Winnebago Township (part 2 of 3)

Very soon after the completion of these preliminary details, active operations were commenced by the contractor, the preparation of the ground for the foundation walls and the delivery of the material being first in order. On the 23d of June the corner-stone was laid, with great eclat, and was participated in by the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders of the surrounding country. Grand Master DeWitt C. Cregier, of the Grand Masonic Lodge of the State of Illinois, conducting the ceremonies, which were witnessed by thousands of people. On this occasion the Rocktord people spared no efibrt to preserve and maintain, and, if possible, to add ,to their ah-eady well established reputation for hospitality and excellence of taste in welcoming visitors. Alm'ost every door was thrown open to their invited guests, and everybody was invited. The city was handsomely decorated. Flags were suspended across the streets, private residences, business houses and public buildings were handsomely festooned with flowers and evergreens, and every face wore an expression of happiness and pleasure. It was the great gala day in the history of Rockford and Winnebago County.

The new court house building is a model of architectural beauty, and is known as the French A'^enetian, with American treatment. It is 82x113 feet on the ground, covering an area of 9,266 square feet, and three stories high, with the main front on State street. The foundation walls are sunk seven feet and six inches in the ground below the grade line, and rest on footing courses of solid Joliet limestone six feet in width. The lower or basement walls are built from eight-inch stone, backed by sixteen-inch brick lining, making twenty-four-inch walls. Above this, the wall-stone is six inches in thickness, with fourteen-inch brick backing, making twentyinch walls. [The stone used in the exterior walls was brought from

Walker's quarry, at Joliet. The brick used previous to the disaster of the 11th of May, IS 77, was from Brown & Gow's kilns, about five miles above Rockford. Those used after that disaster were brought from the kilns of the Chicago Bridewell.]

The basement and first story are divided into four sections each, by corridors running north and south and east and west. The cori'idors or halls running from the front to tlie rear, are twelve feet in width, and those running from east to west, fourteen feet six inches in width. The basement -story is twelve feet in heighth from fioor to ceiling, and is divided into rooms for offices, fire-proof vaults, boiler department, storage room, water closet, etc., there being ten rooms and two vaults,

Tlie first story proper, is 16 feet from fioor to ceiling, and is reached from the State street entrance by a double flight of stone steps of 21 steps each. This story is arranged and divided into rooms for the use of the county offices. The ofiices or roo)ns on the right are assigned to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the general ofiice being 21x21 feet, and the room for the recording department 13x21 feet. These departments are provided with a fire-proof vault 14x32 feet, for the preservation of records.

The Sherifi"'s ofiice is in the west side of the building, and immediately south of and adjoining the Recorder's ofiice, but has no communicating door therewith. The entrance to this ofiice is by the west corridor.

The ofiices of the County Clerk and Treasurer (in one) and County Judge are located on the left of the main entrance. The Clerk and Treasurer's ofiice is 21x35 feet, and tlie room assigned to the County Judge, 12x15. These departments are also supplied with a vault 14x32 feet.

The rooms designed for the use of the County Court and Board of Supervisors are on the right and left of the rear or Elm street entrance, are 22x42 feet each, and are reached by a double flight of stone steps, of 19 steps each, from the Elm street side.

The second story is 35 feet froin the floor to the center part of the dome. The main part of it is designed for the use of the Circuit Court, and is 72x76 feet. On the right is the Judge's private room, 12x21 feet; a room for the use of the State's Attorney, 15x17 feet, and the grand jury room, 12x21 feet. On the left the petit jury room, 12x21 feet; a retiring room for members of the bar, 17x21 feet, and a law library room, 12x21 feet. Stairs lead to this story from the bisecting corridor in the first story. The building is lighted by six large French plate glass windows in front and rear, and eight on each side.

A large dome 30x30 feet and 119 feet in height from the ground line to the top of the finial, rises over the front entrance. The south side of this dome is supported by two stone piers,'" rising to a height of 37 feet, seven feet six inches at the base, and three feet six inches at the top. These piers are surmounted by two Corinthian iron columns, 18 inches in diameter, 2j- inches thick, and 23 feet 8 inches in height, on which rests the main box girder, weighing five and a half tons, which in turn supports the south wall of the dome.

In a circular panel immediately over the semi-dome, in large raised letters is the latin word Lex, meaning law. In the semi-dome, in richly carved bas-relief work, are three medallion panels, in which are figures representing Spring, Summer and Autumn.

*Tliese stone piers were introduced as strengthening supports in tlae reconstruction of he building after the fall of the dome, May 11, 1877.

Within tlie dome's pediment, with win<^s extended, an exqnisitely carved American Eagle will look down and out upon State street. A stone tablet on one side of the arched entrance will bear the date of the settlement of the county, date of organization, date of building of first court-house, do. of present court-house and its cost. On the other tablet will be inscribed the name of each township and date of its settlement, etc.

