At that meeting a resolulion was adopted requesting Mayor Brand to furnish a report of his mission for publication. In compliance with that request he prepared the following, which was published in the city newspapers:

"Gents: - In pursuance to a resolution of the council, under date of the 20th inst., requesting me to proceed immediately and receive the bodies of the dead of Company I, of 19th 111. Volunteers, and bring them to this city for a public burial, I started the same evening for Cincinnati, where I learned the bodies, with the wounded, had been conveyed after the accident of the 17th inst. Before starting, I telegraphed the Mayor of Cincinnati, advising him of my coming, and requested he would withhold the burial of the dead belonging to Galena. On my arrival, I was met by the Hon. Geo. Hatch, Mayor of Cincinnati, who showed me every attention, and introduced me to Brig. Gen. O. M. Mitchell, who at once issued the following order:

I. - The General Commanding this Department takes this occasion to express his heartfelt sympathy with the bereaved friends of the members of the 19th Illinois Regiment, U. S. Volunteers, killed by the accident on the night of the 17th inst., on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad.

Of the surviving wounded, he is happy to say that they are doing well, and trust that very soon they will be able to rejoin their comrades, to battle with the enemy.

II. - His Honor, Mayor Robert Brand, and six citizens of Galena having arrived at Cincinnati for the purpose of conveying back to their homes the remains of thirteen of the dead, the General Commanding directs that Captain J. H. Dickenson, Asst. Quartermaster, U. S. A., will provide suitable metallic coffins to contain the bodies, and will also furnish transportation to Galena for His Honor, the Mayor, his escort and the remains.

"1 found that the body of Captain B. B. Howard had been taken charge of by the Odd Fellows, and was carefully preserved in a metallic coffin and deposited in the Argenal. I found fifteen other bodies of our dead, enclosed in coffins, carefully identified and marked, and deposited in the vault of Spring Grove Cemetery, all awaiting my arrival.

" Three of the bodies - Bruce, Carroll and Conley, were claimed by their relatives, and 1 was induced to give them up to them for burial. Bruce was taken by his brother and buried in the cemetery there; the other two were taken by their friends and buried in the Catholic cemetery. Those 1 was permitted to return with I had carefully prepared for transportation, in air-tight coffins, under the superintendence of J. P. Eppy, Esq., to whose kindness and attention I am under many obligations. Indeed, the kindness, consideration and attention shown me, and the facilities extended, without money and without price, in accomplishing my sad mission, induced me, as an act of justice, to make the following public acknowledgment there in the Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, of the sympathy and attention everywhere extended to me:

Card To The Public

The undersigned would do injustice to his own feelings if he omitted, on his return from the peculiarly sad mission with which he has been charged, to return his sincere and heartfelt acknowledgments for the kindness, care and consideration which has been extended to the Galena (Illinois) victims of the unfortunate accident upon the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, by the Mayor and other municipal authorities, charitable institutions and the people generally of Cincinnati. If any thing could in the least alleviate the keen pangs of sufferings of the friends and relatives of the unfortunate deceased, it will be their consciousness that every thing which humanity could dictate, or charity conceive, was done in their behalf.

Those whom I represent are under special obligations to the Hon. Geo. Hatch, Mayor of your city; to Chas. Stevens, of the Relief Committee of the I. O. O. F. ; to Captain N. H. McLean, and to the Managers and Directors of the Marine Hospital, who have been most unremitting and assiduous in their devotion to the cause of humanity. I shall return to Galena, the city of my residence, with the strongest emotions of gratitude toward Cincinnati, the memory of whose noble conduct will never be effaced from the tablets of recollection.

Gen. Mitchell, Commander of the United States Army at this point, has very kindly placed at my disposal passes, with the dead bodies of Company I, over the different roads to the place of their final interment in Illinois, and has acted in a manner worthy of his high reputation, and becoming the government he so worthily serves.

" I not only found attention, aid and sympathy from all the citizens I came in contact with, but S. S. L'Honimidue, President of the Hamilton & Dayton R. R., presented me with free passes over his road, and the conductor, H. O. Hoyt, Esq., delayed the train in advancing our interests. At Chicago, H. D. Colvin, Superintendent of the U. S. Express Co., without charge, conveyed the bodies to the Galena & Chicago Union R. R. Depot, where Dr. Edward Williams, the Superintendent, not only furnished a special car, but in like manner passed us free over his road. I am also under many obligations to John Drew, Esq., of Chicago, for his attention and assistance; and the officers of the 111. Central R. R., and their gentlemanly conductor, J. A. Poland, and Geo. Blanchard, General Freight Superintendent of the Ohio & Mississippi R. R. ; each and all did every thing in their power to facilitate the sad duty I was engaged in - of bringing our dead to rest among us.

k' I can not close this report without a just tribute to the ladies of Cincinnati for the manner in which they garlanded the dead, and their attention to our wounded - such attention as only women know how to bestow, and men to appreciate. The coffins in the vault of the cemetery were literally covered with flowers, placed there by the kind hands of fair women, attesting their sympathy at the sad bereavement. On visiting the Marine Hospital, I found some fifty of our brave boys, more or less injured from the same accident. The wounded were the objects of special attention, not only from the kind managers and directors of the hospital, but from the overflowing kindness of the citizens. No comfort that money could purchase, or sympathy that the purest love and charity could oifer, was withheld. The hospital was attended by the best surgical skill, and every thing that would add to the comfort of the afflicted was extended without stint or price, while the fair ladies covered with wreaths and bouquets, and cheered and comforted by words of affection the mangled heroes that laid on their couches of affliction. Such kindness tends to bring forth all the best feelings of the human heart, and in this instance it was every where overflowing.

