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Publication  Number  Fourteen 

OF  THE 

ILLINOIS  STATE  HISTORICAL  LIBRARY 


TRANSACTIONS 


OF  THE 


Illinois  State  Historical  Society 


FOR  THE  YEAR  1909 


Tenth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society,  Springfield,  111., 
May  13,  14,  1909 


Published  by  Authority  qt  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the 

ILLINOIS  STATE  HISTORICAL  LIBRARY. 


Springfield,  III. 
State  Journal  Co.,  State  Printers 
1910 


EDITORIAL  NOTE. 


Following  the  practice  of  the  Publication  Committee  in  previous  years, 
this  volume  includes,  besides  the  official  proceedings  and  the  papers  read 
at  the  last  annual  meeting,  some  essays  and  other  matter  contributed 
during  the  year.  It  is  hoped  that  these  "contributions  to  State  History" 
may,  in  larger  measure  as  the  years  go  on,  deserve  their  title,  and  form 
an  increasingly  valuable  part  of  the  society's  transactions.  The  contri- 
butions are  intended  to  include  the  following  kinds  of  material : 

1.  Hitherto  unpublished  letters  and  other  documentary  material. 
This  part  of  the  volume  should  supplement  the  more  formal  and  exten- 
sive publication  of  official  records  in  the  Illinois  historical  collections, 
which  are  published  by  the  trustees  of  the  State  Historical  Library. 

2.  Papers  of  a  reminiscent  character.  These  should  be  selected  with 
great  care ;  for  memories  and  reminiscences  are  at  their  best  an  uncertain 
basis  for  historical  knowledge. 

3.  Historical  essays  or  brief  monographs,  based  upon  the  sources 
and  containing  genuine  contributions  to  knowledge.  Such  papers  should 
be  accompanied  by  foot  notes  indicating  with  precision  the  authorities 
upon  which  the  papers  are  based.  The  use  of  new  and  original  material 
and  the  care  with  which  the  authorities  are  cited,  will  be  one  of  the  main 
factors  in  determining  the  selection  of  papers  for  publication. 

4.  Bibliographies. 

5.  Occasional  reprints  of  books,  pamphlets,  or  parts  of  books  now  out 
of  print  and  not  easily  accessible. 

It  is  the  desire  of  the  committee  that  this  annual  publication  of  the 
society  shall  supplement,  rather  than  parallel  or  rival,  the  distinctly 
official  publications  of  the  State  Historical  Library.  In  historical 
research,  as  in  so  many  other  fields,  the  best  results  are  likely  to  be 
achieved  through  the  cooperation  of  private  initiative  with  public  author- 
ity. It  was  to  promote  such  cooperation  and  mutual  undertaking  that 
this  society  was  organized.  Teachers  of  history,  whether  in  schools  or 
colleges,  are  especially  urged  to  do  their  part  in  bringing  to  this  publica- 
tion the  best  results  of  local  research  and  historical  scholarship. 

In  conclusion  it  should  be  said  that  the  views  expressed  in  the  various 
papers  are  those  of  their  respective  authors  and  not  necessarily  those 
of  the  committee.  Nevertheless,  the  committee  will  be  glad  to  receive 
such  corrections  of  fact  or  such  general  criticism  as  may  appear  to  be 
deserved. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Page. 

General  Information,  Editorial  Note 3 

1 — Officers  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society,   1909 7 

PART  I.— RECORD  OF  OFFICIAL  PROCEEDINGS. 

1 — Minutes  of  the  Society 11 

2 — Report  of  Secretary  and  Treasurer 17 

3 — Minutes  of  the  Board  of  Directors 21 

4 — Reports   of   Committees 26 

PART  II.— PAPERS  READ  AT  THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,   1909. 

1 — Oliver  A.   Harker.   Efforts  to  Divorce  Judicial  Elections  from  Politics  in 

Illinois   37 

2 — Mrs.  Eleanor  Atkinson,  The  Winter  of  the  Deep  Snoio 47 

3 — Clinton  L.    Conkling,   How  Mr.  Lincoln  Received  the  News  of  His  First 

Nomination  63 

4 — Mrs.  Harriet  Taylor,   Genealogy  and  the  West 67 

5 — J.  McCan  Davis,  The  Senator  from  Illinois 86 

6 — William  A.  Meese,  Rock  River  in  the  Revohition 97 

7 — Clarence  M.  Burton,  Augustin  Mottin  de  La  Balm 104 

8 — Walter  B.  Douglas.  The  Sieiirs  de  Saint  Ange 135 

9 — Cora  Agnes  Benneson,   The  Quartermaster's  Department  in  IllinoiSj  1861- 

1862    147 

10 — James  A.  James,  Detroit  the  Key  to  the  West  during  the  American  Revo- 
lution    154 

PART   III.— CONTRIBUTIONS  TO   STATE   HISTORY. 

1— John  F.    Snyder,  Alfred  Cowles 167 

2 — Edward  L.  Merritt.  Recollections  of  the  Part  Springfield  had  in  the  Obse- 
quies of  Abraham  Lincoln.      (By  a  Participant.) •  179 

3— John  T.   Campbell,   The  Hayes-Tilden  Contest 184 

4 — Zimri  Enos,   Description  of  Springfield 190 

5 — B.  A.  Beinlich,  The  "Latin"  Colo7iists  of  Illinois 209 

PART  IV. — DOCUMENTS. 

1 — G.  J.  Koons,  Extracts  from  the  Records  of  the  Jackson  County  Commis- 
sioners'   Court 217 

2 — The  Diary  of  Edward  Crippin.  T.th  Illinois  Volunteers,  1861-1863 — Edited 

with  notes  and  introduction  by  Robert  J.   Kerner 220 

PART  v.— IN  MEMORIAM. 

1 — George  Nelson  Black,  by  Jessie  Palmer  Weber 285 

List  of  Publications  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Library  and  Society 291 


Officers  and  Committees  of  the   Illinois   State  Historical 
Society,  May  1909  to  May  1910 

OFFICEES  OF  THE  SOCIETY: 

President. 
(ten.  Alfred  Orendorff Springfield 

First  Vice  President. 
Hon.  Clark  E.  Care , Galesburg 

Second  Vice  President. 
Hox.  Smith  D.  Atkins Freeport 

Third    ]'ire  Presidint. 
Hon.  \j.  Y.  Sherman Springfield 

Board  of  Directors. 

Edmund  Janes  James,  President  of  the  University  of  Illinois.  .  .Urbana 

M.  H.  Chamberlin Lebanon 

Hon.  Richard  Yates Springfield 

J.  H.  Burnham Bloomington 

Evarts  B.  Greene,  University  of  Illinois Urbana 

Mrs.  Jessie  Palmer  Weber Springfield 

Hon.  William  H.  Collins ^  . . .  Quincy 

Hon.  J.  0.  Cunningham Urbana 

Hon.  Andrew  Russel Jacksonville 

George  W.  Smith,  Southern  Illinois  Normal  University ....  Carbondale 

W.,T.  Norton Alton 

Hon.  William  A.  Meese Moline 

Hon.  Jesse  A.  Baldwin Chicago 

Mr.  J.  W.  Clinton Polo 

Rev.  C.  J.  EscHMANN Prairie  dn  Rocher 

Secretary  and  Treasurer. 
Mrs.  Jessie  Palmer  Weber Springfield 

Honorary  Vice  Presidents. 
The  Presidents  of  Local  Historical  Societies. 


PART  I. 


Record  of  Official  Proceedings 

1909. 


TENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING   OF   THE   ILLINOIS 
STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


Supreme  Court  Boom,  State  Capitol, 
Springfield,  III.,  May  13,  1909. 
Business  Meeting,  Thursday,  May  13,  1909,  10:00  a.  m. 

The  tenth  annual  meeting  of  the  Illinois  State.  Historical  Society  was 
held  in  the  Supreme  Court  Room  of  the  State  Capitol,  May  13-14,  1909. 

The  session  opened  on  Thursday  morning  at  10:00  o'clock  with  the 
business  meeting. 

President  Alfred  Orendorff  presided. 

President  Orendorff  spoke  of  the  progress  and  growth  of  the  society, 
the  importance  of  preserving  the  history  of  the  State,  the  interest  the 
State  Historical  Society  and  the  local  societies  are  promoting,  and  the 
influence  of  the  Lincoln-Douglas  Debate  celebrations  on  the  public  in 
arousing  their  interest  and  enthusiasm. 

The  report  of  the  secretary  was  read  and  a  motion  made  to  adopt  and 
place  it  on  file.    Motion  carried. 

Mr.  Eussel  moved  that  the  recommendations  made  by  the  secretary  in 
her  report  be  referred  to  a  committee  of  two. 

Motion  was  seconded  and  voted  upon.    Carried. 

President  Orendorff  appointed  on  this  committee  Mr.  Andrew  Eussel 
aud  Mr.  William  A.  Meese. 

The  report  of  the  treasurer  was  next  read  and  the  motion  to  adopt  and 
place  it  on  file  was  made.    Carried. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Lincoln-Douglas  Debates  was  called 
for,  and  Col.  Clark  E.  Carr  responded.  He  said  he  had  made  no  written 
report  and  did  not  know  he  was  expected  to  do  so,  but  he  told  how  he 
visited  the  different  towns  where  the  celebrations  were  to  be  held  and 
sought  to  awaken  the  interest  of  the  people  of  those  localities.  He  told 
of  the  plan  of  organization  of  committees  in  each  town  and  the  great 
success  everywhere. 

The  president  announced  that  the  reports  of  these  celebrations  of  the 
Lincoln-Douglas  Debates  would  be  published  in  book  form. 

The  president  next  called  for  the  reports  of  any  local  societies  that 
might  have  a  representative  present. 

Captain  Bumham  of  Bloomington  responded.  He  said  that  on  account 
of  the  business  before  the  society  it  would  be  better  not  to  attempt 
a  lengthy  report.     He  also  said  that  last  year  it  was  recommended  by 


12 

the  committee  of  their  local  society  that  they  come  in  closer  touch  with 
the  State  Society  by  the  reports  of  the  secretary.  He  spoke  of  what  the 
Journal  of  the  Society  has  done  as  a  means  of  bringing  the  local  societies 
in  closer  contact  with  the  State  Society.    He  would  submit  a  brief  report. 

President  Orendorlf  said  the  request  of  Captain  Burnham  would  be 
complied  with.  Moved  and  carried  that  the  report  of  Captain  Burnham 
be  adopted. 

The  report  of  the   Committee   on   Periodical   Publication   was  next 

called  for. 

Mr.  Eussel  responded,  saying  that  the  periodical  that  has  been  pub- 
lished is  largely  the  work  of  Mrs.  Weber  and  she  should  be  entitled  to 
almost  all  the  credit. 

Motion  made  that  the  report  of  Mr.  Russel  be  adopted  and  placed  on 
file.    Motion  carried. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Genealogical  Affairs  was  next  in 
order.  It  was  read  by  Miss  Georgia  L.  Osborne,  the  chairman.  The 
report  was  adopted  and  placed  on  file. 

The  name  of  Prof.  E.  B.  Greene  was  called  to  give  a  report  on  publi- 
cations, but,  as  he  was  not  present,  Mrs.  Weber  said  that  the  book  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  printer  and  would  be  a  very  valuable  book.  She  said 
the  legislative  year  always  delayed  such  publications  as  so  much  time 
was  taken  up  with  legislative  printing. 

In  the  absence  of  Mrs.  Matthew  T.  Scott,  General  Orendorff  made  a 
few  remarks  about  the  marking  of  historic  spots  in  Illinois.  He  said 
the  subject  was  receiving  considerable  attention  over  the  State  and  the 
General  Assembly  had  the  subject  under  consideration  and  would  prob- 
ably make  some  appropriations  for  that  purpose. 

Mr.  E.  C.  Page  of  DeKalb  county  made  some  remarks  on  the  subject, 
telling  how  some  people  one  would  not  think  would  be  interested  in  such 
matters  would  be  the  very  ones  to  go  ahead  and  place  markers  at  their 
own  expense  and  trouble. 

The  president  .next  called  for  reports  on  the  subject  of  cooperation 
with  libraries  throughout  the  State. 

Mr.  E.  S.  Willcox  of  Peoria  told  of  the  progress  they  were  making  in 
their  library  at  Peoria,  and  how  many  people  came  there  to  work  on  the 
books  on  genealog}'  and  how  they  found  material  they  could  not  find  in 
Boston  or  Chicago.  He  said  their  library  was  second  in  the  State,  the 
Newberry  library  being  the  first. 

The  president  remarked  that  the  value  of  the  cooperation  with  libraries 
throughout  the  State  was  that  it  gives  a  correspondent  in  each  library 
that  can  be  written  to  and  consulted,  and  they  are  always  ready  to  assist 
in  anything  that  they  can. 

Colonel  Carr  said  if  there  was  any  one  present  from  a  locality  where 
a  Lincoln-Douglas  celebration  had  been  held,  that  the  society  would  like- 
to  hear  from  that  person. 

Hon.  William  H.  Collins  from  Quincy  responded,  and  told  how  Colonel 
Carr  came  to  their  town  and  aroused  the  interest  of  the  people,  how 
enthusiastic  they  became,  how  they  spent  four  or  five  hundred  dollars  in 


13 

preparing  for  the  event,  the  successful  program,  etc.  He  then  gave  an 
account  of  what  the  historical  society  at  Quincy  was  doing.  They  had 
bought  the  mansion  of  Governor  Wood  and  spent  about  $1,10U  in  fitting 
it  up  and  collecting  material  and  also  putting  up  marlale  plates,  on 
which  are  engraved  names  of  old  settlers  of  Adams  county  and  Qumcy. 
He  further  told  what  an  interest  the  society  at  Quincy  had  taken  in 
securing  a  monument  to  George  Sogers  Clark,  and  of  their  success  in 
getting  it,  the  location  of  the  monument  and  the  beauty  and  size  of  it. 

Mr.  Perry  Ellis,  of  (Quincy,  who  was  in  the  city  on  business,  being 
present,  President  Oreudorlf  called  upon  him  to  make  some  remarks. 

Mr.  Ellis  told  of  his  own  interest  in  the  society  and  unexpected 
pleasure  at  being  able  to  attend  the  meeting.  He  expressed  his  feelings 
toward  Mr.  CoUms'  speech,  which,  he  said,  left  nothing  to  be  said — it  was 
like  painting  a  lily,  you  could  add  nothing  to  it.  He  also  expressed  his 
appreciation  of  the  work  of  Colonel  Carr,  who  had  done  so  much  for 
their  celebration  of  the  Debates,  and  thanked  the  society  and  the  people 
generally  for  their  assistance.  He  concluded  by  saying  that  if  he  did  not 
stop,  he  would  become  excited  and  would  be  making  a  speech. 

Captain  Burnham  made  a  motion  that  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed 
to  represent  the  society  at  the  dedication  of  the  monument  at  Quincy.  He 
added  that  he  did  not  wish  to  be  on  that  committee,  as  he  had  the  honor 
of  representing  the  society  at  the  Black  Hawk  War  monument  dedication, 
at  the  Shabbona  Park  Monument  in  LaSalle  county,  he  had  represented 
the  society  at  Rock  Island,  and  went  to  the  Fort  Massac  dedication  last 
fall,  and  thought  he  had  done  his  share. 

The  motion  was  seconded  and  voted  upon.    Carried. 

Mr.  Ellis  arose  and  invited  the  committee  to  be  their  guests  when 
they  came  to  Quincy,  on  behalf  of  the  G.  A.  E.,  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, and  the  local  chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution. 

Mr.  Carpenter  moved  that  the  president  appoint  a  committee  of  five 
to  nominate  officers.    Motion  put  and  carried. 

President  Orendorff  appointed  on  this  committee  Mr.  Carpenter,  Gov- 
ernor Yates,  Mr.  Clendenin,  Colonel  Carr  and  Mr.  Meese.  The  committee 
was  assembled  in  the  back  part  of  the  room. 

President  E.  J.  James  then  read  the  memorial  address  on  Mr.  George 
ISF.  Black,  which  was  prepared  by  Mrs.  Weber,  and  also  made  a  few 
remarks  about  his  relations  with  Mr.  Black,  his  love  for  him,  and  his 
loyalty  to  the  society. 

The  Committee  on  Nominations  was  now  ready  to  report.  No  changes 
were  made  with  the  exception  of  the  nomination  of  a  director  to  fill 
Mr.  Black's  place.  The  list  of  officers  recommended  for  the  year  1909 
was  as  follows : 

President,    Gen.   Alfred    Orendorff,    Springfield. 

First  Vice  President,   Col.  Clark  E.   Carr,   Galesburg. 

Second  Vice  President,   Smith  D.  Atkins,  Freeport. 

Third  Vice  President,  Hon.  L.  Y.  Sherman,  Springfield. 

Board  of  Directors  Edmund  J.  James,  TJrbana;  M.  H.  Chamberlin,  Leb- 
anon; J.  H.  Burnham,  Bloomington;  E.  B.  Greene,  Urbana;  Jessie  Palmer 
Weber,  Springfield;  Hon.  William  H.  Collins,  Quincy;  Hon.  J.  0.  Cunning- 
ham, Urbana;  Hon.  Andrew  Russel,  Jacksonville;  George  W.  Smith,  Carbon- 


14 

dale;  Hon.  W.  T.  Norton,  Alton;  Hon.  William  A.  Meese,  Moline;  Hon.  Jesse 
A.  Baldwin,  Chicago;  Mr.  J.  W.  Clinton,  Polo;   Rev.  C.  J.  Eschmann,  Prairie 
du  Rocher;   Hon.  Richard  Yates,  Springfield. 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Jessie  Palmer  Weber,  Springfield. 

.The  vote  was  taken  and  the  officers  elected. 

Mr.  Terry  Simmons  of  Marseilles  having  come  in  late,  the  president 
called  on  him  for  a  report  of  liis  local  historical  society. 

Mr.  Simmons  gave  an  extemporaneous  report  of  the  LaSalle  county 
historical  society,  how  it  started,  the  celebration  of  the  Lincoln-Douglas 
Debates  and  the  work  of  the  society  in  regard  to  it,  what  the  society 
was  doing  in  trying  to  get  an  appropriation  for  making  Starved  Rock 
and  its  surroundings  a  State  park.  He  asked  the  support  of  the  State 
Society  for  the  State  park  measure  noted. 

Captain  Burnham  made  a  short  talk  in  regard  to  a  plan  for  grouping 
several  societies  together  and  thus  securing  a  stronger  body  of  workers, 
and  these  societies  to  be  grouped  with  the  State  Society  as  its  head. 

Colonel  Carr  announced  that  the  many  excellent  papers  they  had  heard 
read  at  the  Knox  county  historical  society  would  be  printed  in  book  form. 

Adjourned  until  3  :  30  in  the  afternoon. 


15 


ADDRESS    OF    GEN.    ALFRED    ORENDORFF, 
PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


This  is  the  tenth  annual  meeting,  a  sort  of  "  tin  wedding  "  celebration. 
The  origin  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  was  in  "  a  call  issued 
for  an  Illinois  Historical  Society  "  issued  ten  years  ago,  which  called  a 
meeting  of  interested  persons  for  Friday,  May  19,  1899. 

The  call  was  signed  by  H.  W.  Beckwith,  E.  J.  James  and  George  N. 
Black,  the  trustees  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Library ;  Dr.  J.  F. 
Snyder,  the  officers  of  the  McLean  county  historical  society,  George  P. 
Davis,  E.  M.  Prince  and  J.  H.  Bumham ;  Judge  G.  W.  Young  of  Marion, 
William  E.  Sandham  of  Wyoming,  111.,  Judge  J.  0.  Cunningham  of 
Urbana,  and  President  A.  S.  Draper;  Professors  William  L.  Pillsbury, 
David  Kinley,  Herbert  J.  Barton,  and  E.  B.  Greene,  all  of  the  Illinois 
State  University. 

In  response  to  this  call  there  assembled  on  the  day  set  in  the  physics' 
lecture-room,  Engineering  Hall,  University  of  Illinois,  among  others, 
Judge  H.  W.  Beckwith,  Prof.  E.  J.  James,  Dr.  J.  F.  Snyder,  Mrs.  Jessie 
Palmer  Weber,  W.  E.  Sandham,  George  P.  Davis,  J.  0.  Cunningham, 
Ezra  M.  Prince,  E.  C.  Page,  Dr.  C.  T.  Wyckoff,  President  A.  S.  Draper, 
and  Professors  Kinley  and  Greene  of  the  University  of  Illinois.  Judge 
Beckwith  was  made  chairman  of  the  meeting,  and  Professor  Greene 
secretary. 

The  first  annual  meeting  was  held  in  Peoria  at  the  Bradley  Polytechnic 
Institute.  Papers  were  given  by  Judge  Beckwith,  Hon.  Eichard  Ed\\ards, 
Dr.  J.  F.  Snyder,  J.  H.  Burnham,  G.  M.  McConnel  and  George  N".  Black. 
Most  of  these  speakers  were  the  founders  and  pioneers  of  the  society,  to 
whom  we  owe  all  honor. 

At  the  second  annual  meeting  held  at  Springfield,  January  30-31, 
1901,  the  secretary  reported  about  sixty  members  at  the  close  of  the  first 
actual  year  of  work.  We  now  have  about  800  members,  including  all 
classes  of  members. 

The  meetings  have  been  held  in  Springfield,  except  the  one  of  1902 
at  Jacksonville,  the  one  of  1904  at  Bloomington,  and  the  first  already 
mentioned  at  Peoria. 

There  have  been  but  three  presidents  of  the  society:  H.  W.  Beckwith, 
J.  F.  Snyder  and  Alfred  Orendorff.  Prof.  E.  B.  Greene,  J.  W.  Putnam, 
J.  McCan  Davis  and  Mrs.  Jessie  Palmer  Weber  have  served  the  society 
as  its  secretaries. 


There  are  about  sixty  members  of  the  society  who  are  members  under 
an  agreement  with  the  Illinois  Press  Association,  by  which  editors  send 
copies  of  their  papers  to  the  society  and  in  return  become  members  of 
the  society  without  further  payment  of  dues.  This  has  been  an  excellent 
arranirement  and  these  members  are  amone  the  most  active  of  our  field 
workers;  they  publish  our  notices,,  advertise  our  meetings,  etc. 

We  have  another  class  of  members,  honorary  members,  who  reflect 
credit  upon  the  society :  John  M.  Palmer,  John  A.  McClemand,  James 
B.  Bradwell,  S.  M.  Cullom,  Bichard  Yates,  Charles  S.  Deneen,  Jane 
Addams,  and  many  others. 

The  society  was  recognized  by  the  State  by  an  amendment  to  the  Act 
organizing  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Librarv,  making  the  societv  a 
department  of  the  librar}-.  This  amendment  bore  date  of  the  Grovemor's 
approval  May  16,  1903.  It  carried  no  appropriation,  but  authorized  the 
library  trustees  to  pay  the  nec-essary  expenses  of  the  society.  This  plan 
is  a  reversal  of  most  plans  for  organization  of  state  historical  societies, 
and  seemed  to  some  of  the  members  an  exemplification  of  the  old  expres- 
sion ''  the  cart  before  the  horse,"  but  the  library  was  already  in  existence 
and  tiie  scheme  has  worked  fairly  well,  though  it  is  not  without  its 
drawbacks.  Subsequent  legislatures  have  made  small  appropriations  for 
the  benefit  of  the  society.  The  publications  of  the  society  are  in  demand, 
and  are  rated  high  by  historians;  it  does  reference  work,  advises  local 
societies,  etc. 


17 


REPORT  OF  THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


SpKECGFiEiD,  III,  Mat  13.  1909. 
To  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Sodekfj 

GEXTLEirEX — ^I  beg  to  submit  to  rou  mj  report  of  the  actiTities  of  tbe 
society  from  Jan.  30,  1908  to  May  13,  1909,  a  period  longer  by  four 
montibs  than  that  embraced  in  former  reports.  This  girteen  montibs  has 
been  one  of  nnparalleled  actiTitr  in  erery  branch  of  tiie  aoaeiy's  wort 
We  have  now  800  members  indnding  all  classes,  Hfe,  hononur,  pr^ 
association  and  actiTe  members,  and  they  are  all,  I  think,  mndi  inter- 
ested in  the  work.  I  hare  been  accused  of  taking  rose  colored  riews  uf 
the  society  and  its  prospects,  but  I  think  the  most  pessimistic  can  feel 
encouraged  by  the  growth  of  the  society  for  the  past  year,  and  its  present 
prospects- 

The  society  is  now  so  large  that  I  think  we  should  hold  meetings 
oftener  than  once  a  year,  and  while  I  fully  beliere  that  tibe  ^miiial  meet- 
ings should  be  held  at  Springfield  the  home  of  the  society,  I  believe  we 
ought  to  assist  our  local  societies  or  members  by  holding  meetings  or 
assisting  in  them,  to  commemorate  local  historic  erents.  The  aid  whidi 
the  society  gave  in  the  celebration  of  the  semi-centeimial  of  tiie  lincoln- 
Douglas  debates  of  1S5S,  is  a  splendid  illustration  of  what  may  be 
accomplished  along  that  line.  While  I  hardly  beUere  or  espect  that  any 
of  us  will  lire  to  see  another  sudi  a  ^lendid  series  of  historical  cdehra- 
tions  as  those  held  in  the  seven  debate  cities,  and  which  were  attaided 
by  the  President  and  Secretary  of  the  society,  still  we  can  accept  th^ 
success  as  an  evidence  of  what  concerted  work  can  do,  and  as  an  object 
lesson  and  an  evidence  of  how  much  our  people  are  really  intero&ted  in 
our  own  history.  The  society  hopes  to  publ^  a  full  account  of  tiieee 
celebrations,  under  tiie  general  editorship  of  CoL  Clark  E.  Carr,  and  tlie 
special  editorship,  for  his  own  town,  of  the  chairmen  in  chaig^e  of  ihe 
local  celebrations.  I  have  often  suggested  &e  need  of  a  period&ral,  and 
during  the  last  year  the  publication  of  such  an  organ  las  been  began 
and  promises  success  for  the  future. 

The  amendment  to  our  constitution  changJTig  flie  time  of  our  anninil 
meeting  came  on  an  appropriate  year,  because  the  celebration  of  tiie 
centennial  of  the  birth  of  Abraham  Lincoln  was  held  in  Fdmiary,  and 
as  the  society  took  an  active  part  in  that  cel^ration.  it  in  a  measore 

— 2  H  S 


18 

took  the  place  of  our  January  meeting.  An  account  of  the  celebration 
has  already  been  printed  in  the  Journal  of  the  society,  and  need  not  be 
repeated  here.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  celebration  was  general  and 
wonderfully  inspiring,  the  fact  remains  that  the  State  of  Illinois  has  not 
made  an  enduring  memorial  of  this  great  historic  year.  It  is  not  yet 
too  late.  Cities  and  associations  have  done  their  part,  but  the  State  of 
Illinois  has  done  little  or  nothing. 

The  society  has  lost  a  number  of  its  valued  members  by  the  hand  of 
death  since  our  last  meeting,  they  are,  as  far  as  known  to  me: 

George  R.  Baker,  Chicago,  March  6,  1908. 

George  N.  Black,  Springfield,  April   22,   1908. 

Horatio  C.  Burchard,  Freeport,  May  14,  1908. 

Walter  E.  Carlin,  Jerseyville,  111.,  July  18,  1908. 

Mrs.  Benjamin  S.  Edwards,  Springfield,  111.,  March  18,  1909. 

Dr.  Richard   Edwards,  Bloomington,   111..  March,  1908. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Elliott,  Swanwick,  111.,  June  29,  1908. 

Miss-  Catherine  I.  Enos,  Springfield,  111.,  February  8,  1909. 

Dr.  A.  W.  French,  Springfield,  Hi.,  April  27,  1909. 

Dr.  Marcus  P.  Hatfield,  Chicago. 

Herman  Justi,  Chicago. 

E.  B.  McCagg,  Chicago,  August  2,  1908. 

A.  C.  Matthews,  Pittsfield,  111.,  June  14,  1908. 

Richard  W.  Mills,  Jacksonville,  111.,  January  18,  1908. 

Ezra  M.  Prince,  Bloomington,  111..  August  27,  1908. 

Peyton  Roberts,  Monmouth,  111.,  January  12,  1908. 

H.  C.  Todd,  Oak  Park,  111. 

Mrs.  Catherine  G.  Yates,  Jacksonville,  111.,  October  6.  1908. 

As  the  society  grows,  naturally  the  number  of  deaths  we  have  to  report 
is  each  year  larger.  I  again  ask  the  members  to  notify  the  secretary  of 
deaths  of  our  members  coming  to  their  knowledge. 

The  president  of  the  society  has  been  very  ill,  and  we  have  been  much 
concerned  about  his  condition,  but  he  is  happily  much  better,  and  we 
hope  is  on  the  road  to  complete  recovery. 

The  secretary  of  the  society  as  the  secretary  of  the  Fort  Massac  Com- 
mission, took  part  in  the  dedication  of  the  monument  at  Fort  Massac 
Park.  This  was  one  of  the  largest  and  most  impressive  historical  meet- 
ings ever  held  in  that  section  of  the  State.  A  full  account  of  the  cere- 
monies has  been  published  in  the  Illinois  State  Year  Book  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Eevolution. 

Bills  are  now  pending  before  the  General  Assembly,  asking  protection 
for  the  sites  of  the  frontier  forts  or  posts,  particularly  Fort  Chartres, 
Fort  Eussell  and  Fort  Clark,  and  another  proposing  to  constitute  a  com- 
mission looking  toward  the  preservation  of  Starved  Rock  and  adjacent 
land,  and  to  ascertain  the  expediency  and  feasibility  of  preserving  other 
historic  spots  in  the  State. 

This  last  bill  (Starved  Eock)  had  its  origin  with  the  LaSalle  County 
Historical  Societv,  though  the  Geographic  Society  of  Chicago  is  doing 


19 

all  in  its  power  to  advance  it.  This  is  a  worthy  and  important  work  for 
the  historical  interests  of  the  State,  and  I  beg  to  offer  a  plea  for  the 
Great  Cahokia  or  Monk's  Mound,  which  is  being  neglected.  This  is  one 
of  the  most  wonderful  archaeological  relics  in  the  country,  and  arch- 
aeologists from  other  states,  do  not  understand  our  ignorance  of,  or 
indifference  to  this  important  historic  pyramid,  which  is  exposed  to  dis- 
integration and  other  dangers  of  obliteration.  The  preservation  of  this 
mound  is  a  great  work,  and  it  is  before  us.  We  must  face  it.  What  can 
we  do  about  it? 

Historical  activities  are  increasing  in  all  parts  of  the  State,  and  we 
may  surely  claim  a  share  in  awakening  this  interest.  The  reference  work 
in  the  library  increases  at  the  same  rate,  and  we  try  to  meet  it,  though  it 
often  means  many  additional  hours  of  labor. 

There  are  now  in  press,  published  by  the  Library  Board  under  title  of 
Vol.  4  of  the  Illinois  Historical  Collections,  the  official  letters  and 
papers  of  the  first  four  governors  of  Illinois:  Bond,  Coles,  Edwards  and 
Eeynolds.  This  work  is  edited  by  Prof.  E.  B.  Greene,  which  insures 
its  value.  No.  5  of  the  same  series  will  be  the  Kaskaskia  Eecords,  a 
companion  or  complement  to  the  Cahokia  Eecords  and  edited  by  Mr. 
C.  W.  Alvord. 

Professor  J.  A,  James  is  still  at  work  upon  the  George  Eogers  Clark 
papers,  which  will  in  time  be  published  in  the  same  series,  and  will 
probably  make  three  volumes. 

There  are  also  plans  for  other  publications.  The  demand  for  the 
publications  is  very  great,  and  most  of  them  are  out  of  print.  It  is  to 
be  regretted  that  we  cannot  supply  them  to  new  members.  I  am  still 
urging  our  members  to  assist  in  the  collection  of  manuscripts  and  other 
historical  material. 

A  circular  letter  was  published  in  the  Journal  enumerating  the  kinds 
of  material  which  we  desire.  Our  committees  have,  as  a  rule,  done 
exceptionally  good  work  this  year,  and  will  report  upon  their  own  activ- 
ities. 

The  work  of  the  Library  and  Society  progresses.  This  year  large 
purchases  of  books  and  pictures  relating  to  Mr.  Lincoln  have  been  made 
and  we  have  made  long  strides  in  our  genealogical  collection.  We  are 
now  subscribing  to  nearly  all  of  the  current  American  periodicals,  as 
we  found  that  we  were  often  missing  excellent  historical  articles,  by 
failing  to  procure  the  magazines. 

We  are  in  very  crowded  quarters,  but  as  the  appropriations  asked  for 
by  the  various  interests  were  so  large,  the  directors  of  the  society  have 
not  made  concerted  efforts  toward  a  new  building.  Two  bills  have  been 
introduced  with  such  an  object  in  view,  but  as  it  is  so  late  in  the  session, 
it  is  not  likely  that  they  will  be  passed,  although  there  is  no  question 
as  to  their  merit. 

The  society  is  growing  in  all  its  branches,  and  we  have  concluded  a 
most  successful  year. 

Very  respectfully, 

Jessie  Palmer  Weber. 
Secretary  Illinois  State  Historical  Society. 


20 


REPORT    OF    THE    TREASURER    OF    THE 

SOCIETY. 


RECEIPTS. 


Balance  on  hand  from  1908 

Amount  received  from  dues  of  members  of  the  society,  1908. 


Total  receipts. 


EXPENDITXmES. 


Expenses  of  Mr.  Horace  White 

Expenses  of  Hon.  Adlai  E.  Stevenson 

Maldener  &  Son,  supplies 

R.  L .  Berry,  supplies 

E.  Saltzenstein,  carriages  furnished  speakers 

R.  A.  Guest,  ser\ices 

Annie  G.  Springer,  stenographer 

Bell  Miller,  supplies 

Grace  Fish,  services 

Vernor  Henshie,  services 

Springfield  Gas  Light  Co 

Springfield  Transfer  Co.,  services 

Connelley  &  Co.,  supplies 

Programs 

Postage 


Total  expenditures . 
Balance 


S77  75 

18  00 
38  50 

4  00 
6  00 

10  00 

2  00 

19  50 

5  00 

3  50 
88 

2  50 

3  00 
16  20 
27  00 


S  14  55 
.365  CO 


$379  55 


233  83 


$145  72 


21 


DIRECTORS'  MEETINGS. 


The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  met 
in  the  secretary's  office  on  Thursday  morning,  May  13,  1909,  at  9 :30 
o'clock. 

There  were  present: 

President  Alfred  Orendorff,  who  presided,  Messrs.  Burnham,  Cun- 
ningham, Collins,  Eussel,  Meese  and  the  secretary  .of  the  society,  Mrs. 
Weber. 

Tlie  secretary's  report  was  offered,  read  and  accepted.  It  was  directed 
that  it  be  read  in  the  business  meeting  of  the  society.  The  report  of  the 
treasurer  was  read  and  accepted,  and  it  was  directed  that  it  be  read  in 
the  business  meeting  of  the  society. 

Mr.  Eussel  moved  that  the  financial  year  of  the  society  run  with  the 
dates  of  the  annual  meeting,  that  is  from  one  meeting  to  the  next.  This 
motion  was  carried. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  meet  later  during  the  session  of  the 
annual  meeting. 

The  Boaed  of  Directors  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society 
Met  Friday  Noon,  May  14,  1909. 

The  newly  elected  directors  of  the  society,  organized  by  the  election 
of  President  Alfred  Orendorff,  as  chairman  of  the  board,  and  Jessie 
Palmer  Weber  as  secretary  and  treasurer. 

There  were  present:  Messrs.  Eussel,  Meese,  Clinton,  Cunningham, 
Mrs.  Weber  and  President  Orendorff,  officers  re-elected. 

The  question  of  the  sale  of  the  publications  of  the  society  was  dis- 
cussed, but  no  decision  was  reached  and  the  matter  was  postponed  for 
further  consideration. 

Captain  Burnham  spoke  on  local  historical  societies  in  the  State,  and 
asked  that  his  former  report  be  omitted. 