From the :23d of June, 1876, the day the corner stone was laid, until Friday, May 11, 1877, the work progressed without interruption. On that day, however, a disaster occurred that not only seriously retarded the progress of the work, but enshrouded the entii-e community in sorrow and gloom. About half- past eleven o'clock on that day, while citizens were pursuing their usual avocations, a sudden tremor ran through the air, a strange and startling sound rose and spread through the city with a terrible roar, and great clouds of dust darkened the horizon. "Before the people had time to take a second thought," said the Journal of Saturday, the 12th, "the sound swelled to a grinding roar, and all eyes^in the vicinity were involuntarily directed to the place of doom. First a single stone was seen to topple from the apex of the pediment of the main central tower, then the sides of the tower crumbled and fell inward, the front pediment leaped into the air towards State street; a confused roar - a cloud of whitish-yellow smoke - a half dozen men suspended in the air, or clinging to balustrade, or ropes, or cornices, or taking the death leap - and then a crush and cloud followed b}' a shudder, and afterwards a hush like that of death. ' Good God ! it's the court-house!' ran from lip to lip along the street. Crowds hurried to the scene, and drew as near to the ruins as possible.- It was discovered that all but a portion of the front pediment of the main central tower, dome, or pavilion, had fallen, mostly down through the middle of the building, crushing in its descent much of the inside work of the structure. The debris filled the ground front apartment behind the grand entrance, the northwest and northeast basement rooms, and the central hallway. The boiler which fed the two engines was precipitated from the uj^per floor to the bottom, with the hoisting engine, which was on the same floor. The iron girders were twisted like broom wires, and beams, brickwork, sculptured stones and human bodies were mingled in inextiicable confusion. It was known from the first that the loss of life by the disaster must be fearful. The shattered building still threatened death to whoever ventured near it, and going inside of it under the hanging, riven timbers, and the threatening, shattered walls was a thing of hazard. But men soon ventured inside and began to overhaul the debris. Soon two men were brought out of the main hall on the west side of the building, one with his face 'badly cut, but able to stand and talk, but the other battered, broken and mashed almost beyond recognition. Mr. Richardson and Supervisor Latham were on the roof when the tower fell. Mr. Richardson was soon after seen walking on the west wall, whence he calndy gave some orders to the men below. Both gentlemen reached the ground in safety. How they escaped they could not clearly tell. They had but a minute or two befctre stood upon the portion which fell. Going into the building and looking np among the broken timbers where the dome had stood, two men were seen up there on the horrible perch. When the tower began to crack and tremble, two colored men and Timothy Fiannigan took fearful trapeze leaps over the front. One ot the colored men struck upon a pile of coal dust and escaped with but slight injuries. The other colored man caught upon a guy rope and

" As soon as possible gangs of men were organized to work among the rubbish, in search of the buried victims. Body after body was exhumed and removed, some dead and some alive, and others that died upon the grass soon after removal.

"Four horribly mangled corpses were soon laid in the north wing of the old court-house. John *Peck was taken to the City Hotel with a leg broken. Young Mr. John Pipe, the son of the Superintendent, was taken out dead and laid in the court-house. Albert Haug, and a colored man, with one leg off, and the body of Timothy Flannigan, wei'e also deposited in the same place. Mr. Mclnnis was conveyed in a hack to 407 South Fourth street, East Side, and another man to the corner of Court and Wall streets, South Side. Albert Uollenbeck, a worthy Sonth Side man, was known to be dead in the ruins. His little bo.y, who had come up town on hearing the dreadful news, inquired for his father. Somebody told him that his father was 'all right.' The little fellow went back rejoicing to inform the family, and all the time the hubband and parent was crushed and dead beneath the ruins.

" The firemen were soon at the scene, and busily working for the recovery of the bodies, under the direction of Chief Lakin. A stream was thrown on to the smouldering fire where the engine had fallen,which was soon extinguished. The firemen then, by the aid of the ladders, rescued t^vo or three men who were clinging to the outer walls of the building, and had fortunately not fallen with the tower. Chief Lakin ascended to the second floor and extricated Augustus Lucas, engineer of the upper engine, and he was conveyed to his home on Court street, where a dislocated hip was reduced by Dr. Burns. Doctors Fitch, Yincent, E-ichings, and others, treated the other wounded.

Cause. - The cause of this terrible calamity is easily understood and explained. The square base of the dome or tower was 80 or 90 feet from the ground, and rested in front on the wall over the arched grand portal. The rear part of it projected inside the building and was supported by two iron-fluted pillars, which rested on two columnar projections behind the portal, built of brick. These brick supports crumbled and let down the entire rear portion of the tower, which of course caused the destruction of the entire dome, some of it falling outward over the front, but the main part pitched over into the interior of the building and demolished much of the inside work, some of the flying rocks shooting clear out of the windows at the rear of the structure.

"Crowds from all parts of the city surged in and around the courthouse, and the police with difficulty prevented them from interfering with the workmen among the del)ris. All the afternoon they toiled, but the sun went down while yet poor Hollenbeck and Haug remained m the ruins. The wounded men were all properly cared for, and none of them had died at nightfall, though it was stated by the physicians that Peck and Harris, at the City Hotel, would probably die.

" The wife of the man killed, Flannigan, while riding to her home on Charles street, on her return from the terrible scene of her husband's death, fainted and was taken into Thos, Scott's coal office, where she was attended bj Dr. Clark, some ladies comine^ to his assistance, as Mrs. Flarmigan was eiiGiente^ and fears were entertained from the resnlt of her great agitation.

"' It was a noteworthy circumstance that scarcely a groan, and no outcry escaped the wounded men. They all seemed paralyzed by the terrible shock and uttered not a sound.