This report would be incorrect were I to omit the names of Colonel Turchin and his heroic wife. To the Colonel, for his care and attention in providing for his soldiers, and the facilities he extended in the performance of my sad duties to the dead. But to hear the wounded men speak of the heroic conduct of the brave Mrs. Turchin when the accident occurred ! "When the dead, dying and mutilated lay in one mass of ruin - when the bravest heart was appalled, and all was dismay, this brave woman was in the water rescuing the mangled and the wounded from a watery grave, and tearing from her person every available piece of clothing as bandages for the wounded, stamps beyond all question that she is not only the right woman in the right place, but a lit consortf for the brave Turchin in leading the gallant sons of Illinois to battle. Such misfortunes bring forth heroic

" In conclusion, allow me to add that the city officials, the Odd Fellows' Lodges, military men, and all men and women with whom I came in contact, seemed to have but one object - the doing of some act of kindness for the wounded men and the friends of the dead. Such nCble conduct elevates humanity and places our city under a deep debt of gratitude that will not soon be forgotten. Yours, with respect,

"At the final meeting of the committee appointed on the part of the City Council and the citizens of Galena, held at the custom house on the 1st day of October, A. D. 1861. to express their feelings of profound gratitude and admiration for the eminently kind manner in which the Hon. Robert Brand, Mayor of the City of Galena, and a delegation of our citizens were treated by the several individuals and corporations which they came in contact with, in the discharge of the melancholy duty imposed on them in recovering the bodies of our dead soldiers from the accident of the 17th of September, slain in the discharge of their duty as citizen soldiers hastening to defend the Capital of our late happy and prosperous nation against the attacks of the enemy, the following resolutions were read and unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the thanks of the citizens of Galena are hereby tendered to the Hon. Geo. Hatch, Mayor of the City of Cincinnati ; Brig. Gen. O. M. Mitchell, U. S. A. ; Capt. N. H. McLean, U. S. A. ; Capt. J. H. Dickenson, U. S. A. ; Lieut. Col. A. E. Jones, U. S. A. ; Chas. Stevens, Esq., Chairman of the Relief Committee of the I. O. O. F. ; the Managers and Directors of the Marine Hospital ; J. P. Eppy, Esq., of Cincinnati ; and John Drew, Esq., of Chicago; and each of them, for the many attentions and acts of kindness rendered on their part to our Mayor and the delegation of our citizens in the performance of the sad duty imposed upon them.

Resolved, That the thanks of the citizens of Galena are hereby tendered unto S. S. L'Hommidue, President of the Hamilton & Dayton R. R. : H. O. Hoyt, Esq., conductor on the same ; H. D. Colvin, Esq., Superintendent of the U. S. Express Co., Chicago ; Dr. Edward Williams, Superintendent of the Galena & Chicago Union R. R.; the officers of the Illinois Central R. R., and J. A. Poland, Esq., the gentlemanly conductor on the same ; and George Blanchard, Esq., General Freight Agent of the Ohio & Mississippi R. R. ; and each of them for their kind and disinterested attention on the sad occasion.

Resolved, That the citizens of Galena are under a deep debt of gratitude to the ladies of Cincinnati for the cordial sympathy and kind attention bestowed on our wounded and dead ; and that to Col. Turchin and his heroic wife we tender our most profound regard.

Resolved, That this joint committee could not adjourn and do justice to their feelings without tendering to his Honor, Robert Brand, Mayor of this city, the thanks of our community for the very efficient and kind manner in which he discharged the onerous duties devolving on him in his recent trip to Cincinnati and return. We also commend to the grateful remembrance of our citizens the magnanimous manner in which the members of Schreiner's Band tendered their aid. And to the livery stables and citizens who furnished carriages and conveyances for the use of the friends of the deceased and conveyance of the dead to their final resting place, on the day of the funeral, free of charge, we tender the thanks of a grateful people.

Of the killed, the remains of fourteen were delivered to Mayor Brand for interment at their homes. One of the bodies was left in the vicinity of

Dixon to be delivered to friends. Thirteen other bodies were brought to Galena. From here the remains of William Frost were taken to Beflevue, buried in the Catholic cemetery, and the remains of the following named ten - Captain B. B. Howard, Samuel J. Clark, Jerry Ingraham, H. H. Painter, H. C. Barras, John Douglas, Joseph Smith, William Ringer, Antoine Raffner and John Brown - were buried in the new Galena Cemetery, their remains being followed there with imposing funeral ceremonies and sincere demonstrations of respect.

Capt. Howard was a leading democrat in Jo Daviess County, and during Buchanan's administration was Postmaster of Galena. At the breaking out of the rebellion he warmly espoused the popular and patriotic cause, and was made Captain of the fine company that Galena sent to fight the battles of the country. He had served with great gallantry in the Mexican war, and was a popular and efficient officer. His death will be greatly lamented in the western part of the state, where he was so well and favorably known.

Sword Presentation To General Grant

In the Summer of 1863 the people of the county inaugurated a measure for the purchase of a costly sword to be presented to General Grant. A petition was prepared and numerously signed, asking the Board of Supervisors to make an appropriation from the county funds for that purpose. On the 15th of September the Board of Supervisors being in session, the petition was called up for action, when the following preamble and resolution were offered and unanimously adopted :

WHEREAS, Th^ people of the County of Jo Daviess, in the State of Illinois, being desirous of manifesting to Major General U. S. Grant, a citizen of said county, their appreciation of his inestimable services to the country in the suppression of the rebellion, and particularly in opening to the people of the valley of the Mississippi their great pathway of commerce to the ocean; and also, their regard for him as a man and a citizen; be it therefore

Resolved, That an appropriation be and is hereby made of ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS for the purpose of procuring a sword to be presented to Major General U. S. Grant, and that the clerk be authorized to pay the same when required by the Committee of the Board, appointed to procure said sword.

Messrs. Packard, Napper and Townsend were then named as the committee to purchase the sword. This committee entrusted the order for its manufacture to the Ames Manufacturing Works, Chicopee, Massachusetts. It was very elaborate in design, the grasp and guard ornamented with classical designs representing highly finished heads of Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and Minerva. The grasp inlaid with tortoise shell, held in place by gold studs - the pommel handsomely finished and encircled by' a ring of diamonds, costing $1,400, which were set in. pure gold. Underneath the circle of diamonds was a shield bearing the motto " Sic Floret Republica" On the cross guard, surrounding General Grant's name is the following inscription : Jo Daviess County, Illinois, to Major General Ulysses S. Grant, the hero of the Mississippi." The sword also bears the names and dates of the battles in which the recipient bore a part, as follows:

These battles embraced a list of all in which General Grant had participated from his first battle at Palo Alto, Mexico, May 8, 1846, up to the time the sword was completed and ready to be presented. It was received here the first day of March, 1864, and was carried South by Messrs. S. T. Napper and H. S. Townsend, and presented to General Grant at Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday, March 18, 1864.