Mr,  Meese  reported  that  he  had  received  fram  the  Hon.  Frank  0. 
Lowden  an  offer  of  a  gift  of  $750.00,  for  the  purpose  of  marking  the 
route  of  Lincoln's  army  from  Beardstown  to  the  Eock  river  country.  It 
was  moved  that  this  offer  be  reported  to  the  society. 

It  was  moved  that  Hon.  Walter  B.  Douglas,  Miss  Cora  A.  Benneson, 
and  Hon.  C.  M.  Burton,  distinguished  persons  from  other  states  who 
have  come  to  this  annual  meeting  to  give  papers  and  addresses  before 
the  society,  be  recommended  to  the  society  for  honorary  membership  in 
the  society.     This  motion  was  voted  upon  and  carried. 


22 

A  special  committee  on  the  periodical  was  appointed,  consisting  of 
Andrew  Eussel,  J.  H.  Burnham,  Jessie  Palmer  Weber,  and  the  president 
of  the  society.  Captain  Burnham  moved  and  Judge  Cunningham 
seconded  the  motion,  tha.t  a  special  committee  to  plan  some  work  along 
the  line  of  State  archaeological  investigation  be  appointed.  This  motion 
was  carried.  Mr.  Eussell  spoke  of  Professor  Udden  of  Augustana  Col- 
lege as  a  person  who  might  give  assistance  along  this  line. 

Mr.  Eussel  moved  that  the  salary  of  the  secretary  of  the  society  be 
$600.00  per  annum  instead  of  $500.00  as  in  the  past  year.  This  motion 
was  seconded  and  carried. 

A  special  committee,  Mr.  Eussel  and  Mrs.  Weber,  were  appointed  to 
procure  a  suitable  sign  to  have  placed  over  the  door  of  the  library  rooms, 
carrying  the  name  of  both  the  historical  society  and  the  library. 

The  following  committees  were  named  for  the  ensuing  year: 


Publication   Committee. 
Evarts  B.  Greene,  University  of  Illinois,  Urbana,  Chairman. 


Jessie  Palmer  Weber,  Springfield. 

J.  McCan  Davis,  Springfield. 

Geo.  A.  Dupuy,  Chicago. 

C.  W.  Alvord,  Urbana. 

M.  H.  Chamberlin,  Lebanon. 

Geo.   W.    Smith,   Carbondale. 


Stephen  L.  Spear,  Springfield. 
John  L.   Cooper,  Fairfield. 
Walter   Colyer,  Albion. 
Mrs.  Harry  Ainsworth,  Moline. 
Judge  Farlin   Q.  Ball,  Chicago. 
Alfred  Orendorff,  ex  officio. 


Pkoqram  Committee. 
Jessie  Palmer  Weber,  Springfield,  Chairman. 


J.    H.    Burnham,    Bloomington. 
J.  A.  James,  Evanston. 

E.  S.  Willcox,  Peoria. 
Wm.  A.  Meese,  Moline. 

Dr.  Otto  L.  Schmidt,  Chicago. 
Mrs.  Catherine  Goss  Wheeler, 

Springfield. 
Paul  Selby,  Chicago. 
Charles    P.    Kane,    Springfield. 

F.  J.  Heinl,  Jacksonville. 


Charles  H.   Rammelkamp,   Jackson- 
ville. 
Logan  Hay,  Springfield. 
Clinton  L.  Conkling,  Springfield. 
Wm.  G.  Edens,  Chicago. 
Mrs.  Martha  K.   Baxter,  Pawnee. 
Prof.  J.  H.  Collins,  Springfield. 
Chas.   G.   Dawes,   Evanston. 
Mrs.  Geo.  H.  Davidson,  Oak  Park. 
Alfred  Orendorff,  ex  officio. 


Finance  and  Auditing  Committee. 
M.  H.  Chamberlin,  Lebanon,  Chairman. 


E.    J.    James,    Urbana. 
Andrew  Russel,  Jacksonville. 


Jessie   Palmer  Weber,   Springfield. 
Alfred  Orendorff,  ex  officio. 


23 


Committee  on  Legislation. 
M.   H.  Chamberlin,  Lebanon,  Chairman. 


E.   J.   James,   Urbana. 
E.   A.    Snively,    Springfield. 
0.   F.   Berry,   Carthage. 
Samuel   Alschuler,    Aurora. 
R.    V.    Carpenter.    Belvidere. 
Henry    McCormick.    Normal. 
Andrew    Russel,    Jacksonville. 


Charles  E.  Hull,  Salem. 
R.  S.  Tuthill,  Chicago. 
Lee  P.  English,  Chicago. 
Prof.   David   Felmley,   Normal. 
O.  A.  Harker,  Champaign. 
Campbell  S.  Hearn,  Quincy. 
Alfred  Orendorff,  ex  officio. 


Special  Committee  to  Makk  Route  of  Lincoln's  Army  Trail  from  Beards- 
town  TO  Mouth  of  Rock  River. 

Wm.  A.  Meese,  Moline,  Chairman. 

Robert    H.    Garm,    Beardstown.  Henry    S.   Dixon,    Dixon,    111. 

John   S.   Bagby,  Rushville.  0.    M.    Dickerson,    Western    Illinois 

Dr.  T.   W.   Burrows,  Ottawa,  Normal    School,    Macomb. 

Luke   Dickerman,  Stillman   Valley.' 


COMMIT-TEE    ON    LoCAL   HISTORICAL    SOCIETIES 


J.   H.   Burnham,   Bloomington,   Chairman. 


J.  Seymour  Currey,  Evanston. 
George  W.   Smith,   Carbondale. 
Elliot  Callender,  Peoria. 
J.   0.   Cunningham,  Urbana. 
Mrs.  Charles  A.  Webster,  Galesburg. 
Horace  Hull,  Ottawa. 
Mrs.  Mary  Turner  Carriel,  Jackson- 
ville. 


L.   J.   Freese,  Eureka. 

Gen.   John    I.   Rinaker,    Carlinville. 

J.  W.  Clinton,  Polo. 

J.   J.   Mclnerney,   Alton. 

Miss  Louise  Maertz,  Quincy. 

Emil  Mannhardt,  Chicago. 

J.   Nick   Perrin.   Belleville. 

Alfred  Orendorff,  ex  officio. 


Committee  on  Membership. 


Judge    J    Otis   Humphrey,    Springfield,    Chairman. 


W.  H.  Stennett,  Oak  Park. 
Charles  L.   Capen,   Bloomington. 
Daniel  Berry,  M.  D.,  Carmi. 
John  M.  Rapp,  Fairfield. 
Mrs.   C.   C.   Brown,    Springfield. 
Wm.  Jayne,  M.  D..  Springfield. 
Geo.  E.  Dawson,  Chicago. 
A.   W.  Crawford,   Hillsboro. 
Mrs.  E.  M.  Bacon,  Decatur. 
Mrs.   I.   G.   Miller,    Springfield. 


Wm.   F.  Fowler,  Aurora. 
R.    H.    Aishton,    Evanston. 
Andrew  L.  Anderson,   Lincoln. 
Sumner  S.  Anderson,  Charleston. 
Smith  D.  Atkins,  Freeport. 
Miss  Alta  Baltzell,   Centralia. 
S.  W.  Baxter,  East  St.  Louis. 
Mrs.   Inez   J.   Bender,   Monticello. 
Charles    Bent,    Morrison. 
Mrs.  Geo.  D.  TunniclifE,  Macomb. 


Alfred  Orendorff,  ex  officio. 


34 


Committee  on  the  Marking  of  Historic  Sites  in  Illinois. 
Mrs.  M.  T.  Scott,  Bloomington,  Chairman. 


Harry   Ainsworth,    Moline. 
Francis    G.    Blair,    Springfield. 
John   E.   Miller,   East   St.   Louis. 
J.  S.  Little,  Rushville. 
J.  H.  Collins,  Springfield. 
Charles  B.  Campbell,  Kankakee. 
Miss  Lottie  E.  Jones,  Danville. 
Mrs.  LeRoy  Bacchus,  Springfield. 
Terry    Simmons,    Marseilles. 


H.  S.  Hicks,  Rockford. 

Miss  Sarah  M.  Gough,  El  Paso. 

Clarence   Griggs,   Ottawa. 

Lewis  M.   Gross,    Sycamore. 

Mrs.    Lee    J.    Hubble,    Monmouth. 

C.  F.   Gunther,  Chicago. 

Miss  Ada  D.  Harmon,  Glenn  Ellyn. 

John  H.  Hauberg,  Moline. 

J.  W.  Houston,  Berwick. 

Alfred  Orendorff,  ex  officio. 


Committee  on  Genealogy  and  Genealogical  Publications. 
Miss  Georgia  L.   Osborne,   Springfield,   Chairman. 


Mrs.  E.  S.  Walker,  Springfield. 

Mrs.  Thomas  Worthington,  Jack- 
sonville. 

Mrs.  John  C.  Ames,  Streator. 

Miss  May  Latham,   Lincoln. 

Mrs.  G.  K.  Hall,   Springfield. 

Mrs.  E.  G.  Crabbe.  Corpus  Christi, 
Texas. 


Norman  G.  Flagg,  Moro. 

Rev.    Chas.    W.    Lefiingwell,    Knox- 

ville. 
Richard  V.  Carpenter,  Belvidere. 
Oliver  R.  Williamson,  Chicago. 
Alfred  Orendorff,  ex  officio. 


Special  Committee  on   the  Publication   of  the  Journal  of  the   Illinois 

State  Historical  Society. 

Andrew   Russel,    Jacksonville,    Chairman. 


Jessie  Palmer  Weber,  Springfield. 
J.  H.  Burnham,  Bloomington, 


J.   McCan   Davis,   Springfield. 
Alfred  Orendorff,  ex  officio. 


There  being  no  further  business  presented^  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  adjourned. 

Special  Meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Illinois  State 
Historical  Society,  Dec.  2,  1909,  at  10 :00  o'clock  A.  M. 

The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  met  in 
the  room  of  the  secretary  of  the  society  on  the  morning  of  Dec.  2,  1909, 
at  10:00  o'clock.    There  were  present: 

Messrs.  Burnham,  Chamberlin,  Smith,  Norton,  Russell,  Weber,  Esch- 
mann,  and  by  invitation  Dr.  0.  L.  Schmidt,  and  a  little  later  in  the 
morning  President  E.  J.  James  came  into  the  meeting  for  a  short  time. 

Dr.  Chamberlin  was  asked  to  preside. 

Resolutions  were  presented  and  passed  upon  the  death  of  Gen.  Oren- 
dorif,  late  president  of  the  society. 

The  secretary  read  a  telegram  from  Col.  Clark  E.  Carr,  the  acting 
president,  stating  that  he  was  on  the  way  from  his  home  in  Galesburg, 
but  had  been  delayed  on  the  way  and  would  arrive  later  in  the  day, 
which  he  did.  The  question  of  the  publication  of  the  periodical  of  the 
society,  the  Journal,  was  discussed.    The  secretary  said  that  an  attempt 


25 

had  been  made  to  follow  the  style  of  the  Iowa  Journal,  but  that  it  was 
proving  very  expensive.  Prof.  Geo.  W.  Smith,  Captain  Burnham,  Mr. 
Eussel  and  others  spoke  of  the  fine  appearance  of  the  magazine.  Pro- 
fessor Smith  moved,  and  it  was  seconded  by  Father  Eschmann,  voted 
upon  and  carried,  that  the  Secretary  is  hereby  directed  to  continue  the 
magazine  in  its  present  style,  and  to  endeavor  to  keep  up  its  present 
standard.  The  secretary  spoke  of  the  difficulty  of  procuring  suitable 
material  for  the  magazine.  This  matter  was  discussed  at  length.  Pro- 
fessor Smith  moved,  seconded  by  Captain  Burnham  that  the  secretary 
be  elected  editor-in-chief  of  the  magazine,  with  power  to  select  four  or 
five  associate  editors,  and  that  the  names  of  the  editorial  staff  appear  in 
each  number  of  the  magazine. 

It  was  moved,  and  the  motion  was  voted  upon  and  carried,  that  County 
Historical  Societies  be  called  upon  to  make  contributions  to  the  Journal. 
Captain  Burnham  spoke  at  length  upon  the  need  of  an  active  committee 
on  archaeology.  Plans  were  discussed  as  to  securing  aid  and  cooperation 
^from  the  new  State  Park  Commission  in  the  preservation  of  historic 
spots  in  the  State. 

The  directors  desire  that  Dr.  Snyder  be  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  archaeology  if  he  will  accept  it,  and  the  secretary  and  Captain  Bum- 
ham  were  asked  to  find  out  from  Dr.  Snyder,  whether  or  not  he  will 
accept  the  chairmanship  of  the  committee. 

Professor  Smith  asked  if  maps  of  historic  spots  in  the  State  were  to 
be  procured,  containing  descriptions  of  camps,  drains,  etc. 

Mr.  W.  T.  Norton  was  asked  to  contribute  a  paper  on  old  Fort  Belle 
Fontaine. 

It  was  suggested  that  the  society  ought  to  have  a  paper  on  Camp 
Douglas  near  Springfield.  It  was  decided  that  Mr.  Lincoln  Dubois  of 
Springfield  be  asked  to  prepare  such  a  paper  for  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  society. 

It  was  decided  that  the  secretary  call  the  attention  of  the  State  Park 
Commission  to  the  Great  Cahokia  Mound  in  the  south  part  of  Madison 
county,  and  that  the  suggestion  be  made  that  such  historic  spots  or  sites, 
camps,  forts,  etc.,  not  suitable  or  available  for  State  parks  be  marked 
in  some  manner. 

It  was  voted  that  the  secretary  be  authorized  to  ask  some  competent 
person  to  prepare  and  read  at  the  coming  annual  meeting,  an  address 
on  the  life  and  character  of  Gen.  Alfred  Orendorff,  the  late  president 
of  the  society.  There  being  no  further  business  presented,  the  meeting 
adjourned. 


26 


REPORT    OF    COMMITTEES. 


liEPORT  OF  Committee  on  Genealogy  and  Genealogical  Publica- 
tions, Illinois  State  Historical  Society,  May  13,  1909. 

To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society: 

Your  Comniittee  on  Genealogy  and  Genealogical  Publications  begs 
leave  to  report  as  follows : 

There  has  been  a  steadily  increasing  interest  in  this  department  of 
the  society's  work.  As  an  evidence  of  this  we  point  to  the  hearty  coopera- 
tion of  this  comniittee,  with  the  chairman  of  the  Program  Committee,  in 
securing  for  this  annual  meeting  of  the  society  a  valuable  paper  on 
Genealogy  and  the  West,  by  Mrs.  Harriet  Taylor  of  the  Xewberry' 
Library,  Chicago,  which  library  has  one  of  the  largest  genealogical 
collections  in  the  west. 

We  have  recently  published  in  the  Jotirnai  of  the  society,  for  July- 
August,  1908,  a  partial  list  of  some  of  our  rarest  and  best  works  on 
genealogy.  Since  this  publication  was  issued,  we  have  added  quite  a 
number  of  valuable  publications  along  this  line,  namely,  the  South 
Carolina  Historical  Collections,  and  their  Historical  and  Genealogical 
Magazine;  the  Georgia  Historical  Collections;  the  Annals  of  Augusta 
County,  Va. ;  History  of  Albemarle  County,  Va.;  Hayden's  Virginia 
Genealogies;  the  Colonial  Virginia  Eegister,  which  contains  a  list  of 
governors,  councillors  and  other  higher  officials,  and  the  members  of  the 
House  of  Burgesses  from  1619-1776,  and  the  Eevolutionary  Conventions 
of  the  Colony  of  Virginia ;  Historical  Collections  of  Georgia  by  Rev. 
George  White,  published  in  1854."  Additions  also  have  been  made  to  our 
Pennsylvania  Archives,  Pennsylvania  in  the  Eevolution,  1775-1783 ; 
names  of  persons  who  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  state  of  Penn- 
sylvania, 1776-1794. 

As  a  large  percentage  of  the  population  of  central  and  southern  Illi- 
nois is  comprised  of  families  of  fither  Virginia,  Kentucky  or  Carolina 
ancestry,  a  large  part  of  our  work  has  been  along  these  lines.  We  have 
been  trying  to  secure  all  available  material  on  these  states. 

As  yet  we  have  not  succeeded  in  securing  the  works  on  genealogy  from 
the  State  Library;  we  have  not  given  up  the  idea,  however,  but  think  at 
some  future  time  this  can  be  accomplished.  As  the  libraries  are  now 
situated  on  the  same  floor  in  the  capitol  building,  when  it  is  necessary 
to  use  a  work  which  is  in  the  State  Library,  we  refer  our  students  to 
that  department,  and  they  can  avail  themselves  of  its  resources  without 
great  inconvenience. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Georgia  L.  Osborne, 
Chairman  Committee  on  Genealogy 

and  Genealogical  Piihlications. 


e 


27 


REPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  ON  THE  PERIODICAL  PUB- 
LICATION OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


At  the  1908  annual  meeting  of  the  society  it  was  decided  to  begin  the 
publication  of  a  periodical  by  the  society,  and  a  committee  was  appointed 
for  that  purpose. 

This  committee  consisted  of  Mr.  Andrew  Russel,  Capt.  J.  H.  Bum- 
ham,  the  president  and  the  secretary,  and  it  now  begs  to  report  to  the 
society  that  it  has  performed  the  duties  assigned  to  it,  and  with  pride 
it  begs  to  refer  you  to  the  result  of  its  labors. 

Its  members  feel  that  they  have  made  a  creditable  beginning  and  they 
beg  that  the  members  express  their  opinions  and  wishes  as  to  the  future 
work  of  the  Journal. 

The  beginnings  of  the  venture  were  small,  but  we  feel  that  the  fact 
that  the  society  actually  has  an  organ  is  a  great  step  forward.  The 
Journal  is  issued  quarterly,  and  we  hope  that  each  number  will  be  an 
improvement  upon  the  ones  preceding  it. 

We  have  with  the  April  Journal  begun  the  second  volume,  and  we 
beg  for  communications  from  the  members  upon  matters  of  historical 
interest,  such  as  the  celebration  of  historical  anniversaries,  notices  of 
books  by  Illinois  authors,  or  about  Illinois  persons,  places  or  events,  or 
information  as  to  the  deaths  of  members  of  the  society. 

The  committee  acknowledges  its  indebtedness  to  Dr.  J.  F.  Snyder  for 
much  assistance,  kindly  and  helpful  advice  and  valuable  contributions, 
without  which  it  could  hardly  have  achieved  so  great  a  measure  of 
success.  The  articles  of  Dr.  Snyder  on  Illinois  Archseolog}^  are  valuable 
contributions  to  that  neglected  branch  of  Illinois  history. 

They  have  received  high  praise  from  competent  critics,  and  they  are 
in  request  by  persons  who  are  interested  in  archseology. 

The  third  paper  of  the  series  will  be  published  in  the  July  number  of 
the  Journal.  We  hope  the  members  of  the  society  approve  of  the  plan 
of  the  Journal,  are  pleased  with  its  improved  appearance  and  interested 
in  its  future. 

Respectfully, 

Andrew  Russel, 
j.  h.  burnham, 
Alfred  Orendorff, 
Jessie  Palmer  Weber. 


28 


REPORT  OF  COUNTY   HISTORICAL  SOCIETIES. 


THIRD    ANNUAL    EEPORT    OF    THE    KNOX    COUNTY 

HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  FOR  THE  YEAR 

ENDING  JANUARY  16,  1909. 

The  annual  report  of  an  organization  which  has  held  but  one  regular 
meeting  in  the  twelve  months  succeeding  the  last  annual  meeting,  that 
of  January  23,  1908,  need  not  be  lengihy  or  tiresome. 

Certain  events  of  the  past  year,  however,  in  connection  with  which 
the  oflficers  and  members  of  this  society  have  borne  an  important  part, 
deserve  especial  mention. 

The  year  1908  is  distinguished  as  having  been  the  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  the  famous  Lincoln-Douglas  debates,  one  of  which,  and  one  of  the 
most  important  of  which,  from  a  political  and  historical  standpoint,  was 
held  in  Galesburg. 

The  date  of  the  debate  in  Galesburg  was  Oct.  7,  1858 ;  the  place,  the 
Knox  college  campus,  and  the  speakers  occupied  a  platform  which  was 
erected  on  the  east  side  of  the  building  now  designated  as  "Old  Main." 

The  celebration  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  this  event  by  Knox 
college  and  the  city  of  Galesburg,  on  the  same  day  of  the  month,  and 
upon  the  same  spot  upon  which  the  debate  occurred,  marks  the  year  as, 
historically,  the  most  important  in  the  annals  of  Galesburg,  with  the 
exception  perhaps  of  the  year  of  the  great  debate,  a  half  century  ago. 

Your  president,  Colonel  Carr,  as  chairman-at-large  of  the  committees 
promoting  these  celebrations  at  different  points  throughout  the  State 
where  the  debates  occurred  and  who,  as  general  promoter,  was  himself 
largely  responsible  for  their  conspicuous  success;  your  vice  president, 
Mr.  Shumway,  as  mayor  of  Galesburg,  bearing  his  share  of  responsibility 
in  the  carrying  out  of  the  very  successful  celebration  in  this  city ;  and 
your  secretary,  as  the  medium  of  the  historical  society,  in  furnishing 
valuable  information  and  material  to  the  daily  papers  for  their  souvenir 
editions  of  that  date,  have  each  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the 
making  up  of  history,  as  it  concerns  our  city  and  our  county  during  this 
eventful  year. 

Nor  have  their  efforts  been  entirely  without  compensation,  for  not 
only  was  it  their  pleasure  to  share,  with  others,  in  the  interest  and 
pleasure  of  the  notable  occasion,  but  by  thus  sharing  in  it  they  have 
helped  to  secure  much  valuable  historical  material  for  the  archives  of 
this  society. 


29 

At  the  beginning  of  the  campaign  for  the  making  up  of  the  souvenir 
editions  of  the  daily  papers,  your  secretary  was  frequently  and  persist- 
ently interviewed  for  such  historical  data  and  incident  as  might  be 
produced  by  reference  to  her  own  private  collection,  and  to  the  contents 
of  our  historical  library,  which,  meagre  though  it  may  be,  is  each  year 
becoming  more  valuable. 

The  favor  of  a  ready  response  to  these  repeated  demands  upon  the 
time  and  strength  of  a  busy  woman  was  granted,  upon  the  condition  that 
whatever  of  new  material  might  be  gathered  in  following  out  the  lines 
of  research  suggested  by  your  secretary,  should  revert  to  the  historical 
society  whenever  it  had  served  its  purpose  in  making  up  the  special 
editions  of  the  daily  papers. 

In  this  way  much  material  which  will  be  of  great  value  to  the  future 
historians  of  Galesburg  and  Knox  connty  is  now  preserved  in  our  library. 
Not  only  were  the  photographs  and  prints  of  historic  personages  and 
places  turned  over  to  us,  but  many  negatives,  some  of  which  had  not 
been  printed,  came  into  our  possession. 

In  ready  response  to  the  suggestion  of  your  secretary,  Mr.  Wagoner 
of  the  Mail  Printing  Company  also  gave  into  the  custody  of  the  society 
the  plates  and  photographs  used  by  himself  in  his  valuable  historical 
numbers  of  the  Weeh's  Review. 

Your  secretary  would  urgently  and  earnestly  recommend  that,  now, 
with  these  added  materials  in  hand,  and  with  the  memory  of  the  year's 
notable  events  freshly  and  vividly  in  mind,  immediate,  definite  and 
determined  effort  should  be  made  to  preserve  these  materials,  and  the 
memorios  connected  with  them,  which  are  but  too  rapidly  vanishing,  in 
some  permanent  form  as  a  history  of  our  community.  Only  a  few  of 
those  remain  who  have  seen,  and  have  been  a  factor  in  the  events  which 
have  made  up  the  history  of  Galesburg  since  its  beginning. 

During  the  year  your  secretary  has  preserved,  as  heretofore,  news- 
paper clippings  relating  to  persons  and  events  which  make  up  our  current 
history,  and  which,  thus  preserved,  will  sometime  become  a  valuable 
contribution  to  the  history  of  the  past. 

Two  manuscripts  have  been  added  to  our  collection  during  the  year. 
The  one,  a  copy  of  the  original  preserved  in  the  State  Historical  Library 
in  Springfield,  and  written  by  the  lamented  Mary  Allen  West  in  1872, 
who,  had  she  but  lived,  would  undoubtedly  have  served  as  the  Galesburg 
historian  for  whom  we  are  now  looking.  The  manuscript  is  entitled 
"How  Galesburg  Grew,"  and  was  evidently  written  for  some  public 
anniversary  occasion  in  our  city. 

The  other  manuscript  embodies  the  address  delivered  by  Mr.  Eay  M. 
Arnold  on  the  occasion  of  the  first  observance  of  Knox-Galesburg  day 
last  September,  in  which  he  reviews  the  history  of  the  town,  the  college 
and  the  church  and  pays  a  high  tribute  to  the  founders. 

Both  of  these  papers  will  be  of  service  to  our  future  historian. 

An  old  volume  has  also  been  added  to  our  collection  whose  imprint 
bears  the  date  1833  and  the  place  of  publication  New  Haven,  Conn.  Its 
somewhat  unique  history  as  a  book  is  a  matter  of  interest.    During  last 


30 

spring  an  old  house  on  Waters  street  was  remodeled.  Fifty  years  ago, 
from  1856  to  1858,  the  house  was  occupied  by  Dr.  Edward  Beecher,  then 
pastor  of  the  church  which  worshipped  in  the  building  now  known  as 
Beecher  chapel. 

When  tearing  out  one  of  the  partitions  of  this  house  the  workmen 
found  a  little  book  which  had  slipped  down  between  the  walls. 

It  is  a  book  of  Sunday  evening  lectures,  delivered  in  his  church  in 
New  Haven  by  Dr.  Leonard  Bacon,  one  of  the  most  famous  divines  of 
the  past  century.  Upon  the  fly-leaf  is  the  inscription,  scarcely  legible, 
"  Eev.  Edward  Beecher,  from  the  author,  Leonard  Bacon." 

The  book  came  into  the  possession  of  Dr.  G.  S.  Chalmers,  and  he 
kindly  presented  it  to  the  historical  society,  and  should  receive  our 
thanks. 

Such  souvenirs  of  the  Lincoln-Douglas  celebration  as  could  be  secured 
have  been  preserved  by  your  secretary.  They  include  a  window  hanger 
advertising  the  event,  a  program  issued  by  the  People's  Trust  and 
Savings  Bank,  and  buttons  bearing  pictures  of  the  two  men,  which  were 
sold  upon  the  street. 

Great  effort  was  made  to  secure  the  official  badge,  program  and 
invitation,  but  without  success. 

We  have  received  very  few  relics  during  the  past  months,  probably 
on  account  of  the  infrequency  of  our  meetings.  The  public  naturally 
loses  sight  and  knowledge  of  an  organization  which  does  not  make  itself 
manifest.  So  far  as  the  secretary  is  informed,  the  old  carriage  reach,* 
mentioned  in  the  Minutes  of  the  May  meeting,  is  the  only  recent  addition 
to  our  collection  of  relics. 

The  typewritten  records  of  the  society  up  to  date  of  the  last  annual 
meeting  have  been  made  secure  in  a  permanent  binding  for  the  purpose 
of  preservation  and  reference. 

Your  secretary  wishes  to  express  her  deep  obligation  to  Mr.  S.  A. 
Wagoner  for  valuable  assistance  rendered  by  him  in  identifying  and 
labeling  the  photographs  and  negatives  to  which  reference  has  been 
made.  Without  his  assistance  many  of  them  would  have  been  entirely 
without  historical  value  to  us. 

This  completes  the  year's  summary  and  the  report  is  respectfully 
submitted. 

Martha  Farnham- Webster. 
Secretary  Knox  County  Historical  Society. 

Annual  meeting,  January  16,  1909. 


*  From  carriage  in  which  Lincoln  rode  from  Knoxville  to  Galesburg  on  the  morning  of  Oct.  7, 1858. 


31 


EEPOET  OF  THE  LA  SALLE  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY, 


Yesterday,  too  briefly  for  its  real  importance,  1  advocated  county  and 
then  township  organization  of  historical  societies.  There  should  be  such 
a  society  in  every  county  of  the  State,  and  to  bring  it  about  ought  to  be 
not  only  the  pleasure,  but  the  duty  of  the  parent  body,  the  State  society. 
This  can  be  done  by  a  competent,  persistent  committee,  through  a  well 
compiled,  printed  folder,  stating  purpose  and  great  need  of  preserving 
past  and  present  making  of  history,  for  in  the  rush  of  to-day  it  is  but  a 
breath  from  the  actual  now  to  the  past.  In  such  a  folder  outline  a  plan 
of  organization,  and  add  a  form  of  constitution  and  by-laws.  Be  earnest, 
intense  in  suggestion,  giving  popularity  to  the  movement.  Make  of 
county  organization  a  "fad"  if  no  other  plan  that  is  feasible  wins.  Time 
will  bring  about  the  better  and  wiser,  more  true  and  lasting. 

Since  1876  I  have  been  the  publisher  of  the  Marseilles  Plaindeaier, 
and  have  bound  files  of  it  to  date.  To  me  these  files  are  of  very  great 
value,  in  fact  they  are  not  for  sale  at  any  price.  Not  to  be  selfish  and 
believing  that  my  readers  should  partake  with  me  in  the  past  of  local 
history  published,  I  very  carefully  and  thoroughly  compiled  from  these 
bound  volumes  a  "Quarter  Century  History  of  Marseilles."  Making  the 
type  up  into  pages  of  usual  book  size,  and  numbering  each  consecutively, 
an  installment  was  printed  week  by  week  in  my  paper,  making  it  pos- 
sible for  the  readers  to  cut  them  out  and  paste  in  a  scrap  book,  thus 
having  the  whole  history,  when  done.  If  any  other  publisher  ii>  this  or 
other  states  has  done  this,  I  have  yet  to  know  of  it.  Somehow  the 
secretary  of  the  State  society  heard  of  what  had  been  done  and  wrote  to 
me,  asking  for  a  copy  of  the  production  for  preservation.  I  could  not 
spare  the  file  of  papers  with  the  hook  pages  in,  nor  yet  the  one  pasted 
"scrap  book"  I  had  made  up.  To  refuse  the  request  of  the  secretary  was 
a  hard  task,  but  no  other  recourse  remained.  Let  me  add  that  in  time, 
in  some  form  of  publication,  it  is  my  intention  to  bring  that  local  history 
up  to  date. 

Your  only  historians  are  your  newspapers,  as  nearly  reliable  as  it  is 
possible  to  be  in  the  whirl  of  today,  and,  anyhow,  away  ahead  in  accur- 
acy of  the  histories  based  on  rumor  or  memory  productions  which  evolve 
one  thing  today  and  another  and  mayhap  totally  different  tomorrow. 

As  helpful  in  society  organization  let  me  quote  from  an  address  I 
made  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Manlius-Eutland  Township  Histor- 
ical Society  of  which  I  am  president,  prefacing  it  by  stating  that  the 
purpose  of  the  township  society  is  to  begin  a  systematic  collection  of  the 
first  things  in  the  two  townships,  such  as  manuscripts,  letters,  photos, 


32 

printed  sketches,  etc.;  these  will  include  from  start  to  date  village 
presidents,  city  mayors,  postmasters,  ministers,  station  agents,  editors, 
school  principals  and  superintendents,  bankers,  physicians,  etc.  Also 
all  who  have  attained  prominence  politically  and  otherwise.  These  will 
be  filed  at  the  public  library  at  present  for  safety.  All  interested  are 
asked  to  assist  the  historians  in  their  work  of  preservation. 

ANNUAL  ADDRESS. 

Feb.  13,  1908,  the  two  township  historical  societies  of  Eutland  and 
Manlius  were  each  one  year  old.  An  auxilliary  of  the  county  society, 
with  no  dues  except  the  one  dollai  for  membership  and  one  dollar  an- 
nually paid  to  the  county  society,  the  members  have  attended  as  best 
they  could  the  quarterly  meetings  at  Ottawa  of  the  parent  body.  Such 
as  have  done  this  can  but  feel  amply  repaid  for  the  time  spent,  and  have 
more  fully  realized  the  great  need  of  preserving  history  for  the  influence 
it  exerts  towards  the  welfare  of  those  now  living,  and  those  to  come  as 
time  goes  on.  Only  through  comparison  can  progress  be  determined. 
What  of  helpfulness  the  careers  of  those  preceding  us  may  give,  we  cer- 
tainly need  and  in  turn  we  are  alike  answerable  to  those  who  succeed  us. 
Failure  of  the  past  to  preserve  records  need  not  be  repeated  by  us. 

Your  president  has  done  what  he  could  by  attendance,  suggestion  and 
addresses,  to  build  up  the  county  society,  and  is  grateful  for  the  appreci- 
ation it  has  brought  him.  At  its  first  annual  meeting  those  present  felt 
that  the  year  gone  by  had  been  an  encouraging  one,  and  that  the  outlook 
for  the  new  year  was  excellent.  It  will  be  well  for  our  township  societies 
to  aid  in  all  possible  ways  to  maintain  this  interest  not  only,  but  increase 
it,  for  growth  only  is  evidence  of  life  worthy  of  mention. 

In  view  of  the  coming  half  century  celebration  at  Ottawa  of  the  Lincoln 
and  Douglas  debate,  which  is  to  take  place  Aug.  21,  1908,  our  societies 
should  do  their  part  in  getting  out  to  it  all  now  living  in  the  two  town- 
ships who  were  at  the  original  debate.  Let  us  make  a  showing  to  be 
proud  of,  as  we  hope  every  other  township  will  also  do.  It  means  very 
much  to  have  been  of  the  number  on  that  eventful  day  so  long  ago,  and 
what  it  brought  of  association  with  the  greatest  man  of  our  magnificent 
country.  The  heroes  of  our  nation  are  not  kings  in  name  or  nature,  but 
there  is  a  kingship  in  what  they  stand  for,  and  it  is  to  this,  no  homage 
too  great  can  be  paid.  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  the  flesh,  was  but  mortal 
like  you  and  I,  but  the  principles  he  stood  for  are  undying,  he  was  but 
another  form  of  old  glory,  the  flag  essentially  but  cloth,  but  in  what  it 
means  of  life  and  liberty  for  all  who  own  allegiance  to  it,  mighty  in 
significance. 

The  erection  of  a  county  historical  building  at  Ottawa,  with  contri- 
butions to  its  cost  from  the  county  as  a  whole,  is  advocated  and  urged. 
It  may  take  some  time  to  awaken  the  interest  to  attain  this  result,  but 
in  the  meanwhile  it  is  possible  for  each  township  to  begin  the  preserva- 
tion of  historical  matters,  for  without  these  individual  collections,  a 
county  one  would  be  of  but  limited  interest.  Photos  of  persons,  places 
and  incidents,  old  letters,  deeds,  early  bibles,  books,  and  the  like,  once 
lost  or  destroyed,  can  never  be  regained.    These  should  be  given  to  some 


3 


■i 


one  reliable  in  the  township,  and  be  by  him  carefully  placed  for  safe 
keeping,  the  public  library,  where  there  is  one,  being  a  most  suitable 
place.  Once  so  deposited  they  belong,  of  right,  to  the  whole  people  of 
the  community.  As  a  part  of  their  duties  our  township  historians  should 
make  these  collections  in  person  not  only,  but  urge  others  to  bring  them 
to  them.  One  most  convenient  means  of  preservation  is  to  clip  all  items 
from  the  county  papers  of  a  historical  nature,  file  away  and  paste  in  a 
book  for  reference,  always  of  course  seeing  that  as  far  as  possible  they 
have  a  local  bearing  on  the  community  for  which  they  are  being  secured. 

It  is  essentially  the  mission  of  our  township  societies  to  partake  in, 
and  encourage  all  public  doings  of  a  historical  nature.  These  come  in 
when  those  within  public  notice  have  in  any  way  or  at  any  time  been  a 
part  of  the  life  of  our  townships.  One  distinct  feature  in  this  regard  is 
the  home  coming  now  so  justly  popular  in  many  sections.  It  is  well  to 
recall  what  has  been  a  part  of  the  life  of  our  communities  and  what  part 
in  the  honor  of  the  outside  world  those  who  have  lived  their  lives  in 
other  sections  now  occupy. 