"" An inipiest was held on the four bodies recovered at that time and then lying in the old court-house. The jury then adjourned, to meet this morning at nine o'clock, at the City Council Rooms. The jury will, if possible, ascertain at whose door lies the criminal responsibility for this terrible disaster. Somebody is to blame for the ] proposed construction of a building which was liable to fall at any moment and crush to death those it was intended to shelter and protect, and it is the duty of this jury to ascertain, if possible, who the guilty parties are, and let the censure rest where it belongs.

^^ Killed. - Fred Haug, and A. Hollenbeck, still in ruins; John "Warren, A. Haug, John Pipe, George Gloss, Timothy Flannigan, bodies recovered.

" Wounded. - August Lucas, hip dislocated and cut on the head; Thos. Hayes, severe cut on the head; Wm. Mclnnis, slightly; John Peck, leg crushed, dangerously wounded; Geo. Smith, slightly; Hugh Eldridge, slightly cut in the head; Cicero Dickerson, slightly; Hendrez Beldahl, dangerously; Isaac Donelly, slightly; John Donaldson, missing; Frank Harris, badly; Linholm, badly.

'*Some of the wounded are in a critical condition. Of the killed, but two, Hollenbeck and Flannigan, lived in liockford, the others coming with Mr. Richardson from Springfield.

"-'Memorial Service. - At a meeting of the pjistors of the churches of the city last evening, it was decided to hold public services expressive of the Christian sympathy of the citizens of Rockford with the sutit'erers in the late calamity at the new court-house, in the Second Congregational Church, to-morrow (Sunday) evening, at 7: 30 p. m. Addresses 'will be made by clericvmen and citizens.

"At the close of the services, a collection and subscription will be taken for the benefit of the families of the killed and injured, as it is understood that several of these families will be left in great destitution by the loss of husbands and fathers. It is hoped that a generous contribution will be received at the services.

'- Thanks for Aid. - Mr. Richardson, the contractor, desires to express his profound thanks to the citizens of Rockford for the prompt and timely aid rendered him at this dire calamity, in rescuing the wounded, and also for the many manifestations of sympathy extended the sufi'erers. -

" Z«^;6/'. - Saturday morning, 6 o'clock. - A large gang of hands were engaged all night in clearing away the debris, but up to this time neither of the remaining bodies have been recovered. This work will be continued during the day with an increased force."

the all absorbing question is, "'Who is responsible?" Our yesterday's edition gave what we had good reason to think was the truth in reference to an alleged difference of opinion between Mr. Richardson and the building committee in regard to the strength of the building. The statement which we made reflected slightly on the liberality of the Board of Supervisors, and intimated that they had perhaps adhered too pertinaciousl}' to the building contract. The committee naturally took umbrage to this view, and have so expressed themselves to us. The Journal has no intention of doing the gentlemen injustice, and has taken pains to get an expression of views from Messrs. Ferguson and Haines, of the building committee, and of the architect, Mr. Gay, as well as of Mr. Richardson. Our reporter met Mr. Gay at the court-house, in company with E. B. Sumner, Esq., and was introduced by the latter gentleman. The following conversation ensued:

" Reporter - Mr. Gay, have 3'ou anything to say through the Journal in regard to this great calamity? We should be pleased to give you ample opportunity for expression in our columns, if you desire to use them.

'' Mr. Gay - I have but just arrived, and until I have secured a thorough investigation, I prefer to give no expression in regard to the matter.

''Mr. Gay - I do; as thorough an investigation as possible. Until that transpires I am unable to express an opinion regarding the disaster. I am willing to bear the revelations of a thorough investigation. What results therefrom docs not concern me nearly as much as the recovery of these dead men from the ruins. Mv feelings of sorrow for the sad result of the calamity are inexpressible. All other considerations aie unimportant to me in comparison to this fearful loss of life and suffering.

Reporter - Is it true, Mr. Gay, that there has been all along a disagreement between yourself and Mr. Richardson in regard to particulars of construction in the building, or its strength?

" Mr. Gay - No, sir - ^you see I have not been here to examine the work since February; and you know how it was then; everything appeared all right, so far as I could see.

" Reporter - Those brick piers, or columns, were the supports of the iron pillars above and the inside wall of the pavilion, were they not, and were they so designed in the plans and specifications?

"Further questioning in regard to the cause of failure of these supports was evaded by Mr. Gay, and the conversation was diverted by the approach of Mayor Ferguson, chairman of the court-house building committee.

" The Mayor began to reprimand the Journal for its statement regard- 'g the attitude of the building committee and the Board of Supervisors, which our representative took with the meekness usual with the craft. Then the following colloquy ensued:

" Reporter - Mr. Ferguson, it has been reported "that a difference had all along existed between the building committee, representing the Board of Supervisors, and the contractor, Mr. Richardson, in regard to certain features of the construction, arising from the fact that the coni*

" Mr. Ferguson - There has not a word passed between the contractor and ourselves in regard to such a matter - not a solitary word. We have not had the least intimation that anything was wrong. We have repeatedlv gone over the building with Mr. Richardson, and satisfaction was expressed with the nature and progress of the work by all parties.

-- This was the most important part of Mr. Ferguson's statement to us. He further stated, also, that nothing would l)e done about renewing the work till a meeting of the Board of Supervisors, which would be called immediately. When asked if he thought the construction would go on, he replied tliat he could not say for certain. All would depend on the action of the Boar.i.

Mr. Richardson, when approached, was not at all inclined to talk. He said that he was placed in a very trying position, and denied that any disagreement had arisen between himself and the Supervisors.