In his visit to the capitols of the old world and at the receptions tendered him by the titled courts of the European people, this sword, the gift of the people of Jo Daviess County, is at his side, a cherished souvenir of the confidence and respect entertained for him by the people among whom he lived and moved only a few short years, ago without ostentation or vanity - characteristics that have always and under all circumstances marked his public, as well as his private life.

In making the appropriation for the purchase of the sword above described and presented, the supervisors also ordered that the proceedings in relation thereto " be engrossed on parchment, and that the same be presented to General Grant with the sword." These instructions were carried out by the county clerk, and a copy of the engrossed order, handsomely framed, may be seen in the office of the county clerk.

All' is Well that Ends Well. - During the war, party and political feeling ran high, and, as a natural consequence, many things were done in hours of excitement that, looked upon now, when the smoke of battle has cleared away and passions cooled off, seem harsh, if not unnecessary and inexpedient. When the life of the nation was at stake, men did not always stop to inquire about justice or expediency, but bowed to the popular feeling without stopping to think of future results. Justly maddened at the attempted destruction of the Union, the dominant party looked only to the strength of the war power for support. The right of Americans to criticise the acts of their public servants was considered as treasonable and free speech of doubtful and dangerous propriety. Friends of long standing became alienated, and many an outspoken man brought vengeance and death upon himself for the expression of honest convictions and criticisms. Such has always been the case in all countries in times of war, and such, in all human probability, will always be the case. During the war with Mexico, Thomas Corwin, of Ohio, as true a patriot as ever drew freedom's breath, brought political ruin to himself when he made that famous speech in which he declared that, if he were a Mexican, as he were an American, he would welcome the American soldiers with bloody hands to hospitable graves. Many years passed before he recovered from the political disaster the honest convictions of his heart brought upon himself. Had his words and their meaning been properly understood and interpreted, they would have been received as harmless and ineffective. So in many cases in the American Union's great struggle against treason and rebellion. But when mqn are not understood, their motives are misinterpreted. Misunderstandings and misinterpretations brought arrest and imprisonment to many northern men in the years of the war. Some of these arrests were made > in the county whose history we are writing, and naturally form a part of that history. We would that it were otherwise, but truth to history directs our pen to the following record :

On the 28th day of August, 1862, David Sheean was arrested in Galena, without warrant or process of law, or charge of offense, on a telegramfrom Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, at Washington, and taken from thence to Fort Lafayette, in New York, where he was detained until December 13 following, when he was unconditionally released. No charge of any offense was ever made ; he was not informed why he was arrested and detained, nor at whose instance it was done. Borrowing money sufficient to pay his own expenses back to Galena, he determined to vindicate himself and the law violated in the acts against him, by a suit for false imprisonment against the guilty parties concerned in his arrest. He suspected that the influence of the Hon. E. B. Washburne, then the member of Congress from this district, was procured, through Daniel S. and Robert S. Harris, to induce the Secretary of War to send the telegram, and accordingly his suit was brought against those three persons, and against J. Russell Jones, United States Marshal at Chicago, and his deputy, Geo. L. Webb, the officers making the arrest. In the progress of this suit, it was disclosed, in the deposition of Maj. L. C. Turner, Judge Advocate, taken in Washington by the defendants, that the reason tor his arrest was, that, as the attorney of one Bernard Donnelly, he brought suit in the Circuit Court of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, for false imprisonment against Daniel S. Harris, Robert S. Harris and John C. Hawkins - the Harrises making the affidavit tbi* that purpose. Before this was done, they assaulted him at the court house for commencing the suit, and Robert S. Harris threatened him with the arbitrary proceedings that were soon after visited upon him. The facts in the Donnelly case were, that, while intoxicated, he declared his purpose of not enlisting in the army unless he received the county bounty in advance - citing instances where his acquaintances, who had enlisted, had not received it. For this he was assaulted and beaten by Daniel S. Harris, and taken to jail, without any warrant or complaint made against him, and there detained for several weeks. Donnelly employed Mr. Sheean as his attorney to procure his release, and, after several ineffectual attempts to do so, Mr. Sheean finally brought the suit that the Harrises made affidavit to as a pretense for his own arrest. While he was confined in Fort Lafayette, the defendants in this Donnelly suit succeeded in getting it dismissed, for want of prosecution; but on Mr. Sheean's return he again renewed the suit, and on the final trial, Robert S. Harris and John C. Hawkins were found guilty, and a judgment of $510 and costs was rendered in favor of Donnelly for falsely imprisoning him.

In the suit commenced by Mr. Sheean for his own vindication, he charged the defendants with falsely procuring his arrest and detention without cause. The defendants, Jones and Webb, defended on the ground that, under the war power, the telegram of the Secretary of War, issued by authority of the .President of the United States, was a sufficient authority to them to take the plaintiff into custody to New York; and they also set up other matters in their pleas against the plaintiff. On this issue the case went to the Supreme Court of Illinois, where it was decided, by a unanimous court, that the defense set up was unlawful, " without constitutional support, and inconsistent in every principle of liberty and free government." In passing upon the questions, the Supreme Court, after referring to the Constitutional provisions in favor of liberty, say, " It can not be denied, that' when this plaintiff was arrested without writ or warrant, and conveyed by the marshal to the City of New York, and there delivered, not into the custody of the law upon a criminal charge, but to a military officer, to be imprisoned in a military fortress, without judicial investigation, and without even the charge of crime, the letter and spirit of all the foregoing provisions of the constitution were plainly violated." * " If the President could rightfully arrest him, by military force, and consign him, without process or trial, to a fortress in the harbor of New York, he could do the same thing to any other person in the State of Illinois. * * As no charge is made, no judicial investigation had, it is left entirely to the caprice of Government to determine what persons shall be seized. The power to thus arrest being once conceded, every man in the state, from the Governor down to the humblest citizen, would hold his liberty at the mercy of the military officer in command." * * " This theory, then, pushed to its logical results, is this: That whenever the government is engaged in suppressing a rebellion in Florida, or waging war on the frontiers of Maine, martial law may be enforced in Illinois, where there is neither war nor public enemy, and where the courts are daily administering justice; and every citizen of the state shall hold his liberty and his property at the whim and discretion of the military officer in command. The proposition thus stated in its nakedness, may well startle us, when we remember how liable we are to be involved in war. But it is not true, for it is utterly at variance with the most cherished objects of the constitution and its most solemn prohibitions." One of the Judges in giving his opinion, says: " I do not suppose pecuniary considerations influenced the plaintiff to bring this action, but rather to vindicate the constitution and the laws so grossly violated in his person. This he has effectually done, by the unanimous judgment of this court, in holding that the proceedings of which he complains were without any warrant, and in direct and palpable violation of the letter and spirit of the constitution." The case is reported in the 44th volume of Illinois Reports, at page 167. After the decision of the Supreme Court the case came back for trial in the Circuit Court of Jo Daviess County, where the following final judgment was rendered, as appears from its proceedings, taken from book " U," of Court Records, page 541, viz:

History Of Jo Dav1E88 County

And now come the said defendants, Jones and Webb, and admit that the said pleas, heretofore filed by them in said case, and the matters and things therein set forth against said plaintiff, are untrue in substance and in fact; and the defendants ask leave of the court to withdraw the same, which is granted by the court. And the said defendants further confess the wrongful trespass and imprisonment set forth in said declaration; and that the said defendants are guilty in manner and form as therein stated and set forth; and that said plaintiff has sustained great damage thereby, as is alleged in said declaration. And said defendants further confess that the said seizure and imprisonment of said plaintiff was wrongful, unjustifiable, and without cause, and that said plaintiff was innocent of the violation of any law, or of doing any act inimical to the government of the United States; and that said plaintiff did no act, used no expression, or exercised any influence, to the knowledge of said defendants, that was not in support of the government of the United States, its constitution, and laws. And inasmuch as said suit was brought by said plaintiff for the purpose of a personal vindication of his character and conduct as a citizen, he releases the said damages, except as to the sum of one thousand dollars, for expenses incurred by said plaintff on account of said wrongful seizure and imprisonment. It is thereupon considered by the court that the said plaintiff have and recover of and from the said defendants the said sum of one thousand dollars and costs of suit, and that execution issue therefor.

Agricultural Society

In the month of August, 1855, a call was made through the columns of the Galena newspapers for a meeting of the farmers and others interested to consider the advisability of organizing an agricultural society. The meeting was held at the court house on the 1 3th of September of that year. F. A. Tisdall, Sr., of Courtland, now Warren, Township, presided, and W. B. Green, of West Galena, acted as secretary. After some discussion, it was resolved to organize an agricultural society, to be called the " Jo Daviess County Agricultural Society," and H. Newhall, S. S. Brown, Joseph Finley, William B. Green and E. B. Washburne were appointed a committee on Constitution and By-Laws. At a subsequent meeting the constitution was accepted and adopted.

The first officers were: S. S. Brown, President; F. A. Tisdall, Sr., A. Edgerton and Joseph Finley, Vice Presidents; John E. Smith, Treasurer; W. W. Huntington, Corresponding Secretary; R. S. Norris. Recording Secretary.

These gentlemen at once entered upon their respective duties for the furtherance of the object desired by the organization of the society. Feeling that their success depended, in a great measure, upon the holding of an annual fair, and also the importance of controlling some suitable piece of ground for that purpose, and the society being financially weak, it was determined to apply to the Board of Supervisors for assistance, in the purchase of the same, who generously agreed to pay for the same (ten acres), providing the society would fence and make suitable improvements thereon.

best interests of the society, presuming that gate fees would be the principal source of revenue. Some difficulty was experienced in fixing upon a site, and the question of selecting the ground was finally left to the Board of Supervisors, with a request that a committee be appointed from that body to confer with the Executive Committee of the society in locating the grounds. In accordance with this request, Messrs. M. Claypool, J. D. Champion and J. W. White were appointed as such committee from the Board of Supervisors. After examining several pieces of ground, they finally recommended the purchase of ten acres of ground at Horse Shoe Mound, two miles east of the City of Galena. Funds were raised to fence the grounds with a tight board fence, and also to make sheds and buildings necessary for the accommodation of stock and articles sent in for exhibition. The most of the money needed for this purpose was raised among the business men of Galena, and the City Council contributed very handsomely, which enabled the committee to fully prepare for the first annual fair of Jo Daviess County Agricultural Society, which was held on the 23d, 24th, and 25th of September, 1856. The financial report of the fair is as follows:

The second board of officers were: S. S. Brown. President; H. S. Townsend, Joseph Finley and A. Edgerton, Jr., Yice Presidents; John E. Smith, Treasurer; W. W. Huntington, Corresponding Secretary; and R. S. Norris, Recording Secretary. The election for these officers was held at the annual meeting, in December, 1856.

Enlarged grounds were deemed a necessity, and the new board of officers inaugurated and carried out measures for the purchase, from James Roberts, of 4 71-100 acres, which were enclosed with the other grounds, and increased its area to 14 71-100 acres.

Financial Exhibit

The following officers were elected for 1859: E. M. Bouton, President; John B. Reynolds, Thomas Prouse and J. Bryan, Vice Presidents; Kittoe, Corresponding Secretary ; R. S. Norris, Recording Secretary.

The officers elected for 1860, were, E. D. Kittoe, President; Thomas Prouse, H. S. Townsend, and E. H. Beebe, Vice Presidents; E. M. Bouton, Treasurer; A. Philleo, Corresponding Secretary; R. S. Norris, Recording Secretary.

Such were the beginnings of the Jo Daviess Agricultural Society. It has been carefully and judicially managed from the time of its organization, and it is one of the very few societies of the kind that has always " paid its way."