Township,  county  and  State  historical  societies  are  all  links  in  the 
chain  of  the  life  we  live,  each  the  greater  only  as  the  other  is  greater. 
In  preserving  history  each  must  do  his  part.  Do  yours  and  you  will  have 
the  satisfaction  of  reaping  what  of  local  reward  it  offers  not  only,  but 
the  influence  it  cannot  fail  to  exert  on  the  people  of  other  townships 
within  the  county. 

In  view  of  the  excellent  paper  on  "Genealogy  and  the  West,"  by  Mrs. 
Harriet  Taylor,  of  the  Newberry  Library,  Chicago,  the  close  of  Mr.  Sim- 
mons' address  has  a  more  forcible  application.     He  said: 

"A  speaker  at  a  recent  banquet  maintained  that  ancestry  has  little  to 
do  in  shaping  one's  life,  perhaps  intending  only  to  refer  in  such  con- 
nection to  the  life  of  Lincoln,  whose  ancestry  is  conceded  to  have  fore- 
shadowed but  faintly  the  great  life  the  emancipator  lived.  If  such 
a  statement  be  true,  how  intensely  it  narrows  the  average  career  of  a 
parent,  and  how  it  falsifies  that  oft  quoted  poet  when  he  said,  'It  is  not 
all  of  life  to  live,  or  all  of  death  to  die.'  If  the  achievements  of  a  parent 
are  to  end  at  his  death,  so  far  as  those  of  his  flesh  are  concerned,  he  is 
answerable  in  this  life  largely  only  to  self,  is  that  far  but  a  few  degrees 
removed  from  the  animal.  Aspiration,  hopes,  desire  that  in  his  children 
he  may  live  again  in  a  betterment  of  existence,  that  his  struggles  to 
climb  upward  and  achieve  will  be  only  those  of  his  so  short  life,  the 
incidents  of  but  a  passing  breath,  are  chilled  and  killed  if  ancestry  is 
but  delusive  in  the  shaping  of  life. 

What  is  all  history  but  a  record  of  the  deeds  of  our  ancestry,  and  do 
they  play  no  part  in  our  lives?  Lincoln's  was  an  isolated  experience, 
if  we  narrow  the  influences  of  ancestry  to  those  of  his  parents  only,  but 
in  his  career  culminated  the  heroic  and  everlasting  right  principles  of 
the  ages  as  lived  in  the  best  men  of  the  era  to  which  thev  belonged;  in 
him  the  great  Creator  designed  that  their  expression  should  see  the 
light.  Thus  truthfully  regarded,  well  may  we  say,  'Oh;  for  the  ancestry 
of  a  Lincoln.' " 

— 3  H  S 


PART  II. 


Papers   Read  at  the  Annual 
Meeting,  1909. 


37 


EFFORTS    TO    BIVORCE    JUDICIAL    ELECTIONS    FROM 

POLITICS  m  ILLINOIS. 

By    Oliver   A.    Marker. 


A  court  is  a  tribunal  established  for  the  public  administration  of 
justice,  and  composed  of  one  or  more  judges  who  sit  for  that  purpose  at 
fixed  times  and  places,  attended  by  proper  officers.  While  its  organiza- 
tion and  power  to  act  depend  upon  constitutional  provision  and  legisla- 
tive enactment,  it  is  wisely  provided  that  when  organized,  it  shall 
exercise  its  functions  over  the  parties  and  subject  matter  before  it,  free 
from  interference  by  the  executive  or  legislative  departments  of  govern- 
ment. It  is  the  exclusive  depository  of  all  judicial  powers.  Legislation 
must  provide  the  means  for  bringing  judicial  questions  before  the  courts, 
the  compensation  of  their  officers,  the  expenses  of  their  sessions  and  the 
places  for  holding  them.  It  may  within  constitutional  authorization 
provide  what  jurisdiction  the  different  courts  may  exercise.  In  some 
states  the  chief  executive,  also,  by  virtue  of  his  appointive  power,  may 
be  required  to  act,  and  in  some  instances  he  may,  by  virtue  of  his  police 
and  military  power,  be  called  upon  to  aid  and  protect  the  courts.  But 
as  to  how  the  courts  shall  deal  with  and  decide  the  question  before  them, 
neither  the  legislature  nor  the  governor  shall  have  a  voice.  The  inde- 
pendence of  the  judiciary,  national  and  state,  has  ever  been  the  pride 
of  a  liberty  loving  and  peace  desiring  people,  and  every  attempted 
encroachment  upon  it  by  other  departments  of  government  has  been 
looked  upon  with  alarm.  It  is  the  glory  of  the  English  constitution  to 
have  led  in  establishing  this  most  important  principle.  It  did  not  exist 
in  England  prior  to  the  Revolution  of  1688,  and  its  introduction  gave 
new  character  to  the  courts. 

History  is  replete  with  the  evils  experienced  in  that  country  from 
judges  depending  upon  the  will  and  favor  of  the  crown.  When  the 
destruction  of  chartered  rights  was  attempted  by  Charles  the  Second, 
and  his  brother  after  him,  the  mode  was  by  judgments  obtained  in  the 
courts.  After  the  prosecution  against  the  city  of  London  to  secure  a 
forfeiture  of  its  charter  had  been  commenced,  and  while  it  was  pending, 
the  judges  were  changed.  Saunders,  who  had  been  consulted,  and  had 
advised  the  proceeding  on  the  part  of  the  crown,  was  made  chief  justice 
for  the  very  purpose  of  giving  judgment  in  favor  of  the  crown,  his  pre- 
decessor being  removed  to  make  place  for  him.  The  cause  for  the  pro- 
ceeding was  the  making  of  scandalous  reflections  on  the  king  in  the 
petition  against  the  prorogation  of  parliament  in  1679.  It  was  in  vain 
that  the  advocates  for  the  city  argued,  that  even  if  the  facts  complained 


of  were  pimisuaiiie.  tne  persons  who  had  eoumutted  them  should  be 
punished  and  not  the  innocent  corporation.  The  judges  were  the  mere 
tools  of  the  crown,  and  judgnvent  was  given  '^hat  the  franchise  and 
liberty  of  the  city  of  London  should  be  taken  and  seized  into  the  king^s 
hands."    What  had  succeeded  in  T       '       was  tried  all  orer  the  kingdom. 

Quo   Warrantos  were  issued  in  u   ace:  through  judgments  of  the 

courts,  presided  over  by  dependent  and  time-serving  judges,  cities  were 
deprived  of  their  charters,  and  citizens  of  their  liberties,  until  the  abuse 
-  the  leading  factor  in  the  Revolution  of  16S8.  English  judi- 
...:...,  then  t«x»k  on  a  new  character.  The  judges  became  independent, 
and  that  independence  has  been  the  pride  and  the  boast  of  the  English- 
man ever  since. 

That  justic-e  was  a'l ministered  by  judges  dependent  on  the  will  of  the 
British  crown,  was  a  prominent  topic  of  c-omplaint  in  the  American 
Colonies  for  years  before  the  Revolution.  The  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendenc-e  set  forth  as  a  prominent  grievanc-e.  and  one  justifying  the 
Revolution,  that  the  British  king  "had  made  judges  dependent  on  his 
will  alone  for  the  tenure  of  their  offic-es."  It  was  but  natural,,  therefore, 
when  they  had  secured  their  independenc-e.  that  the  states,  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  their  own  governments  shoidd  make  the  independence  of 
the  judiciari-  a  prominent  feature.  Some  of  them  made  greater,  and 
other  less  piwvision  upon  the  subject.  But  as  new  states  were  admitted 
and  the  growth  of  the  old  ones  increased,  as  the  nation  advanc-ed  in 
population,  wealth,  and  industrial  development,  as  problems  of  politic-al, 
commercial  and  social  life  became  enlarged  and  more  complicated,  the 
-  "°  ;"■  trds  about  the  c-ourts  became  stronger  and  more  numerous.  A 
lison  of  the  older  constitutions  with  the  newer  will  show  the  con- 
stantly growing  desire  of  the  people  to  keep  the  departments  of  govern- 
ment as  distinct  as  possible,  and  to  impose  restraints  designed  to  have 
that  effect.  Bec-atise  of  the  peculiar  nature  of  our  government,  state 
and  national,  it  has  been  necessary  to  imp«>se  greater  restraints  upon 
the  legislative  than  upon  the  executive  department.  The  tendency  of 
legislation  is  to  augment  the  power  of  that  department  in  its  relation  to 
try.     Composed  of  a  large  number  of  men,  the  most  of  them 

:- al  politicians,  in  constant  contact  with  their  c-onstituents,  it 

nec-essarily  c-arries  along  with  it  the  force  of  public  opinion.  It  would 
s€em  apparent  then  that  without  c-onstitutional  restraint,  fixed  and  cer- 
tain, such  department,  in  times  of  excitement  would  be  able  to  encroach 
on  the  judiciary.  Then  it  is,  that  a  security  of  judicial  independence 
becomes  nec-essar%-. 

The  first  section  of  article  I.  of  the  Constitution  of  1818  provided 
that  the  power  of  the  government  of  the  State  should  be  divided  into 
three  distinct  departments  and  each  of  them  c-onfided  to  a  separate  body 
of  magistracy,  to  wit:  Those  which  are  legislative  to  one:  those  which 
are  executive  to  another ;  and  those  which  are  judiciary  to  another.  And 
by  the  next  section  it  was  provided  that  '^o  person  or  collection  of 
^"'•-  '^^  "--'^sr  one  of  those  departments,"  should  exercise  any  power 
rsrinsT  to  either  of  the  others  except  as  in  the  Constitution 


39 

directed  or  permitted.  In  tiie  Ccmstitntioii  of  184S  there  is  the  same 
distribution  of  govem mental  powers,  and.  Tsith  the  exception  of  one 
word,  which  does  not  alter  the  meaning,  in  the  same  identical  language. 

There  is  a  substantial  embodiment  of  these  two  sections  in  article  III. 
of  the  present  Constitution  which  reads  as  follows:  "The  powers  of 
the  government  of  this  State  are  dirided  into  three  distinct  departments : 
the  l^islative,  executive  and  judicial;  and  no  persons,  being  one  of 
these  departments,  shall  exercise  anv  of  the  powers  properly  '  /^ 
to  the  otheK,  except  as  hereinafter  expressly  .iirected  or  pernv.-r.. 

I  crave  indulgence  for  this  somewhat  lengthy  introduction  to  th-e 
subject  of  this  paper.  Its  purpose  has  been  to  show  what  has  been  and 
what  is  now  the  public  temper  upon  the  pn^position  of  keeping  matters 
judicial  aloof  from  matters  legislative  and  executive — fr  -::  r  ~rT? 
political. 

I  hope,  also,  that  I  may  be  pardoned  for  seeming  digression  if  I,  in 
addition  to  narrating  some  of  the  most  c-onspicnous  efforts  which,  from 
time  to  time,  have  been  made  to  div  -      --   :  ;  rions  from  politics, 

shall  volunteer  personal  views  which  -  -.--      liose  efforts. 

In  this  connection  we  diall  use  the  ter  dc^  in  its  popular  sense — 

the  management  of  a  politic-al  party  and  the  advancemait  of  its  candi- 
dates to  ofiBc-e.  We  all  tm"-  >'  1  the  prin  ^  .  '  *  ~m.  t*5 
be  "the  science  of  govemnic^: .  i^at  part  oi  _:_  r  :.  .-  with 
the  regulation  and  government  of  a  nation  or  state,  :  servation  of 
its  safety,  peace  and  prosperity:  the  defense  of  its  existenc-e  and  rights 
against  foreign  c-ontrol.  the  augmentation  of  its  f "  .  ! .  and  res-^nrces 
and  the  protection  of  its  citizens  in  their  rights.  .:_  Jae  preservation 
and  improvement  of  their  morals."  But  it  is  in  no  such  sense  that  I 
use  it  in  this  paper. 

At  the  time  Illinois  was  admineii  as  a  State,  and  for  iiie  nrsi  ten 
years  of  its  existence  as  such,  political  maneuver  er'  "-^  '-  r~-  "^^ 
feasts  and  ac-complished  its  greatest  feats.     The  Co--  .  .  >«i 

that  the  judicial  power  of  the  State  should  be  invested  in  one  Supreme 
ci3urt  and  such  inferior  c<>tirts  as  the  L  _  -  ~ire  should,  from  time  to 
time,  establish.  It  provided  that  the  >u^.:T-_e  c'~~~  ;-  -"  i-Ist  of 
one  chief  justic-e  and  three  ass^x-iates,  all  to  be  ap:  .  -allot 

of  both  branches  of  the  General  Assembly.  In  addition  to  discharging 
the  duties  of  an  appellate  court  of  review  the  judges  were  required  to 
hold  circuit  court,  there  being  no  circuit  judges.  They  were  to  hold 
oflaee  durin^r  srood  behavior  tintil  the  end  of  the  session  of  the  General 
Assembly  in  1824.  After  that  date  judges  of  the  Supreme  court  were 
to  be  given  a  life  tentire  of  oflBce.  subject  to  good  behavior.  When  we 
taie  into  account  the  office  seeking  mania  of  the  peri<>3.  the  mad  passi<n 
which  rushed  men  into  the  whirlpool  of  polities  and  the  uniqoe  method 
provided  by  the  Constitution  for  filling  the  judgeships  c-an  we  wcnder 
that  of  the  fotir  first  judges  of  the  Supreme  court  only  one  was  at  atU 
fitted  for  judicial  work  ?  Two  of  them  although  admi"*  '  the  baa- 
were  without  legal  attainment.  They  were  machine  f  .:  ..ans  pure 
and  simple.  The  other  man.  William  T.  Foster,  was  a  politic-al  adven- 
turer of  polished  manners,  pleasing  address  and  unbounded  assurance. 


40 

He  was  not  admitted  to  the  bar  and  had  never  studied  law;  but  so 
skillful  was  he  as  a  political  manipulator  that  he  succeeded  in  capturing 
one  of  the  highest  judicial  otlices  in  the  State.  He  absented  himself 
from  the  court  and  never  considered  a  case,  either  in  bank  or  upon  tiie 
circuit.  The  only  service  performed  by  him  was  to  draw  one  year"? 
salary  and  resign.  Joseph  Phillips,  the  only  one  of  the  four  fitted  for 
the  position,  was  a  man  of  strong  native  ability  and  a  lawyer  of  supe- 
rior attainment.  But  he  was  a  politician,  well  versed  in  the  arts  of 
the  game.  There  is  not  an  entire  revolution  wrought  in  the  mind  of  the 
politician  by  making  him  judge.  He  is  still  a  politician,  and  if  he  find 
but  little  to  do  as  a  judge  he  will  find  more  to  occupy  him  as  a  politician. 
At  that  time  the  business  of  the  courts  was  light.  There  was  but  little 
for  the  judges  to  do  on  the  circuit  and  consequently  less  for  them  to  do 
as  a  Supreme  court.  Judge  Phillips  found  plenty  of  time  for  politics 
and  a  field  with  abundant  possibilities  for  a  man  of  his  shrewdness  and 
attainments.  He  was  not  idle.  An  ambition  to  become  governor  seized 
him,  and  soon  after  his  induction  to  the  high  office  of  chief  justice  he 
began  "laying  wires"  for  a  nomination  for  governor.  He  was  successful 
to  that  end  and  within  four  years  after  receiving  his  commission  resigned 
as  judge,  under  the  firm  belief  that  he  would  be  elected  governor.  In 
that  he  was  disappointed,  however.  The  idea  of  the  modern  political 
judge  to  hold  fast  to  his  judgeship  until  after  his  election  to  the  other 
office  evidently  did  not  occur  to  him.  To  his  associate.  Judge  Thomas 
C.  Brown,  also  a  candidate  for  governor  at  the  same  time,  it  did ;  because 
he  carried  on  his  canvass  without  resigning  and  when  the  two  were 
defeated  at  the  polls  by  Governor  Coles,  he  was  able  to  go  back  to 
his  courts.  The  pattern  set  by  him  is  scrupulously  followed  by  the 
judge  who  today  goes  in  quest  of  another  office.  This  was  the  last 
venture  made  by  Judge  Brown  for  a  political  office,  but  he  was  re- 
appointed judge  by  the  General  Assembly  the  year  following  and 
continued  in  that  office  until  the  Constitution  of  1848  made  it  elective 
by  the  people.  He  was  a  man  of  moderate  ability  and  scant  legal  attain- 
ment. He  delivered  no  opinion  upon  any  important  question  and  did 
nothing  worthy  of  note  on  the  bench  or  as  a  member  of  the  council  of 
revision.  But  his  "pull"  with  the  Legislature  was  such  as  to  secure 
his  reappointment  in  1825  and  a  retention  of  the  office  when  an  effort 
was  made,  in  1843,  to  have  him  removed  for  incompetency. 

John  Eeynolds,  the  other  member  of  the  first  Supreme  court  was 
one  of  the  most  adroit  politicians  of  his  day.  He  came  to  the  office  when 
but  30  years  of  age.  Although  a  man  of  strong  intellect  he  was  a  lawyer 
of  small  attainment.  There  was  in  him  the  material  for  a  good  lawyer 
and  an  able  judge;  but  legal  investigation  and  study  did  not  appeal  to 
him.  He  wanted  the  office  of  Supreme  judge  because  of  the  prominence 
it  gave  him  and  not  because  of  any  love  he  had  for  the  work.  He  was 
the  superior  of  any  political  manipulator  of  that  time.  From  1818  to 
1848  he  held  more  offices  and  of  greater  variety  than  any  man  who  has 
ever  held  office  in  the  State.  To  use  his  own  expression  there  were 
few  offices  in  sight  that  he  did  not  "go  for."  Able  to  forget  political 
ditforences  and  mistreatment,  he  was  ever  readv  to  make  terms  with  his 


41 

political  enemies,  even  if  it  required  him  "to  break"  with  those  who  had 
been  his  political  friends.  Selfish  and  grasping  in  the  attainment  of 
his  ambition,  gratitude  for  past  favors  had  no  influence  with  him  when 
in  the  scales  against  prospective  political  advancement.  In  a  word,  he 
was  a  past  master  in  political  maneuver  and  for  that  reason  attained 
the  office  of  governor  in  1830. 

Such  was  the  character  of  the  men  who  composed  our  first  Supreme 
court.  If  it  was  the  purpose  of  the  framers  of  the  Constitution  of  1818 
in  making  the  office  appointive  by  the  Legislature  instead  of  elective  by 
the  people  to  take  the  selection  of  judges  out  of  politics  then  the  record 
shows  a  signal  failure.  For  the  thirty  years  during  which  that  method 
of  selection  obtained  more  politicians  were  placed  upon  the  Supreme 
bench  than  have  been  elected  to  it  during  the  sixty  years  which  have 
followed.  Furthermore,  those  selected  by  the  former  method  seem  to 
have  continued  in  the  game  while  those  elected  since  have,  with  rare 
exception,  been  so  impressed  with  the  dignity  and  responsibility  of  the 
office  that  they  have  refrained  from  further  participation  in  political 
activities. 

The  Constitution  of  1818  required  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  court 
to  hold  circuit  court  in  the  several  counties  of  the  State  until  1825,  but 
authorized  the  appointment  of  circuit  judges  at  that  time.  So  in  that 
year  the  General  Assembly  created  five  circuits  and  appointed  five 
circuit  judges.  At  the  next  session,  however,  four  of  them  were  legis- 
lated out  of  office,  and  the  remaining  one,  with  the  members  of  the 
Supreme  court,  performed  the  circuit  court  work  of  the  State  until 
1835,  when  an  Act  was  passed  providing  for  eight  circuit  judges.  By 
an  Act  passed  February  10,  1841,  all  the  circuit  judges  were  legislated 
out  of  office.  The  Constitution  authorized  an  increase  of  the  number 
of  Supreme  judges,  and  the  same  Act  which  abolished  the  circuit  judges 
added  five  more  judges  to  the  Supreme  court  and  required  the  nine  to 
do  the  circuit  court  work  of  the  State,  in  addition  to  holding  the 
Supreme  court. 

The  facts  and  causes  of  this  change  are  somewhat  interesting  and 
serve  to  show  how  potent  politics  was  at  that  time  in  its  relation  to 
matters  judicial.  They  serve  to  show,  also,  as  I  think,  that  that  method 
of  selecting  judges  is  not  satisfactory. 

The  election  of  Harrison  to  the  Presidency  in  1840  and  the  triumph 
of  the  Whig  party  in  national  afi'airs,  with  the  prospective  loss  of  federal 
offices  in  the  State,  caused  great  bitterness  among  the  Democrats  of 
Illinois.  They  were  in  control  of  the  Legislature,  however,  the  Senate 
standing  26  Democrats  to  14  Whie's;  the  House,  51  Democrats  to  40 
Whigs.  The  Supreme  court  stood  3  Whigs  to  1  Democrat.  It  had 
decided  two  cases  in  which  the  Democratic  party  was  interested.  To 
the  Democrats  the  decisions  were  offensive.  To  change  the  political 
complexion  of  the  court  was  determined  upon.  It  could  not  be  accom- 
plished by  impeachment,  for  two  reasons:  the  Democratic  majority  was 
not  sufficient,  and  there  were  no  grounds  on  which  impeachment  could 
be  based.  Under  the  Constitution  they  were  subject  to  removal  for  any 
reasonable  cause  not  sufficient  for  impeachment,  but  to  effect  a  removal 


42 

iu  that  way  required  a  two-thirds  majority  of  each  branch  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  that  the  Democrats  did  not  have.  But  their  ingenuity 
was  equal  to  the  occasion.  A  bill  was  introduced  to  reorganize  the  judi- 
ciary by  wliicli  the  eiglil  circuit  judges  were  to  be  legislated  out  of  office 
and  provision  made  for  the  appointment  by  the  Legislature  of  five 
additional  judges  of  the  Supreme  court,  who,  together  with  the  four 
existing  members,  should  liold  the  circuit  courts.  The  bill  provoked 
bitter  discussion  which  lasted  for  weeks,  its  ])assage  being  opposed  not 
only  by  tlie  Whigs  but  by  a  few  of  the  Democrats.  Naturally,  the  circuit 
judges,  who  were  to  be  decapitated  by  it,  were  opposed  to  its  passage  and 
their  friends  in  the  Legislature  started  a  campaign  to  accomplish  its 
defeat.  But  the  four  Democratic  circuit  judges  were  w^on  over  by 
promises  to  appoint  them  Supreme  judges  in  the  event  of  the  bill 
becoming  a  law.  The  bill  finally  passed  and,  although  returned  with 
objections  by  the  council  of  revision,  it  was  ratified  by  a  majority  of 
one  vote  in  the  House.  The  five  additional  judges  elected  w^ere :  Thonuis 
Ford,  Sidney  Breose,  Walter  B.  Scates,  Sanniel  H.  Treat  and  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  all  Democrats.  The  political  complexion  of  the  court  then 
stood  6  Democrats  to  3  Whigs. 

Although  the  five  selected  were  men  of  transcendent  ability  and  all 
of  them,  with  the  possible  exception  of  Douglas,  eminently  fitted  for 
judicial  work,  the  high-handed  means  by  which  the  selection  was  accom- 
plished so  shocked  the  public  conscience  that  it  called  forth  bitter 
denunciation  from  all  parts  of  the  State.  Governor  Ford,  although  he 
owed  his  election  to  the  Supreme  bench  to  the  law,  a  few  years  afterwards 
characterized  the  action  of  the  Legislature  in  passing  it  as  "a  confessedly 
violent  and  somewhat  revolutionary  measure  which  could  never  have 
succeeded  except  in  times  of  great  political  excitement."  It  did  more 
than  all  else  to  render  unpopular  the  provision  of  the  Constitution 
relating  to  the  judiciary.  Democrats  united  with  Whigs  in  demanding 
a  change  that  would  take  from  the  politicians  the  right  to  name  the 
judges.  The  temper  of  the  people  upon  this  matter  was  a  potent  factor 
in  securing  the  Constitution  of  1848. 

With  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  1848  departed,  never  to 
return,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  the  right  of  the  Legislature  to  elect  the  judges. 
It  may  be  regarded  as  the  greatest  of  all  efforts  that  have  been  made  in 
the  direction  of  divorcing  politics  from  judicial  elections.  And  yet 
there  are  those  who  think  the  old  method  superior  to  the  present  and 
profess  to  believe  that  we  would  have  better  judges  and  a  more  satisfac- 
tory administration  of  the  laws  if  the  selection  were  left  to  the  Legislature 
rather  than  to  the  people.  In  addition  to  the  concrete  cases  mentioned, 
which  serve  to  show  that  the  method  when  put  in  operation  is  not 
satisfactory,  T  think  it  unwise  and  wrong  on  ])rinciple.  One  of  the  chief 
objects  of  written  constitutions  is  to  keep  the  departments  of  government 
as  distinct  as  possible,  and  U^r  that  tliey  im])Ose  restraints  designed 
to  liavc  tliat  effect.  It  Avill  be  conceded  that  there  is  no  department  on 
which  it  is  more  necessary  to  impose  restraints  than  the  Legislature.  At 
the  same  time  the  other  departments  are  in  one  sense  dependent  upon 
it.     The  Legislature  holds  tlu^  purse  strings.     It  fixes  the  compensation 


43 

of  the  judges  and  of  the  officials  in  all  other  departments.  It  provides 
all  the  moans  for  raising  revenue.  In  a  word^  the  judges,  with  the  other 
|)ublic  officials,  are  at  the  mercy  of  the  Legislature  so  far  as  relates  to 
physical  sustenance.  And  yet  the  judges  in  a  conscientious  discharge 
of  duty  are  sometimes  brought  in  conflict  with  the  Legislature.  The 
Constitution,  being  the  supreme  law  of  the  State,  it  follows  that  every 
Act  of  the  Legislature  contrary  to  it  must  be  void.  The  decision  of 
whether  it  is  void  rests  with  the  court.  The  judge  is  under  oath  to 
decide  according  to  the  Constitution.  Any  Act  inconsistent  with  the 
Constitution  must  yield  to  it;  and  any  judge  seeing  the  inconsistency, 
and  yet  giving  effect  to  the  law  would  violate  his  oath.  The  power  of 
passing  upon  the  validity  of  legislative  Acts,  to  be  useful,  must  be 
lodged  in  independent  hands.  Evidently  it  is  not,  if  it  rests  Avith  those 
who  are  dependent  upon  the  Legislature  for  their  appointment  and 
who  are  subject  to  removal  by  the  same  body  for  a  cause  not  sufficient 
as  a  ground  for  impeachment. 

There  is  another  view  of  the  matter.  Nothing  is  more  important  to 
the  individual  citizen  than  an  honest  administration  of  justice.  To  that 
he  must  look  for  protection  to  life,  liberty,  reputation  and  property.  No 
state  does  its  duty  to  its  people  that  does  not  make  ample  and  permanent 
provision  for  the  exercise  of  that  protection.  That  the  State  of  Illinois 
has  undertaken  to  do  in  the  establishment  of  its  courts  for  trial  and 
appeal.  It  is  but  fair  then  that  he  should  have  a  direct  voice  in  the 
selection  of  the  men  who  are  to  preside  over  the  courts  and  through 
their  machinery  administer  that  protection. 

The  framers  of  the  Constitution  of  1848  had'  in  mind  not  only  the 
taking  of  the  election  of  the  judges  out  of  the  hands  of  the  politicians 
but  the  keeping  of  the  judges  out  of  politics.  Not  only  did  they  provide 
for  the  election  of  the  three  Supreme  judges  and  the  nine  circuit  judges 
by  vote  of  the  people  but  they  made  the  following  additional  provision, 
"The  judges  of  the  Supreme  and  circuit  courts  shall  not  be  eligible  to 
any  other  office  of  public  tiiist  or  profit  in  the  State,  or  the  United 
States,  during  the  term  for  which  they  are  elected,  nor  for  one  year 
thereafter.  All  votes  for  either  of  them  for  any  elective  office  (except 
that  of  judge  of  the  Supreme  or  circuit  court)  given  by  the  General 
Assembly  or  by  the  people  shall  be  void."  Because  of  it  the  judges  were 
precluded  from  becoming  candidates  for  United  States  Senator  or  any 
other  political  office  during  the  term  for  which  they  had  been  elected — 
the  Supreme  judges  for  nine  years,  the  circuit  judges  for  six  years.  It 
is  to  be  regretted  that  the  Constitution  of  1870  does  not  contain  a  like 
provision.  It  was  also  provided  that  the  election  for  judges  should  be 
held  at  a  different  time  from  that  provided  for  other  elections.  The 
purpose  was  to  prevent  the  judicial  office  from  being  used  as  an  article 
of  traffic  in  political  conventions.  The  date  fixed  was  June — a  time  of 
the  year  when  the  public  mind  is  least  agitated  by  politics  and  less 
influenced  by  political  questions. 

The  various  constitutional  provisions  mentioned  serve  to  show  how 
the  unseemly  political  activity  of  the  early  judges,  and  the  scandalous 
action   of   the    General   Assembly   of    1840-41    to   change   the   political 


44 

complexion  of  the  Supreme  court,  wrought  upon  the  public  mind. 
Xothing  short  of  a  reform  involving  a  complete  reorganization  of  the 
eutire  judicial  system  could  satisfy  it. 

The  framers  of  the  Constitution  of  1870  do  not  seem  to  liavo  been  so 
deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of  the  matter  as  those  who  framed 
the  second  Constitution ;  for  while  they  continued  the  provision  requiring 
the  judges  to  be  elected  and  the  one  requiring  the  election  to  be  in  June 
they  refused  to  embody  the  one  precluding  the  judges  of  the  Supreme 
and  circuit  courts  from  any  other  office  during  the  term  for  which  they 
had  been  elected. 

Slight  effort  has  been  made  through  legislative  enactments  to  keep 
judicial  elections  from  politics.  This  is  not  to  be  wondered  at.  The 
legislature  is  composed  largely  of  professional  politicians,  and  with 
the  politician  "To  the  victor  belong  the  spoils"  is  a  potent  consideration. 
There  are  instances  where  judicial  apportionment  Acts  have  been  passed 
solely  for  the  purpose  of  advancing  political  interests,  as  I  shall  show 
later.  The  people  at  large  and  the  bar  of  the  State  have  been  the  guards 
of  the  judiciary  in  the  assaults  and  the  attempted  assaults  against  it  by 
the  politicians. 

The  people  have  never  taken  kindly  to  mixing  matters  political  with 
matters  judicial.  Evidence  of  that  may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  during 
the  entire  period  when  the  Constitution  of  1848  was  in  force  two  of  the 
three  Supreme  court  judges  were  Democrats,  although  for  the  most  of 
that  period  the  State  was  Eepublican.  The  Constitution  of  1870  pro- 
vided for  the  election  of  seven  Supreme  court  judges.  From  1870  to 
1888,  although  the  State  was  largely  Eepublican,  five  of  the  seven  judges 
were  Democrats.  '  For  a  period  of  twenty-seven  years  Judge  Alfred  M. 
Craig,  a  Democrat,  was  the  judge  from  the  fifth  district  although  the 
district  was  largely  Eepublican.  In  1888  David  J.  Baker,  a  Eepublican, 
was  elected  from  the  first  district  in  the  face  of  an  aggregate  Democratic 
majority  of  the  counties  of  the  district  in  the  Presidential  election 
immediately  preceding  of  over  five  thousand.  His  election  followed  a 
heated  Democratic  convention  in  which  five  or  six  prominent  Democrats 
of  Southern  Illinois  sought  the  nomination.  The  nomination  was  sought 
and  made  on  strictly  political  lines. 

Where  political  tactics  have  been  resorted  to  to  secure  the  nomination 
of  a  candidate  for  judge  the  people  have  not  hesitated  to  repudiate  it, 
especially  if  the  defeated  candidate  was  a  worthy  man.  In  1894  at  a 
Democratic  convention  called  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  Supreme  judge 
in  the  fourth  district  one  of  the  ablest  jurists  of  the  State,  Judge  Lyman 
Lacey,  was  presented  as  a  candidate.  He  had  had  fifteen  years'  expe- 
rience upon  the  appellate  bench  and  was  a  man  of  unquestioned  integrity 
and  of  great  vigor  mentally  and  physically.  He  was  well  equipped  in 
every  way  to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  office  to  which  his  friends 
undertook  to  nominate  him.  There  were  a  number  of  other  aspirants ; 
the  politicians  had  control  of  the  convention,  and  Lacey  was  defeated. 
The  district  was  overwhelmingly  Democratic,  but  so  displeased  were  the 
people  with  the  manipulation  of  affairs  at  the  convention  that  a  large 
number  of  Democrats  refused  to  vote  for  the  nominee  and  voted  for  the 


45 

Eepublican  candidate,  Joseph  N.  Carter,  Carter  was  elected.  The 
district  was  composed  of  the  counties  of  Fulton,  McDonough,  Hancock, 
Schuyler,  Brown,  Menard,  Morgan,  Cass,  Scott,  Adams,  Pike  and 
Mason.  These  counties  constituted  the  district  until  1903.  At  that 
time  there  was  a  good  working  Eepublican  majority  in  the  General 
Assembly.  A  scheme  was  put  on  foot  to  change  the  political  complexion 
of  the  district  and  to  accomplish  that  a  bill  was  passed  taking  the 
Democratic  counties  of  Pike  and  Scott  out  of  the  district  and  adding 
to  it  Rock  Island,  Mercer,  Warren  and  Henderson.  The  change  made 
by  the  enactment  gave  the  Republicans  a  decided  majority  in  the  district. 
The  evident  purpose  of  the  Act  was  to  secure  the  reelection  of  Judge 
Carter.  Judge  Carter,  a  man  of  high  character  and  with  a  record  upon 
the  Supreme  bench  of  which  any  man  might  feel  proud,  became  the 
nominee  of  his  party.  But  the  people  felt  so  incensed  at  the  action  of 
the  Legislature  that  many  of  them  repudiated  the  nomination  and  Judge 
Guy  C.  Scott,  a  Democrat,  was  elected  in  his  stead. 

Another  evidence  of  the  desire  of  the  people  to  keep  politics  out 
of  judicial  elections  may  be  found  in  elections  for  circuit  judges.  When 
the  Appellate  Court  Act  of  1877  combined  the  old  twenty-fifth  and 
twenty-sixth  circuits  and  made  it  the  first  judicial  circuit  of  the  State 
the  territory  was  Democratic,  but  at  the  election  held  in  August,  1877, 
John  Dougherty,  a  Republican,  defeated  Andrew  J.  Duff  for  circuit 
judge.  In  the  same  circuit,  two  years  following,  the  Democrats  with 
a  majority  of  700  held  a  convention  and  nominated  three  judges  on 
strictly  party  lines.  The  Republicans  made  no  nomination  but  three 
Republicans  were  presented  at  the  polls  for  election.  Two  of  the  Repub- 
licans were  elected,  the  one  receiving  the  lowest  vote  having  a  majority 
of  about  700  over  the  highest  defeated  Democratic  candidate.  One 
Democratic  candidate  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  about  700  over  the 
defeated  Republican  candidate. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  for  the  greater  portion  of  the  time 
within  the  last  thirty-two  years  the  political  complexion  of  the  third 
circuit  has  been  decidedly  Republican,  Democrats,  with  one  exception, 
have  been  the  judges  during  the  entire  time.  Other  instances  could  be 
given  in  proof  of  the  proposition,  but  the  limits  of  this  paper  will  not 
permit. 

Considerable  effort  has  been  made  to  take  party  politics  out  of  judicial 
elections  through  the  various  local  bar  associations  of  the  State.  The 
Chicago  Bar  Association  has  been  the  most  conspicuous  in  its  efforts 
along  that  line. 