" From our conv^ersation with all the above mentioned parties, we were impressed with the idea that they formed a coterie a good deal more solid than rhat fatal brick support of the fallen pavilion ; that it would take a very pertinacious oyster knife to pry open the shell of 'keep mum' in which they had encased themselves. One fact they could not deny. The tower had fallen, and eight lives and a heavy cost to the county were the sacrifice. There was a defect somewhere. It was a significant fact, too, that Mr, Richardson and Mr. Latham had but a moment before the catastrophe been peering about at the now ruined pavilion. Why did they do it^ Mr. La tham nearly let the cat escape from the bag by his answer to the coroner's inquest, when he said that they were looking to^ see whether the tower was defective or not.

"It is now quite evident ^ that the blame will be made to rest on the nature ot the brick in the supports. It is said that they were too soft; and that if they had been as hard as ordinary Milwaukee brick, they would have been sufticiently strong for the purpose. If that were so, it seems as if somebody ought to have known that the brick were too soft. The pending investigation will probably bring out the facts in the case; at all events, the coroner's jury should sift the matter to the very bottom, so that the truth shall be revealed, if possible, J ustice to all parties demands nothing less.

"The toilers in the ruins worked like Titans last night among the debris in the northwest room and in the hall-way in the rear of that room, under the direction of Tom Force. At a little past twelve their ghastly labors were rewarded by the discovery of the bodies of Ilollenbeck and Ilaug, down deep under massive portions of the stone-work. A huge stone, about five feet square, lay in a tilted position, one edge resting on Ihe body of Hollenbeck, Hang's body laying across Hollen beck's legs. Atop of Hang lay a couple of large sculptured stones, of vast weight. Hollenbeck's head lay away under the rock above him, and his arm was stretched out and pinioned between undiscovered rocks. To extricate the body of Hollenbeck, it was necessary to drill through the tilted stone and break a portion off". Then the body was removed, by separating it from the arm, which latter is still under the rock. Hang's body was jammed and doubled up beyond semblance of a man, but that of Hollenbeck was in tolerable preservation. The bodies were extricated about 5 a. m. Both were depos-

"Harris, who is at the City Hotel, suffered amputation of his leg at about 11 o'clock. Dr. Yincejit performed the operation, assisted bj Drs. McAffee, Tibbets, Knight and Hill. The patient is doing well. He lies in a state ot stupor, which usually supervenes after amputation. The other wounded men are doing as well as could be expected.

^'-Latest. - Lindholm, one of the Swedes injured, died last night at 9 o'clock, and Peck, at the City Hotel, died this morning at 12:4:5, thus making nine persons dead from the disaster. One of the limbs of Harris, also at the City Hotel, is so badly crushed that the physicians have decided on amputation, which will be done this morning. The remaining wounded, so far as we have been able to learn at time ot going to press, are doing well.

"The funeral of John Peck, the dead man at the City Hotel, will be held to-day at 10 o'clock. Rev. D. M. Reed officiating. Two sisters of the deceased arrived here from Rochester, Minnesota, this morning.

"The investigation will be entered upon speedily. The coroner's jury have requested Mayor Ferguson to visit Chicago, and he will probably go to-night. There he will procure the advice of building experts, and arrange for a thorough investigation."

Saturday evening the pastors of the several churches met in consultation and arranged to hold memorial services at the Second Congregational Church, on Sunday evening, to give expression to the Christian sympathy entertained by the citizens of Rockford with the sufferers in the terrible disaster. At this meeting, which was a large one, Duncan Ferguson, E,-q., chairman of the Board of Supervisors, presided. Addresses were made by clergymen and citizens, and a collection taken up for the benefit of the maimed and wounded, and for the families of the killed - several of the families being left in great destitution. It is needless to add that the response was hearty and substantial.

The inquest and inquiry as to the cause or causes of the disaster was commenced on Tuesday, the 15th of May, 1877. A large number of building experts and other witnesses were sworn and examined. Among the former were Messrs. Gay, the architect; Richardson, the building contractor; W. W. Boyington, Augustus Bauer, J. R, Willett, and L. D. Cleveland, the four last named gentlemen being Chicago architects of standing and experience. Twelve days were spent in this investigation. The testimony was very voluminous - too much so to be incorporated in this book, and with an explanatory article from the Rockford Journal of May 19, and the finding of the Coroner's Jury, the subject will be dismissed from these pages.

The Journal said: "Before entering upon a recital of the evidence adduced at the Coroner's inquest in the great court-house cuse, we will, as plainly as possible, explain the manner in which the fallen pavilion was supported, and why it fell. All who have seen it are familiar with the appearance of tlie grand central dome or pavilion of the now dishonored court-house; how it hung aloft over the grand portal, a thing of marvelous grace and beauty; and so absorbed were we all with its growth in symmetry and perfection, day by day, that we never stopped to inquire how it hung there, or how adequate were its supports. (And it has proved that some, whose business it was to think of that, were in a daze, as well.) That marvel of beauty, alas, was no ethereal thing, but had dead weight, pressing upon its sujiports with a ponderability estimated, with a strange variance in authorities, from 480 to 840 tons. The front, or north half, of the pavilion was supported bv the exterior wall of the building, and the arched entrance of the facade. "The south side of the pavilion hung away over into the interior of the building on a line with the wall partitioning the front rooms from the vaults next south of them. This south side was supported on two iron columns, !^2 feet in height, which rested on a columnar section of wall.