They were sold, and the present grounds purchased and fitted up. The society was " first organized," says the last report, "on the membership basis of annual payments, but finding this plan hardly adequate to furnish a liberal premium list, its managers, in 1866, conceived the plan of a stock company, and so organized under the state laws, and have been successfully running since that time, holding annual fairs and paying liberal premiums, but never as yet paying dividends from earnings, to its stockholders, the object of its organization not being as much for the profit of dividends on its stock as to furnish the annual holiday to the citizens in the district, and for the advancement of the interests of the agriculturist, the mechanic, and the artist. Hence, all gate fees and earnings have been paid back to the successful competitors at its fairs. And the'executive committee earnestly hope that all those who feel an interest in such enterprises will continue to aid it by their presence at the fair to be held September 24 to 27, 1878 ; and the committee would respectfully suggest that the merchants of Galena fix a day for the closing of their stores, so that all may have an opportunity to attend the fair, thus insuring the receipt of gate fees sufficient to pay the large and liberal premium list offered by them, as the gate alone is the source from which arises the funds to pay expenses and premiums."

Financial Exhibit, 1877

The first grange organized in this county was at the house of J. Tear, in Warren, Nov. 25, 1872, when G. W. Curtiss was elected Master, and J. Bird, Secretary. The latter was the first county deputy, and organized nearly all the granges in the county. The office of state chaplain was awarded to this county at the Champaign session of State Grange in 1875, in the person of L. F. Farnham. At the Peoria session in 1878, G. W. Curtiss was elected a member of the executive committee. There existed at this time seven, out of seventeen, originally chartered granges in this county. Outside of these are several hundred ancient patrons (members of granges which have fallen by the way), who are still in sympathy with the organization. As elsewhere, so in this county, there were too many granges (one township had four,) chartered, for that healthy growth, essential to its success. While among the objects sought by the patrons are amusements, education, and pecuniary profit, of which the last should be the least essential, still many thought in the pathway of the grange was the rapid road to sudden wealth, with but little, if any, exertion on their part, and in which they were very properly disappointed. Others looked for easily acquired political preferment, and having reckoned without their host, very suddenly lost all interest in the grange, and departed from its gates. The granges remaining in good standing in the order, with the later additions of members, are on a more permanent basis than the last granges, and are silently but effectually doing much towards accomplishing the objects and work for which they were organized.

Horticultural Society

James G. Soulard, Esq., the first president of the Jo Daviess County Horticultural Society, planted the first vineyard in this county, in 1832, on his old homestead, one and one-half miles northwest of Galena. He planted about one and one half acres with the Catawba and Isabella varieties. In 1834 he commenced the first nursery for the growth of apple, pear, plum and other fruit trees, and was the leading nurseryman of the Northwest until about 1858.

Mr. Soulard was born in 1798, first visited Galena in 1821 and 1822, and made his permanent home here in 1857. His tastes led him to engage in horticulture, in which he has been enthusiastically engaged nearly all his life. He is one of those noble, generous, whole-souled men who aided in the development of this country. He is now an old man, who, ere long, will be gathered to his fathers, but let it be inscribed on the stone that shall mark his last resting-place: " He did not live in vain." Mr. Soulard imported stocklargely from Europe, in addition to his own growth, introducing many valuable varieties of fruits now generally cultivated, among which may be mentioned the Elvira grape. There are sample trees now growing on his old grounds that he imported, and that are not to be found elsewhere. He also experimented largely in efforts to produce new varieties of fruits. Among the results of his experiments are the " Soulard Apple" and the " Soulard Crab." The former is now rated first in the list of Fall apples. The tree is hardy, and the fruit is esteemed for its superior flavor, size and general good qualities. The " Soulard Crab Apple" he produced by hybridizing the wild crab of the country with the common, grafted apple.

In connection with this part of the history of the county, it will not be out of place to mention that the Hallett orchard, on the old Hallett farm, in the Township of Rice, is from seeds planted by Moses Hallett, in 1832. It is still thrifty and fruitful.

There are now standing on the Soulard homestead, and on the " Chetlain place," about a quarter of a mile distant, some venerable old seedling pear trees, about sixty feet in height. There are others at Savanna, Carroll County, and they are found scattered in the pathway of the Jesuits who early visited this region, from Detroit to St. Louis. It is not known by whom these trees in Galena were planted, but it is supposed by some that the seeds were planted by the Jesuit priests in some of their visits to the Indians here, or by the early Swiss and French settlers. They were certainly planted a long time before 1832.

The " Miner Plum," now well known throughout the West, originated here. It is said the trees were brought to this region in 1831, by a man from Ohio, who planted them on the Townsend farm, in Rush Township, but the next year, when the Black Hawk War commenced, he took them up and brought them here, left them with Major Hiuckley, and left the country. Major Hinckley planted them and they still stand, about twentyfive in number, on the old Hinckley farm, now owned by Captain Porter. At a little distance they resemble an old New England apple orchard. The trees are large, measuring, two feet from the ground, four or five feet in circumference, branching out about six feet from the ground, and spreading from thirty to thirty-six feet. They are hardy and fruitful. It is a singular fact that, although the trees are said to have been brought from Ohio, no trees of the kind are to be found there except those originated from the old Hinckley farm.

There is also a singular variety of the elm, now propagated by treegrowers, which can be found native in no other locality in this part of the country. This is called by Mr. Scott the " Weeping Elm," and the original tree stands about one quarter of a mile east of the Hinckley plum orchard also mentioned, on a high, bleak point of land, where it has probably been growing for at least 150 years. The first settler who cleared the land was thoughtful enough to leave it standing on account of its singular appearance. It is about forty-five feet high, and two feet in diameter near the ground. When engrafted on the American elm, its branches grow directly downward, and in grafting, young stocks, unless supported for several years until the trunk becomes self-supporting, it runs about on the ground like a vine.

The Lieb cherry, now a favorite, originated in Galena. Mr. John Lieb re-visited his native Germany about twenty years ago, and while there found under a favorite cherry tree four little sprouts, which he supposed sprang from the roots of the tree, and were the same. He brought them with him when he returned to Galena, but they did not prove to be the same as he supposed. Three of them were worthless, but one which he planted himself produced fruit of a new and superior variety. Although some experts in vegetable physiology declare such a result impossible, the Lieb, says Mr. Scott, is unquestionably a hybrid between the Morello, or sour, and the Heart, or sweet, types of the cherry. The fruit is aljout three times the size of the Early Richmond, with very small pits or stones, deliciously pulpy

Order. Saxon Lodge took part in the Centennial celebration of the 4th of July, 1876, in Galena, and appeared in the imposing procession, mounted and in full uniform, making a magnificent display and exciting the admiration of the vast crowds of spectators, with which the streets of the city were thronged. The lodge meets in its Castle Hall every other Tuesday, pays weekly benefits to sick members, and carries out in other respects the objects of the Order. Its present officers are as follows: P. C., Chas. Scheerer; C. C., John F. Brendel; Y. C., H. B. Chetlain; Prelate, Frank LeBron; K. of R. & S., Geo. W. Perrigo; M. of E., B. F. Fowler; M. of F., G. H. Miller; M.-at-A., D. N. Reed; Inner Guard, S. P. Comstock; Outer Guard, Henry Kastner; Representative to the Grand Lodge, J. Fawcett; Alternate, Frank LeBron. Since the institution of the lodge, the office of Deputy Grand Chancellor has been held by George W. Perrigo, P. C.