So  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn,  the  first  substantial  attempt  of 
the  members  of  the  Chicago  Bar  to  act  in  a  body  with  regard  to  the 
election  of  judges  took  place  twenty-three  or  twenty-four  years  ago. 
Very  poor  nominations  by  the  Republicans  and  Democrats  had  been 
made  at  that  time  and  considerable  feeling  was  aroused.  A  general  bar 
meeting  was  called  to  consider  the  matter.  A  large  committee  was 
appointed  to  select  candidates  to  be  voted  for  at  a  general  bar  primary. 
It  was  directed  to  select  a  considerable  number  of  men  quite  largely 


46 

exceeding  the  number  of  judges  to  be  elected.  The  movement  excited 
considerable  interest,  and  from  the  candidates  then  selected  the  judges 
were  subsequently  eh'clcd  by  tbe  })eopli'.  Encouraged  by  the  result,  the 
Bar  Association  subsequently  took  up  the  subject  and  from  time  to  time 
bar  primaries  have  been  held.  For  a  number  of  years  the  association 
has  had  a  snbconimittcH3  when  a  judicial  election  was  to  occur,  charged 
with  the  duty  of  learning  quite  fully  as  to  the  standing  and  qualifications 
of  candidates.  An  opportunity  has  been  given  to  the  members  to  cast 
a  secret  ballot  after  being  furnished  with  such  information,  and  the 
members  may  be  said  to  have  voted  according  to  their  best  judgment 
without  being  confined  to  either  one  of  the  political  parties.  A  choice 
tlius  made  has  had  considerable  influence  with  the  people,  as  it  ha?  had 
witli  tbe  metropolitan  press.  The  number  of  judges  to  be  elected  in 
Cook  county  has  made  it  more  dillicult  than  elsewhere  in  the  State  to 
get  the  desired  information  as  to  the  character,  standing  and  qualifica- 
tion of  candidates,  and  more  special  efi'orts  to  advise  the  voters  are 
necessary  than  is  the  case  in  the  country  where  the  lawyers  in  each 
circuit  presented  as  candidates  are  likely  to  be  well  known.  The  fact 
that  there  are  so  many  of  such  places  to  be  filled  and  that  a  large  number 
of  persons  present  themselves  or  are  taken  up  by  party  leaders  makes 
it  more  probable  there  than  in  the  country  that  partisan  politics  will, 
notwithstanding  the  efl:orts  of  the  Bar  Association  and  the  influence  of 
the  press,  be  a  strong  factor  in  the  election,  especially  when  there  is 
anything  approaching  a  full  vote. 

There  has  been  a  disposition  in  Cook  county  as  in  other  parts  rf  the 
State  to  retain  in  office  the  judges  who  have  from  seiTice  obtained  the 
approbation  of  the  bar,  the  public  and  the  press.  This  disposition  has 
Ijeen  such  as  to  insure  reelection  in  the  absence  of  a  tidal  wave  of  politics, 
likely  to  submerge  any  candidate  not  attached  in  some  way  to  the  pre- 
vailing party.  Such  was  the  case  with  the  late  Judges  Gary  and  Tuley. 
These  men,  though  of  opposite  party  affiliation,  were  sure  of  election 
at  any  time  they  were  ofl^ered.  It  is  doubtful  whether  any  condition  at 
a  June  election  could  have  existed  sufficient  to  work  their  defeat.  Judge 
Henry  M.  Shepherd,  another  popular  judge,  although  a  Democrat,  was 
supported  the  last  time  he  stood  for  election  by  both  Eepublicans  and 
Democrats. 

The  Chicago  Bar  Association  is  entitled  to  umch  credit  for  its  eff^orts 
to  elect  judges  free  from  political  obligation.  Tt  is  to  be  hoped  that  it 
will  ultimately  occupy  a  position  as  influential  as  that  of  the  Municipal 
Voters'  League,  and,  by  its  influence  on  the  independent  voter,  compel 
the  party  primaries  to  name  suitable  candidates. 


47 


THE  WINTEE  OF  THE  DEEP  SNOW. 


By  Eleanor  Atkiuson. 

Very  recently  the  Federal  Weather  Bureau  published  a  compilation 
of  official  and  other  meteorological  data  of  the  United  States,  for  the 
half-century  ended  with  1904.  This  table  disposes  of  the  theory  of  old- 
fashioned  winters,  at  least  within  that  period.  A  Chicago  newspaper 
that  gave  a  summary  of  this  report,  commented  upon  it  as  follows :  "As 
to  what  happened  in  the  way  of  weather  more  than  fifty  years  ago,  cold 
science  is  ill-equipped  to  combat  warm  fable.  Here  the  fields  for  pic- 
turesque contrasts  is  free." 

In  tlie  face  of  this  discouragement,  it  is  proposed  to  show  here,  both 
by  reliable  data  and  by  cold  science,  that  we  had  a  real  old-fashioned 
winter  in  1831 — the  kind  your  grandfathers  all  had  when  they  were 
boys  and,  as  evidence  of  good  faith,  I  will  begin  by  using  a  bit  of  in- 
formation supplied  by  the  Federal  Weather  Bureau,  and  vouched  for 
by  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 

Semi-official  weather  records  were  kept  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  from  1804 
to  18.5}),  for  the  United  States  Government  Survey  office.  After  182.'), 
observations  of  temperature  were  made  three  times  a  day  by  Dr.  Samuel 
P.  Hildreth,  together  with  notes  on  the  barometer,  precipitation,  direc- 
tion and  velocity  of  wind  and  other  phenomena.  These  reports  Dr. 
Hildreth  tabulated  and  published  annually,  for  many  years,  in  the  Amer- 
ican Journal  of  Science,  and  they  were  finally  charted  and  republished 
in  the  Smithsonian  Institution's  "Contributions  to  Knowledge."  The 
mean  temperature  of  the  winter  montlis  of  1831,  at  Marietta,  was  30.75, 
and  for  P>l)ruary  was  26.02,  five  to  six  degrees  lower  than  the  average 
for  the  quarter  of  a  century  preceding.  The  precipitation  of  rain  and 
melted  snow  for  the  year  was  53.54  inches,  the  average  for  the  previous 
2.")  years  being  only  41  iuclics.^  Under  date  of  Feb.  15.  1831,  occurs 
this  interesting  entry: 

"The  winter  thus  far  has  been  one  of  unexampled  severity  since  the 
first  settlement  of  the  Ohio  Company  at  Marietta  in  1788.  The  ther- 
mometer has  been  for  a  number  of  mornings  at  zero,  and  once  or  twice 
5  degrees  l)elow,  since  the  22d  of  December  last.  The  great  snow  storm, 
which  seems  to  have  visited  tlie  entire  length  of  the  United  States,  com- 
menced here  on  Fridav,  the  14th  of  Januan^  1831,  at  4:00  o'clock,  P. 
M.  and  continued  until  Saturday,  11:00  o'clock  A.  M.  There  fell  15 
inches  in  depth  of  snow,  very  level  and  even  over  the  face  of  the  earth. 

'  Dr.  Samuel  P.  Hildretli;  Pioneer  History  of  tlie  Ohio  Valley. 


48 

In  1832,  the  following  summary  of  the  year  1831,  is  recorded:  Depth 
of  snow  in  1831,  -18  inches.  The  past  year  has  been  marked  with  many 
singular  features,  and  the  extremes  in  moisture  and  temperature  have 
been  great.  '  The  winter  months  were  attended  with  a  degree  of  cold 
found  only  in  Artie  regions,  and  the  summer  months  with  floods  of  rain 
peculiar  to  tropical  climates.  There  seems  to  have  been  a  belt  of  clouds 
encircling  the  Western  States  for  the  last  six  months,  opening  at  such 
distant  periods,  and  for  such  short  spaces  of  time,  to  the  rays  of  the  sun, 
that  solar  heat,  since  the  great  eclipse  of  February  last,  has  done  but 
little  warming  the  surface  of  the  earth."^ 

With  this  to  fortify,  one  may,  without  apology,  plunge  into  "warm 
fable,"  saving  the  cold  science  to  clinch  the  argument.  In  the  course 
of  researches  on  another  subject  of  the  same  period  in  Illinois,  so  many 
tall  tales  of  experiences  in  the  winter  of  the  deep  snow  were  encountered, 
as  to  excite  curiosity.  The  references  to  this  exceptional  season  were 
so  many  and  so  widely  scattered  in  localit)',  as  to  proclude  the  idea  of  a 
consj)iracy  of  invention  by  old  settlers,  and  so  consistent  in  dates  and 
data,  as  to  carry  some  measure  of  conviction.  To  carry  this  conviction 
to  a  critical  public,  however,  it  was  necessary  to  reject  everything  anony- 
mous, everj^thing  unsupported  or  of  obscure  origin  and  of  vague 
generalization.  That  a  season  of  unusual  severity  had  occured  in  1831, 
admitted  of  no  further  doubt,  when  detailed  facts  w^ere  found  to  have 
been  set  down  soberly  by  a  man  of  the  conservative  character  and  trained 
powers  of  observation  of  Dr.  Julian  M.  Sturtevant,  for  more  than  20 
years,  president  of  Illinois  College  in  Jacksonville.^  Xor  was  he  likely 
to  exaggerate  from  inexperience  of  cold  and  storm.  Having  been  brought 
up  in  N"ew  England,  where  long,  severe  winters  were  the  rule,  and  where 
the  practical  disposal  of  great  depths  of  snow  had  been  reduced  to  a 
science,  it  would  take  extraordinary  weather  conditions  indeed,  to  baffle 
his  powers  of  solution  and  to  test  his  endurance. 

Dr.  Sturtevant  came  out  to  Jacksonville  in  the  Spring  of  1829,  to 
begin  the  erection  of  college  buildings,  to  find  a  prosperous  town  of  400 
people,  on  an  elevated  knoll  above  a  beautiful  prairie.  The  hill-site 
chosen  for  the  new  institution  of  learning  was  above  the  village  and  a 
mile  away,  with  a  grove  of  forest  trees  behind  it.  The  people  were 
mostly  southerners,  and  their  log  cabins,  while  substantial  and  neat, 
were  much  less  warmly  built  than  the  houses  of  New  England.  For 
comparison  with  the  historic  winter  of  1831,  Dr.  Sturtevant  had  the 
experience  of  a  typical  winter  of  Southern  Illinois  in  1830. 

For  the  first  time  in  his  life  he  saw  cattle  pastured  in  the  open  the 
greater  part  of  the  season,  with  little  or  no  shelter  provided  for  them; 
wheat  and  corn  standing  in  stacks  in  the  fields,  to  be  husked  and  threshed 
at  leisure;  fuel  left  in  the  woods,  to  be  brought  out  as  it  was  needed. 
In  the  memory  of  the  oldest  inhabitant  the  winters  in  that  region  had 
been    uniformly    mild    and    open — rthe    grass    fairly    abundant    until 

•  American  Journal  of  Science  for  1831-32. 

^  Autobiography  of  Julian  M.  Sturtevant,  pp.ll78-181:  C.  M.Eames  quotes  Dr.  Sturtevant  and  a  Mr. 
Anderson  Foreman  to  the  same  effect  in  his  "Historic  Morgan  and  Classic  Jacksonville." 


49 

January;  then  light  falls  of  snow^  an  occasional  storm  with  zero  tem- 
perature that  moderated  in  a  few  days;  thaws  to  start  the  pastures,  and 
early  springs. 

In  1830  winter  set  in  unusually  early.  Cold  rain  began  to  fall  by  the 
20th  of  December, — Dr.  Hildreth  dates  it  from  the  22d,  in  Marietta — 
occasionally  changing  to  snow  or  sleet,  until  the  earth  was  saturated 
and  frozen.  The  day  before  Christmas  the  rain  turned  definitely  to 
snow,  falling  in  large,  soft  flakes  that  soon  covered  the  earth  to  the 
depth  of  6  inches.  The  most  was  made  of  this  by  the  young  people  in 
holiday  frolics  of  snow-balling,  coasting  and  riding  in  hastily  contrived 
bob-sleds.  The  wildest  imagination  could  not  have  dreamed  that  this 
first  fall  of  snow  was  merely  the  overture  to  a  winter  of  continuous  storm. 
The  first  white  mantle  still  lay  unsullied  on  the  frozen  prairie,  in  a 
profound  hush  of  nature,  when  the  meteorological  opera  opened  with  a 
crash  on  the  30th  of  December. 

A  furious  gale,  bitter  cold,  a  blinding,  swirling  blur  of  snow,  and 
leaden,  lowering  skies,  combined  to  make  this  storm  a  thing  to  paralyze 
that  prairie  country.  It  seems  to  have  continued  for  days,  unabated — a 
wonder,  at  first,  then  a  terror,  a  benumbing  horror  as  it  became  a  menace 
to  life  of  men  and  animals.  The  food  was  in  the  fields,  the  fuel  in  the 
woods,  the  cattle  huddled  and  perishing  of  cold  and  starvation,  in  the 
open.  How  long  this  first  storm  continued  is  unknown.  In  one  sense 
it  did  not  end  at  all;  it  merely  changed  in  character,  from  time  to  time, 
for  the  next  sixty  days.  All  accounts  of  the  winter  in  Illinois  agree  with 
Dr.  Sturtevant's  that  the  storm  began  in  the  last  days  of  December. 
The  date  was  impressed  upon  his  mind  by  anxiety  for  the  fate  of  Dr. 
Edward  Beecher. 

This  first  president  of  the  new  college  had  been  in  Vandalia,  trying 
to  get  a  charter  for  the  institution  from  the  legislature.  He  was  re- 
turning from  the  capital  in  the  Christmas  holidays,  when  overtaken  by 
this  storm.  Dr.  Beecher,  with  a  fellow  traveler,  Mr.  Charles  Holmes, 
took  refuge  for  some  days  in  the  house  of  a  settler  on  the  prairie.  When 
the  storm  abated  its  first  fury,  it  seemed  impossible  to  cover  the  remain- 
ing distance  of  40  miles  to  Jacksonville,  for  the  snow  lay  3  feet  in  depth 
over  the  prairie.  It  seems  probable,  from  the  depth  of  snow,  that  they 
Avere  detained  until  after  the  storm  of  January  14  and  15  which,  as  Dr. 
Hildreth  reports,  had  visited  the  entire  length  of  the  United  States.  A 
driving  rain,  freezing  as  it  fell,  formed  a  crust  on  top  of  this  snow,  not 
quite  strong  enough  to  bear  a  man's  weight.  On  top  of  this  crust  3 
more  inches  of  snow  fell,  as  light  and  fine  as  ashes  and  as  hard  as  sand. 
Then  a  bright,  cold  sun  shone  on  the  dazzling  landscape,  to  threaten  the 
eyesight.  To  add  to  these  difficulties  a  strong,  northwest  wind  arose, 
to  fill  the  air  with  flying  snow,  so  stinging,  blinding  and  choking  that 
men  could  not  long  make  headway  against  it.  But  Dr.  Beecher  was 
reared  on  Litchfield  hill,  Connecticut,  and  was  not  easily  dismayed  by 
weather.  He  and  Mr.  Holmes  hitched  a  horse  to  a  light,  improvised 
sleigh  and,  in  some  incredible  way,  accomplished  the  perilous  task  of 
crossing  that  40  mile  prairie,  where  the  horse  broke  every  step  through 

— 4  H  S 


50 

ice-crusl  aud  3  I'eet  of  suuw,  ami  in  the  I'acu  oi'  the  blizzard.  There  is 
no  record  of  any  other  men  having  performed  such  a  feat  in  Illinois, 
tliat  winter.  That  many  must  have  attempted  such  journeys  and 
IH^rished,  is  jn-oven  by  the  finding  of  the  bodies  of  strangers  in  many 
places  when  the  snow  went  oif  in  the  spring. 

In  Jacksonville  Dr.  Sturtevant  had  l)een  forced  to  abandon  his  cabin 
in  tlie  town  and  to  camp  out  in  one  of  the  unfinished  college  buildings. 
There  Dr.  Beecher  was  forced  to  remain  with  him  until  March,  when 
he  returned  to  Boston.  And  the  two,  with  other  New  Englanders  in 
the  place,  gave  of  all  their  experience  to  help  the  marooned  settlement 
battle  with  the  elements.  It  was  impossible  to  In-eak  roads  in  the  New 
England  fashion.  There  were  no  traps  oi'  ravines  and  forests,  few  fences, 
even,  to  catcli  and  hold  the  drifts.  The  wind  was  a  steady,  fierce  gale, 
day  and  night,  for  many  weeks,  and  the  snow  drifted  before  it  all  winter. 
It  snowed  almost  daily,  up  to  the  middle  of  Feliruary.  Often  it  was  not 
easy  to  determine  whether  new  snow  was  falling  or  only  old  surface  snow 
being  driven  before  the  icy  blast.  For  nine  weeks  snow  covered  the  ground 
to  the  average  depth  of  four  feet.  No  morning  dawned  for  many  days  at 
a  time  when  the  thermometer  registered  less  than  13  degrees  below  zero. 

"The  situation  of  the  people,''  says  Dr.  Sturtevant.  ''was  somewhat 
alarming.  It  was  not  at  first  apparent  that  sufficient  food  and  fuel 
could  be  got  to  keep  everybody  from  starving  and  freezing."  The  shocks 
of  grain  were  entirely  under  frozen  snow,  the  lower  limbs  of  trees  were 
lying  on  the  surface,  making  it  impossible  to  drive  teams  into  the  groves. 
A  road  was  finally  made  from  College  Hill  to  the  town,  by  driving 
repeatedly  through  one  track  until  the  snow  was  rounded  up  and  packed 
down  like  a  turnpike.  Such  roads  were  opened  all  over  the  country  and 
were  kept  open  only  by  ceaseless  vigilance  and  labor.  Food  and  fuel 
were  got,  somehow;  famishing  deer  and  small  game  were  easily  obtained, 
but  crops  were  lost,  much  of  the  live  stock  perished,  and  many  kinds  of 
small  game  were  very  nearly  exterminated.  ]\Iail  was  interrupted  for 
weeks  at  a  time,  carriers  Ijeing  unable  to  make  the  trip  to  Springfield. 

In  Sangamon  county  experiences  of  pioneers  were  identical.  In 
S])ringfield^  and  Xew  Salenr  snow  lay  four  feet  in  depth  on  the  level. 
There  was  the  same  ice-crust;  the  same  incessant,  biting  gale;  the  daily 
fresh  falls  of  snow;  the  deer  breaking  through  the  crust  with  their  sharp, 
liounding  little  hoofs  and  falling  easy  victims  to  hunters,  wolves  and 
dogs.  It  took  a  man  an  entire  day  to  dig  enough  corn  out  of  frozen 
shocks  to  keep  a  few  cattle  alive  for  two  or  three  days.  Stake-and-rider 
fences,  corn  shocks,  low  out  buildings  were  buried;  streams  could  be 
traced  only  by  half  submerged  and  snow-lnirdened  lines  of  woods.  All 
the  familiar  features  of  the  ]andseai)e  were  ol)literated  in  that  smother 
and  blur  of  snow.  It  was  beyond  human  ]iower  to  do  more  than  to  keep 
at  bay  the  twin  spectres  of  cold  and  stan-ation.  Many  and  ingenious 
are  the  devices  described  to  ward  away  freezing  and  famine.      \ 

One  cannot  but  admii'e  tlie  scholarly  detachment  and  stoic  self-control 
of  the  newspa|")ers  of  Illinois  of  that  day.  Statecraft  was  the  thing  of 
pennanent  interest — speeches  by  Webster  and  CMay,  political  moves  by 

'  Powers'  "Early  Settlers  of  Sangamon  County,"  pp.  ()2-()-l. 
"  T.  G.    Onstot's  "Pioneers  of  Mason  and  Menard." 


51 

General  Jackson,  continued  to  engage  the  editorial  mind.  Weather  was 
a  thing  that  today  is,  and  tomorrow  is  cast  into  the  limbo  of  things  for- 
gotten. The  entire  country  had  been  in  the  grip  of  that  nitiless  winter 
for  two  months,  l)eforo  the  inuwis  Intelligencer  of  Vandalia,  conde- 
scended to  notice  it.  Then,  in  an  editorial  paragraph  of  two  sticks  full 
of  type,  the  subject  was  summed  up  and  dismissed: 

"The  newspapers  that  reach  us  from  every  direction,  are  filled  with 
accounts  of  severely  cold  weather,  and  immense  falls  of  snow.  In  no 
part  of  the  continent  has  this  been  felt  more  severely  than  in  Illinois. 
We  have  had  an  extraordinary  season.  The  cold  has  been  intense  and 
uninterrupted.  The  whole  country  has  been  blocked  up  with  snow- 
banks, that  have  covered  the  earth  since  December.  Several  travelers 
have  perished  on  the  prairies  near  here.  Such  a  winter  has  never  been 
known  in  this  region."^ 

The  Edwardsville  Advocate  shows  a  still  greater  restraint  of  style,  an 
economy  of  adjectives  that  is  commended  to  our  yellow  press :  "We  have 
issued  no  paper  for  the  last  two  weeks,  owing  to  the  excessively  cold 
weather,  and  our  office  being  too  open  to  resist  the  rude  attacks  of  the 
northern  blasts."^  It  was  a  relief  to  discover,  in  Missouri,  a  newspaper 
that  betrayed  interest,  if  not  excitement,  in  that  phenomenal  weather. 
But  now  for  northern  Illinois. 

Eighteen  Thirty-one,  it  should  be  remembered,  was  the  year  before  the 
Black  Hawk  War.  Chicago  was  only  a  frontier  fort  and  trading  post, 
whose  first  newspaper  did  not  appear  until  nearly  three  years  later.  The 
region  between  the  Desplaines  river  and  the  Mississippi  was  held  by  the 
Sacs  and  Foxes,  and  the  only  permanent  white  settler  appears  to  have 
been  John  Dixon,  at  Dixon's  Ferry,  on  Rock  river.  The  mining  town  of 
Galena  had  communication  with  the  outer  world  only  over  the  Mississippi. 
In  southern  Wisconsin,  at  the  point  that  is  now  Portage  City,  Ft.  Winne- 
bago was  encompassed  liy  the  wilderness.  But  for  the  circumstances  that 
tliere  was,  at  Ft.  Winnebago,  a  somewhat  willful  little  lady,  recently  come 
from  the  east  as  the  bride  of  John  H.  Kinzie,  United  States  Indian 
agent  at  the  post,  and  determined  on  a  visit  to  her  unknown  mother-in- 
law  in  Chicago,  the  record  of  that  winter  and  spring  in  northern  Illi- 
nois would  be  meager,  indeed.  The  bride  took  the  journey,  and  lived 
to  tell  of  the  dangers  she  had  passed  through ;  to  tell  of  them  in  the  life- 
time of  people  who  shared  its  perils;  to  tell  the  story  graphically,  for 
she  had  the  gift  of  literary  expression.  Juliette  M.  Kinzie  was  Chi- 
cago's first  author,  and  some  of  us  trail  a  long  way  behind  her  "Wau 
Bun"  today.     So  much  for  the  authenticity  of  this  account.^ 

The  continuation  of  the  wedding  journey  was  planned  for  the  Christ- 
mas holidays.  But  in  Wisconsin,  too,  winter  set  in  early  and  with 
severity.  There  was  rain  and  wind  and  snow ;  then  sleet  and  bitter  cold 
and  snow  again.  The  storm  of  December  30  must  have  fallen  on  the 
frontier  fort  with  greater  fury  than  it  did  farther  south,  for  earlv  in 
January  the  snow  was  reported  to  lie  five  and  six  feet  deep  in  the  lead 


1  niinois  Intelligence  of  Vandalia,  Feb.  26,  1831. 

'  Edwardsville  Advocate,  Feb.  23,  1831. 

^  "  Wau  Bun"  by  Juliette  Magill  Kinzie,  pp.  123-135. 


52 

mining  regions — an  unheard  of,  unl)elievable  depth.  The  mail-carrier 
and  dispatch-bearer  to  Chicago,  had  to  lie  over  in  an  Indian  lodge  on 
tlie  prairie  for  three  weeks,  and  went  nearly  blind  from  the  sun  aYid 
fl3'ing  snow. 

Young  Mrs.  Kinzie  had  all  the  pluck  of  inexperience.  She  insisted 
on  making  the  start  to  Chicago,  in  sledges  lined  with  buffalo  robes;  but 
the  commanding  officer  of  the  fort  flatly  forbade  any  such  foolish  under- 
taking threatening,  at  last,  that  if  they  started  he  would  order  the  senti- 
nels to  fire  on  them.  The  station  was  storm  bound  all  winter.  Early 
in  March  the  snow  suddenly  went  off  in  a  great  flood.  By  the  8th  the 
marshes  and  water  courses  were  fringed  with  green,  promising  an  early 
and  genial  spring.  The  start  was  made  on  horseback,  with  servants,  an 
Indian  guide,  and  a  camping  outfit  on  pack  ponies.  The  journey  to 
Chicago  was  usually  made  in  five  or  six  days;  but  it  was  necessary  to  go 
out  of  the  way,  somewhat,  to  cross  the  Eock  river  at  Dixon's  Ferry,  for  the 
Indians  were  all  gone  on  the  hunt,  and  there  would  be  no  canoes  at  the 
usual  crossings.  Young  Mrs.  Kinzie  consented  to  wear  a  habit  of  heavy 
military  broadcloth,  but  kept  her  kid  gloves,  and  blithely  donned  the 
latest  confection  in  straw  bonnets,  a  part  of  her  wedding  finery. 

The  first  day  a  canoe  was  upset,  and  the  bride  was  tumbled  into  an 
icy  stream.  Her  riding  habit  froze  stiff  and  stood  upright  until  it  was 
thawed  by  the  camp  fire  hastily  built.  The  ground  froze  so  hard  that 
night  that  it  was  difficult  to  drive  tent  pins.  In  the  morning  a  dazzling 
white  blanket  lay  on  the  prairie,  as  if  winter  had  taken  a  fresh  start, 
and  they  rode  all  day  in  a  freezing  sleet.  It  took  the  party  five  days  to 
reach  Dixon's  Yerry.  On  the  15th  of  March  water  left  in  a  coffee-pot 
froze  solid  over  night.  They  crossed  a  wide  marsh,  frozen  as  hard  as 
iron,  in  an  artic  gale.  Another  snow-storm  impenetrable  to  the  eye  as 
a  fog  at  sea  made  even  the  Indian  guide  lose  all  sense  of  direction,  and 
they  wandered  from  their  course  in  the  blizzard. 

When  still  fifty  miles  from  Chicago,  their  food  gave  out.  In  the  nick 
of  time  one  lone  Pottawatomie  lodge  was  found,  but  game  had  been  made 
so  scarce  by  the  terrible  winter  that  the  Indians  had  nothing  to  share 
with  them  but  wild  artichokes.  Presently  some  ducks  were  shot,  for  a 
hurricane  swept  down  from  the  north,  and  myriads  of  waterfowl  that 
had  migrated  northward  only  two  weeks  before,  fled  southward  from  a 
land  of  famine.  The  leaden  sky  above  ice-locked  streams  was  black  with 
them,  screaming  before  the  blast.  The  little  band  of  travelers  were 
sobered  by  the  sight  Their  own  escape  from  the  perils  of  that  frigid 
plain  was  by  no  means  certain. 

Setting  up  their  tents  in  the  doubtful  shelter  of  a  belt  of  woods,  trees 
crashed  around  them  all  night  long,  while  the  world  seemed  rocked  in 
the  tempest.  Fifty  forest  giants  lay  around  their  tents  in  the  morning, 
and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  the  horses  picked  their  way  out,  over 
prostrate  trunks.  They  were  dazed  to  find  themselves  and  their  animals 
uninjured.  The  fury  of  the  storm  was  over,  but  the  weather  was  intensely 
cold.  Mrs.  Kinzie  beat  her  feet  against  her  saddle,  until  they  were 
bruised,  to  keep  them  from  freezing.  Streams  that  had  been  in  flood 
were  frozen  over  again,  but  not  thickly  enough  to  bear  the  weight.    They 


53 

had  to  break  up  the  ice  and  swim  the  horses  across.  They  were  over  the 
east  fork  of_  the  Desplaines  no  more  than  an  hour,  fed  and  sheltered 
in  a  white  man's  cabin,  when  the  ice  broke  up  again,  with  thunderous 
crashes,  and  the  floods  fell,  the  wild,  ice-blocked  torrent  carrying  forest 
trees  down  with  it.  One  hour's  delay  and  the  already  exhausted  little 
party  would  have  been  marooned,  and  must  have  perished  on  a  prairie 
that  was  an  arctic  desert.  The  time  is  not  definitely  stated,  but  the 
journey  is  figured  out  from  the  narrative  as  having  taken  thirteen  or 
fourteen  days. 

Nor  was  this  incredible  weather  yet  ended  for  northern  Illinois. 
Leaving  his  wife  with  his  mother,  John  H.  Kinzie,  after  a  three  weeks' 
visit,  started  back  to  Fort  Winnebago  in  the  second  week  of  April.  He 
was  overtaken  by  a  storm,  so  severe  and  prolonged,  that  he  and  his  men 
had  to  lie  over  in  an  Indian  lodge  for  three  days.  In  Chicago,  young 
Mrs.  Kinzie  records  that  only  twice,  during  the  two  months  of  her  stay 
(until  late  in  May),  did  the  sun  shine  out  through  the  entire  day.  The 
weather  continued  inclement  beyond  anything  that  had  ever  been  known 
at  Fort  Dearborn.  Some  young  men  who  went  out  to  the  Calumet 
region  in  April  to  hunt  were  given  up  for  lost.  They  were  saved  from 
freezing  to  death  only  by  having  two  blankets  apiece  with  them,  and  by 
taking  refuge  in  an  empty  cabin  on  the  marsh. ^ 

In  southern  Illinois  there  was  the  same  sudden  thaw,  in  early  March, 
caiising  the  waters  to  rise  "higher  than  they  had  been  since  Noah's 
flood."-  But  the  temperature  fell  again,  not  so  low  that  another  freeze 
was  recorded,  but  the  snow-turnpikes  that  had  been  made  along  main- 
traveled  roads,  remained  long  after  the  great  body  of  snow  had  melted — 
shining  ribbons  of  white  across  the  green  spring  prairie.  Dr.  Hildreth 
at  Marietta  says  that  a  belt  of  clouds  encircled  the  western  states  for  six 
months  after  the  "great  eclipse"  of  the  sun  in  February,,  making  a  cold, 
dark,  stormy  summer.  Corroboration  of  that  was  received  from  Ken- 
tucky.^ Inquiry  of  the  Nautical  Almanac  Bureau  in  Washington  as  to 
that  eclipse,  resulted  in  the  information  that  it  was  only  the  annular 
eclipse,  and  of  no  importance.  Peculiar  meteorological  conditions  attend- 
ing it  probably  made  it  appear  as  a  "great  eclipse"  at  Marietta. 

Of  the  high  floods  of  the  spring  of  1831,  there  is  very  convincing 
proof  in  the  fact  that  Lincoln  had  engaged  to  meet  Denton  Offutt  in 
Springfield,  as  soon  as  the  snow  should  go  off,  to  take  a  boat  load  of 
merchandise,  that  Offutt  was  to  have  ready  at  Beardstown,  down  to 
New  Orleans.  When  the  snow  did  go  off  travel  by  land  was  impracticable, 
so  Lincoln,  John  Hanks  and  John  D.  Johnston  came  down  the  Sangamon 
in  a  big  canoe.  Offutt  had  been  unable  to  procure  a  flatboat  in  Beards- 
town.  The  water  promised  to  remain  so  high,  however,  that  Lincoln 
and  his  two  relatives  took  timber  out  of  the  woods  and  built  a  boat  at 
Sangamon  Town,  seven  miles  north  of  Springfield.* 

They  had  a  misadventure  there  in  launching  a  dug-out  that  nearly 
ended  in  a  drowning,^    Thus,  in  the  middle  of  April,  the  Sangamon  is 

1  Wau  Bun,  p.  260. 

•  T.  Or.  Onstot's  "Pioneers  of  Mason  and  Menard." 

^  Collin's  History  of  Kentucky,  vol  1,  pp.  36-37. 

•*  Ida  M.  Tarbell's  Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  vol.  1,  p.  51. 

'  Nicolay  and  Hay  "Life  of  Lincoln,"  vol.  1. 


54 

described  as  "fairly  boomiug,"  "running  with  the  speed  <if  a  mill-raco" 
and  with  siuli  a  roaring  sound  that  the  voices  of  the  men  on. shore  failed 
to  carry  to  the  men  struggling  in  the  flood.  Lincoln  straddled  a  log, 
paid  out  with  a  rope  tied  to  a  tree,  and  rescued  two  men  from  jxirilous 
perches  in  the  branches  of  a  drifted  giant  of  the  forest.  'J'his  flood,  says 
Miss  Tarbell,  in  a  footnote  to  her  "Life  of  Lincoln,"  followed  the 
"Winter  of  the  Deep  Snow,"  from  which  early  settlers  of  Illinois  calcu- 
lated time.  Nieolay  and  Hay  give  two  pages  to  the  deep  snow  of  1831 
and  the  subsequent  flood. 

If  further  ])roof  were  needed  that  there  was  an  exceptionally  severe 
season  in  Illinois,  ample  evidence  is  readily  forthcoming  from  neighbor- 
ing states.  In  Indiana  "the  weather  was  steadily  and  severely  cold.  The 
snow  fell  from  12  to  18  inches  in  February,  and  the  temperature  to 
18  and  20  degi-ees  below  zero,  at  the  settlement  of  Indianapolis,  by  far 
the  coldest  weather  ever  known.  On  the  11th  of  x\pril,  the  steamboat 
Eobert  Hanna  arrived,  the  only  steamboat  that  ever  came  up  to  that 
point  on  the  White  river."^ 

]\Iissouri  keeps  up  its  reputation  by  "showing-"  real  weather.  There 
was  sleighing  in  St.  Louis  on  iSTew  Years  day,  and  the  river  was  closed 
by  ice  both  above  and  l)elow  the  city.-  In  February  the  weather  was  so 
severe  that  public  and  private  charity  was  taxed  to  prevent  suffering  and 
death. ^  The  files  of  the  Missouri  InfeUigencer  of  Columbia  for  1831 
yielded  an  alumdance  of  evidence.*  In  the  issue  of  Christmas  day, 
1830,  mention  is  first  made  of  the  severity  of  the  weather.  On  January 
8,  1831,  the  following  occurs:  "We  are  infonued  that  the  snow  in  the 
upper  counties  of  Missouri  is  41  inches  deep,  and,  what  is  very  remark- 
able, the  falling  was  accompanied  by  frequent  and  tremendous  peals 
of  thunder  and  vivid  blue  streaks  of  lightning.  It  was  an  awful  scene, 
indeed." 

The  issue  for  January  15th  is  only  a  half-sheet.  The  little  settlement 
was  cut  off  from  the  world.  "Have  no  news.  Last  three  mails  brought 
only  one  Washington  paper,  no  paper  from  Jefferson  City.  (Distance 
about  thirty  miles).  St.  Louis  Times  reports  eight  to  10  inches  of  snow 
in  last  storm.  Here  it  was  not  less  than  20  inches,  and  most  of  it 
remains,  for  the  weather  has  been  intensely  cold."  February  5,  report 
from  Eock  Spring,  111.  (near  Alton),  dated  January  19,  says:  "Have 
had  northern  winter  for  four  weeks.  Snow  lies  three  feet  deep  on  the  level 
in  IMorgan  and  Sangamon  county.  Around  Vandalia  it  is  one  glaze  of 
ice.  Still  snowing."  February  12 — On  Monda}-,  9  or  10  more  inches 
of  snow ;  Wednesday,  two  or  three  more ;  five  degrees  below  zero.  The  St. 
Lonis  Times  quotes  eastern  papers  as  having  accounts  of  18  inches  of 
snow  at  Baltimore.  February  19 — Accounts  of  snow-storms  in  Kentucky, 
Tennessee,  ISTew  York,  etc.  Severity  of  temperatures  and  gi'eat  depth 
of  snow,  extending  from  Missouri  to  Maine,  presents  an  extraordinary 


>  Bro-mi's  History  of  Indianapolis,  written  for  the  City  Directory  of  186S,  pp.  22-23;  Reported  by  Jacob 
P.  Dunn,  Lib'n.  Indiana  State  Historical  Society  as  from  original  sources  and  very  reliable. 

=  St.  Louis  Times,  Jan.  1,  1.S31. 