This wall wns the regular partitioning wall between the northwest front room and a vault in the rear, as before stated, and was 36 feet in height from the foundation. It was a hollow wall, with twelve inches of brick on one side and eight on the other side of the four inch vacuum. At the point where the iron pavilion-supporting pillar stood was a section two feet four inches square, and built up solid. A pilaster, or projection on the vault, or south side, of four inches, was built up with the wall. This section of the wall is what has been familiarly called the "pier," or column, in conversation and reports. It is not properly a column or pier at all, but merely a section of the wall proper. On the top of this section of wall was placed a Joliet cap-stone, two feet square; on this an iron plate two inches thick. On this pedestal stood the iron column, which reached up to the dome above and feebly held back a doom which the unconscious workmen had been piling up there for months. The cause of the catastrophe, now, is easily reached. The hundreds of tons of weight in the pavilion simply crushed the brick support underneath, and the fearful crash came. The brick wall was raised its entire height of thirty- six feet without a single bond-stone, and though Chicago experts say that if it had been properly constructed it would have sustained the superincumbent weight, Messrs. Richardson and Pipe say that it was entirely inadequate to support the weight put upon it."

An inquisition indented and taken for the people of the State of Illinois, at the City Council Chambers, in the city of Rockford, in said Winnebago County, on 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 21st, and 22d days of May, A. D. 1877, before me, Judson D. Burns, Coronor of said Winnebago County, in the State of Illinois, after viewing the bodies of Frederick Hang, Albert Hang, Timothy Flaimigan, John Pipe, Geo. Gloss, John Warren, Almira Hollenbeck, John. T. Pick, and Jared F. Harris, tlien and there lying dead, upon the oaths of Selden M. Clmrch, Foreman; H. W. Carpenter, Geo. S. Haskell, John R. Porter, G. A. Santord, J. B. Howell, Thos. Butterworth, Geo. Wilson, J. W. Seccomb, D. L. Emerson, Wm. ll. Smith, A. G. Lowrey, good and lawful men of said Winnebago County, who, being duly sworn to inquire upon the part of the people of the State of Illinois, into all the circumstances attending the death of the persons aforesaid, whose bodies they have viewed, and by whom the same was produced, and in what manner, and when and where the said dead bodies aforesaid came to their death, do say, upon their oaths aforesaid, that the said Frederick Haug, Albert Hang, Timothy Flannigan, John Pipe, Geo. Gloss, John Warren, Almira Hollenbeck, John T. Pick and Jared T. Harris were lying, when found, in the debris of the Court House of Winnebago County, State of Illinois, said court-house then being under construction and situated in the city of Kockford, west of Kock Kiver, in an enclosure known as Court House Square, in the County of "Winnebago and State of Illinois aforesaid, on the 11th and l'2th days of May, A. D. 1877, and that the said dead bodies aforesaid, when so found as aforesaid, appeared badly mutilated and crushed; and so the jurors aforesaid upon their oaths do say that the said Frederick Ilaug, Albert Haug, Timothy Flannigan, John Pipe, Geo. Gloss, John Warren, Almira Hollenbeck, John T. Pick and Jared F. Harris came to their death aforesaid by the reason of the falling of part of the main pavilion of the aforesaid court-house, on Friday, the lltli day of May, 1877, at the hour of 11:30 a. m., or thereabouts, the above named persons killed being mechanics and laborers employed upon and about the aforesaid court-house, at the time of the falling.

The Cause

That the cause of said falling is, first, The neglect of Henry L. Gay, the architect of the said building, to provide for the great amount of weight called for to complete the construction of said building, according to plans as designed by him.

Second, That want of care or prudence on the part of said architect, in not giving special specifications and plans for the part or parts of the general plan required or expected to carry the extra weight, in proportion to their superficies.

We find that the Board of Supervisors failed to use that caution in examining the plans and specifications that the construction of a building of that magnitude would seem to require, and that they acted unwisely in not employing a competent architect to superintend the construction of the same. And so the jury do find. - Selden M. Church, Pliram W. Carpenter, Geo. S. Haskell, John R. Porter, Goodyear A. Sanford, Jas. B. Howell, Thos. Butterworth, Geo. Wilson, Jos. W. Seccomb, D. L. Emerson, Wm. H. Smith, Andrew G. Lowry.

The direful disaster thus disposed of, its cause established, the responsibility fixed where it belonged, the dead buried and the wounded provided for, the Board of Supervisors next turned their attention to the strengthening of the building, that a similar calamity might be averted. Messrs. William S. Smith, engineer, of Maywood; David S. Doig, architect, Rockford, and Aaron* Houghton, Durand, were designated as a committee of experts to make such changes in the "plans as would give the building all necessary strength in every part, and to determine the nature and extent of the repairs necessary to restore it to such condition as would permit its completion. This committee found a number of defects or weak places, for which they suggested strengthening remedies, which were adopted and carried out. This committee was also instructed to make estimates on the cost of restoring the building to its condition previous to its falling, and the probable cost of such alterations as they found necessary to be made to insure the necessary strength, etc. On the 13tli of June this committee submitted a report, from which the following figures are extracted:

The same date Mr. Richardson proposed to take the coTirt-hoiisc as it stood, and coni]>]ete it according to the plans and specifications as aUered hy the committee of experts, for the additional sum (to the contract j)rice) of ^4(),000, making the whole snm to be paid to him for the Conrt Bouse, when completed, $206,000, it being stipulated in this proposition that all the rubbish and material about the building should belong to him, and that he should be allowed to use the same in reconstructing the building so far as the building superintendent should approve. On the 14th of June the Board of Supervisors v(jted to accept the proposition of Mr. Ilichardson, and the building commitsee were instructed to enter into the necessary contract with him for the faithful fulfillment of his proposition. In consideration of Mr. Richardson being awarded the rubbish occasioned by the falling of the dome, etc., he released all claims that he might have against the county for any and all damages, of whatever kind, that he had sustained by the disaster. All the details thus completed, work was resumed, and has been prosecuted without further interruption. On the ITth of June, David S. Doig was appointed building superintendent, in place of F. E. Latham, resigned, and to which duty he gave his entire and undivided attention. Not a single piece of material was allowed to be put in the wall without he had first examined it and found it to be suited every way to the place it was designed to occupy, and then put in place under his immediate supervision. In this way. and with the adoption of the plans matured by the committee of experts for strengthening the building, the Winnebago Court House was made one of the strongest in tlie State. The fallen dome was a model of beauty and symmetry, but its supports were too weak to sustain its great weight. The design was a grand one, but there is no doubt but the architect who designed it became so lost in the contemplation of the l)eauty of the model his brain had fashioned, that he overlooked the great and necessary element of strength in the supports upon which it was calculated to rest.

Among the alterations proposed by Mr. Richardson, was iron instead of wooden rafters for the roof, covered with sheeting boards and tin covering (same as in the original), and the under side of the roof to be covered with wire cloth and two coats of cement plastering. When this building is fully completed, it will be a proud and lasting monument to the spirit of the people by whom it was built; and only the remembrance of one thing will cause them regret as they contemplate its majestic walls, its graceful and towering dome, and its unsurpassed interior arrangement and iinish - the death disaster of May 11, A. D. 1877. The horrors and memories of that occasion will live in the minds of men so long as the walls of the building endure.

In closing this chapter, it is but simple justice to the worth and merit or Mr. Duncan Ferguson, member and chairman of the Board of Supervisors and chairman of the Building Committee from the inception of the undertaking, to remark that he spared no effort to secure to the county all that was contemplated by the people when they determined to build a courthouse that would be in keeping with the wealth and importance of the county. The duties of such a position could not have been assigned to a more prudent, careful and determined gentleman. To him and his associates on the committee, Messrs. A. Haines, F. E. Latham, H. Mackey, and J. B. Merritt, from the letting of the conti-act until April, 1877; and A. Haines, J. B. Merritt, J. R. Herring and J. H. Kirk, from April, 1877, the people owe enlarged consideration and recognition for the very economic and careful manner in which they have guarded their interests in the management of this enterprise, uninfluenced by "rings, " "jobbery," or "favoritism."

The Press

The first newspaper established in the county was the Hock River Express. Its publication was commenced in the village of Rockford, May 4, 1840, by B. J. Gray. It was Whig in politics. After being published one year, the press and materials were sold and removed from the place.

The Rockford Star, Democratic, was started in 1840, by Philander Knappen. This paper wa% run for a little over a year, when it was transferred to John A. Brown, and continued under the name of the Rockford Pilot.

Rockford Pilot., Democratic, was commenced July 22, 1841, by John A. Brown. This paper was a successor to the Star., and was pul-lished till October, 1842. During a portion of this time, also a Universalist paper, entitled The Better Covenant, William Rounseville, editor, was printed at the Pilot oflice.

Winnehago Forum, Whig, established February, 1843, by J. Ambrose Wight, who transferred it in the August following to Austin Colton. The title was afterwards changed to Rockford Forum. Mr. Colton continued its publisher for nearly eleven years. The establishment was purchased by Elijah W. Blaisdell, Jr., in 1854, and the name of the paper was changed to Rockford Repuhlican,. Mr. Blaisdell subsequently took his brother, Bichard P. Blaisdell, into partnership, by whom the paper was published until 1862, when it was purchased by Elias C. Daugherty, and merged into the Rockford Register, of which he was the proprietor.

Rockford Free Press, established in October, 1848, by Henry W. De Puy, as a free soil, or "Barnburner" organ. It was published until February, 1850, when it was discontinued for want of patronage.

Rock River Democrat, establislied in June, 1852, as a Democratic paper, by Benjamin Holt, in which David T. Dickson afterwards purchased an interest. In 1855, Rhenodyne A. Bird purchased the interest of Mr. Holt. The Democrat was published l)y Messrs. Dickson & Bird until May 1, 1864, when it was purchased by Isaiah S. Hyatt, who continued its publication until June 12, 1865, when the office was sold to the present Register Company.

Rockford Register, established February, 1855, as a Republican paper, by EHas C. Daugherty, who continued its publication until June 12, 1865, when the entire- establishment, and also the Rock River Democrat ofiice, were purchased by a joint stock company, known as the Rockford Register Company, by whom it has been published to the present time.

Rockford Wesleyan Seminary Reporter., a monthly publication, commenced in October, 1857. Only four numbers of this paper were issued. It was pul)lif^hed by AV. F. Stewart, for the Wesleyan Seminary Company.