Other Societies

St. Joseph's Benevolent Association. - This is also a society for benevolent purposes, similar to those mentioned. It was organized October 14, 1869. The first officers were:

Meetings have always been held in St. Mary's Church school-house. The present membership is eighty, and the cash capital about $2,000. The present officers are:

The Irish- American Benevolent Association, was organized in 1874, for same purposes as those above mentioned, although no charter has been the secured, and their actions are entirely independent. The present membership is 150. In 1875, they purchased the two-story brick building on the corner of Franklin and Bench Streets, which was built for a Catholic Convent. This property is valued at $2,000, and is still used as their hall. The present officers are:

The German Benevolent Society, of Galena was first organized in 1840, but no permanent institution was effected until February 10, 1844. It is an independent society, acting under a state charter, as a benevolent institution, its objects being to relieve its members who are in sickness, to bury the dead, and to assist widows and orphans. In 1853 they built their present brick hall, on Prospect Street, on the southwest side of the High School. It has continued its commendable labors to the present. time, and now has a membership of 141.

The Harmony Benevolent Society was originally organized as Harmony Lodge, No. 18, D. O. H., a German lodge, of the order of" Deutcher Orton Harugari," similar to the Odd Fellows in its purposes. The date of incorporation was July 22, 1849. John Eberhardt being the first Ober Bardi; Henry Fricke the first Secretary, and Frederick Bergman the first Treasurer.

In 1862 the meetings of the society were moved to the present location on Bench Street, in Wierich's Hall. This Association instituted a system of insurance among its members on July 31, 1871. In August, 1873, the Grand Lodge decided to begin a similar system, and requested this society to join in it, and transfer their funds ($6,369.72) to the treasury of the Grand Lodge. The local association thought this to be a one-sided bargain, and gave up its charter.

August 21, 1873, its members reorganized themselves under the name of Harmony Benevolent Society, an independent organization, with the following officers:

Galena Sociale Turner Gemeinde. - The aims and objects of the Turner societies, of which there are in the United States about two hundred Vereines, possessing property valued at $3,000,000 and a membership of nearly 15,000, are not generally understood by the American people, and as the order has been brought into prominence in Galena, we will give a brief synopsis of their origin. The Turner Vereine, or lodge, is an auxiliary to the General Assembly or Turnerbund, meaning Grand Lodge, from which body charters are obtained, the same as in the organization of other bodies. Numerous vereines, however, are in existence which claim no allegiance to the Turnerbund, and are, therefore, independent of that body. To this class the Galena Sociale Turner Gemeinde belongs, though the rules by which it is governed, as well as the objects of the Society, are exactly the same as those deriving their charters from the General Assembly.

The original object of the Turner Unions is the .development of scientific gymnastics, which object has seemed to languish somewhat among young German-Americans, and the Association becomes one of social intercourse, while the exercises become a means of occasional amusement. The history of the order in this city has been marked with several reverses. The first organization dates back to 1851, when it was composed of many of our adopted citizens, whose names have since stood high upon the roll of honor. Their meetings were then held in Harmonia Hall, where they had valuable scenery belonging to the dramatic company, which was an auxiliary of the Association.

The society continued until the outbreak of the civil war, when it disbanded, and the majority of its members, inspired by love for the flag of

History Of Jo Daviess Oounty

April 6, 1872, the present Galena Sociale Turner G-emeinde was organized at Wierich Hall, when the following named gentlemen were duly elected officers of the society:

The members of this new organization were composed of the very best portion of the German population. Their numbers rapidly increased, which suggested the need of more commodious quarters. It was then that the project of erecting a hall was agitated, which resulted in the building of an edifice not only for their, but for the public benefit. Turner Hall is now the place of holding the majority of public entertainments which visit Galena. It is a large stone building, with a hall on the first floor, which cost $15,000. It is furnished with a large stage, 46 by 22 feet, piano, costly scenery, and is considered by the traveling entertainment companies to be one of the finest in Northwestern Illinois.

At the time of laying the corner-stone (in 1874) of this building, a grand celebration and procession was made, embracing sixteen societies of Galena and a host of citizens. The procession formed at 10:30 A. M. on Bench Street, and marched through Bench, Meeker, Main and Gear Streets, concluding by passing up Bench Street to the Public Hall, where appropriate exercises were the order of the day. The Chief Marshal was Col. M. M. Wheeler; Aid-de-Camp, Geo. W. Perrigo.

Galena High School. - June 5, 1860, the number of members of the School Board was changed from three to five. The first board ander this act was J. N. Waggoner, Thomas Foster, S. W. McMaster, H. W. Foltz and John Adams. One member of the board, Mr. McMaster, was chosen to act as superintendent.

At this time the erection of the High School building was begun, with John Adams and Mr. McMaster as building committee. Oliver Marble was hired to superintend the completion of the building, who reported it finished on December 8, 1860. It is a fine, large, brick structure of three stories, on Prospect Street. The contractor, D. Farr, received $11,219.35, and a bill of $1,712.92 was allowed for furniture.

At this time seventeen teachers were enrolled, and the school population was 4,262. A. F. Townsend, now of Waterloo, Iowa, was principal, at "60 per month. On August 8, 1862, H. H. Miller was made principal, at resigned. August 24 Sterne -Rogers was elected principal, at $100 per month, who continued until September 6, 1869, when the present efficient principal, Mr. Samuel Hayes, was employed.