3  Missouri  Republican,  Feb.  8,  ISU;  St.  Louis  data  supplied  by  Miss  Idress  Head  I-ib'n.  of  the  Mo. 
Historical  Society  of  St.  Louis. 

■■  Files  of  Mo.  State  Historical  Society  at  Columbia,  Mo.  data  supplied  by  the  Librarian, Mr.  F.  A. 
Sampson . 


55 

winter.  Another  "^old-fashioned"  snoAv  storm  gripped  Missouri  on  the 
14tli.  March  5 — An  extract  from  the  Illinois  Pioneer,  Eoek  Spring 
(near  Alton),  announces  the  general  thaw  and  adds  this:  "'French 
settlers  along  the  river  say  that  about  fifty  years  ago  the  winter  was  as 
severe  as  this  one."  May  21 — Many  and  long-continued  rains  are 
mentioned. 

Those  rains  were  the  special  grievance  of  Kentucky.  As  Colonel  Wat- 
terson  once  plaintively  remarked,  after  a  Democratic  defeat:  "jSTothing 
but  weather  and  elections."  On  May  10,  1831,  there  was  an  extensive  and 
violent  hail  storm  in  several  counties,  with  hail  stones  three  inches  in  cir- 
cumference. July  22d,  a  tremendous  electric  storm  did  incredible  damage 
to  property.  Finally  the  Ohio  river  was  frozen  over  solid,  from  Decem- 
ber 11,  1831,  to  January  8,  1832.  When  the  ice  broke  up,  nine  steamboats 
were  destroyed.  In  February,  1832,  there  was  the  greatest  flood  ever 
known,  with  violent  gales  that  capsized  steamboats.'^ 

Dr.  Hildreth  at  Marietta  confirms  the  fact  that  inclement  weather 
extended  over  the  entire  year  of  1831.  He  says:  "There  were  160 
cloudy  days,  fifty-seven  more  than  in  1830.  Fruit  trees  were  three  weeks 
late  in  blossoming.  Heavy  rains  commenced  falling  late  in  June  and 
continued  all  summer.  Crops  were  beaten  down  and  destroyed.''-  The 
Mississippi  was  so  swollen  that  the  largest  steamboats  were  able  to  como 
up  to  St.  Louis  in  mid-summer.^  The  steamboat  Yellowstone  went  u]) 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Missouri,  above  Bismarck,  IST.  D.,  600  miles 
farther  than  any  steamer  had  navigated  before,  returning  to  St.  Louis 
safely,  in  the  middle  of  July.*  Throughout  July  there  were  heavy  rains 
in  the  Mississippi  bottoms  that  destroyed  crops  and  washed  away  bridges. 
On  the  30th  of  June,  a  destructive  tornado,  accompanied  by  hail  and 
torrents  of  rain,  was  reported  from  Port  Gil^son,  Miss.°  Late  in 
October  the  St.  Louis  mail  coach,  in  crossing  the  Elm  river,  was  over- 
turned l)y  the  force  of  the  swollen  current,  and  sunk  in  10  feet  of 
water. "^  At  Marietta,  0.,  there  were  only  eight  or  ten  days  of  Indian 
summer,  instead  of  three  or  four  weeks,  and  winter  set  in  with  vigor, 
late  in  November.  By  December  4,  the  rivers  were  full  of  ice.  On 
the  10th  the  Ohio  could  be  crossed  by  the  heaviest  teams.  The  Mississ- 
ippi w^as  reported  frozen  over  solid  for  130  miles  south  of  the  mouth  of 
the  Ohio  and  there  Avas  skating  in  ISTew  Orleans.  The  winter  was  very 
severe,  but  less  snow  fell  than  in  1831,  only  six  or  eight  inches.  The 
temperature  fell  to  .18  at  Nashville,  Tenn.''' 

On  the  winter  of  1832  we  have  the  evidence  of  the  Sangamo  Journal 
that  Avas  established  in  Springfield  in  November,  1831.  In  the  issue  of 
December  15,  1831,  this  occurs:  "We  are  now  taking  the  cold  at  the 
rate  of  22  degrees  below  zero."     On  January  19th  the  thaw  is  reported 

•  Collin's  History  of  Kentucky,  Vol .  1 ,  pp .  36-37.  Also  the  St .  Louis  Times  and  the  Sangamo  Journal 
give  accounts  of  floods  in  the  Ohio,  quoting  Cincinnati  and  Louis\ille  paper-. 

^  Dr.  S.  P.  Hildreth,  in  Pioneer  History  of  the  Ohio  Valley,  and  in  the  American  Journal  of  Science 
for  1831-32. 

^  Illinois  Gazette,  Jul.y  2,  1831  (no  town  given.    Item  supplied  by  Miss  Head  of  St.  Louis.) 

'  St.  I-ouis  Times,  July  16,  1831. 

'•  AVestem  Ploughbov  of  Edwards\ille,  quoted  bv  St.  Louis  Times. 

"  Galena  (Ul.)  Miner,  July  27,  1831. 

■^  St.  Louis  Times,  Oct.  29,  1831. 

'  American  Journal  of  Science  for  1832. 


56 

in  the  Sangamon,  and  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  are  expected  "to  follow 
suit."  "Had  some  beautiful  days  that  made  uj)  for  long  severe  cold  of 
a  month  before."^ 

In  the  middle  of  January  there  was  no  mail  from  Vincennes  for 
St.  Louis,  due  to  the  seven  or  eight  feet  rise  in  the  Ohio.  Navigation  of 
the  Mississippi  was  closed.  The  river  was  open  between  the  mouth  of  the 
Ohio  and  Grand  Tower  but  was  frozen  over  to  Randolph,  200  miles 
below.^  The  latter  part  of  the  month  the  weather  was  again  intensely 
cold,  the  thermometer  down  to  13  degrees  below,  and  the  river  frozen 
over,  both  above  and  below  the  city.^  The  Baltimore  Gazette  is  quoted 
by  the  Sangamo  Journal  as  saying  that  the  price  of  fuel  in  New  York 
and  Philadelphia  had  been  doubled.  In  Baltimore  the  increase  was  only 
10  per  cent,  owing  to  the  railroad.  Good  wolf  hunting  weather — cold 
and  snow — is  reported  on  the  2d  of  February.  Here,  also,  begins  reports 
of  the  floods  in  the  Ohio.  By  March  1  an  extract  is  made  from  the 
Cincinnati  American  of  February  14,  the  river  was  then  rising  three 
inches  an  hour,  and  lower  Allegheny  was  literally  afloat.  Nineteen 
houses  were  seen  in  the  river,  Lawrenceburg,  Ind.,  was  cabled  to  trees 
on  the  bluffs;  the  dove  would  have  found  no  resting  place  above  the 
water  in  Marietta.  Cincinnati's  chief  industry  was  moving  to  higher 
ground — the  entire  bottom  was  under  water,  and  the  raging  river  full 
of  floating  wreckage.*  The  severe  cold  and  high  floods  of  1832  resulted 
in  wide-spread  distress.  Seed  corn  was  frostbitten,  and  corn  from  the 
south  was  $3  a  bushel,  a  prohibitive  price.  Large  areas  of  farming  land 
went  uncultivated  that  season.^ 

If  I  seem  to  be  wandering,  both  in  time  and  space,  from  the  main 
theme,  have  a  little  patience.  Numerous  straws  of  meteorological  data 
showed  that  many  winds  were  abroad,  the  terrestrial  envelope  of  atmos- 
phere in  an  explosive  state  for  a  much  longer  period  than  the  winter  of 
1831.  In  New  England  the  spring  equinox  of  1830  was  marked  by 
a  violent  storm  along  the  coast,  with  waves  that  beached  shipping  and 
destroyed  wharves  and  warehouses.  The  water  rose  higher  than  had  been 
recorded  in  a  half  century.®  Hard-headed  Yankees  in  Massachusetts, 
and  unlettered  French  settlers  on  the  Mississippi,  both  harked  back  fifty 
years  for  comparison  with  the  weather.  We'll  see  what  that  means 
presently.  The  summer  of  1830,  in  New  England,  was  cold  and  wet, 
suddenly  changing  to  the  hottest  July  ever  known,  with  electric  storms, 
floods  of  rain  and  freshets  that  changed  the  channels  of  rivers.  August 
17,  1830  ushered  in  six  weeks  of  stomi.  The  first  one  swept  the  coast 
from  Cape  Hatteras  northward.  On  the  27th  occurred  another  of  three 
days'  duration.  In  September  there  were  three  storms,  on  the  20th,  24th 
and  29th,  of  the  violence  of  hurricanes,  and  another  in  the  first  week  of 
October.    On  the  6th  of  December  a  terrific  northeast  snow  storm  again 

'  Data  supplied  by  Mrs.  Jessie  Palmer  Weber,  Lib'n.  of  Illinois  State  Historical  Society,  from  files 
'  Missouri  Republican,  Jan.  17, 1832. 
^  Missouri  Republican,  Jan.  31,  1832. 

■•  The  Sangamo  Journal  and  the  Missouri  Republican,  both  have  this  report  of  the  flood.    Reported 
by  Mrs.  Weber  from  Springfield,  and  Miss  Head  from  St.  Louis. 
*  Missouri  Republican,  June  12,  1S32. 
^  Perley:    Historic  Storms  of  New  England,  p.  249. 


57 

swept  the  coast.^  Winter  set  in  early  with  great  depth  of  snow,  and 
again  there  was  a  hot  mid-summer  in  1831,  the  temperature  averaging 
five  degrees  higher  at  Brunswick,  Me.,  than  for  the  previous  years. - 

On  August  13,  1831,  beside  the  summer  storms  noted  in  Kentucky 
and  confirmed  by  Dr.  Hildreth,  a  West  Indian  hurricane,  such  as 
destroyed  Galveston,  swept  from  Barbadoes,  in  a  wide  arc,  through  the 
Windward  islands,  Porto  Kico,  Hayti,  Jamaica  and  Cuba  to  Mobile,  a 
distance  of  2,300  miles,  spending  itself  in  heavy  rains  in  the  gulf  states.^ 
As  a  precursor  of  this  storm  a  peculiar  appearance  of  the  sun  was  noted 
in  New  York  City  and  in  Mobile  and  New  Orleans.  The  Mobile  Register 
of  August  17,  1831,  contained  an  account  of  this  that  was  thought  worthy 
a  place  in  the  American  Journal  of  Science. 

"On  Saturday  last  the  sun  gave  off  pale  blue  and  violet  rays.  A  large 
spot  the  size  of  a  dollar  visible  to  the  naked  eye  cast  a  bluish  shade  on 
objects.  At  6 :  00  o'clock  Monday  the  entire  disc  was  a  pale  gTeen.  In 
the  night  a  violent  storm  set  in  from  the  southeast." 

In  the  summer  of  1831  there  was  extensive  famine  in  the  western 
counties  of  Ireland,  due  to  excessive  rains  rotting  the  potatoes.*  In 
India,  on  the  contrary,  there  were  years  of  plenty  in  the  early  '30s 
because  of  abundant  and  evenly  distributed  rains. 

It  was  in  India  that  the  first  clue  to  the  scientific  explanation  of  all 
this  weather  was  picked  up.  Put  an  Englishman  down  anywhere  on 
the  globe  under  the  Union  Jack  and  a  pith  helmet,  and  he  will  straight- 
way begin  to  gather  statistics.  Long  before  the  Imperial  government 
had  organized  relief  for  famines,  British  colonial  officials,  had  learned 
to  expect  drought  in  minimum  sun-spot  periods.  Quietude  of  the  sun,  it 
had  been  observed,  was  usually  associated  with  a  weak  monsoon.^  In 
the  early  '30s  a  maximum  sun-spot  period  was  indicated  in  India.  In 
Mobile,  New  Orleans  and  New  York  City  an  enormous  sun-spot  was 
observed  in  August,  1831.  Other  observations  of  sun-spots  will  be  noted 
later. 

In  New  England  another  scientific  clew  was  picked  up.  Weather 
reports  were  kept  by  Prof.  Parker  Cleaveland,  of  Bowdoin  College,  at 
Brunswick,  Me.,  from  1807  to  1859,  that  were  tabulated  by  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution."  In  September,  1830,  while  continuous  storms  swept 
the  Atlantic  coast.  Professor  Cleaveland  made  note  of  a  sudden  increase 
in  the  number  and  brilliancy  of  the  displays  of  the  aurora  horealis.  The 
same  phenomena  were  reported  by  Gen.  Martin  Pield  who,  for  a  long 
period,  kept  meteorological  reports  at  Fayetteville,  Vt.^  The  auroras 
observed  in  that  latitude  had  for  years  averaged  eighteen,  but  from  May, 
1830,  to  May,  1831,  General  Eield  saw  fifty-six,  several  of  them  of 
unusual  brilliancy.    On  the  9th  of  March  he  noted  a  perfect  arch,  a  rare 

'  "Prevailing  Storms  of  Atlantic  Coast,"  American  Journal  of  Science,  1831. 

=  Prof.  Parker  Cleveland's  Meteorological  Reports,  kept  at  Brunswick,  Maine,  from  1807  to  1859, 
Tabulated  in  Smithsonian  Institutions  Contributions  to  Knowledge. 

^  Illinois  Intelligencer  of  Vandalia  for  Oct.  7, 1831,  had  a  report  of  this  hurricane. 

■*  W.  P.  O'Brien's:    "Great  Famines  in  Ireland." 

"^  Rev.  J.  E.  Scott's,  "In  Famine  Land, "  p.  14.    Also  articleon  India  in  the  Encyclopedia  Britanuica. 

■^  Smithsonian  Institution:    Contributions  to  Knowledge. 

■  American  Journal  of  Science,  Oct.  1831.  Gen.  Field  also  made  annual  report  on  meteorology  to 
the  American  Journal  of  Science  for  many  years. 


58 

sight  in  so  low  a  latitude.  Some  of  these  auroras  were  seen  as  far  south 
as  Maryland,  in  latitude  39.  A  remarkable  one  observed  there  is  described 
as  magnificent. 

"It  began  as  early  as  6 :  00  o'clock  in  the  evening,  in  a  blush  along 
the  northern  sky.  This  was  soon  bounded,  to  east  and  west  with  crimson 
columns  which  wavered  and  flowed  like  drapery,  sent  up  streamers,  and 
finally  focussed  at  the  zenith  in  a  characteristic  corona,  that  broke  up 
and  formed  again.  In  the  south  the  sky  was  a  dark  slate  color,  brilliant 
Avitli  stars,  and  the  stars  appeared  as  electric  points  through  the  trans- 
parent folds  of  crimson  light  in  the  north.  Innumerable  spindles  of 
silvery  luster  darted  from  the  blood-red  drajjery.  Universal  stillness 
reigned.  The  barometer  rose,  the  temperature  fell.  Nature  was  in  a 
profound  hush.  The  snowy  landscape  was  stained  a  lovely  flickering 
rose  by  the  reflection." 

It  does  not  seem  improbable  that  the  long  arctic  winter  in  the  Miss- 
issippi valley  was  relieved  by  an  occasional  display  of  northern  lights, 
for  these  auroras  were  seen  and  marvelled  at  all  over  Europe.  Dalton's 
catalogue  of  auroras  records  thirty-two  for  Great  Britain  in  1830  and 
twenty-three  in  1831.  The  report  of  the  Regents  of  the  University  of 
New  York  shows  that  from  April,  1830,  to  April,  1831,  auroral  displays 
in  middle  latitudes  were  very  frequent  and  of  unusual  brilliancy.^  Many 
of  them  were  seen  simultaneously  in  the  old  world  and  the  new.  Such 
a  one  was  seen  December  11,  1830,  ushering  in  the  stormy  winter.  That 
of  January  7,  1831,  was  seen  from  Paris  to  Niagara  Falls.  It  lasted 
from  sunset  until  dawn,  and  ran  the  gamut  of  auroral  phenomena.  On 
the  19th  of  April  another  aurora  apparently  girdled  the  hemisphere  in 
about  latitude  40. 

Loomis  and  Wolf's  tables  of  sun-spots  and  auroras,  covering  the  cen- 
tury and  a  quarter  from  1750  to  1879,  show  high  energy  of  both  in  the 
American  Revolutionary  War  period.-  Then  there  was  a  dropping  off 
until  about  1827.  A  chart  showing  the  likeness  between  auroral  fre- 
quency, sun-spot  frequency,  and  the  magnetic  range,  between  1780  and 
1870,  shows  a  sudden  leap  upward  of  all  three  at  1830,  after  a  period  of 
calm  from  the  beginning  of  the  century.  This  period  of  quietude  of  the 
sun,  and  abeyance  of  auroras  in  lower  latitudes,  coincides  with  the  long 
period  of  "mild  winters"  that  had  given  early  settlers  in  Illinois  theiv 
sense  of  security  in  the  climate. 

The  most  inclement  season  in  the  United  States,  previous  to  that  of 
1831,  was  in  1777-78.  the  famous  bitter  winter,  that  tested  endurance 
and  patriotism  of  Washington's  soldiers  at  Valley  Forge.  The  recol- 
lections of  New  Englanders  and  of  the  French  on  the  Mississippi  were 
accurate  as  to  there  having  been  as  cold  a  winter  "about  fifty  years 
l)efore."  In  that  winter  long-continued  low  temperatures  and  heavy  falls 
of  snow  were  accompanied  l)y  sun-spots  and  auroral  displays.  The 
northern  lights  Avere  of  such  unusual  brilliancy  as  to  excite  the  super- 
stitious fears  of  unlettered  colonials.     "The  battles  in  the  clouds"  were 


'  American  Journal  of  Science  for  1832,  reviewingthe  .^Jinals  of  Philosophy  of  London,  and  the  report 
of  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  New  York. 

»  Article  on  meteorology  in  Encyclopedia  Britannica. 


59 

looked  upon  as  omens  of  disaster  or  of  Divine  disapproval,  and  may 
very  easily  have  added  to  the  difficulties  of  a  successful  conduct  of 
the  war. 

After  1778,  both  sun-spots  and  auroras  gi'adually  declined  and,  from 
1800  to  the  late  '20s,  were  almost  completely  in  abeyance.  The  sudden 
revival  of  solar  activity  and  auroral  displays,  tliat  reached  a  climax  in 
the  early  '30s,  was  marked  by  a  return  of  extreme  temperatures  and 
precipitation,  and  by  violent  magnetic  storms.  It  seems  pertinent  to 
inquire  as  to  what  connection  there  may  be  between  solar  activity  and 
terrestrial  meteorology. 

Por  the  latest  scientific  pronouncement  on  this  point,  Milton  Upde- 
graff,  professor  of  iiiathematics  in  the  United  States  ISTaval  Observatory, 
and  director  of  the  Nautical  Almanac  in  Washington,  referred  the 
writer  to  "Problems  in  Astro-Physics"  by  Agnes  M.  Gierke.  I  venture 
to  do  nothing  more  than  to  quote  to  the  point,  verbatim,  with  special 
reference  to  the  jjeriod  under  consideration  :^ 

"The  sun  is  subject  to  a  rythmic  tide  of  disturbance,  ebbing  and  flow- 
ing in  a  period  of  eleven  years ;  but  this  period  is  irregular  and  spasmodic. 
Both  the  intervals  and  the  intensity  (of  activity)  vary,  and  the  period 
is  involved  in  others.  One,  there  is  reason  to  believe,  comprises  a  term 
of  sixty-five  years  (which  also  varies).  Prediction  remains  at  fault. 
Spot  maxima  are  delayed  or  fettered;  are  languid  or  energetic.  The 
eleven  year  cycle  ran  to  sixteen  years,  from  1788  to  1804,  while  the 
cycle  was  compressed  into  a  little  more  than  seven  years,  from  September, 
1829,  to  Fehruary,  1837. 

"Terrestrial  meteorology,  as  a  whole,  is  certainly  embraced  in  the  sun- 
cycles,  but  the  details  of  conformity  baffie  pursuit.  Only  in  the  magnetic 
field  is  there  no  room  for  doubt.  The  earth  is  circled  by  an  auroral  belt 
around  the  pole,  which  advances  into  temperate  latitudes  at  epochs  of 
cosmic  disturbance,  but  retires  toward  the  pole  as  it  quiets  down.  Indi- 
vidual outbreaks  on  the  sun  are  often  unmistakably  associated  with 
commotions  of  the  terrestrial  magnetic  system.  These  so-called  magnetic 
storms  are  world-wide  in  their  nature,  and  bear  witness  to  some  sudden, 
vital  spasm,  attacking  the  world  as  a  whole.  Auroras  and  earth-currents 
make  part  of  these  mysterious  affections,  which  commonly  reach  their 
lieight  when  a  large  sun-spot  is  nearly  central  on  the  disc.  On  November 
17,  1882,  the  photosphere  of  the  sun  was,  to  the  naked  eye,  visibly  rent, 
and  the  coincident  magnetic  storm  and  auroral  display,  'beggared 
description.'  The  transit  of  another  enormous  sun-spot  created  a  mag- 
netic turmoil  in  February,  1892,  that  seriously  interferred  with  tele- 
graphic and  telephonic  communication.  An  auroral  pagaent  completed 
the  program.  Variations  of  the  earth's  orbit,  even,  are  held  by  many 
astronomers  to  coincide  with  the  sixty-five  year  period  of  climax  in 
sun-spots." 

That  is  as  far  as  science  is  prepared  to  go  at  present.  Incidentally,  it 
may  be  remarked  that  sun-spots  and  auroras  have  been  under  intelligent 
observation  since  Galileo  and  Kepler,  three  hundred  years  ago.     Scien- 

^  "Problems  in  Astro-Physics,"  by  Agnes  M.  Gierke,  Chap.  XIII,  pp.  150-160.  Published  in  Lon- 
don 1903.    Copy  in  John  Crerar  Library  of  Chicago. 


60 

tists  indulge  in  no  snap  judgments.  While  it  is  accepted  that  "terrestrial 
meteorology,  as  a  whole,  is  certainly  embraced  in  the  sun-cycles,  the 
details  of  conformity  still  baffle  pursuit,  and  only  in  the  field  of  magnet- 
ism is  there  no  room  for  doubt."  As  regards  the  effect  on  temperature 
and  precipitation,  and  the  extension  of  influence  over  entire  seasons  and 
years,  science  goes  only  so  far  as  to  confess  to  the  open  mind. 

The  authority  quoted  notes  that  the  eleven-year  sun-spot  cycle  was  at 
this  time  compressed  into  seven  years  and  a  fraction,  from  September, 

1829,  to  February,  1837.  It  would  also  appear  that  the  sixty-five-year 
cycle,  counting  from  1777-78  to  1830-31,  was  contracted  to  fifty-three 
years.  It  is,  perhaps,  not  surprising  that  there  were  explosions.  Cer- 
tainly, a  prolonged  vital  spasm  seems  to  liave  attacked  the  world  as  a 
whole  in  1831,  with  separate  individual  outbreaks  as  early  as  March, 

1830,  and  as  late  as  March,  1832,  a  period  of  two  years.  'Wlien  Captain 
John  Ross  returned  from  his  second  Polar  voyage,  he  extended  those 
extraordinary  weather  conditions,  at  least  in  the  Arctics,  from  1829  to 
1833.1 

The  record  of  Polar  explorations,  from  the  period  of  the  American 
Eevolution  to  the  early  '30s,  confirms  the  character  of  the  seasons  in 
lower  latitudes.  In  1778-79  two  expeditions  were  turned  back  by  ice- 
barriers  in  latitudes  of  65°  to  70°.  In  1806  Captain  Scoresby,  a  famous 
whaler,  reached  latitude  81°  12',  and  he  reported  the  Polar  seas  remark- 
ably open  in  1817.  During  the  following  ten  years  there  were  four 
successful  voyages  undertaken,  by  Franklin,  Parry,  Beechey  and  Eoss. 
Captain  Parry  went  over  the  ice  to  latitude  82°  45'  in  1827.  In  1829, 
however,  a  Danish  expedition  was  turned  back  in  latitude  65°,  by  "an 
insurmountable  barrier  of  ice."- 

In  the  same  summer,  Captain  John  Eoss  worked  up  through  Baffin's 
bay  to  latitude  74°,  turned  westward  through  Lancaster  sound  and  then 
dropped  southward  to  the  Gulf  of  Boothia,  in  latitude  70°.  By  exam- 
ining a  continental  map  you  will  find  his  winter  quarters  on  the  90th 
meridian,  about  2,000  miles  due  northward  from  St.  Louis.  There,  in 
a  fairly  sheltered,  almost  land-locked  gulf,  within  fifty  miles  or  so  of 
the  north  magnetic  pole  which  he  succ-eeded  in  locating.  Captain  Eoss 
passed  the  next  three  winters.  The  kind  of  weather  this  expedition 
encountered  is  very  pertinent  to  this  inquiry. 

•  The  winter  of  1829-30,  the  entire  year,  indeed,  was  much  colder  than 
on  his  former  voyage,  but  in  retrospect  it  seemed  mild.  It  was  marked 
by  brilliant  auroras,  more  regular,  splendid  and  durable  than  had  been 
noted  by  other  explorations.  Christmas  day  was  celebrated  by  a  display 
of  great  magnificence  that  filled  the  entire  vault  of  heaven  and  ran  the 
gamut  of  auroral  phenomena.  At  another  time  a  broad  arch  of  the 
argent  color  and  radiation  of  a  full  moon,  "exactly  as  the  rings  of  Saturn 
must  appear  to  that  planet"  was  recorded.  And,  before  the  sun  disap- 
peared below  the  horizon,  they  saw  an  enormous  sun-spot,  so  fairly 
centered  on  the  disc  as  to  present  the  appearance  of  an  eclipse,  with  a 
belt  of  dazzling  brilliancy,  shooting  rays  like  the  star  of  the  order  of  the 

'  Narrative  of  the  Second  Polar  Voyage  of  Sir  John  Ross. 
*  Article  on  Polar  Regions  in  the  Encyclopedia  Britannica. 


61 

Bath.  It  was  too  incredible,  too  absurd  to  be  believed,  and  did  not  admit 
of  representation  in  the  then  undeveloped  state  of  photography.  Ver}' 
great  magnetic  disturbance  was  thus  indicated  in  the  Polar  regions  in 
1829,  and  it  was  accompanied  by  lower  temperature. 

September,  1830,  opened  with  severity,  the  thermometer  falling  three 
degrees  below  the  freezing  point,  and  the  cold  was  attended  by  gales  of 
wind  and  snow.  This  was  the  time  the  sudden  increase  in  the  number 
and  brightness  of  auroras  was  noted  in  Maine  and  Vermont.  By  the 
24th,  when  the  sun  crossed  the  equator,  the  ship  was  frozen  in  a  foot 
of  ice.  Weeks  were  consumed  in  cutting  the  vessel  out,  and  moving  it 
to  a  safer  position;  but  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  was  gained,  and 
further  efforts  were  abandoned.  By  the  10th  of  October  the  thermometer 
registered  minus  degrees,  and  all  the  Polar  regions  seemed  to  be  sending 
in  their  stored  up  icebergs.  By  November  the  new  ice  was  four  feet  thick. 
On  the  29th  the  mercury  froze  in  the  thermometer  at  39  degrees.  New 
Year's  day,  1831,  when  the  first  storm  was  raging  in  the  Mississippi 
valley,  the  arctic  explorer  recorded  a  temperature  of  52  degrees. 

A  splendid  aurora  was  seen  on  Boothia  on  the  13th  of  January.  The 
great  storm  that  Dr.  Hildreth  reported  as  extending  over  the  entire 
United  States  occurred  on  the  14th.  A  week  before,  on  January  Tth,  the 
extraordinary  aurora  that  lasted  from  sunset  to  dawn  was  seen  in  both 
hemispheres  down  to  latitude  -39.  The  magnetic  pagaent,  which  Miss 
Gierke  has  led  us  to  expect,  was  complete.  Another  remarkable  phe- 
nomenon was  observed  January  11th  at  Oneida  Seminan-,  ^ISTew  York.  A 
brilliant  halo  formed  around  the  sun  which  was  of  an  electric  whiteness, 
blinding  to  the  eye.  This  changed  to  an  elongated  parhelion,  colored 
prismatically  and  finally  forming  an  arc.  The  thermometer  fell  from 
23  degrees  above  to  11  degrees  below  in  the  night,  with  a  heavy  fall  of 
snow.^ 

The  aurora  of  Januar\^  13,  1831,  was  the  last  one  of  any  note  that  was 
seen  by  these  Arctic  explorers.  Thereafter  the  Polar  regions  were 
shrouded  in  gloom.  The  auroral  belt  that,  "in  periods  of  great  magnetic 
disturbance,  descend  into  lower  latitudes,"  had  migrated,  .for  a  series  of 
years,  to  a  zone  between  the  60th  and  40th  parallels.  Its  descent  to  the 
south  was  announced,  whether  perforce  or  coincidently.  by  gales  of  wind, 
paralvzing  storms,  and  bitter  and  long-continued  cold,  making  an  historic 
season.  Captain  Eoss  missed  the  midnight  splendor  of  the  aurora  bore- 
alis,  but  he  too  was  in  the  grip  of  icy  blasts  and  ice-locked  seas.  The 
latter  half  of  February  in  his  winter  quarters,  averaged  42  degrees.  This 
was  the  time  when  the  editor  of  the  E'dwardsville  Advocate  was  driven 
from  his  sanctum  by  the  northern  blasts. 

•^^y  the  20th  of  March,"  as  Captain  Eoss  remarks  with  commendable 
restraint  in  his  narrative,  "the  continuance  and  degree  of  cold  began 
seriously  to  attract  our  attention.  On  the  21st  the  sun  crossed  the 
equator  at  -49  degrees,  a  temperature  that  was  imparalleled  in  all  former 
voyages."  This  corresponds  to  the  date  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  H. 
Kinzie  crossed  the  Desplaines  in  temperatures  unparalleled  for  Chicago. 

'  American  Journal  of  Science  for  1831,  p.  1S9. 


62 

The  mean  tempera  tare  for  March,  in  hititiule  70,  was  -35  degrees,  eleven 
degrees  lower  than  the  lowest  previous  record.  It  was  the  end  of  April 
before  the  crew  could  travel  at  all.  In  May  the  average  was  still  16 
degrees  below  freezing  point,  and  no  open  water  was  seen.  It  was  in 
April  that  some  young  men  were  thought  to  have  perished  of  the  cold  on 
the  Calumet  marsh,  and  up  to  late  in  May  the  sun  shone  out  only  two 
entire  days  in  Chicago,  during  the  inclement  spring  of  1831. 

Captain  Eoss  never  did  get  his  little  ship  out  of  the  ice.  In  the  spring 
of  1832  it  was  abandoned  there,  and  the  explorers  made  tlieir  way 
overland,  to  their  buried  stores  on  Fury  Beach,  Barrow  Strait,  in  lati- 
tude 74.  There  they  spent  another  year  of  unbroken  winter,  seeing  open 
water  for  the  first  time  in  three  years,  late  in  the  summer  of  1833,  Avhen 
they  were  picked  up  by  a  whaler  from  Baffin's  Bay.  The  party  had  long 
been  looked  upon  as  lost. 

The  professional  ethics  of  arctic  exploration  forbids  the  use  of  superla- 
tives. Few  comments  are  made  on  the  most  frightful  experiences. 
Temperatures  that  congeal  the  blood  are  recorded,  unmoved ;  mountain? 
of  immemorial  snow;  frozen  wastes  of  continental  expanse;  unfathom- 
able darkness  of  stellar  spaces;  legions  of  spectral  bergs  that  crash 
around  their  beleaguered  ships  in  the  Polar  midnight.  Captain  Eoss 
had  commanded  a  previous  expedition,  and  had  gone  back  undismayed. 
In  March,  1831,  the  continuance  and  degree  of  cold  merely  "attracted 
our  serious  attention,"  but  by  June,  1832,  the  unmitigated  rigor,  the 
incessant  gales,  the  universal  ice  and  snow,  had  become  an  obsession.  It 
was  a  physical  torment  and  a  mental  depression  that  tested  all  their 
powers  of  endurance.  They  fled  northward  in  terror,  to  lie  in  the  track 
of  whalers,  to  be  companioned  there,  also,  by  menace  of  death  and  obliv- 
ion. The  world  seemed  to  have  swung  into  some  catacylsmic  cycle — to 
lie  there  stark,  and  sepultured  in  snow^ — geologic  ages  to  pass,  mayhap, 
before  their  crystal  prison  should  be  unlocked.  The  slate-colored  strip 
of  water,  opening  tlirough  Lancaster  Sound,  was  the  first  sign  they  had 
in  three  years,  that  the  northern  hemisphere  had  not  congealed. 

Captain  Eoss  confessed,  with  picturesque  vigor  and  "without  shame, 
that  he  had  had  enough  to  last  a  lifetime.  Here  is  his  sober  indictment 
of  the  North  Polar  regions,  from  1829  to  1833 : 

"It  is  very  certain  that  no  traveler,  under  any  circumstances,  nor  any 
navigators,  among  all  those  who  have  wintered  in  northern  latitudes, 
have  ever  encountered  winters  more  severe,  in  temperatures  and  storms, 
nor  in  duration  and  frequency  of  storms.  It  was  one  long  winter  of 
four  years,  when  the  freezing  point  w^as  our  summer  heat,  and  cold  meant 
from  50  to  80  degrees  below  zero.  Four  years  of  snow  and  ice,  uninter- 
rupted and  unceasing,  was  more  than  enough  to  suffice  for  admiration."^ 

As  the  Illinois  InieMigencer  so  justly  observed,  "the  winter  of  the  deep 
snow"  was,  at  least,  continental  in  extent.  The  historical  and  other  data 
collected  in  this  inquiry,  cover  too  small  a  field,  in  time  and  space, 
perhaps,  to  lead  to  scientific  conclusions,  but  they  are  submitted  in  the 
hope  that  the  whole  cosmic  story  of  a  phenomenal  period  may  be  searched 
out  and  analyzed. 

^  Narrative  of  the  Second  Polar  Voyage  of  Sir  Jolin  Ross,  oiigiiial  quarto  edition^  vdtli  plates,  p.  543. 


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63 


HOW  ME.  LINCOLN  EBCEIYED  THE  NEWS  OF  HTS  FIEST 

NOMINATION. 

By  Clinton  L.   Conkling. 


The  Republican  National  convention  met  in  Chicago,  May  16,  1860. 
The  interest  thronghout  the  country  in  the  results  of  the  meeting  was 
intense.  The  general  opinion,  especially  in  the  East,  was  that  William 
H.  Seward  of  New  York  would  be  nominated,  although  Horace  Greeley 
and  others  from  New  York  were  opposed  to  liim.  The  Republican  State 
convention  on  the  ninth  day  of  the  same  month  had  declared  Abraham 
Lincoln  to  be  the  first  choice  of  the  Republican  party  of  Illinois  for  the 
presidency.  Many  delegates  and  politicians  thronged  the  city  several 
days  before  the  convention.  Mr.  Lincoln's  friends  were  early  on  the 
ground  working  earnestly  and  effectively  to  create  a  sentiment  in  his 
favor. 

Mr.  N.  M.  Knapp,  then  of  Winchester,  111.,  wrote  to  him  from  Chi- 
cago, as  follows: 

Tremont  House. 
Gage,  Bro.  &  Drake.  Proprietors. 

Chicago,  Monday  May  14,  1860. 

Dear  Sir — Things  are  working;  keep  a  good  nerve — be  not  surprised  at 
any  result — but  I  tell  you  that  your  chances  are  not  the  worst.  We  have 
got  Seward  in  the  attitude  of  the  representative  Republican  of  the  Bast — you 
at  the  West.  We  are  laboring  to  make  you  the  second  choice  of  all  the 
delegations  we  can  where  we  cannot  make  you  first  choice.  We  are  dealing 
tenderly  with  delegates,  taking  them  in  detail,  and  making  no  fuss.  Be  not 
too  expectant  but  rely  upon  our  discretion.  Again  I  say  brace  your  nerves 
for  any  result. 