Democratic Standard, established October 30, 1858, by Springsteen & Parks, as a Democratic organ. After three or four weeks, the Standard was published by Henry Parks, alone, until February 5, 1859, when David G. Croly became proprietor of the establishment. On the 18th of May following, the proprietorship was changed to D. G. Croly & Co., John H. Grove being known as the "Co." On the suspension of the News, April

History Of Winnebago Coitnty

30, 1860, and the withdrawal of Mr. Croly, the pnl)lication of the Standard was continued by John H. Grove and James S. Ticknor, for a few months, wh-n it was sold tp James E. and Joseph II. Fox, who established the Daihi News, liepublican, issuing the first number on the 10th of December, i860. In a few weeks they also commenced the issue of The Weekly JVews. The publication of the News was continued until Sept. 21, 1861, when the establishment was sold to Elias C. Daugherty, of the Register^ and its further publication ceased.

Dally Neics, established by David G. Croly, February S, 1859. Neutral in politics. The publication of the News was continued to April 30, 1860, when it was suspended from a lack of patronage.

Daily Register, Republican, established by Elias C. Daugherty, June 1, 1859, but discontinued at the end of three months. Was renewed in October, 1877.

Rock River Mirror, neutral in politics; established September 6, 1859, by Allen Gibson, by whom it is still published. Printed at the Register office.

Rockton Gazette, established at Rockton, 1857, by Funk & Phelps. Soon after its commencement, Mr. Funk retired, and its publication was continued for about a year by H. W. Phelps. ISTot being well sustained, the office and fixtures were removed to Burlington, Wisconsin.

Pecatonica Independent, established May, 1859, at Pecatonica, by J. E. Duncan. Its publication was continued for a little over a year, when the office was removed to Darlington, Wisconsin.

Peoples Press, Democratic, was established July 25, 1865, by W. P. Furey, who published it until May, 1866, when a joint stock company was organized, who continued its publication until September 1, 1866, when it was discontinued, having met the same fate with many of its predecessors - died for want of patronage.

Winnebago County Chief. Republican, established JS'ov. 21, 1866, by J. P. Irvine, who subsequently admitted as a partner, Hiram R. Enoch. This partnership continued till 1870, when Mr. Enoch bought out the interest of Mr. Irvine, and changed the name of the paper to that of the Rockford Journal, of which he is still the editor and publisher. Mr. Enoch is an easy, graceful, bold and independent writer, and, although not always popular witli the masses because of his political independence and his disposition to call things by their right names, the Journal is always sought after because of its reliability as a news-^^^Qw Mr. Enoch is a careful business man, and has succeeded in placing the Journal on a substantial financial basis, and by perseverence and industry has worked his way up from a settler's boy in 1835 to his present position, as manager and editor of a newspaper whose influence is acknowledged throughout the countr3\

Rockford Gazette, Republican, established November, 1866, by I. S. Hyatt, who continued its publication until September, 1867, when it was sold to A. E. and W. E. Smith, its present proprietors.

Leaves from T^ or est Hill, ?^. monthly, was published for some time during the school year, by the young ladies ot Rockford Female Seminary.

Official Eecord

The following is a complete official record of the State Senators, Representatives, Delegates to Constitutional Conventions, Circuit Judges, Clerks of the Circuit Courts, County Commissioners, County Justices, Clerks of County Court, County Clerks, Judges of Probate, State's Attorneys, Sheriffs, Coroners, Recorders. School Commissioners and Superintendents, County Treasurers, County Surveyors, Masters in Chancery, and Chairmen of the Board of Supervisors, in the order here named, who have served the people in these various capacities since the first election, Monday, Aug. 1, 1836. As a means of ready reference, this record will prove invaluable.

State Senators. - Anson S. Miller, elected 1846; Alfred E. Ames, 1848; Thos. B. Talcott, 1850; Wait Talcott, 1854; Zenas S. Aplington, 1858; Cornelius Lansing, 1862 to 1866; A. C. Fuller, 1866; re-elected 1870, with John Early, under the new constitution of 1870 giving the old senatorial districts an additional member. In 1872, Mr. Early was again elected, and continued as senatorial representative until his death in August, 1877. His last term would have expired November, 1878.

Previous to 1840, the Districts of which Winnebago County formed a part included all the tract of country bounded by a line commencing at the northwest corner of the State of Illinois (several miles north and west of Galena), and running thence along the Mississippi river to a point far below Rock Island; thence easterly across the country tu a point from whence the line ran north to the southern line of Wisconsin, at the northeost corner of Winnebago County, and enclosing the entire Rock River Yalley, in Illinois, as well as a large extent ot country below the mouth of Rock river. These vast Districts, extending from Dubuque almost to St. Louis, were respectively entitled to two representatives and one senator. One of these representatives was conceded to AVinnebago County as early as 1838 - before she liad attained the age ot two years - as appears by the election of Mr. Kent. Under the apportionment of 1840, and before she had arrived at the fourth year of her existence, sO rapid had been the increase of population that Winnebago alone was made a representative district, and so has

Source changes here: from The History of Winnebago County, Ill., by Kett, H. F. & Co., Chicago, Pub. [from Old Catalog], published 1877; 19,800 words in this source stream.