The present Board of Education consists of Dennis Galvin, President; D. N. Corwith, Treasurer; Wm. Hempstead, M. Munchrath, Dennis Galvin, C. L. Butcher and Andrew Telford.

The Custom House And Marine Hospital

At Galena were built under an appropriation of an Act of Congress for the year 1856. The buildings were commenced in June, 1857, and finished in the Fall of 1859. Messrs. Geiger & Joice, of the City of Washington, being the contractors, Ely S. Parker, Superintendent; and Daniel Wann, Disbursing Agent. The Custom House cost $78,529; the Marine Hospital, $43,430.

Post-Office

The post-office at Galena is the oldest in the northern part of the state; established June 4, 1826, as Fever River P. O., Crawford Co., Illinois, and changed to Galena, December 17, 1827. Until 1828 there was no regular mail service, and the office was supplied by steamboat in Summer, and during the Winter the postmaster was idle. In 1828 it was supplied from Vandalia once in two weeks, the mail being carried on horseback. Weekly mail service was established May 1, 1829. Notwithstanding the woful lack of mail service, the office early became one of great importance, as it was for some time the only post-office in the lead mining district. In the third number of the Miners' Journal, the list of letters remaining in the postoffice July 1, 1828, numbered 350.

Of these, the only ones known to be living are J. G. Soulard, A. Tomlin, W. W. Huntington and H. H. Houghton, all residing in Galena, and J. L. Slaymaker, residing near Albany, 111. Howard left Galena, as Captain of Co. I, 19th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and was killed at the fatal railroad disaster near Cincinnati, while his regiment was en route to the seat of war. Mr. Huntington served continuously from March, 1861, to May, 1863, and is probably tb.3 oldest postmaster of his class in the state. During Mr. Honghton's term, he was Special Agent of the Post-office Department until his re-appointment in 1877.

Banking And Insurance

The Galena Branch of the State Bank of Illinois went into operation Dec. 5, 1835. Daniel Wann, President; Wm. C. Bostwick, Cashier. Mr. Wann was succeeded by Frederick Stahl about 1840. E. W. Turner was

The Galena Insurance Company was organized originally in 1851, with William Hernpstead. President and Nicholas Stahl, Secretary, simply to preserve the charter. So continued until March 19, 1857, when it was reorganized by the election of Frederick Stahl, Nicholas Dowling, Chas. L. Stephenson, M. Y. Johnson, G. W. Campbell and John Lorrain, Directors; Frederick Stahl, President; and William H. Snyder, Secretary. The company transacted a banking business in connection with insurance, but abandoned the insurance business after two or three years. April 14, 1865, its stockholders having decided to take stock in the Merchant's National Bank, voted to discontinue banking business on and after the evening of the 15th, except in liquidation, that the deposits and other trust funds should be transferred to the bank, and that the assets should be divided as soon as realized. This company was successful, and at its close its stockholders received $14 for every $1 invested.

The Merchants National Bank of Galena, capital $125,000, was organized March 7, 1865, by the election of Augustus Esty, Frederick Stahl, L. S. Felt, Thomas Foster, J. H. Hellman, S. Crawford, J. M. Kyan, R. S. Norris and P. Klingle, Directors; Augustus Esty, President; Wm. H. Snyder, Cashier. Present officers: Augustus Esty, President; Wm. H. Snyder, Cashier.

The Bank of Galena. - The house of Rogers & Corwith were largely in the clothing business and dealing in lead in Galena at an early period, gradually became engaged in banking business; were known as bankers in 1842. In 1847 the firm sold their clothing business to E. H. & H. P. Corwith, and Henry Corwith, Nathan Corwith and Charles H, Rogers became known as the house of N. Corwith & Co., bankers. In 1853, the Bank of Galena was organized by these gentlemen under the laws of the State of Illinois, with Henry Corwith, President, and C. C. P. Hunt, Cashier. Nathan Corwith was afterwards President, succeeded in 1864 by R. H. McClellan. The Bank of Galena was succeeded by the National Bank of Galena.

The National Bank of Galena was organized in March, 1865. Its first directors were: Henry Corwith, Nathan Corwith, R. H. McClellan. T. B. Hughlett and John E. Corwith. President, R. H. McClellan; Cashier, E. C. Ripley. Present officers: R. H. McClellan, President; E. C. Ripley, Cashier; capital, $200,000.

The Gas Light Company Of Galena

contract with Samuel Ross to build for the company complete gas works, including mains and all the appliances for $80,000. Mr. Woodward resigned and Samuel Ross took his place in the board. In 1857, the company accepted the act of incorporation by the Legislature, and John Lorrain was elected director in the place of Samuel Ross. July 22, 1859, the property of the company was sold by the Sheriff. John Lorrain was the purchaser, and on the 24th day of October, 1859, the Gas Light Company of Galena was organized under the general laws, by John Lorrain, Darius Hunkins, Shewell S. Lorrain and O. O. Phillips. John Lorrain, D. Hunkins and S. S. Lorrain, Trustees; John Lorrain, President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Gas Light Company of Galena was incorporated by special act of the Legislature approved March 30, 1869. The charter was accepted by the old company which was reorganized May 1, 1869. John Lorrain, D. Hunkins and William J. Anderson, Directors. O. O. Phillipsvwas elected in place of Anderson, March 5, 1872, and there has been no change since. Capital stock of the company, paid up, $63000.