Truly  your  friend, 

N.  M.  Knapp. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  present  at  the  State  convention  at  Decatur  but  did 
not  go  to  Chicago.  He  remained  in  Springfield,  went  to  his  law  office 
as  usual,  received  reports  of  the  progress  of  events  by  telegrams,  letters 
and  from  persons  returning  from  Chicago,  visited  his  friends  to  discuss 
the  situation  and  prospects  and,  occasionally,  as  was  his  wont,  joined  in 
a  game  of  hand  ball,  the  then  favorite  pastime  of  the  professional  men 
of  the  town. 

The  only  wires  into  Springfield  in  1860  were  owned  and  operated  by 
the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  Telegraph  Company  and  were  called  the  ''"Ca- 
ton  Lines"  after  Judge  John  D.  Caton  of  Ottawa,  Illinois,  president  of 
the  com.pany,  and  one  of  its  organizers.  Its  principal  office  was  at  St. 
Louis.  John  James  Speed  Wilson,  afterwards  known  as  "Col.  Wilson,"' 
was  superintendent  of  the  Eastern  Division  with  headquarters  at  Spring- 


64 

field.  E.  D.  L.  Sweet  was  superintendent  of  the  Western  Division  witli 
his  ofiice  in  Chicago.  These  divisions  were  afterwards  called  the  South- 
ern and  Xorthern  divisions,  respectively. 

C.  F.  Mclntire,  with  an  operator  named  J.  B.  Pierce,  was  in  charge 
of  the  local  office  in  Springfield  which  was  then  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Public  Square  (but  at  what  number  I  have  been  unable  to  learn). 
I  have  no  further  information  about  these  operators.  A  year  or  two 
afterwards  the  telegraph  office  was  moved  to  the  rooms  previously  oc- 
cupied by  James  C.  Conkling'as  law  offices,  being  the  second  floor  over 
Chatterton's  jewelry  store,  now  No.  121  South  Fifth  Street,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Square,  where  it  remained  for  some  years.  The  first  tele- 
graph office  in  this  city  was  in  the  second  story  over  Pease's  hardware 
store,  now  Xo.  506  East  Adams  Street  on  the  south  side  of  the  square. 

Upon  the  absorption  of  the  Illinois  &  Mississippi  Lines  by  the  West- 
ern Union  Telegraph  Company  in  1866,  Mr.  Sweet  was  appointed  super- 
intendent of  the  latter  company,  and  upon  his  resignation  in  1868, 
Colonel  Wilson  succeeded  him  and  removed  to  Chicago.  He  continued 
in  that  position  until  1879,  when  he  resigned  to  go  into  other  business. 
He  died  a  few  years  afterwards.  ]\Ir.  E.  D.  L.  Sweet  is  still  living  in 
Chicago  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years.  D.iring  the  convention 
he  had  charge  of  all  the  telegraphic  arrangements.  There  was  only  one 
wire  into  the  '"'Wigwam"  and  this  was  connected  in  the  main  office  with 
the  eastern  wire  of  the  Western  Union — it  being  the  general  opinioji 
that  the  nomination  would  go  to  an  eastern  man,  Seward  being  the  one 
most  often  mentioned  in  that  respect.  Mr.  Wilson  was  in  Chicago 
during  the  convention  and  divided  his  time  between  the  main  telegraph 
office,  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Lake  and  Clark  streets,  and  the  con- 
vention in  the  "Wigwam,"  a  building  erected  for  the  occasion  at  the 
comer  of  Market  and  Lake  streets.  Most  of  the  personal  messages  from 
delegates  to  Illinois  points  were  sent  from  the  convention  hall  to  the 
main  office  of  the  Caton  Company  by  messenger  boys. 

On  Friday  morning.  May  18,  1860,  the  third  day  of  the  convention, 
the  delegates  met  at  ten  o'clock  to  ballot.  James  C.  Conkling  of  Spring- 
field who  had  been  in  Chicago  several  davs  but  was  called  back  unex- 
pectedly,  arrived  home  early  that  morning.  George  M.  Brinkerhoff,  Sr., 
of  this  city  was  reading  law  in  Mr.  Conkling^s  office,  which  was  then 
over  Chatterton's  jewelry  store.  About  half  past  eight  o'clock  Mr. 
Lincoln  came  into  the  office  and  asked  Mr.  Brinkerhoff  where  Mr.  Conk- 
ling was,  as  he  had  just  heard  on  the  street  that  the  latter  had  returned 
from  Chicago.  On  being  told  that  Mr.  Conkling  was  not  in  but  prob- 
ably would  be  in  an  hour,  Mr.  Lincoln  said  he  would  go  out  on  the 
street  and  come  back  again  as  he  was  anxious  to  see  Mr.  Conkling. 
Presently  Mr.  Conkling  came  in  and  later  Mr.  Lincoln  again  called. 
There  was  an  old  settee  by  the  front  window  on  which  were  several 
buggy  cushions.  Mr.  Lincoln  stretched  himself  upon  this  settee,  his 
head  on  a  cushion  and  his  feet  over  the  end  of  the  settee.  For  a  long 
time  they  talked  about  the  convention.  Mr.  Lincoln  wanted  to  know 
what  had  been  done  and  what  Mr.  Conkling  had  seen  and  learned  and 


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wliat  lie  believed  would  be  the  result  of  the  convention.  Mr.  Conkling 
replied  that  Mr.  Lincoln  would  be  nominated  that  day;  that  after  the 
conversations  he  had  had  and  the  information  he  had  gathered  in  regard 
to  Mr.  Seward's  candidacy,,  he  was  satisfied  that  Mr.  Seward  could  not 
be  nominated,  for  he  not  only  had  enemies  in  other  states  than  his  own, 
but  he  had  enemies  at  home;  that  if  Mr.  Seward  was  not  nominated  on 
the  first  ballot  the  Pennsylvania  delegation  and  other  delegations  would 
immediately  go  to  Mr.  Lincoln  and  he  would  be  nominated. 

Mr.  Lincoln  replied  that  he  hardly  thought  this  could  be  possible  and 
that  in  case  Mr.  Seward  was  not  nominated  on  the  first  ballot,  it  was 
his  judgment  that  Mr.  Chase  of  Ohio  or  Mr.  Bates  of  Missouri  would 
be  the  nominee.  They  both  considered  that  Mr.  Cameron  of  Pennsyl- 
vania stood  no  chance  of  nomination.  Mr.  Conkling  in  response  said 
that  he  did  not  think  it  was  possible  to  nominate  any  other  one  except 
Mr.  Lincoln  under  the  existing  conditions  because  the  pro-slavery  parr 
of  the  Eepublican  party  then-  in  the  convention  would  not  vote  for  Mr. 
Chase,  who  was  considered  an  abolitionist,  and  the  abolition  part  of  the 
party  would  not  vote  for  Mr.  Bates,  because  he  was  from  a  slave  state, 
and  that  the  only  solution  of  the  matter  was  the  nomination  of  Mr. 
Lincoln. 

After  discussing  the  situation  at  some  length,  Mr.  Lincoln  arose  and 
said,  "Well,  Conkling,  I  believe  I  will  go  back  to  my  office  and  practice 
law."    He  then  left  the  office. 

I  was  present  during  a  part  only  of  this  interview  and  depend  largely 
for  the  details  of  this  conversation  upon  what  Mr.  Conkling  and  Mr. 
Brinkerhoff  have  told  me.  In  a  very  few  moments  after  Mr.  Lincoln 
left  I  learned  of  his  nomination,  (just  how  I  do  not  now  remember) 
and  rushed  after  him.  I  met  him  on  the  west  side  of  the  Square  before 
anyone  else  had  told  him  and  to  my  cry,  "Mr.  Lincoln  you're  nomina- 
ted" he  said,  "Well,  Clinton,  then  we've  got  it,"  and  took  my  out- 
stretched hand  in  both  of  his.  Then  the  excited  crowds  surged  around 
him  and  I  dropped  out  of  sight. 

In  my  possession  are  five  original  telegrams  received  by  Mr.  Lincoln 
on  the  day. he  was  nominated.  All  are  on  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi 
Telegraph  Company  form. 

The  first  one  sent  was  from  the  telegraph  superintendent  Wilson,  and 
shows  signs  of  haste  and  bears  no  date.    It  reads, 

"To  Lincoln: 

"You  are  nominated." 

"J.  J.  S.  Wilson." 

Mr.  Pierce,  the  operator  who  received  this  message  at  Springfield, 
writes  from  Young  America,  Illinois,  under  date  of  June  -i,  1860,  to  Mr. 
Lincoln  saying  that  this  was  the  first  message  for  him  announcing  his 
nomination. 

A  moment  after  this  message  was  sent  a  messenger  boy  brought  to  the 
main  office  in  Chicago  a  message  addressed  simply  "Abe'"  and  which 
read  "We  did  it.  Glory  to  "God,"  "Knapp."  The  receiving  clerk  brought 
the  message  to  Mr.  Sweet,  calling  his  attention  to  the  address,  and  also 

— 5  H  S 


66 

to  the  expression  "Glory  to  God."  Mr.  Sweet  directed  thai  the  words 
"Lincoln,  Springfield"  be  added  and  that  tlie  message  be  sent  at  once. 
This  message  is  probably  the  first  one  to  Mr.  Lincoln  from  any  person 
who  was  actively  at  work  in  his  behalf  in  the  convention  and  without 
doubt  was  from  Mr.  N.  M.  Ivnapp  who  wrote  the  letter  of  May  four- 
teenth. 

The  next  tw^o  telegrams  are  from  J.  J.  Richards  who  was  well  known 
in  earlier  days  in  Springfield.  lie  was  connected  with  the  Great  West- 
ern Kailroad  Company  and  was  its  agent  for  some  time  at  Naples,  which 
was  then  the  end  of  the  road.  Owing  to  the  great  amount  of  freight 
then  brought  to  Naples  by  boat  from  St.  Louis  and  other  points  down 
the  river,  and  which  was  there  re-shipped  to  Central  Illinois  points,  the 
position  of  agent  required  a  man  of  good  business  ability,  and  for  this 
reason  he  was  stationed  there.     He  subsequently  went  to  Chicago. 


These  telegrams  are  as  follows : 

By  Telegraph  from  Chicago  18         1860. 
To  Abraham  Lincoln: 

You'r  nominated  &  elected 


May  18,  18G0. 


J.  J.  Richards. 


-18- 


By  Telegraph  from  Chicago     18 18 

To  Hon.  A.  Lincoln: 

You  were  nominated  on  3rd  ballot. 

J.  J.  Richards. 

Mr.  J.  J.  S.  Wilson  followed  his  first  message,  probably  within  a  very 

few  moments,  by  another  w^hich  reads : 

__ 18 

By   Telegraph   from  Chicago     18     1860. 
To    Hon.    A.    Lincoln: 

Vote  just  announced.  Whole  No  466  necessary  to  choice  234  Lincoln 
354  votes  not  stated  on  motion  of  Mr.  Evarts  of  NY  the  nomination  was 
made  unanimous  amid  intense  enthusiasm. 

J.  J.  S.  Wilson. 

For  kindly  assistance  in  compiling  this  paper  I  am  indebted  to  Hon. 
Eobert  T.  Lincoln;  Mr.  Charles  S.  Sweet,  his  Secretary;  Mr.  John  W. 
Bunn  and  Mr.  George  M.  Brinkerhoff,  Sr. 

Also  see  Williams'  Springfield  Directory  for  1860,  p.  42,  and  the  Di- 
rectory for  1863  under  individual  names;  How  Abraham  Lincoln  Be- 
came Pl-esident,  by  J.  McCan  Davis;  Illinois  State  Register,  Feb.  13, 
1903,  p.  8  and  the  issue  of  the  same  paper  of  Feb.  12,  1909,  p.  9,  in 
which  T.  W.  S.  Kidd  tells  what  Mr.  Lincoln  himself  told  him  about 
where  he  was  when  nominated  and  who  first  brought  him  the  news. 


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67 


THE  STUDY  OF  GENEALOGY. 
By  Harriet  Taylor. 

The  best  public  genealogical  collections  in  the  United  States  are  in 
iBoston,  New  York  City,  Albany,  Washington,  D.  C,  Madison,  Wis.,  and 
Chicago.  The  official  publication  of  the  New  England  Historical  and 
Genealogical  Society  gives  Boston  first  place.  The  Eegister  is  now  in 
its  sixty-third  Volume  and  is  the  standard  authority  for  all  matters 
pertaining  to  genealogy.  Many  Massachusetts  towns  have  preserved  in 
their  libraries  manuscripts,  certificates  of  military  service,  receipts  from 
early  public  officials,  fragments  of  company  records,  and  other  manu- 
script documents  of  the  utmost  importance  in  determining  claims  to 
colonial  and  revolutionary  military  service.  The  largest  libraries  publish 
monthly  bulletins,  or  lists  of  new  genealogical  works  acquired. 

The  most  complete  materials  bearing  on  the  German  element  in 
America  are  at  the  New  York  Public  Library.  They  also  have  much 
on  the  Eoyalists  who,  during  the  Eevolution,  fled  to  Canada  and  Nova 
Scotia.  The  Pennsylvania-German  Monthly  Magazine,  edited  by  Kriebel, 
is  another  resource  for  German- American  genealogists. 

The  Wisconsin  State  Historical  Society  Library,  at  Madison,  antedates 
the  Newberry  Library  by  many  years.  It  contains  great  and  unique 
resources  in  manuscript,  including  certain  colonial  and  revolutionary 
military  muster  rolls  and  orderly  books,  not  to  be  found  at  Washington, 
and  the  extensive  Draper  Collection  of  trans-Allegheny  pioneering 
history.  The  Wisconsin  Sons  of  American  Eevolution  are  cooperating 
with  the  Society  in  publishing  some  of  their  important  manuscripts. 
In  1905,  Vol.  1  of  a  "Documentary  History  of  Dunmore's  War"  was 
issued,  and  in  1905  Vol.  2  of  "The  Eevolution  on  the  Upper  Ohio, 
1775-1777"  appeared.  The  Wisconsin  State  Library  also  has  15,000 
bound  volumes  of  newspapers  and  is  especially  strong  in  town  and 
county  histories. 

The  Newberry  Library  Genealogical  Department  has  the  advantage 
in  efficiency  over  all  larger  collections  on  account  of  its  genealogical 
index,  containing  at  present  1,300,000  references  to  different  names,  in 
books  analyzed  in  that  library.  For  this  reason  it  is  the  most  conve- 
nient, as  well  as  expeditious,  working  place  in  the  United  States.  The 
surnames  in  this  immense  index  are  variously  spelled,  as  found  and 
grouped  under  places,  and,  according  to  intermarriages,  occasionally 
new  entries  are  inserted,  keeping  pace  with  the  growth  of  the  library. 


68 

Visitors  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  consider  the  Newberry  Library 
a  center  of  genealogical  information,  and  frequently  sojourn  in  Chicago 
awliile  to  look  np  family  history. 

The  Chicago  Historical  Society,  and  all  other  associations  of  similar 
character,  have  preserved  historical  data,  manuscripts,  memorials,  por- 
traits and  relics  pertaining  to  pioneers  within  a  certain  limited  range. 
'These  learned  institutions  are  proper  places  al  which  to  apply  for  any 
information  of  early  date  in  their  locality. 

With  few  exceptions  books  purely  genealogical  containing  lineages 
and  vital  records  of  Western  born  people,  are  as  yet  unknown.  Powers' 
Sangamon  County  is  one  Illinois  production  of  this  kind.  The  most 
\oluminous  resources  we  now  possess  for  Western  family  history  are 
found  in  the  State  and  county  portrait  and  biographical  records, 
histories,  memorials,  or  reviews,  as  they  are  variously  entitled,  issued 
during  the  last  forty  years  in  large  numbers  by  the  biographical  pub- 
lishing companies.  Such  works  have  been  published  on  the  Pacific 
states,  Arizona,  Colorado,  Oklahoma  and  for  most  of  the  states  in  the 
Mississippi  valley.  These  sketches  include  many  families  of  foreign 
extraction,  but,  strange  to  relate,  few  of  them  reach  back  into  the 
fatlierland  of  Jinrope,  so  that  as  family  trees  they  are  rootless.  A  few 
pioneers  have  published  memoirs  or  reminiscences,  and  writings  of  early 
travelers  in  the  West  mention  some  names  with  descriptions  of  early 
home  life  in  the  West. 

A  work  on  the  Western  territories  published  in  1797  by  Imlay,  com- 
missioner for  laying  .  out  lands  in  the  ''Back  Settlements,"  takes  in 
Cahokia,  111.,  and  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  but  more  particularly  deals  with 
Kentuck3^  There  arc  similar  travels  by  Brissot  de  Warville,  1792  j 
Kendall,  1807;  Birkbeck,  1817;  Darby,  1818,  and  others  giving  a  glimpse 
of  the  West  at  those  periods.  The  first  State  Gazetteers  frequently 
mention  names  of  founders  of  towns.  In  several  of  the  largest  cities  a 
few  wealthy  individuals  have  formed  clubs  for  the  purpose  of  reprinting 
very  old  and  rare  books  relating  to  the  pioneer  history  of  the  nation. 

But,  we  cannot  repeat  too  often  in  connection  with  genealogy  that 
vital  records  are  alone  reliable  as  authorities.  Everybody  has  been  born 
or  gets  married,  and  few  people  will  live  forever,  although  twentieth 
century  experts  in  mental  therapeutics  or  scientific  gymnastics  insist 
upon  it  that  eternal  physical  existence  is  a  possibility.  If  this  idea 
becomes  practical,  it  is  likely  to  complicate  future  genealogical  work. 
However,  let  us  not  borrow  trouble. 

Historical  Societies  and  Genealogical  Associations. 

The  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington,  D.  C,  has  recently  issued 
a  "Handbook  of  Learned  Societies  and  Institutions  of  America."  This 
work  includes  a  brief  account  of  all  historical  and  genealogical  associa- 
tions in  our  country.     All  of  them  respond  to  inquiries  by  mail. 

The  American  Antiquarian  Society  Library  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  has 
130,000  volumes,  including  manuscripts,  portraits  and  relics  of  pioneers. 
The  wealthiest  of   eastern    societies   is,   of   course,   the   New   England 


G9 

Historical  and  Genealogical  Society  of  Boston,  with  60,000  manuscripts, 
and  museum  of  portraits,  curios  and  antiques.  At  Eichmond,  Va.,  there 
is  the  Confederate  j\Iemorial  Literary  Society  Library,  with  many  books, 
manuscripts  and  relics  relating  to  Southerners  previous  to  1860. 

Eesources. 

It'  we  should  attempt  to  give  here  a  bibliography  of  genealogy,  we 
can  inuigine  there  would  soon  be  no  listeners.  Nor  is  it  necessary  to 
]uime  works  wherein  to  look  for  certain  family  data,  because  any  one 
attempting  to  compile  a  lineage  will  find  it  necessary  to  go  to  some 
genealogical  library,  or  to  all  of  them  in  turn,  where  well  trained  attend- 
ants witji  unlimited  patience  and  courtesy  will  bring  any  books  inquired 
for  and  suggest  others  to  suit  the  case.  Of  course,  the  history,  of  the 
family  wanted  is  most  important,  if  it  has  been  published;  after  that 
there  are  innumerable  resources  for  discovering  proofs  of  identity,  or 
relationships  lineal  or  collateral. 

Many  states  have  established  depai'tments  of  archives  and  history. 
Public  offices  preserve  records  and  historical  libraries  possess  certain 
l)owers  of  examining  these  official  records  for  historical  purposes.  In 
many  of  these  local  libraries,  all  deeds,  wills  and  other  personal  docu- 
ments of  the  State  are  deposited,  and  they  may  there  usually  be  examined 
l)y  searchers  for  family  clata.  Nearly  all  of  the  original  thirteen  states 
printed  colonial  records. 

Practical  Suggestions. 

Interest  in  genealogy  has  hardly  kept  pace  with  general  progress  in 
tlie  West.  When  a  native  of  Illinois,  or  Ohio,  achieves  distinction, 
everybody  asks,  "Who  is  he?"  They  want  to  know  just  where,  among 
his  progenitors  the  same  lofty  tendency  may  be  found,  or  from,  what 
combination  of  ancestors  such  a  wonderful  character  could  have 
emanated.  Cultivated  people  in  the  West  are  beginning  to  realize  keenly 
tliat  noble  lineage  is  the  best  legacy  for  children.  But  whether  or  not 
it  contains  great  names,  one's  make-up  should  be  among  the  first  lessons 
in  education.  Thrice  blessed  were  our  forefathers  who  committed  to 
writing  important  family  events.  "Words  are  the  only  things  that  live 
forever."  Let  this  remind  us,  ancestors  of  the  future,  to  put  on  record 
without  delay  whatever  is  of  permanent  interest  in  our  experience.  Just 
think  of  it;  fifty,  sixty,  seventy  years,  or  more,  of  life,  with  all  its  daily 
liappenings,  and  not  a  line  to  show  we  ever  existed !  Nothing  to  pass 
on  in  the  way  of  honor,  wealth  or  even  one  written  page  of  family 
liistory. 

It  is  natural  that  we  should  be  hero-worshippers,  proud  of  kinship 
with  genius  and  worth,  the  desire  for  sympathy  and  esteem  is  universal. 
Yes,  we  are  all  happy  in  the  approbation  of  our  fellow  men.  Here, 
proliably,  is  the  strongest  incentive  to  hunting  up  distinguished  connec- 
tions,  and   getting   a   coat-of-arms.      We   can    hardly   imagine   man    or 


70 

woman,  shipwrecked  on  a  desert  island,  where  was  the  finest  genealogical 
lil)rary  in  the  world,  ferreting  out  illustrious  progenitors.  There  would 
be  no  one  to  astonish  by  the  revelation. 

Hereditary  Patriotic  Societies. 

Filling  out  application  papers  for  membership  in  the  hereditary  socie- 
ties is  often  the  first  enticement  to  genealogical  work;  but  after  the 
i)iitial  steps  are  taken,  the  subject  itself  grows  intensely  interesting.  A 
passion  for  this  labor  of  family  love  develops  with  amazing  rapidity 
in  many  cases,  and  zeal  never  flags  until,  with  infinite  patience,  the 
lineage  is  completed,  or  the  chart  filled  up  back  to  the  Eevolution,  to 
colonial  wars,  or  to  the  "Mayflower,"  of  unlimited  carrying  capacity. 
Some  tribe  tracers  undertake  to  go  back  as  far  as  they  can.  They  cross 
the  Athmtic  (in  books,  not  boats)  and  follow  the  trail,  with  ancestor 
fire  blazing  in  their  eyes,  keeping  on  and  on,  day  after  day,  haggard 
with  fatigue,  going  through  docket,  deed  and  "Domesday  Boke,"  through 
many  an  ancient  tome,  dry  cartulary,  tiresome  chronicles,  desperately 
stale  documents,  always  seeking  one  name.  When  found,  everybody 
within  hearing  is  notified  of  the  fact;  or  if  some  great  honor  is 
unearthed,  they  utter  exclamations  of  joy,  and  the  incunabulum  wherein 
it  was  found  becomes  to  them  a  fairyland  of  delight. 

To  the  distiuterested  observer,  one  of  these  explorers  appears  much 
like  a  dance  seen  through  a  tiny  opening  in  a  wall.  The  music  within 
unheard,  and  his  companions  invisible,  the  dancer's  antics  and  the 
genealogist's  blissful  drudgery  seem  equally  ridiculous.  The  observer 
does  not  see  the  lovely  forms  of  the  past  beckoning  him  mentally  on, 
nor  does  he  realize  the  love  of  kindred  which  charms  and  lures  him 
onward,  with  such  terrible  tenacity  of  purjDOse. 

The  whole  world  rings  with  accounts  of  celebrations,  receptions  to 
distinguished  visitors  and  patriotic  achievements  of  the  sons  and  daugh- 
ters of  the  American  Eevolution,  and  numerous  other  hereditary  societies. 
A  Cincinnati  lady  of  wealth  and  culture,  wearing  the  society  badge  of 
the  "Daughters"  was  recently  heard  making  this  remark  as  she  signifi- 
cantly touched  the  little  blue  wheel :  "I've  traveled  enough  to  know 
that  this  is  a  badge  of  ladyship."  She  then  explained  that  when  in  a 
strange  town  she  met  a  woman  wearing  that  emblem,  she  felt  perfectly 
safe  in  addressins:  her  without  a  formal  introduction.  If  it  became 
necessary,  for  any  political  reason,  to  appeal  to  natives  of  the  United 
States  exclusively,  where,  but  in  such  associations,  could  they  be  found 
together  ? 

As  far  west  as  the  home  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints,  and  the  Pacific 
Coast  people  are  waked  up  and  anxious  to  make  their  title  clear  to 
membership  in  these  commemorative  societies.  Eecently,  at  Xewberry 
Library,  a  young  man,  bent  upon  finding  a  military  ancestor,  after 
hours  of  fruitless  search,  exclaimed  in  despair:  "My  grandfathers  were 
all  preachers  and  professional  men,  not  one  of  them  carried  a  gun."  He 
might  win  distinction  at  the  next  peace  convention.  A  woman  with  a 
German  name,  through  which  she  hoped  to  become  a  "joiner"  recently 


71 

made  out  her  application  papers  on  account  of  descent  from  a  Hessian 
grenadier,  who,  of  course,  liad  sold  himself  to  the  British,  and  was  one 
of  those  convention  troops  in  the  habit  of  pinning  American  soldiers 
to  the  trees  with  their  bayonets. 

Some  wealthy  ximericans  who  have  bought  coronets  for  their  daugh- 
ters, or  old  families  enriched  by  royal  grants,  claim  descent  from 
Loyalists,  and  refuse  to  joiii  the  patriotic  societies;  but  they  do  not 
belong  to  the  West. 

There  were  about  400,000  continental  and  militia  men  in  the  Eevo- 
lutionary  War,  and  every  man  of  them  badly  wanted  by  somebody  today 
as  an  ancestor.  Our  published  war  records  are  not  yet  complete, 
although  we  have  Hamersley,  Heitman  and  Powell's  Lists  of  Revolu- 
tionary Officers  of  almost  every  state,  and  military  records  and  rosters 
of  all  wars. 

The  Roll  of  Honor  of  Revolutionary  men  in  the  D.  A.  R.  Lineage 
Books  is  a  boon  to  seekers  of  ancestors.  When  other  resources  fail,  we 
are  permitted  to'  write  to  the  United  States  Commissioner  of  Pensions, 
War  Department,  Washington,  D.  C,  or  if  the  one  we  seek  was  not 
pensioned,  we  may  write  to  the  U.  S.  Adjutant  General  at  the  same 
War  Department,  and  ask  for  the  military  history,  or  certificate  of 
service  of  the  Revolutionary  soldier  sought.  For  colonial  warriors  we 
have  Hubbard's  Indian  Wars,  Bodge's  Soldiers  in  King  Philip's  War, 
books  on  the  French  and  Indian  Wars,  or  records  of  the  colonial 
period. 

Selecting  a  Working  Plan  or  Form. 

There  are  several  patented  devices  for  holding  notes,  or  preserving 
family  records.  Bookstores  keep  them  in  stock.  A  chart  square,  radical 
or  fan-shaped,  where  the  entire  compilation  may  be  seen  at  one  view  is 
not  as  popular  as  it  once  was ;  and  the  natural  tree,  with  trunk,  branches 
and  twigs  has  completely  gone  out  of  fashion,  the  written-in  names  being 
too  small,  too  numerous  and  bewildering.  Many  adopt  the  note  book  of 
loose,  perforated  leave?,  capable  of  indefinite  expansion,  with  a  binder 
to  hold  them.  Another  plan  is  to  have  a  hox  full  of  paper  cut  of  uniform 
size,  with  the  letters  of  the  alphabet,  or  different  surnames  pasted  on  and 
elevated  a  little  above  the  top  edge  of  the  paper.  This  when  completed 
forms  an  index.  The  New  England  Register  system  of  denoting  rela- 
tionships by  figures,  paragraphing,  and  difference  in  type,  is  the  standard 
in  printing  material. 

We  have  seen  works  typewritten  and  very  elegantly  bound  in  velvet, 
silk  embroidered,  or  hand  painted  leather,  profusely  illustrated  with 
coats  of  arms,  drawings  of  old  homesteads,  photograplis  of  heirlooms 
and  interesting  portraits.  This  makes  an  edition  de  luxe.  One  such 
production  contained  a  daughter's  picture  taken  every  birthday,  except 
the  first,  the  series  forming  a  progressive  study  in  heredity  and  evolution 
when  compared  with  other  portraits  in  the  book.  According  to  the  taste 
of  the  owner  these  very  precious  volumes  are  kept  in  view  for  visitors 
to  admire  or  they  are  hidden  away  to  be  seen  only  by  near  relatives.     So 


72 

many  fanciful  family  romances  are  afloat  that  certain  people  liave  grown 
incredulous  in  regard  to  genealogically  derived  superiority.  They  find 
listening  to  recitations  of  family  eulogies,  or  lineages  compiled  from 
Browning  and  Burke  tiresome,  to  put  it  mildly,  unless  they  intend  to 
marry  into  the  family. 

There  are  a  few  eccentrics,  successful  men  proud  of  their  own  strength, 
who  freely  own  that  all  before  them  in  their  family  were,  from  a  worldly 
standpoint,  human  failures.  They  are  the  Napoleons  of  their  tribe.  We 
liave  also  heard  some  brave  souls  admit  that  their  great-grandfathers 
were  steerage  passengers,  buccaneers  or  marooners,  or  otherwise  led  a 
lurid  life  among  free-booters. 

Publishing. 

Publishing  a  book  is  a  long  story.  None  but  an  experienced  publisher 
of  such  works  (found  in  all  large  cities)  can  produce  the  tables,  charts, 
and  special  forms  in  satisfactory  shape.  Typographical  errors  in  dates 
or  spelling  are  disastrous  and  misleading  to  future  compilers. 

'I'he  first  family  history  ever  printed  in  America  is  said  to  be  the 
"Genealogy  of  Samuel  and^  Hannah  Stebbins/'  Hartford,  1771,  reprinted 
in  Boston,  1879.    It  consists  of  31  pages,  and  a  folded  sheet. 

We  frequently  hear  people  lamenting  the  loss  of  valuable  manuscript 
records  by  fire  or  carelessness.  The  New  York  Genealogical  and  Bio- 
graphical Society  now  has  a  department  of  Eegistration  of  Pedigrees; 
and  for  $15.00  they  offer  to  edit  and  publish  any  family  records,  which 
will  appear  in  periodical  book  form. 

Time  Required  to  Complete  Work. 

The  time  necessary  for  compilation  depends,  of  course,  upon  the  object 
in  view.  A  blank  application  for  membership  in  one  of  the  societies  may 
sometimes  be  filled  out  in  one  hour.  Some  lines  can  be  traced  farther 
back  in  a  day  than  others  in  a  year  for  obvious  reasons.  But  few  people 
try  to  travel  back  of  ten  generations  unless  a  complete  family  history 
is  planned ;  in  that  case,  twenty  or  thirty  years  may  pleasantly  pass 
away  ere  the  task  is  completed. 

One  lineage  is  the  ordinary  undertaking,  but  genealogy  in  its  broadest 
sense  is  made  up  of  a  chain  of  lineages,  all  springing  from  ancestor 
number  one.  Each  generation  (33  years)  is  reckoned  one  degree  nearer 
the  inquirer.  In  ten  generations  a  wedded  pair  might  be  the  ancestors 
of  more  than  500 'souls,  and  it  has  been  estimated  (See  Journal  of  Amer- 
ican History,  Vol.  3,  page  146)  that  one's  ancestors  in  twenty-five  genera- 
tions are  apparently  over  sixteen  millions  (16,000,000).  That  word 
"ancestor"  in  England  means  any  person  from  whom  an  heir  inherits 
property.  In  America  it  is  synonymous  with  "progenitor"  or  "fore- 
father." We  had  two  parents,  four  grandparents.  Going  back  at  this 
rate,  it  has  been  calculated  one  man's  ancestors  at  some  point  in  ancient 
history  equalled  the  entire  population  of  the  globe.  Every  individual,  at 
that  indefinite  time,  was  a  progenitor  (except  the  childless)  of  everybody 
in  this  generation.    There  have  always  been  kings  or  chiefs.    It  therefore 


•  .  '^3 

follows  that  everybody  is  of  royal  descent.  To  be  sure,  kings  have  not 
always  been  noblemen,  which,  through  heredity,  accounts  for  the  low  and 
vicious  "submerged." 

Preliminary  Investigations. 

There  is  a  well-known  aphorism,  "You  get  out  of  a  thing  what  you 
take  to  it."  This  applies  beautifully  to  the  beginning  of  genealogical 
search.  You  must  know  the  individuals  you  are  looking  for.  If  you  are 
hunting  up  your  great-grandfather,  you  ought  to  ascertain  his  given  name 
from  some  member  of  the  family,  otherwise  he  might  appear  before  you  on 
a  page  and  you  perchance  would  pass  him  by  as  a  stranger.  A  starting 
point  two  or  three  generations  back,  therefore,  is  necessary  with  a  clue 
here  and  there  and  sufficient  vital  records  (if  such  a  thing  were  possible)  ; 
persistence  will  do  the  rest.  When  told  that  they  must  interview  all  old 
people  in  the  family,  nearly  everybody  says :  "Oh,  I  never  thought  of 
genealogy.  I  took  no  interest  in  such  work  until  my  grandparents  were 
gone.  They  often  told  me  the  story  of  my  great-grandfather  in  the 
Kevolution,  and  the  tradition  about,  etc.,  etc."  It  is  all  vaguely  remem- 
bered now,  but  they"  expect  to  resurrect  it  in  books.  These  oral  tradi- 
tions are  always  unsafe  to  build  family  history  upon,  but  many  an  airy 
superstructure  is  erected  on  just  such  visionary  hilltops. 

Occasionally,  nothing  is  indexed  on  an  uncommon  name.  In  such 
cases,  as  a  last  resort,  it  may  be  looked  for  in  city  "Blue  Books,"  in 
"Who's  Who  in  America,"  or  in  city  directories.  This  may  possibly  lead 
to  profitable  correspondence.  Information  must  inevitably  be  gained 
under  great  difficulties,  when  nothing  whatever  has  previously  been  done 
towards  compiling  a  family  history.  The  genealogical  columns  of  certain 
newspapers,  like  the  Boston  Transcript,  or  New  York  Mail  and  Express, 
and  others  in  London,  Paris  and  Berlin  (the  names  can  be  obtained  from 
consuls)  are  often  used  to  bring  together  by  correspondence  persons  inter- 
ested in  the  same  family.  Where  vital  records  of  any  town  are  not 
published,  the  recorder  of  such  records  in  that  town,  on  being  written 
to,  will,  for  a  consideration,  copy  and  forward  what  is  needed. 

Question  Sheets. 

We  heard  one  man  say  he  had  sent  10,000  question  sheets  to  people 
throughout  the  country,  supposed  to  be  interested  in  the  genealogy  he 
was  compiling,  and  he  expected  very  few  of  these  sheets  would  be 
returned  properly  filled  in  with  names,  dates,  residences  and  other 
particulars  requested.  Errors  are  unavoidable  unless  the  statements  thus 
collected  by  mail  are  verified ;  which  accounts  for  the  fact  that  family 
histories  are  never  trustworthy  authorities  for  succeeding  compilers  to 
copy  from.  Nevertheless  these  histories  are  the  first  books  to  be  consulted. 

After  interviewing  relatives  orally  or  by  letter,  collecting  home 
documents,  and  exhausting  all  original  resources,  the  next  step  in  the 
process  is  to  visit  libraries,  historical  societies  or  any  convenient  collec- 
tion of  genealogical  works;  for,  it  is  currently  reported,  that  everybody 
on  earth  is  rounded  up,  classified  and  labeled  in  books. 