Winnebago Township

merits, railroads, etc. Crime and criminals, and evil doers, with few exceptions, had been banished from the connty, and an era of local tranquility and prosperity had been fnlly and successfully inaugurated, so that when the electric wires conveyed to them the intelligence that, on Friday, the 12th day of April, 1801, Fort Sumter, at Charleston, South Carolina, had been fired upon by rebels in arms against the government, th-y were startled from the contemplation of undertakings nearly completed. When, a day later, news was borne along the same wires that Major Anderson had been compelled to surrender Fort Sumter, individual enterprises were abandoned, at least for the time, and with one purpose the people rallied to a common centre to take counsel together, and inaus^urate such measures as miffht become necessary to meet the Government's call for volunteers to defend and maintain the integrity of the Union. While the people of Charleston were holding high revel over the surrender of Fort Sumter, the people of Winnebago County wei-e preparing to take part in the measures that were sure to be inaugurated to punish their treason. An impromptu meeting was called in liockford, and a committee appointed to prepare and issue a call for a mass meeting of citizens to consider the exigencies ot the occasion, and to adopt such measui'es as the times seemed sure to demand. That committee issued the following call:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

river. Mr. Kent was unwilling to comply with my wishes, and thfit accounts for the awkward appearance of the streets on each side of the river - if extended across they would strike the side of a block instead of the street."

Gradually, however, the rivalry gave way, and when the people came to know that the very elements of nature had conspired to establish the site for the building of manufactories on the West Side, the rivalry gave way altogether, and the rival interests joined hands in one grand purpose to make Rockford what it has become - a grand mantifacturing center. But experience was necessary to bring the people up to a complete realization of what nature intended.

In the spring of 1844 the Rockford Hydraulic Company was organized, and the erection of a dam commenced. The site selected was in the upper part of the town, nearly opposite the Kenosha depot. The dam was built of timber, brush, stone, and gravel, and its construction completed under the supervision o\ C. C. Coburn, a gentleman of some notoriety as a dam builder, of Wisconsin. A purchase was made by the company of a large tract of timber on the east side, and about all the available teams in the village and its surroundings were engaged, fiat boats built and brought into requisition to furnish the stone and gravel, which were excavated principally from the west bank of the river, above where the dam was built. Rapid progress was made in its construction, and by the following spring the structure was said to be completed.

Simultaneous with the construction of the dam work was, progressing on the race on the east side, which extended from the dam a distance of two blocks below State street. While this work was in progress, companies were being formed for manufacturing purposes, and buildings began to be erected. First on the works was a saw mill, close to the dam, put up by Messrs. L. B. Gregory and A. C. Spalford, under the firm name of Gregory & Spafiford. Next on the race, and just at the end of the bridge, on State street, a grist mill was built by Mr. Nettleton, who deserves the reputation of being the '' pioneer miller of Rockford." ISText below this mill was a woolen factory, or fulling mill, which was built and conducted by Mr. J. B. Howell. Below this factory, and at the terminus of the race, was another saw mill in successful operation, owned and conducted by Messrs. Wheeler & Lyon.

This was about the extent of manufactures on the East Side. The company then directed its enterprise to the West Side, and accordingly a very wide race was laid out, with a temporary terminus on Mulberry street, one block north of State, and sufficiently far from the river to admit of the erection of factory buildings between. The work on this was prosecuted with like energy, and successfully carried out, and a third saw mill built at the bulk-head, close to the dam, by Messrs. Robertson & Holland, and near by the terminus of the race, the first foundry and machine shop was built and conducted by Ethan Clark, the remains of which still bid defiance to time - one-half of the old stone Iniilding remaining just north of the city bridge, as the last monument of the former water works.

Scarcely had the dam been pronounced finished when it was discovered by its continued settling and leakage, that more timber was necessary to raise the head or stop the leakage, and the company began to look around for more material. Rockford at that time presented the appearance of a young city in a beautiful forest, so splendidly was it shaded with lovely young native trees. But nature must succumb to art, and for the purpose of filling up the successive breaches in the dam, the embryo city was despoiled of its native ornaments until scarcely a shrub could be found. The company persevered, but the rush of waters was triumphant as each successive spring flood occurred, and the frail structure yielded, leaving not only the company, but the entire population, alternating between hope and despair, as to manufacturing success, as freshet succeeded freshet. On the first day of June, 1850, all the citizens might have been seen lining each bank of the river, with sad and dejected countenances, as the fearful element was doing its fatal work, by knocking the props from the frail manufacturing support. The city bridge had, as was supposed, been built with the utmost care, and if a modern architect could have seen it, he would have been led to suppose that if wooden pins could make anything secure, it would be immovable. There it stood; the adversary might twist it; but break, or leave its position, it would not for all the freshets in creation. So the people reasoned, if the bridge did not. So the freshet, as if in mockery of the people's hopes and proud aspirations, having recuperated and recovered additional force when released from its temporary confinement, came madly on. The struggle commenced, and the bridge was conqueror. It might have uttered (could it have spoken) the declaration of Fitz James to Ehoderick Dhu:

True, it was rather twisted, and after the encounter resembled, in its curvature, a rail fence, and in some places its horizontal position was changed to the perpendicular, but it remained as an honored fixture, until its successor, the present bridge, took its place, when it was sold in sections to the highest bidder.

On the ]5th of July, 1851, Thomas D. Robertson, John A. liolland, R. P. Lane, G. A. Sanford, W. A. Dickerman, S. M. Church, O. Clark, C. I. Horsman, John Edwards, J. S. Coleman, John Fisher, William Hulin, Isaiah Lyon, M. Starr, C. H. Spafibrd, Lucius Clark, J. J. Town, Henry Potwin, H. R. Maynard, Jas. H. Rogers, B, McKenney, John Piatt, Albert