The Galena And Southern Wisconsin Railroad

Is purely a Galena enterprise. It was chartered by the Legislature of Illinois by act approved January 26, 1853. The original corporators were : Henry Corwith, James Carter, Alexander C. Davis, Daniel A. Barrows, Lucius S. Felt, Eli A. Collins, Win. H. Bradley, Madison Y. Johnson, John Lorrain, Edward Hempstead, Nicholas Dowling and Halstead S. Townsend. Daniel A. Barrows. A. C. Davis, E. Hempstead, Fred. Stahl, James Carter and Henry Corwith, were made Commissioners, until a board of directors were chosen, for receiving subscriptions to the capital stock of the company. This charter authorized the building of a railroad from Galena to the line of Wisconsin in Jo Daviess County. By act approved March 2, 1857, the Legislature of Wisconsin incorporated the Galena and Southern Wisconsin Railroad Company. Nicholas Dowling, Edward H. Beebe, M. Y. Johnson, Svlvester McMasters, Daniel A. Barrows, L. S. Felt and Wellington Weigley, corporators, and authorized them to continue the construction of their railroad from a point on the state line in Jo Daviess County to a point of intersection with the line of the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad Company, west of Monroe. Having obtained the necessary legislation in both states, the company procured one hundred thousand dollars of the bonds of Jo Daviess County and an equal amount of the bonds of the City of Galena, but the Milwaukee company finally abandoned the line from Monroe to the Mississippi, and the G. & S. W. R. R. surrendered the bonds but maintained its organization until the charter could be used under more favorable circumstances. In 1871, Darius Hunkins, Madison Y. Johnson, James M. Ryan, Geo. R. Melville and Richard Barrett were the Directors of the Company. Madison Y. Johnson, President; James M. Ryan, Vice President; Robert Brand, Secretary; Wra. H. Snyder, Treasurer; Edward Harding, Chief Engineer; Louis Shissler, Attorney. In August, 1871, the directors having determined to adopt the narrow gauge for the contemplated road, and the president appealed to the citizens of Galena to subscribe for the stock. In October of the same year the engineer reported that the route had been surveyed. In 1872 the City of Galena issued its bonds for $57,- 000 to aid in the construction of the road.

was suspended until 1874, when a reorganization was effected by the election of a new board of officers. In July of that year bonds to the amount of $200,000 were negotiated; work was resumed, and the road ironed to Plattville on the 31st day of December, 1874.

In consequence of some misunderstanding, the expected Plattville aid was withheld, and from the further fact of a snow blockade, the road was not operated that'Winter. In the early Spring of 1875, another organization became necessary because of the resignation of some of the old managers. The new company went to work at once to put the road in condition to be operated. In the Fall of 1874, the company commenced running trains from Galena to Benton, fifteen miles. In the early Summer of 1875, trains commenced running t o Plattville, since when there has been no interruption except by a "washout'1 by heavy rains, July 4, 1876, after which the traffic was suspended for a period of three months, when the damage was repaired and traffic resumed. Since then the earnings of the road have been gradually increasing, until they are now a little in excess of the expenses. In 1877, the road was extended from Phillips' Corner, four miles east of Plattville, via Belmont to McCormick's Corners, ten miles. This part of the road will be in operation early this Spring (1878). As fast as the means of the company will permit, the road will be continued to Wingville, in the centre of the zinc region of Wisconsin. These mines are the richest zinc discoveries ever made in the U. S. From Wingville it will be extended to Muscoda or vicinity, on tlie Wisconsin River, as soon as possible. When completed that far, the pine and lumber regions will be reached and made accessible and available to the country between Galena and Mnscoda.

The stations along the road after leaving Galena, are : Millbrig, Buncombe, Benton, Cuba City, St. Rose, St. Elmo, and Platteville, on the old route. On the extension, the only station named is Grand Yiew (old Belmont). Trains make one trip per day from Galena to Plattville and return. An additional train will be established this Spring. From the time the road was first completed to the present, there has been no accident or injuries to passengers or employes, of any kind - a record that can not be shown by every railroad.

Galena Turnpike Company

" Notice is hereby given that the books will be opened on Saturday, May 30, 1868, at 10 o'clock, A. M., at the Court House in Galena, for subscription to the capital stock of a turnpike or macadamized road from Galena to the Wisconsin State line, at or near John Miller's place, at which meeting the organization will be fully completed under the general laws of Ike State of Illinois. All interested are invited to be present.

This road was designed to take the place of a plank road that had been built by a company known as the Mineral Point Plank Road Company, which was organized about 18'56 or 1857. The plank road was built but did not prove to be a profitable investment. In times when the roads were good, the road was avoided by farmers and others to save toll. When planks in one part of the road would rot away, their places would be supplied with planks taken up and removed from another part. With this kind of management, says Mr. R. S. Norris, teams were kept busy all the time transferring planks from one part of the road to another. The road was never in good condition, and at last came to be almost universally condemned and travel over it abandoned. Under this condition of aitairs, a few of the enterprising men of Galena and vicinity, conceived the idea suggested in the advertisement quoted above.

1868, W. Weigley, S. S. Brown and James M. Ryan were elected directors. S. S. Brown was chosen as president of the company, and R. S. Korris, secretary and treasurer.

The building of the road was commenced in July, 1868, and completed and put under toll to the Four Mile House by the 1st of November, of that year. The remainder of the road to th.e State line was completed in

1869. Twenty-two thousand dollars of the capital stock was paid in$ with which the road was undertaken and completed to the Four Mile House. The balance of the road was completed from its earnings. At the beginning of the undertaking, the company issued bonds bearing eight per cent interest per annum, on which a loan of $15,500 was negotiated. After the completion of the road, stock dividends were declared every six months and the earnings of the road applied to the payment of the bonds which were all all taken up in 1873. Since the payment of the bonds, the dividends have averaged about seven per cent per annum.

When the company was organized the county authorities gave them the right of way and control of the old free road, sixty feet in width, for thirty years from 1868. The charter will expire in 1898.

De Soto House. - In 1852 a stock company was organized for the purpose of erecting a hotel building which would be in keeping with the general prosperity and growth of Galena, and, as a result, the present De Soto House was completed in 1853, at a cost of $85,000. It was planned to be of five stories, but, deciding to add another, the company borrowed $13,000 on mortgage, for that purpose. The hotel was furnished at a cost of $15,000, and first occupied by John C. Parks. But, as is often the case, the mortgage ultimately caused the sale of the building. It was then held under foreclosure until 1874, when the present proprietor, Wm. H. Blewett, reopened and has since managed it in commendable style. It is a six-story brick building, 100 by 110 feet in size, containing 240 rooms.

The principal hotels of Galena now are the De Soto House, by Wm. H. Blewett; European Hotel, by L. Yan Embden; Mississippi House, by Joseph Dittenburg; Lawrence House, by John Hassig; Logan House, by Henry Logan; United States Hotel, by James Ingram; Hornung House, by John Hornung; Broadway House, by Wm. Cloth; Union House, by W. Ivey; Bethel House, by Wm. Hoey.