74 

Thu  building  of  a  lineage  from  scattered  materials  is  a  veritable 
Panama  Canal  of  an  undertaking.  Digging  is  the  word,  first  and  last. 
But  we  promise  all  who  work  with  absolute  honesty  of  purpose  a  noble 
ancestry,  because  it  is  in  their  blood.  Once  aroused,  visitors  to  a  genea- 
logical collection  need  no  encouragement.  They  are  invariably  ablaze 
with  zeal  and  persevere  in  the  face  of  little  or  no  success.  They  take 
up  book  after  book,  examine  the  index  for  the  name  they  want,  copy  a 
date  from  the  page  referred  to,  discard  that  volume  for  another,  and 
another,  and  an  unlimited  number  of  others.  Books,  books,  and  more 
books !  they  cry.  Chancing  upon  some  unexpected  material,  on  they  go, 
as  in  seven-leagued  boots  over  enchanted  ground.  If  interest  is  awakened 
in  the  setting,  or  historical  background  of  the  characters  in  the  story, 
then  one  class  of  books  leads  to  another,  history  points  to  geography, 
geography  to  seats  of  noblemen,  or  architecture.  This  suggests  social 
life  of  the  period,  art,  and  all  associations  making  the  past  realistic. 

Guide  Books  for  Searchers. 

There  are  several  published  manuals  of  practical  Fuggestions  by 
veteran  genealogists,  like  Henry  E.  Stiles  or  W.  S.  Mills,  intended  to 
give  counsel,  assistance,  or  hints  to  amateurs.  But  any  visitor  to  the 
large  genealogical  collections  will  probably  find  in  shape  persons  to  act 
as  guides  at  the  start.  After  a  good  beginning  is  made,  one  thing  leads 
to  another  and  certain  cases  need  special  treatment. 

Difficulties  on  the  Way. 

Diflficulties  meet  one  all-  along  the  way  in  genealogy;  abbreviations 
only  understood  by  the  experienced,  old  English  texts  unfamiliar  except 
to  specialists,  technicalities  in  original  sources,  obsolete  phrases,  manu- 
scripts in  court  handwriting,  dates  in  old  style  and  new  style,  not  to 
mention  the  celebrated  "lost  links."  All  these  troubles  are  among  the 
wickedest  of  time,  strength  and  money  consumers. 

It  is  at  once  pitiful,  laughable  and  admirable  to  witness  the  crucifixion 
of  toil  amateurs  endure  in  pursuit  of  names  to  supply  'lost  links."  A 
volume  the  size  of  Webster's  Dictionarv,  and  just  as  interestinsr,  might 
be  written  on  this  subject  of  '%st  links."  These  exasperating  gaps 
are  verv  often  filled  up  in  desperation,  with  some  similar  name  and 
approximate  date,  not  exactly  matching  the  rest  of  the  lineage  and 
forever  after  protesting  against  the  misfit ;  but  something  must  be  done, 
otherwise  the  American  part  of  the  lineage  will  be  left  hanging  in  the 
air,  as  it  were. 

A  woman  is  frequently  a  "lost  link."  American  aborigines  traced 
relationship  through  the  mother  only,  but  Englishmen  trace  only  the 
male  line  through  whom  the  family  name  and  fortune  is  transmitted. 
Early  American  genealogists  imitated  Endish  ancestors.  As  a  rule 
the  maternal  side  ranks  socially  highest  in  this  country,  because  men 
try  to  better  their  position  by  marriage  and  women  must  wait  to  be 
wooed. 


?5 

Professional  Genealogists. 

Personal  attention  to  genealogy  is  far  preferable  to  employing  a 
compiler,  but  insurmountable  difficulties  or  other  reasons  may  compel 
us  to  visit  the  professional  genealogist.  He  does  not  possess  that 
inward  light  as  to  collaterals,  he  cannot  have  love  for  our  subject,  nor 
has  he  that  mysterious,  unexplainable  psychological  power  of  attraction, 
with  which  every  soul  is  charged  to  draw  his  very  own  to  him.  Emerson 
thus  expresses  it: 

"All  that  nature  made  thine  own. 
Floating  in  air,  or  pent  in  stone. 
Will  rive  the  hills,  and  swim  the  sea. 
And,  like  thy  shadow,  follow  thee." 

If  a  member  of  the  family  is  working  and  comes  unexpectedly  upon, 
some  indirectly  related  honor,  he  recognizes  and  secures  it,  while  the 
professional  not  fully  informed  would  naturally  pass  it  over. 

Then  there  is  the  expense.  Faithful  tracing  cannot  be  obtained  for 
less  than  living  prices,  50  or  75  cents  an  hour,  whether  anything  is 
found  or  not.  TVo  dollars  per  day,  and  $5.00  or  $10.00  in  advance 
for  Inmting  up  Eevolutionary  or  colonial  ancestors  are  the  lowest  charges 
for  reliable  work,  which  means  giving  authorities  for  every  important 
statement  made,  so  that  each  point  may  afterwards  be  verified.  A  certain 
Delaware  genealogist  charges  $5.00  per  day  and  expenses,  with  a  fee  of 
$25.00  in  advance. 

The  scholarly,  experienced,  laborious  and  critical  genealogist,  often 
trained  in  Europe,  will  charge  $100  per  day  for  expert  service  in  tracing 
difficult  lines.  He  expects  to  travel  from  library  to  library,  is  familiar 
with  unusual  resources,  and,  if  possible,  carries  the  lineage  to  Europe. 
Our  well  known  multi-millionaires  have  all  employed  these  wonderful 
genealogical  acrobats.  Eockefeller  has  been  traced  through  the  Averys 
to  Duncan  I,  King  of  Scots,  1033.  J.  Pi'erpont  Morgan  was  told  (but 
he  did  not  believe  it)  that  his  lineage  ran  to  Eoderic  the  Great,  King 
of  Wales.  John  Jacob  iVstor  of  Waldorf  was  found  to  be  a  descendant 
of  Hugh  Capet,  King  of  France  (about  900  A  D.).  According  to 
Browning  there  are  thousands  of  Americans  of  royal  descent.  William 
the  Conqueror  alone  has  in  America  an  immense  army  of  alleged 
descendants. 

The  Mormons  have  a  pretty  idea  that  each  name  we  resurrect,  revere 
and  transcribe  in  genealogy  represents  a  living  spirit,  who  thus  hon- 
ored and,  as  it  were,  invoked,  ever  after  becomes  one  of  our  guardian 
angels.  Think  of  having  thousands  of  such  beneficent  spirits  as  pro- 
tectors. We  are  told  that  in  ten  generations  or  300  years  of  genealogy 
there  may  be  500  different  surnames.  It  is  important  to  know  the 
origin  and  meaning  of  these  names.  Books  by  Anderson,  Bardsley, 
Lower,  and  many  others  show  sources  and  signification  of  family  and 
given  names. 

Sometimes  it  is  necessary  to  look  up  changed  names.  Surnames  did 
not  come  into  use  until  the  beginning  of  the  twelfth  century;  as  we 
see  in  the  Bible  and  Classics  and  first  ages  of  the  world,  personal  names 


7G 

t-ntlicrd.  Even  today  the  church  in  bapiism  ignores  the  family  name, 
and  kings  still  cling  to  the  old  custom.  To  the  professional  genealogist 
any  name  conveys  a  certain  weight  of  character,  according  to  its  historical 
association.  'J'lie  charm  of  certain  names  is  felt  by  all.  One  comes  with 
a  hai)[)y  suggestion,  another  evokes  the  opposite  emotion. 

If  parents  gave  all  children  for  a  middle  name  the  surname  of  the 
mother,  it  would  be  an  easy  means  of  identification  of  descendants.  The 
Puritans  had  a  sensible  custom  of  naming  the  oldest  son  after  the  father, 
a  fact  often  depended  upon  as  a  link  between  generations.  Varieties  in 
spelling  surnames  create  difficulties  for  lawyers  as  well  as  genealogists. 
Names  are  changed  on  account  of  succession  to  property,  by  will,  to 
perpetuate  a  family  name  otherwise  extinct  in  the  male  line,  to  honor 
some  admired  person,  or  through  more  whim.  Fifty  dollars  has  often 
been  ])aid  to  the  circuit  court  for  permission  to  assume  a  more  pleasing 
name  than — for  instance — Zschuppe,  or  Proschowsky.  It  is  common  to 
find  two  persons  of  one  name  and  occupation  in  the  directories  of  large 
cities;  time  sweeps  away  all  other  evidence  of  identity.  Here  is  a 
j)itfall  for  present  and  future  genealogists. 

In  hunting  up  Smiths,  Johnsons,  or  Browns,  they  must  be  localized 
or  a  niixup  is  inevitable.  A  lady  recently  entered  a  genealogical  depart- 
ment and  said,  ''My  father's  name  was  Jones.  I  want  to  trace  back  to 
Admiral  John  Paul  Jones."  She  was  somewhat  disconcerted  when  told 
that  Jones  was  an  assumed  name. 

This  deliberate  choice  of  a  hero,  statesman,  or  some  person  of  wealth, 
genius,  or  celebrity  of  the  same  surname,  is  a  common  method  of  begin- 
ning the  work  of  building  a  lineage.  Whether  the  illustrious  shades 
feel  flattered  or  not  by  such  imposition  of  descendants,  who  can  say, 
but  they  were  never  known  to  complain. 

Family  Antiquity  Desired. 

Voltaire  has  said,  "A^o  family  on  earth  knows  its  founder,  no  nation 
knows  its  origin,"  but  a  pioneer  has  the  deed  of  greatness  in  his  nature. 
Antiquity  is  the  goal  and  1066  in  England  is  the  date  most  American 
genealogists  aim  to  reach,  though  it  is  said  only  111  lineages  in  Burke's 
Peerage  run  back  to  the  Norman  C!onquest,  and  few  British  parish 
records  antedate  1500.  The  very  earliest  Herald's  Visitation  was  in 
the  reign  of  Henry  IV  about  14i3.  It  was  called  "Visitatio  facta  per 
marischallum  de  Norry,"  and  is  preserved  in  the  Harleian  Library. 
Kegular  visitations  did  not  begin  until  100  years  later  and  they  are  no 
longer  made  in  England. 

As  a  rule  Americans,  in  their  journey  towards  antiquity,  are  obliged 
to  start  into  the  unknown  with  the  name  of  their  grandparents,  but  one 
woman,  trying  to  substantiate  her  claim  to  an  estate,  hoped  to  learn  in 
library  books  the  given  name  of  her  own  father.  She  explained  that 
her  mother  died  and  her  father  remarried  and  followed  his  first  wife 
to  a  better  world  while  she  was  an  infant;  nevertheless,  she  expected  to 
find  her  family  tree,  with  its  deeply  planted  roots,  flourishing  at  ISTew- 
berrv  Library,  with  her  own  name  and  portrait  conspicuous  in  the  top 


77 

branches.  Another  woman,  more  fortunate  as  to  antiquity,  recently 
said  to  an  attendant,  "I  find  I  have  blood  700  years  old  in  my  veins," 
the  person  she  addressed  gazed  at  her  with  awe  and  consternation. 

Settlers. 

Hotten's  Emigrant  book,  Drake's  Founders  of  New  England,  Rupp's 
Immigrants,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  Water's  Gleanings  in  England,  also 
Savage's  Genealogical  Dictionary  of  Settlers  in  New  England  (nearly 
all  emigrants  before  1640,  the  date  when  Hutchinson  tells  us  immigra- 
tion ceased)  are  the  indispensable  reference  works  in  which  to  look 
for  the  first  mention  of  settlers.  We  find  scattered  ship  lists  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Magazine,  in  Essex  Institute  Historical  Collections  and 
other  periodicals,  but  of  later  date.  Ships  left  England  for  America 
nearly  every  day  during  the  early  period  of  our  history;  but  no  record 
of  their  passengers  remains  and  many  such  lists,  yet  among  the  mass 
of  papers  at  the  London  Eecord  Office,  are  still  uncatalogued. 

Very  valuable  lists  of  emigrants  were  destroyed  in  1831  at  Bristol 
when  rioters  burned  the  Custom  House  there.  For  late  comers  Lloyd's 
Shipping  Register,  and  Records  of  the  Emigration  Office  in  London, 
might  be  serviceable.  There  is  also  an  "International  Register  of 
Shipping"  in  New  York.  We  have  referred  to  the  different  classes  of 
"settlers,"  persons  to  whom  royal  land  grants  were  made.  Palatines  and 
Lords  Proprietor,  well  born  political  refugees,  younger  sons  of  impover- 
ished nobility,  religious  fanatics,  Puritans,  Hugenots,  Quakers,  Cove- 
nanters, etc.,  and  outcasts,  who,  let  us  hope,  reformed  before  their 
descendants  appeared.  To  these  we  might  add,  as  a  distinct  class,  the 
everlasting  "three  brothers  who  came  over'^  so  often  that  the  mere 
mention  of  them  causes  a  smile;  but  they  really  must  have  landed, 
because  their  descendants  are  found  among  the  pioneers  of  every  state. 
All  of  these  emigrants,  except  those  with  land  grants,  arrived  in  our 
country  under  adverse  circumstances,  and  this  explains  our  present  diffi- 
culty in  connecting  American  lineages  with  the  old  world  and  antiquity. 

Foreigners. 

The  advantages  of  our  nation  are  distributed  among  all  races  of  the 
earth  represented  now  in  the  United  States.  We  have  at  present  an 
intermixture  in  business  and  society  of  more  than  2,000,000  Germans, 
1,000,000  Irish,  500,000  Swedes  and  less  of  other  nationalities  of  western 
states.  Illinois,  Michigan,  Ohio  and  Wisconsin  have  attracted  most 
foreigners.  Births  among  these  transplanted  families  are  nearly  double 
those  of  native  Americans.  In  Chicago,  ranking  sixth  among  cities  of 
the  earth  in  population,  many  descendants  of  foreign  born  emigrants 
visit  the  libraries,  anxious  to  gain  some  clue  to  European  ancestors. 
Foreign  names  in  available  books  now  in  western  libraries  relate  chiefly 
to  nobility.  Vital  records  of  European  cities,  except  in  Great  Britain, 
are  not  to  be  found.  In  such  cases  the  only  resource  is  to  apply  to 
foreign    embassies,   legations   or   consuls.      In    Chicago    there    are    now 


78 

thirty-three  consuls,  able  to  furnish  addresses  in  their  own  country  of 
persons  wlio  nii^ht  investigate  homeland  records  and  report  on  genea- 
logical subjects. 

Directories  of  all  large  cities  in  the  Unitetl  *Stutes  aL  the  public  service 
ill  libraries  may  also  be  searched  for  addresses  of  persons  of  the  same 
surname,  who  through  correspondence  might  afford  information  about 
the  origin  of  the  family.  For  Irish  genealogy  the  keeper  of  Parochial 
Registers  in  the  county  wanted  should  be  addressed  or  for  deeds  and 
wills.  The  Four  Courts,  on  King's  Inn  Quay,  Dublin,  or  the  Librarian 
of  the  National  Library,  Leinster  8t.,  Dublin,  may  be  applied  to  by 
letter.  Few  wills  are  to  be  found  previous  to  the  seventeenth  century. 
As  to  Scotland,  the  records  of  the  entire  kingdom  are  at  the  General 
Register  House,  Princess  St.,  Edinburgh.  Again  periodicals  and  news- 
papers, either  wholly  or  in  part  devoted  to  genealogy,  are  convenient 
in  bringing  persons  together  through  correspondence;  by  this  means 
distant  relatives  often  become  acquainted. 

Next  of  Kin — Estates. 

Numerous  people  are  impelled  to  work  out  their  lineage  by  the  legal 
necessity  for  establishing  lines  of  descent,  in  order  to  decide  questions  of 
inheritance,  or  to  trace  titles  to  real  estate.  There  are  some  twenty  or 
more  well  known  phantom  estates  constantly  affording  opportunities  to 
rapacious  claim  lawyers,  who  urge  their  victims  to  chart  plainly  their 
line  of  heirship,  after  notifying  them  of  the  alleged  fact  that  their  al- 
leged ancestor  had  died  intestate.  Who  has  not  heard  of  the  Anneke 
Jans  claim  of  many  millions;  the  Jennings  Estate  of  four  hundred  mil- 
lions awaiting  heirs;  the  Lawrence-Townley  five  hundred  millions  to  be 
divided  among  only  1,000  heirs?  We  are  all  reminded  of  Dicken's  Jarn- 
dyce  vs.  Jarndyce. 

There  are  people  of  the  following  names  entitled  to  shares  in  mythical 
estates:  Baker,  Mosher,  Chadwick,  Edwards,  Ingraham,  Hyde,  Hedges, 
Kern,  Leak,  Mackey,  Merritt,  Shepherd  Trotter,  VanHorn,  Webber, 
Weiss,  and  others. 

Property  rights  in  England  are  cruelly  strict;  but  occasionally  heirs 
of  persons  who  have  died  intestate  are  advertised  for  in  English  news- 
papers, and  several  firms  in  London  (Dougal,  Chambers,  Usher,  Gun, 
Bernerdy  &  Co.)  have  periodically  published  names  of  Americans  sup- 
posed to  be  entitled  to  this  unclaimed  wealth.  Lawyers  make  it  their 
business  to  keep  track  of  these  claims,  and  send  hundreds  of  people 
yearly  to  genealogists.  An  enormous  amount  of  money  is  wasted,  and 
much  futile  ransacking  of  books  is  the  result. 

A  woman  entered  the  library  one  day  and  said  to  an  attendant  in  a 
whisper,  "I  want  to  look  up  my  family  history."  '"'What  name,  please?" 
"Oh,  I  don't  want  to  tell  you  the  name.  Can't  I  get  at  the  books  my- 
self?" She  was  referred  to  the  alphabetical  index,  and  presently  she 
was  obliged  to  impart  the  important  fact  that  a  lawyer  had  advised  her 


79 

of  her  heirship  to  a  million  or  so  from  the  Anneke  Jans  Estate.  She 
feared  to  speak  of  it,  lest  somebody  should  take  premature  advantage  of 
her  in  some  way. 

EoYAL  Descent. 

Genealogy  is  a  delight  when  it  contributes  to  self-esteem.  In  the 
middle  ages,  the  word  "gentleman"  indicated  one  not  dependent  on  a 
weekly  wage.  Today  the  English  "gentleman"  of  coat-armor  is  a  man 
of  inherited  wealth,  education,  and  certain  superficial  accomplishments. 
The  quality  of  "gentleman"  in  America  is  inherited,  often  without 
wealth,  but  his  antecedents  are  usually  not  hard  to  find  in  this  country. 
As  a  nation,  we  have  emerged  from  the  backwoods,  without  hatchet  or 
hoe,  and  now  seek  all  that  makes  for  the  highest  civilization. 

Pupils  in  fashionable  schools  of  the  West  are  busy  with  Burke,  Debrett, 
Jacobs  and  Edmondston,  to  make  sure  of  a  titled  grandsire,  in  addition 
to  ordinary  accomplishments.  Many  tricks  are  being  played  with  rank, 
heraldry,  and  regal  flummery.  It  is  another  matter  to  verify  charts  con- 
taining names  which  scintillate  like  fixed  stars  in  the  foreign  or  local 
historical  heaven.  Celebrities  as  well  as  obscurities,  attract  more  atten- 
tion dead  than  when  living,  so  it  is  a  consolation  to  know  that  when 
needed,  we  are  sure  of  future  resurrection,  at  least  by  some  anxious 
genealogist. 

Not  only  do  we  see  an  endless  procession  of  untitled  natives  at  New- 
berry Library,  but  among  our  visitors  to  the  genealogical  department, 
there  have  recently  been  a  countess  and  marquis  from  France,  several 
Lords  and  Ladyships  from  England,  a  Baron  or  so  from  Geraiany,  and 
a  few  choice  Italians,  amusing  themselves  with  the  outfit  on  Heraldry 
and  foreign  lineage. 

Time  effects  wondrous  changes.  In  Burke's  Vicissitudes  of  Families, 
we  read  that  a  butcher  and  a  toll  gatherer  had  a  right  to  quarter  the 
royal  arms  of  Edward  I.  Edward  III  had  a  sexton  among  his  posterity 
and  a  cousin  of  James  VI  stood  in  the  streets  of  Edinburg,  hat  in  hand, 
begging  for  sixpence.  Trade  uproots  aristocracy  and  causes  genealogi- 
cal eccentricities.  Entailment  of  property  in  England,  leaving  younger 
sons  a  mere  pittance,  caused  families  to  emigrate  and  descend  in  the 
i-ocial  scale.  Munro  in  his  "Story  of  the  British  Race"  says,  "Who 
shall  deny  that  the  beggar  at  his  door,  may  not  descend  from  Kings." 
This  very  day  we  saw  in  our  newspaper  the  picture  of  a  handsome 
Countess  who  has  adopted  a  humble  trade  in  Paris  as  means  of  support. 
To  many  Americans  in  the-  West  affiliation  with  illustrious  ancestors, 
however  remote,  is  not  only  gratifying  but  inspiring.  This  yearning 
reveals  to  each  of  us  our  awful  responsibility  in  regard  to  the  happiness 
of  descendants. 

Edward  III  has  6,000  descendants  and  many  Americans  can  be 
honestly  charted  into. his  lineage.  We  hear  much  of  the  reproach  sup- 
posed to  be  due  to  self-respecting  individuals  in  a  republic,  who  claim 
aristocratic  English  ancestors  or  who  stamp  their  stationary  with  a 
coat-of-arms.  In  1904,  a  so-called  "hoax"  appeared  in  the  shape  of  a  "Bul- 
letin" containing  names  of  Americans  of  "exalted  rank"  who  had  been 


80 

officially  notified  of  their  uudoubted  social  supremacy  in  the  United 
States.  Although  finally  admitted  to  be  a  huge  joke,  the  families  named, 
with  few  exceptions,  were  really  of  historic  and  social  eminence.  The 
clever  cartoonist  McCutcheon  seized  upon  the  situation  of  course,  and 
his  illustration  of  how  "society'^  was  alfected,  created  considerable  amuse- 
ment among  certain  classes. 

When  some  socially  ambitious  Westerner  tabulated  as.  he  believes  a 
clear  line  to  the  family  of  an  English  nobleman,  he  sometimes  tries  to 
realize  his  happiness  by  addressing  the  lord  of  the  castle,  with  manu- 
script evidence  of  his  kinship.  The  recipient  probably  smiles  scornfully 
at  the  audacity  of  his  long  lost  American  cousin,  ("in  trade")  some  20 
times  removed,  and  proceeds  to  remove  him  still  farther  by  strict  silence, 
but  we  heard  of  one  courteous  response  from  a  feal  English  nobleman 
thus  saluted;  and  the  American  was  courteously  invited  to  visit  his 
lordship  in  England. 

As  time  passes,  new  reference  books  appear,  like  Browning's  ''Ameri- 
cans of  Royal  Descent"  and  "Americans  of  Gentle  Birth."  The  preface 
to  the  latter  states  that,  "Thousands  of  American  women  bear  in  their 
veins  the  best  blood  of  the  most  nol)le  and  royal  lines  of  Europe,  and 
their  fitness  for  the  seats  of  the  mighty,  in  which  many  have  been  in- . 
stalled,  is  merely  a  racial  inheritance."  We  learn  by  recent  notices  that 
it  is  easy  to  get  coveted  orders  and  decorations  from  various  courts  in 
Europe  and  Asia,  if  yon  can  afford  it. 

The  prices  quoted  from  a  newspaper  are  about  as  follows: 

A  German   patent  of  nobility $65,000 

Spanish    noble 5,000 

Portuguese  Marquis   5,000 

Title  of  "Prince"  from  the  Vatican   15,000 

Duke    10,000 

Count     1,250 

Baron    800 

Turkish  Osmanje  Order   2,500 

Turkish  Crefakat  Order 5,000 

but  we  understand  there  are  no  "bargain  days"  for  these  choice  goods. 

Eelics  and  Heirlooms. 

Heirlooms  are  the  most  genuine  patents  to  gentle  birth  and  stability 
of  fortune.  Pioneers  wlio  lived  in  i)lock-house  coiunumitics  or  in  log 
cabins  were  heirs  of  misfortune  and  sacrifice.  If  they  possessed  valu- 
ables, they  were  sulijected  to  accidents  or  bartered  for  necessities.  Pro- 
tected by  vigilance  committees  or  councils  of  safety,  often  journeying 
in  emigrant  wagons  drawn  by  oxen,  their  most  precious  treasure  was 
likely  to  be  a  flint-lock  musket,  and  many  of  these  grim  evidences  of 
heroism  have  passed  into  possession  of  families  whose  ancestors  never 
owned  a  gun. 

But  in  the  seventeenth  century  wo  know  some  of  the  best  blood  of 
England  .was  transplanted  to  our  country,  and  these  English  gentlemen 
created  stately  mansions  in  the  new  world  named  after  their  ancestral 
hall.  They  were  among  onr  early  statesmen,  financiers  and  capitalists. 
Their  residences  were  furnished  with  mahogany,  high  post  court  bed- 


.     81 

steads  and  dressing  tables,  high  cases  and  chairs  ornamented  with  oronze 
scroll  work,  richly  carved  oak  screens,  cabinets,  chests  and  settles  with 
candle  stick  holder.  Their  dining  rooms  were  brilliant  with  sterling 
silver  plate,  each  piece  of  the  set  engraved  with  the  family  coat  of  arms, 
tankards,  tea-kettles  in  silver  stands,  etc. 

Elsewhere  about  the  home  were  luxurious  smaller  objects,  which  have 
drifted  into  curiosity  shops  or  historical  societies,  when  family  fortunes 
declined  or  the  line  died  out,  and  the  mansion  perhaps  was  turned  into 
a  museum  or  tavern,  as  we  see  it  today.  Such  articles  are  always  eagerly 
]n'cked  up  by  peo])le  of  means  who  find  these  rich  antiques  significant 
as  indicating  social  position. 

For  this  purpose  a  second  hand  Bible  is  sometimes  purchased  in  Eng- 
land, the  older  the  better ;  and  if  records  copied  therein  are  not  found  to 
antedate  the  publication,  all  is  well.  But  of  all  heirlooms,  the  most 
highly  prized  is  the  gallery  of  ancestral  portraits,  painted  in  oil.  Not 
many  such  collections  are  found  in  the  West.  There  is  a  world  of  pathos 
in  heirlooms.  This  very  day  a  woman  came  to  the  Library,  carrying  a 
large  package,  which  being  unfolded,  we  saw  a  door  which  had  been 
unhinged  from  a  writing  desk,  300  years  old.  The  door  was  of  the  most 
beautiful  woods,  and  in  the  center  was  an  inlaid  coat  of  arms,  which 
must  have  been  constructed  by  some  European  workman  with  great 
skill  and  patience.  There  were  some  letters  also  inwrought.  The 
woman  said  she  had  rented  a  room  to  a  mysterious  and  reticent  man, 
who  when  dying  told  her  the  desk  was  a  family  heirloom,  the  last  pos- 
session of  a  man  who  had  inherited  title  and  fortune;  but  he  told  her 
no  more  and  she  came  with  this  relic  to  try  and  learn  its  probable  origin. 

Heraldry. 

Young  people  and  many  older  ones  begin  genealogical  work  MMtb 
heraldry.  Their  first  remark  is,  "I  want  to  get  my  crest,"  not  knowing 
the  difference  between  a  "crest^'  and  "arms."  Up  to  the  fourteenth 
century  only  three  crests  had  been  used.  They  belong  only  to  men  and 
reigning  queens,  though  English  ladies  sometimes  use  them  as  book 
marks. 

In  feudal  times,  at  tournaments  when  competitors  appeared,  the 
Herald  sounded  a  trumpet  and  explained  the- bearing  or  figures  on  the 
shield  carried  by  each  knight.  The  shields  were  then  given  to  retain- 
ers disguised  as  lions,  tigers  or  other  animals.  This  is  the  origin  of 
supporters.  The  shield  they  held  for  their  masters,  was  made  of  wood, 
metals  and  furs,  with  buckler  of  leather  and  brass. 

The  use  of  arms  was  very  limited  for  the  first  hundred  years  of  our 
history,  but  colonists  brought  their  seals  with  them.  The  arms  of  George 
Washington  were  forever  honored  in  "Old  Glory"  our  national  emblem. 
Before  1760,  arms  were  seen  sculptured  on  New  England  tombstones 
in  chasings  upon  plate,  on  candlesticks,  watches  and  silverware,  seals, 
wills,  deeds  and  letters  painted  on  canvas,  or  wrought  by  the  needle  in 
tapestries.     In  the  New  England  Register,  vol.  45,  page  187,  we  find  a 

^(i  H  S 


82 

list  of  authorized  arms  of  New  England  Settlers,  although  a  previous 
issue  stated  that  none  of  the  Mayiiowei'  passengers  were  arm  bearers. 
Of  course,  in  America,  we  liave  no  Heraldic  College,  Court,  or  Earl 
Marshall,  and  there  is  no  law  forbidding  indulgence  in  taste  as  to 
heraldry.  If  one  has  a  perfect  title  to  bear  arms,  doubtless  they  are 
iiupressive  under  certain  circumstances.  Tliere  are  peers  of  the  realm 
in  England  without  arms  from  choice,  believing  that  true  nobility  is  not 
in  heraldry  l)ut  in  the  heart  and  head. 

The  English  College  of  Heraldry  was  granted  a  charter  by  l^ichard 
III,  in  1483.  Its  officers,  the  Earl  Marshall  or  President,  (hereditary 
in  the  Howard  family),  the  King  at  Arms,  six  Heralds  and  several 
pursuivants  or  assistants  are  all  attached  to  the  King's  Household,  and 
from  His  Majesty  receive  a  nominal  salary,  but  their  income  is  derived 
mainly  from  fees.  The  giant  of  arms  from  the  King  is  patented  and 
recorded  at  Herald's  College.  The  grantee's  son  pays  another  large  fee 
to  have  his  father's  arms  confirmed  to  him,  with  proper  label  added  as 
first  son.  This  makes  a  cost  of  arms  lawful  in  England  and  Wales, 
although  doubtless  many  unrecorded  grants  are  genuine.  There  are  few 
entries  of  descent  from  the  grantee  beyond  the  next  generation.  A  man 
in  the  street  cannot  obtain  from  the  College  of  Heraldry  a  grant  of 
arms  for  a  fee.     It  is  a  matter  of  favor  from  the  sovereign. 

In  Germany  any  citizen  may  originate  a  coat  of  arms,  have  it  properly 
recorded  with  description  and  it  becomes  hereditary  in  his  family.  The 
blazoning  memorializes  in  picturesque  history  the  character  of  the  one 
who  adopts  it,  or  of  his  ancestor.  Every  picture  tells  a  story  and  that 
on  a  shield  testified  to  the  heroism  or  nobility  of  its  first  bearer.  All 
lineal  descendants  mav  use  it. 

In  the  United  States  we  have  a  system  of  ensigns  in  our  flag  seals, 
society  badges,  buttons  and  medals  of  honor  granted  by  Congress  instead 
of  by  a  king,  and  each  symbolizes  the  achievements  of  our  ancestors  in 
America. 

But  English,  or  old  world,  heraldry  carries  the  idea  of  cliivalry  and 
pomp  of  courts;  and  coats  of  arms  are  important  to  us  as  evidences  of 
connection  between  families  of  the  two  continent*  who  have  long  used 
the  same  device. 

The  symbolism  of  coats  of  arms,  and  the  motto,  which  was  the  war 
cry  of  bearer  is  to  most  people,  the  most  fascinating  part  of  heraldry. 
It  would  be  tedious  to  go  into  details,  but  we  will  remind  vou  that  color 
which  had  the  same  significance  among  all  ancient  people  has  the  same 
meaning  in  heraldry. 

Argent,  or  silver,  is  purity ;  azure,  loyalty ;  red  is  a  royal  and  martial 
color  and  also  signified  the  martyr;  gold  typifies  M^ealth ;  orange  or 
tawney  represents  ambition;  purple  belongs  to  majesty;  green  shows 
strength  and  black,  fame. 

One  of  the  most  charming  emblems  of  the  crusader  is  the  red  rose, 
which  was  brought  about  1270  from  the  Holv  Land  by  the  Count  of 
Champagne.  He  planted  it  in  his  castle  garden  at  Provence,  France. 
His  daughter  married  an  Englishman  who  carried  this  oriental  plant  to 


83 

England,  and  from  that  single  bush  all  red  roses  in  Europe  have  de- 
scended. Its  symbolism  is  that  inner  essence,  or  character,  transcends 
all  outer  grandeur. 

The  sun  means  gior}-.  The  cross  and  escallop  shell,  star,  crescent, 
bezant,  water  bougets,  and  pilgrim's  staves  were  imported  into  heraldry 
in  token  of  crusaders.  The  lion  so  frequently  used  in  various  specially 
significant  positions  in  general  indicates  courage,  majesty,  and  strength. 

Previous  to  1500,  arms  were  used  as  signatures  to  documents  and  as 
seals  upon  legal  papers,  dated  the  year  of  the  reigning  king.  English- 
men pay  large  fees  to  the  College  of  Heraldry,  and  a  Small  one  yearly 
to  the  national  revenue  for  exclusive  right  to  a  certain  combination  of 
figures  and  colors.  They  regard  it  as  a  kind  of  piracy,  for  any  one  of 
doubtful  kinship  to  use  the  same.  In  Tudor  times  heralds  went  about 
defacing  arms  on  tombs  and  elsewhere,  not  rightfully  used.  Dugdale 
allows  any  claim  to  arms  used  uninterruptedly  for  100  years. 

There  are  British-American  clubs  in  London  intended  for  American 
millionaires  who  wear  a  special  cockade  or  badge.  "The  Amphitryon," 
"Atlantic"  and  one  recently  organized  called  "The  American  Club," 
which  admits  as  members  only  those  whose  family  has  possessed  a  coat 
of  arms  for  100  years  or,  as  they  style  it,  "he  must  have  a  name  100 
years  old."  This  is  supposed  to  insure  inherent  gentility.  Lowell  tells 
us  it  takes  three  generations  to  make  a  gentleman.  The  name  signifies 
nothing.  An  American  Courtenay,  Buckingham,  Howard  or  Granville 
nnist  show  his  pedigree. 

The  Herald's  Office  preserves  with  great  care  the  records  of  English 
gentry  transplanted  to  America  before  the  revolution.  Many  of  them 
emerged  from  their  sometimes  obscure  positions,  and  became  substantial 
planters,  or  rich  merchants,  famous  in  the  social  history  of  colonial 
America. 

For  the  benefit  of  "assumers"  of  coat  armor,  we  quotfe  Sir  George 
Sitwell  in  "The  Ancestor,"  vol.  1.  He  says,  "The  Eoyal  Proclamation 
of  1417  (Eeign  of  Henry  V)  admits  unreservedly  that  long  usage  gives 
good  title  to  arms  assumed  without  authority.  Any  subject  may  law- 
fully assume  arms  of  his  own  mere  notion."  Please  note  that  this  was 
before  the  London  College  of  Arms,  with  its  enormous  fees,  was  founded. 
Lord  Hetherly  also  tells  us  that  nine-tenths  of  the  present  English  arm 
bearers  can  show  no  better  title  to  their  armorial  devices  than  long  usage. 

The  "Book  of  St.  Albans"'  1486,  is  said  to  be  the  earliest  English 
printed  treatise  on  heraldry.  Today  "Burke's  General  Armory"  stands 
first  among  many  such  reference  books.  The  Fox-Davies  publications 
are  issued  in  the  interest  of  the  College  of  Heraldry,  and  in  the 
"Armorial  Families"  the  so-called  "Bogus"  arms  are  printed  in  italics. 

From  the  foregoing  we  gather  that  if  an  American  citizen's  social 
position  justifies  such  redundance,  and  he  has  a  right  by  inheritance  or 
long  use  to  bear  arms,  or  if  he  frankly  admits  that  his  coat-of-arms  is 
merely  assumed  as  a  memento  of  the  past,  or  as  a  previous  relic  of  foreign 
antecedents,  in  such  cases  heraldry  in  the  United  States  is  as  inoffensive 
as  any  other  luxurious  fashion.  When  the  matter  is  taken  seriously, 
cultured  persons  apply  directly  to  European  officials,  at  the  College  of 


84 

Heraldry,  for  authority  to  l)L'ai-  arms.  A  Icttrr  dated  January  13,  1908, 
from  H.  Farnhani  Burke,  Somerset  Jlerald  and  Jve<>ister  at  the  College. 
London,  ?ayp,  in  reply  to  a  (|uestion  about  legal  American  heraldry,  that 
such  work  as  Ci-oziers',  Mattliews",  and  others  supposed  to  he  ivlialtle 
as  registers  of  verified  American  Heraldry,  are  "no  authority  for  ascrib- 
ing the  arms  to  the  persons  to  whom  they  attribute  them." 

This  leaves  us  nothing  to  do  but  apply  to  Herald's  College,  or  to 
J>urkc's  forthcoming  work  on  "Prominent  Families  in  the  United  States 
of  America."  He  who  finds  not  his  arms  and  lineage  there,  will  prob- 
ably be  a  crushed  man. 

We  must  cautiously  hint  liore  that  indications  show  coats-of-arms  are 
becoming  too  popular  here.  Their  use  in  certain  quarters  is  founded 
on  the  idea  that  all  persons  of  similar  name  are  probably  related,  near 
or  far,  and  honor  conferred  on  an  English  knight  named,  for  instance, 
Tracy  should  reflect  dignity  on  all  Tracys  in  America.  Such  was  the 
plea  of  a  recent  visitor  to  a  genealogical  department  in  Chicago.  The 
coat  he  wore  which  should  have  been  in  the  rag  bag,  was  as  m\ich  mis- 
placed as  the  coat-of-arms  he  assumed.  His  bare  feet  were  plainly 
visible  through  openings  in  his  boots.  All  he  wanted  he  said  was  his 
coat-of-arms  painted  large  in  brilliant  colors.  It  was  executed  (mark 
that  word)  at  bargain  rates,  and  we  gazed  in  admiration  at  that  noble 
westerner  marching  merrily  away  with  the  big  roll  under  his  arm. 

Another  individual,  looking  at  heraldry  from  a  commercial  stand- 
point, interviewed  a  librarian  as  to  the  probable  profit  in  selling  at 
department  stores,  heraldic  bearings,  in  form  of  plaster  plaques,  illustra- 
ting arms  connected  with  the  commonest  names  found  in  city  director- 
ies. His  scheme  met  with  disapproval  but  we  believe  it  would  pay — for 
awhile. 

American  Bureau  oe  Genealogy. 

An  American  Headquarters  for  accurately  tracing,  from  vital  statis- 
tics and  official  documents,  and  for  officially  recording,  family  history 
is  imperative. 

It  is  becoming  customary  for  persons  interested  in  such  compilations 
to  journey  from  town  to  town  in  New  England,  copying  vital  records, 
wills,  and  deeds  from  manuscripts  in  public  offices,  churches  or  still 
scattered  about  in  attics,  lumber  rooms  and  dust  chests  of  old  home- 
steads. Of  course,  all  of  these  will  some  time  be  published.  Massachu- 
setts and  Ehode  Island  have  taken  the  lead  in  this  useful  work. 

A  department  of  similar  records  of  foreign  countries  is  needed. 
Scholarly  officials  would  be  necessary  to  superintend  and  translate  for 
visitors.  Connected  with  the  Bureau  might  be  a  training  school  for 
genealogists,  wdio,  when  qualified,  would  have  a  diploma  as  evidence. 

There  also  all  American  badges  of  personal  distinction  conferred  by 
Congress,  or  otherwise,  and  all  verified  coats-of-arms  might  be  registered, 
as  in  London.  The  library  would  contain  histories  of  mankind;  works 
on  the  origin,  growth  and  decline  of  nations;  scientific  volumes  on 
heredity  and  human  nature;  manuals  of  heraldry,  nobility,  orders,  seals, 
medals,  badges,  and  other  decorations;  but  especially  would  it  be  head- 


85 

quarters  I'or  all  govermueut  publieatioiis  useful  iu  studying  personal 
history,  serial  i^ublications  of  genealogical  associations,  \'ear  books  of 
hereditary  societies,  histories  of  nationalities  in  America,  in  short,  all 
classes  of  works  for  exact  sorting  of  souls. 

The  founder  of  such  an  institution  would  be  entitled  to  universal 
gratitude  as  a  national  benefactor  for  all  time;  and  the  Congressional 
Library,  Washington,  D.  C,  where  all  copyrighted  works  published  in 
America  ai'e  deposited,  seems  to  he  its  destined  home. 

It  seems  strange  that  the  temporary  inhabitants  of  a  planet,  rolling 
through  space  and  torn  l)}^  storm  and  earthquake  should  value  fame  so 
much  and  be  so  strenuous  in  hunting  up  and  recording  their  lineage. 
Weird  and  wonderful  it  appears  to  library  attendants  who  view  the  end- 
less procession  and  witness  the  tireless  energy  of  man's  efforts  to  discover 
"lost  links."  But  back  of  all  this  labor  is  eternal  wisdom;  therefore  we 
know  that  the  placing  of  one  date  may  be  of  as  much  importance  in 
God's  plan,  as  the  commemoration  of  an  Empire.  Morever,  we  realize 
that  each  man  is  unique,  descending,  as  he  does  from  totally  distinct 
lines  of  ancestors.  No  one  will  ever  be  exactly  like  him  again.  At  the 
time  and  place  of  his  brief  existence,  he  must  be  indispensable,  as  part 
of  an  intricate  machine.  Thus  we  justify  our  right  to  exist  and  preserve 
our  family  histories,  as  part  of  the  annals  of  the  universe. 


86 


THE  SENATOR  FBOM  ILLINOIS— SOME  FAMOUS  POLITICAL 

COMBATS. 

By  J.  McCan  Davis. 

Prior  to  1847  the  senator  from  Illinois  was  of  less  importance  than 
he  became  in  the  years  that  followed.  In  the  first  twenty-nine  years 
of  our  statehood  eleven  men  held  the  office  of  United  States  Senator 
from  Illinois.  They  were  for  the  most  part  able  men,  men  of  honorable 
distinction  in  their  own  state  and  in  their  own  time.  But  with  perhaps 
one  or  two  exceptions  none  was  to  be  considered  a  national  character; 
none  left  a  lasting  impress  upon  national  legislation;  and  such  is  the 
oblivion  that  comes  even  to  men  who  are  adjudged  great  by  their  con- 
temporaries that  the  average  student  of  Illinois  history  will  probably 
have  difficulty  in  recalling  off-hand  the  name  of  any  of  the  eleven 
senators  from  Illinois  who  served  during  the  period  mentioned. 

Since  1847  a  relatively  smaller  number  of  men  have  received  senatorial 
honors  (the  number  being  onl}'-  fourteen  in  this  period  of  sixty-two 
years,  against  eleven  in  the  preceding  twenty-nine  years),  but  the  number 
has  included  several  of  the  most  distinguished  statesmen  of  the  19th 
century- — some  of  whom  have  risen  to  colossal  stature  in  our  heroic 
annals,  and  several  of  whom  have  had  a  large  part  in  shaping  the 
destinies  of  this  republic.  What  I  say  on  this  occasion,  therefore,  will 
relate  mostly  to  the  senators  of  this  second  epoch. 

In  the  early  days  men  were  ambitious  quite  as  much  as  now,  and  it 
rarely  happened  that  the  office  of  United  States  Senator  was  secured 
by  any  man  without  a  contest.  In  those  early  days  there  was  not  the 
rigid  party  organization  that  developed  later  on,  and  when  a  senator 
was  to  be  elected  the  Legislature  convened  in  joint  assembly  and  the 
names  of  candidates  were  presented  without  the  preliminary  of  a  caucus 
nomination.  The  first  senatorial  contest  of  note  may  be  said  to  have 
been  that  of  1824,  when  two  senators  were  to  be  elected.  It  required 
three  ballots  to  elect  John  McLean  for  the  short  term  ending  the  fol- 
lowing March,  and  ten  ballots  to  elect  Elias  Kent  Kane  for  the  full 
term  beginning  on  the  4th  of  March.  It  was  not  until  1830  that  the 
honor  was  conferred  upon  a  candidate  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  the 
assembly — John  McLean  being  reelected  without  opposition. 

The  party  caucus  made  its  appearance  for  the  first  time  in  a  sena- 
torial election  in  1840.  The  Democratic  members  of  the  legislature 
held  a  caucus,  nominating  Samuel  McRoberts,  and  he  was  elected  at 
the  joint  session  December  16  of  that  year.  The  custom  thus  introduced 
by  the  Democrats  was  subsequently  adopted  by  the  Whigs,  and  later  by 


87 

the  Eepublicans,  so  that  since  1840  the  party  caucus  has  decided  almost 
every  senatorial  election  in  advance  of  the  formal  ballot  in  the  (Jenerai 
Assembly.  The  first  notable  contest  in  a  senatorial  caucus  occurred 
Dec.  9,  1842.  It  was  the  second  senatorial  caucus  held  by  the 
Democrats.  Eichaixl  M.  Young  was  the  senator  whose  term  was  to  expire. 
He  was  a  candidate  for  reelection.  The  other  candidates  were  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  then  not  quite  30  years  of  age;  Sidney  Breese,  and  John 
A.  McClernand.  The  caucus  began  at  7  :00  o'clock  in  the  evening  and 
continued  six  hours,  adjourning  at  1 :00  o'clock  a.  m.  The  contest  nar- 
rowed down  to  one  between  Douglas  and  Breese.  On  the  19th  ballot 
Judge  Breese  was  nominated,  the  ballot  resulting:  Breese,  56;  Douglas, 
52 ;  McClernand,  3.  The  election  of  Breese  by  the  General  Assembly 
followed  by  a  party  vote. 

Four  years  later,  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  who  had  thus  almost  captured 
the  senatorship,  was  practically  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  Democratic 
caucus.  He  was  elected  United  States  Senator  Dec.  13,  1846,  and  his 
election  was  followed  by  a  spectacular  celebration — a  banquet  in  the 
senate  chamber  and  a  ball  in  the  House  of  Representatives  in  the  old 
State  house. 

The  election  of  Douglas  marked  the  beginning  of  the  new  senatorial 
epoch  in  Illinois.  Douglas,  who  had  come  to  Illinois  only  thirteen  years 
before,  an  unknown,  penniless  youth  from  A'ermont,  had  risen  with 
marvelous  rapidity,  and  now,  at  the  age  of  33  years,  after  service  in 
the  Legislature,  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  in  the  lower 
House  of  Congress,  he  found  himself  the  recipient  of  the  higliest  honor 
within  the  gift  of  liis  State — the  office  of  United  States  Senator.  Althougli 
he  was  viewed  with  jealousy  and  with  some  alarm  by  the  older  politicians, 
Douglas  moved  forward  in  the  Senate  as  rapidly  as  he  had  climbed  in 
the  politics  of  his  State.  His  tirelees  energy,  his  keen  intellect,  and  his 
persuasive  eloquence  soon  made  him  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
Senate.  He  performed  a  most  important  part  in  tlie  framing  and  the 
passage  of  the  compromise  measures  of  1850.  By  1852,  before  the  end 
of  his  first  term  in  the  Senate,  he  was  a  formidable  candidate  for  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  1854  he  became  the  most  talked-of  man 
in  the  country  by  reason  of  the  passage  of  his  Kansas- Xebraska  bill, 
founded  upon  his  doctrine  of  "popular  sovereignty."  In  1856  Abraham 
Lincoln  paid  this  high  tribute  to  Douglas: 

"Twenty  years  ago  Judge  Douglas  and  I  first  became  acquainted.  We 
were  lioth  young  then — he  a  trifle  younger  than  I.  Even  then  we  were  both 
ambitious — I  perhaps  quite  as  much  as  he.  With  me  the  race  of  ambition 
lias  been  a  failure — a  flat  failure.  With  him  it  has  been  one  of  splendid 
success.  His  name  fills  the  nation  and  is  not  unknown  even  in  foreign 
lands.  I  affect  no  contempt  for  the  high  eminence  he  has  reached.  So 
reached  that  the  oppressed  of  my  species  might  have  shared  with  me  in 
the  elevation.  I  would  rather  stand  on  that  eminence  than  wear  the 
richest  crown  that  ever  pressed  a  monarch's  brow." 

It  may  be  said,  without  any  reflection  upon  any  senator  who  served 
before  him,  that  Douglas  was  the  first  great  senator  from  Illinois.  He 
gave  Illinois  a  new  place  in  the  councils  of  the  nation.    Prior  to  Douglas, 


88 

Massachusetts,  Kentucky  and  South  Carolina,  represented  in  tlie  senate 
respectively  by  \\'ebster,  Clay  and  Calhoun,  luul  attained  a  higher  pres- 
tige than  was  enjoyed  by  other  states.  Political  power  Avas  reposed  in 
the  East  and  in  the  SoiAh.  Illinois  was  then  a  far  western  state.  Doug- 
las, by  the  force  of  his  genius,  compelled  attention  and  recognition.  He 
rapidly  became  the  foremost  statesman  of  his  time,  and  he  gave  to 
Illinois  a  distinction  and  a  prestige  which  this  State  never  before  had 
enjoyed,  but  which  it  has  maintained  to  the  present  day.  I  may  say 
here,  that,  although  in  the  past  fifty  years,  some  of  the  great  men  of  the 
nation  have  served  as  senator  from  Illinois,  the  highest  rank  in  ability, 
in  reputation  and  in  achievement  must  be  conceded  to  the  "Little  Giant." 
Whatever  may  be  the  judgment  of  history  upon  the  political  principles  of 
Stephen  A.  T3ouglas,  all  must  admire  the  "splendor  of  his  combat,"  his 
magnificent  ability  and  his  lofty  patriotism. 

'J'he  first  great  senatorial  contest  which  this  State  has  witnessed 
occurred  in  1855.  The  term  of  General  James  Shields  (Dem.)  was  to 
expire.  The  Kansas-Xebraska  bill  had  shattered  the  foundations  of  the 
old  parties.  The  Legislature  was  composed  of  straight  Democrats,  anti- 
Nebraska  Democrats,  old  line  ^Yhigs,  Know-jSTothings,  Free  Soilers  and 
Abolitionists.  On  the  Kansas-Nebraska  question  the  anti-Democrats 
were  slightly  in  the  majority,  but  they  were  without  organization.  One 
of  the  members-elect  of  the  lower  House  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  who  had 
previously  served  in  the  Legislature  from  1834  to  1842.  After  the 
election,  when  it  became  apparent  that  the  straight  Democrats  probably 
would  be  in  the  minority  in  the  Legislature,  and  that  the  opposition 
would  unite  on  Lincoln  for  United  States  Senator,  he  resigned  as  a 
member  of  the  House,  supposing,  of  course,  that  a  Whig  would  be  elected 
to  succeed  him.  At  the  special  election  which  followed  the  over-confi- 
dence of  the  anti-Xebraska  men  in  Sangamon  county  permitted  the 
election  of  a  Democrat,  Jonathan  McDaniel,  as  Lincoln's  successor.  This 
event  had  a  most  important  bearing  upon  the  senatorial  election.  The 
Legislature  was  so  close  that  if  Lincoln  had  not  resigned  and  if  a  Demo- 
crat had  not  been  elected  to  succeed  him,  it  is  altogether  probable  that 
he  would  have  been  elected  United  States  Senator.  The  balloting  occurred 
on  the  8th  of  February.  The  first  ballot  gave  Lincoln  45  votes;  Shields 
(Dem.),  41;  Lyman  Trumbull  (anti-Nebraska  Dem.),  5;  Gustavus 
Koerner,  2;  and  William  B.  Ogden,  Gov.  Joel  A.  Matteson,  William 
Kellogg,  Cyrus  Edwards,  0.  B.  Ficklin  and  William  A.  Denning  1  each. 
This  was  Lincoln's  nearest  approach  to  election.  His  election  was  made 
impossible  by  a  compact  entered  into  by  five  anti-Nebraska  Democrats 
to  stand  by  Judge  Trumbull  in  all  emergencies.  These  were  Senators 
Palmer,  Cook  and  Judd,  and  Eepresentatives  Allen  and  Baker.  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  all  of  these  men  subsequently  became  prominent 
Eepublicans  and  that  at  least  three  of  them  were  most  instrumental  in 
securing  the  presidential  nomination  for  Lincoln  in  1860.  But  at  that 
time  they  could  not  accept  this  old  line  Whig  for  United  States  Senator. 
When  Lincoln  saw  that  if  he  persisted  in  his  candidacy.  Governor  Mat- 


-       89 

tesoii,  a  jS'cbraska-Democrat,  was  almost  certain  to  be  elected,  he  with- 
drew and  threw  his  suj^port  to  Trumbull,  and  thus  Trumbidl  was  elected 
on  the  10th  ballot. 

The  second  great  senatorial  combat  in  Illinois  occurred  in  1858,  and 
of  this  so  much  has  been  written  that  I  shall  dismiss  it  in  a  few  words. 
Between  185-1  and  1858  the  Republican  party  had  sprung  into  existence. 
Abraham  Lincoln  had  become  its  recognized  leader.  The  Republicans, 
remembering  the  divisions  which  had  marked  the  senatorial  contest  of 
1855,  decided  that  in  order  to  assure  united  action  by  the  Republican 
members  of  the  Legislature  to  be  elected  in  1858,  a  senatorial  candidate 
must  be  selected  in  State  convention.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  the  unanimous 
choice  of  the  convention.  It  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  State 
that  a  State  convention  had  nominated  a  candidate  for  United  States 
Senator.  Of  the  campaign  which  followed,  or,  more  specifically,  of  the 
Lincoln-Douglas  debate,  1  need  only  say,  what  is  now  generally  recog- 
nized by  students  of  American  history,  that  in  the  momentous  impor- 
tance of  the  issues  discussed  and  in  its  far-reaching  results,  the  Lincoln- 
iJouglas  debate  was  the  greatest  forensic  combat  ever  witnessed  upon  the 
American  continent.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  reelected  to  the  Senate; 
Lincoln,  grown  accustomed  to  defeat,  was  again  beaten;  but  his  debate 
with  Douglas  had  defined  the  issues  of  the  greater  battle  yet  to  come 
and  had  paved  the  way  for  the  nomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln  for 
President  in  1860. 

In  1865  Richard  Yates,  who  had  achieved  national  fame  as  the 
war  governor  of  Illinois,  was  elected  United  States  Senator,  after  an 
acrimonious  caucus  contest  with  Elihu  B.  Washburne. 

The  six  years  that  followed  were  tremendously  important,  for  they 
embraced  the  reconstruction  period  of  our  national  history,  and  Illinois 
was  fortunate  in  being  represented  in  the  United  States  Senate  by  two  of 
the  ablest  men  of  that  time — Lyman  Trumbull  and  Richard  Yates. 
Trumbull's  term  expired  in  1867.  The  wide-spread  sentiment  in  favor 
of  bestowing  political  honors  upon  the  heroes  of  the  Civil  War  developed 
formidable  opposition  to  Trumbull.  General  John  M.  Palmer  received 
strong  support,  many  of  the  party  leaders,  including  Governor  Oglesby 
and  General  John  A.  Logan,  favoring  his  election.  In  the  caucus  Trum- 
bull was  triumphant,  receiving  48  votes  to  28  for  Palmer,  and  Trumbull 
was  elected  senator  for  the  third  time. 

Several  years  ago  I  visited  Colonel  William  R.  Morrison  at  his  home 
in  Waterloo,  111.,  and  he  devoted  an  entire  day  to  reminiscences  of  men 
and  events.  Colonel  Morrison,  I  may  say,  was  a  participant  in  three  of 
the  great  senatorial  combats  which  have  been  fought  out  in  Illinois.  In 
1855,  when  Lincoln  was  defeated  by  Trumbull,  Morrison  was  a  Demo- 
cratic member  of  the  Illinois  House  of  Representatives.  In  1859,  when 
the  Lincoln-Douglas  contest  culminated  in  the  reelection  of  Senator 
Douglas,  Morrison  was  speaker  of  the  House.  Years  afterward  he  him- 
self was  a  senatorial  candidate  in  the  memorable  contest  of  1865.  Speak- 
ing of  Lyman  Trumbull  and  Richard  Yates,  Colonel  Morrison  gave  me 
this  interesting  reminiscence: 


90 

"Trumbull  and  Yates  wore  in  the  Senate  together.  Trumbull  was  a 
very  studious,  methodical  iiiiui  and  was  very  conscientious  and  pains- 
taking in  the  discharge  ol'  liis  senatorial  duties.  Yates  was  no  less  con- 
scientious, but  from  the  promptings  of  generosity  he  would  do  things 
which  Trumbull  would  not  do.  TJiere  was  a  man  from  Illinois,  whose 
name  1  do  not  recollect,  who  had  invented  and  constructed  a  gunboat 
during  the  war.  After  the  war  he  claimed  that  the  original  design  had 
been  changed  by  the  government  and  that  a  large  additional  expense, 
something  like  $1UU,UOO  or  $150,000,  had  been  incurred  by  him  in 
performing  the  contract.  He  had  a  bill  before  Congress  for  several 
years  reimbursing  him  for  the  money  he  claimed  to  have  expended.  The 
bill  passed  the  House  and  was  hung  up  in  the  Senate.  There  was  nothing 
particularly  wrong  with  the  bill;  the  claim  probably  had  little  founda- 
tion, but  there  were  so  many  others  like  it  and  so  many  were  allowed, 
that  it  was  quite  respectable ;  yet  it  was  not  the  kind  of  a  bill  that  either 
Yates  or  Trumbull  cared  to  push  vigorously.  Yates  probably  would  have 
voted  for  it  had  Trumbull  been  willing  to  do  so;  but  Trumbull  avoided 
it  on  one  pretext  or  another.  Finally  the  claimant  died  in  Washington. 
1  happened  to  call  on  Yates  when  he  and  Trumbull  were  together  dis- 
cussing whether  or  not  they  should  attend  the  funeral.  Neither  of  them 
wanted  to  do  so,  and  yet  neither  seemed  to  feel  that  they  could  properly 
remain  away.  Finally  Y'ates  said.  'I'll  tell  you  what  we'll  do,  Trumbull ; 
let's  go  over  to  the  Senate  and  pass  his  bill;  that  will  be  better  than 
going  to  the  funeral.'  And  that  is  what  they  did.  They  went  over  to 
the  Senate,  the  bill  was  called  up  and  was  passed  without  diflfieulty,  and 
the  man's  widow  received  the  money." 

The  year  1877  found  a  peculiar  situation  in  the  Illinois  Legislature. 
In  the  Senate  there  were  21  Republicans,  32  Democrats  and  8  Independ- 
ents, and  in  the  House  there  were  79  Republicans,  67  Democrats  and  7 
Independents,  making  on  joint  ballot  100  Republicans,  89  Democrats 
and  15  Independents.  Thus  the  Republicans,  although  numbering  11 
more  than  the  Democrats,  still  lacked  3  of  having  a  constitutional 
majority  of  both  houses.  The  Independents  held  the  balance  of  power. 
General  Logan,  whose  term  as  senator  was  to  expire,  was  the  choice  of 
the  Republican  caucus.  Senator  John  M.  Palmer  was  nominated  unani- 
mously by  the  Democrats.  The  initial  ballot  was  taken  January  16.  The 
assembly  remained  in  a  deadlock  until  January  25.  Xeither  of  the  old 
parties  was  able  to  elect  its  candidate  and  the  Independents  came  forward 
and  offered  Judge  David  Davis,  then  on  the  bench  of  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court.  Judge  Davis  had  been  an  old  line  Whig;  he  had  been 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  was  one  of  the  able 
and  resourceful  politicians  from  Illinois  who.  at  the  Republican  national 
convention  in  1860,  had  brought  about  the  nomination  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  for  President.  In  the  old  circuit  riding  days,  he  was  the  circuit 
judge  before  whom  Lincoln,  a  circuit  riding  lawyer,  tried  most  of  his 
cases;  and  when  Lincoln  became  President  he  appointed  Davis  a  justice 
of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  After  the  war,  on  the  question 
of  the  impeachment  of  President  Andrew  Johnson,  Judge  Davis  became 
estranged  from  the  Republican  party,  and  so  was  sufficiently  independent 


91 

to  command  the  support  of  the  fifteen  Independent  members  of  the 
Legislature.  The  Democrats,  to  forestall  possible  Eepublican  success, 
decided  to  support  Davis,  and  thus  on  the  40th  ballot  he  was  elected.  In 
the  United  States  Senate  Judge  Davis  was  not  a  partisan;  he  acted 
with  the  Republicans  quite  as  frequently  as  with  the  Democrats.  In 
1881,  when  Vice  President  Arthur  succeeded  to  the  presidency  upon 
the  death  of  President  Garfield,  Senator  Davis  was  made  president  of  the 
Senate,  and  he  continued  to  hold  this  place  until  the  close  of  his  term. 
David  Davis  must  rank  among  the  greatest  men  who  have  sat  in  the 
United  States  Senate  from  Illinois. 

I  come  now  to  the  prolonged  and  intensely  dramatic  senatorial  contest 
of  1885.  In  188-1  the  Democrats  for  the  first  time  in  twenty-five  years 
had  carried  the  country  and  had  elected  Grover  Cleveland  President. 
In  Illinois  the  Republicans  had  elected  the  State  officers  by  a  small 
majority,  but  had  failed  to  secure  control  of  the  Legislature.  The  Senate 
stood  26  Republicans,  ^4  Democrats,  and  1  Greenback  Democrat.  The 
House  was  composed  of  76  Republicans,  76  Democrats,  and  Elijah  M. 
Haines,  who  called  himself  an  Independent.  Mr.  Haines,  by  reason  of 
his  peculiar  position  in  the  House,  thus  became  the  largest  individual 
factor  in  the  Legislature.  He  was  elected  first  temporary  speaker  and 
then  permanent  speaker  of  the  House. 

The  second  term  of  General  John  A.  Logan  as  United  States  Senator 
was  to  expire  March  4.  He  was  renominated  by  the  Republican  caucus 
with  little  opposition.  The  Democratic  caucus  nominated  Colonel  Will- 
iam R.  Morrison.  Owing  to  the  delay  in  the  organization  of  the  House 
the  first  ballot  was  not  taken  until  February  10;  and  there  was  no  ballot 
in  joint  assembly  until  February  18.  On  this  ballot  Logan  received  101 
votes,  Morrison  94,  Haines  4,  with  3  scattering.  Thus  Logan  lacked  one 
vote  of  election.  On  the  19th  and  20th  the  result  was  practically  the 
same.  But  during  the  remainder  of  February  and  during  the  months 
of  March  and  April,  there  was  no  time  when  both  parties  voted  for 
senator  on  the  same  ballot.  The  view  prevailing  that  only  the  majority 
of  a  quorum,  and  not  a  majority  of  all  members  elected,  was  necessary 
to  an  election,  there  was  a  constant  fear  that  the  absence  of  some  member 
would  enable  the  other  side  to  elect  a  senator;  with  the  result  that  first 
one  side  and  then  the  other  refrained  from  voting  in  order  to  break  the 
quorum.  There  was  a  peculiar  fatality  in  this  assembly;  three  members 
died  during  the  session.  Representative  Robert  E.  Logan,  Republican, 
of  the  19th  district,  died  February  26th;  Senator  Frank  M.  Bridges, 
Democrat,  of  the  37th  district,  died  March  20th;  at  special  elections 
Representative  Logan  was  succeeded  by  a  Republican  and  Senator 
Bridges  by  a  Democrat;  so  that  the  political  completion  of  the  assembly 
was  not  changed.  Then  on  April  13th  occurred  the  death  of  Representa- 
tive J.  Henry  Shaw,  Democrat,  of  the  34th  district.  This  district  was 
overwhelmingly  Democrat,  having  given  Cleveland  at  the  last  election  a 
plurality  of  2,060  votes.  It  was  taken  for  granted  that  the  successor 
of  Shaw  would  be  a  Democrat;  and  it  was  in  this  situation  that  a  few 
shrewd  Republican  politicians  found  the  opportunity  for  a  bit  of  strategy 
which  brought  victory  to  their  candidate  for  senator.     A  special  election 


92 

in  the  34th  district  was  called  for  May  Gth.  The  Democrats  nominated 
Arthur  Leeper  for  Shaw's  successor.  The  Republicans  made  no  nomi- 
nation, and  to  all  outward  appearances  had  concluded  to  allow  the 
election  to  go  by  default.  But  over  at  the  old  Leland  Hotel  one  night  a 
few  astute  politicians  in  the  Logan  camp  quietly  laid  a  plan  by  which 
they  hoped  to  carry  the  34th  district.  It  is  said  that  the  idea  was  first 
suggested  by  Henry  Craske  of  Eushville  in  a  letter  to  General  Ix^gan. 
However  that  may  be,  a  plan  was  worked  out  by  General  Logan,  Daniel 
H.  Shepherd,  secretary  of  the  Eepublican  State  Committee;  Jacol) 
Wheeler,  then  United  States  Marslial,  and  formerly  of  the  34th  district; 
Samuel  H.  Jones,  of  Springfield,  and  perhaps  others.  "Sam"  Jones  had 
been  in  politics  a  long  time  and  he  recalled  how  the  anti-Xebraska  men, 
through  their  over-confidence,  Irnd  permitted  a  Democrat  to  be  elected 
to  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon  county  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  resignation  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  thus  had  lost  the  senatorship 
in  1855.  Xow,  why  could  not  that  old  trick  be  played  on  the  Demo(;rats? 
The  decision  was  to  give  it  a  trial.  Every  circumstance  seemed  to  con- 
tribute to  the  success  of  the  plan.  There  was  a  truce  in  the  senatorial 
contest.  Speaker  Haines  and  many  members  of  the  Legislature  journeyed 
to  New  Orleans  to  visit  the  exposition  May  1st.  Colonel  jMorrison  made 
a  trip  to  Washington.  The  Democrats  were  completely  at  ease,  having 
no  doubt  that  their  candidate  for  representative  from  the  34th  district 
would  be  elected. 

A  few  days  before  the  senatorial  election,  pursuant  to  the  plan  arranged 
in  Springfield,  trusted  emissaries  were  sent  through  the  34th  district, 
some  in  the  guise  of  stock  buyers,  others  as  insurance  agents,  others  as 
sewing  machine  agents — all  with  plausible  excuses  for  being  in  the 
neighborhood.  They  visited  Eepublicans  whom  they  could  trust  with 
the  secret  and  left  with  them  tickets  bearing  the  name  of  Captain  William 
H.  Weaver,  a  Republican  of  Menard  county.  Instructions  were  given 
that  the  Eepublicans  were  to  manifest  the  utmost  indifference  and  were 
to  remain  away  from  the  polls  until  3  o'clock  or  later  in  the  afternoon 
of  the  day  of  election.  Then  they  were  to  go  quietly  to  the  polls  and 
deposit  the  Weaver  tickets. 

The  plan  was  a  perfect  success.  When  the  Democrats  awoke  it  was 
too  late.  The  polls  were  closed — the  battle  was  lost.  When  the  vote  was 
canvassed  it  was  found  that  Weaver  had  been  elected  by  a  majority  of 
336  votes.  It  was  several  days,  however,  before  the  Democrats  were  fully 
convinced  that  they  were  really  defeated.  The  surprise,  chagrin,  and 
vexation  of  the  Democrats  is  indicated  by.  an  interchange  of  telegrams 
between  Colonel  Morrison  and  E.  A.  D.  Wilbanks,  clerk  of  the  Illinois 
House.     Colonel  Morrison  wired  Wilbanks  from  Washington  as  follows : 

"Is  there  no  doubt  of  the  election  of  a  Eepiiblican  successor  of  J. 
Henry  Shaw?  (Signed)      William  E.  Morrison." 

The  answer  was  as  follows: 
-  "To  Colonel  William  R..  Morrison,  Washington.  D.  C. :    Not  a  d d 


jj 


bit.  (Signed)     E.  A.  D.  Wilbanks. 

The  election  of  Weaver  virtually  ended  the  senatorial  contest.     The 
rest  was  but  a  matter  of  form.     Weaver  was  to  be  sworn  in  Mav  15th, 


93 

aud  on  May  14th  the  Democrats,  still  hoping,  made  a  final  "supreme 
effort."  Every  Democrat  was  present  and  Morrison  received  101  votes. 
On  a  later  ballot  the  Democrats  concentered  on  Judge  Lambert  Ttee, 
but  with  no  better  success.  The  next  ballot  was  taken  on  May  19th.  It 
was  the  130th  ballot  and  General  Logan  was  elected,  receiving  103  votes 
to  96  for  Lambert  Tree  and  5  scattering. 

General  Logan,  in  a  speech  before  the  assembly  extending  thanks  for 
his  election,  said : 

"In  this  contest,  as  it  has  progressed,  I  am  proud  to  say  that  nothing 
has  transpired  to  mar  the  friendly  relations  tbat  have  existed  for  the 
past  thirty  years  between  Colonel  William  R.  Morrison,  the  gentleman 
chosen  by  the  Democratic  side  of  this  assembly,  and  myself.  *  *  * 
I  say  to  you  that  I  respect  Colonel  Morrison  as  a  man.  Although  we 
differ  politically,  we  are  friends  and  I  hope  we  may  forever  be  friends." 

In  a  conversation  of  several  years  ago,  to  which  I  have  already  referred. 
Colonel  Morrison,  speaking  on  the  senatorial  contest  of  1885,  said  to  me: 

"In  the  senatorial  contest  of  1885,  my  relations  with  Senator  Logan 
were  personally  quite  friendly.  *  *  *  There  was  an  element  in  his 
party  that  intended  that  he  should  be  defeated,  just  as  there  were  men 
in  my  party  that  intended  that  I  should  be  beaten  for  senator.  Some  of 
the  Eepublicans  expected  the  fight  to  drag  along  until  both  Logan  and 
myself  would  be  dropped,  and  then  a  Cook  county  man  would  be  elected. 
Logan  was  fully  aware  of  the  combinations  that  were  being  made  to 
defeat  him.  He  and  I  talked  about  them  between  ourselves  during  the 
contest.  *  *  *  J  -^r^g  j^qI  i^i  Springfield  at  the  time  the  'still  hunt' 
was  made  in  the  34th  district  by  the  Republicans.  I  had  gone  to  Wash- 
ington to  see  if  something  could  not  be  done  to  secure  some  Democratic 
appointments  for  Illinois.  There  was  a  great  hue  and  cry  out  here 
that,  although  a  Democratic  President  had  been  elected,  no  Democrats 
had  been  appointed  to  office,  and  I  went  to  urge  the  appointment  of 
somebody^ — no  matter  whom — but  of  some  Democrat.  I  doubt  that  the 
result  in  the  34th  district  would  have  been  any  different  had  I  remained 
in  Springfield.  The  Republicans  carried  out  their  game  so  well  that 
nobody  was  to  be  blamed  for  failing  to  detect  it." 

No  senatorial  contest  in  Illinois  since  1858  attracted  such  wide-spread 
national  attention  as  that  of  1885.  The  Democratic  victories  in  other 
states  had  made  the  United  States  Senate  exceedingly  close,  and  it  was 
generally  understood  that  the  defeat  of  Logan  would  possibly  mean 
Democratic  control  of  the  Senate.  The  receipt  of  hundreds  of  telegrams 
of  congratulation  bv  General  Logan  were  evidence  of  the  joy  felt  by 
Republicans  throughout  the  nation  over  the  reelection  of  John  A.  Logan. 

In  the  year  1890,  for  the  first  time  since  1858,  a  candidate  for  United 
States  Senator  was  nominated  in  State  convention.  This  time,  however, 
it  was  the  Democratic  party  that  made  the  nomination,  following  a 
precedent  established  by  the  Republicans.  The  nominee  for  senator  was 
General  John  M.  Palmer.  General  Palmer  had  left  the  Democratic 
party  in  1854  on  the  Kansas-Kebraska  question.  Ho  had  been  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois,  having  been  chairman 
of  the  first  Republican  State  Convention,  held  at  Bloomington  in  1856. 


94 

He  had  been  a  distinguished  general  in  the  Civil  War,  and  in  1868  had 
been  elected  Governor  of  Illinois.  In  1872,  in  company  with  many 
others,  he  had  left  the  Kepublican  party  and  thenceforward  had  been 
affiliated  with  the  Democrats.  Several  times  he  had  received  the  caucus 
nomination  of  the  Democrats  for  United  States  Senator.  Now,  upon 
receiving  the  nomination  for  senator  by  the  Democratic  State  Conven- 
tion, he  went  upon  the  stump  and  presented  liis  case  to  the  people. 

The  Legislature  elected  tliat  year  was  almost  the  same  in  its  political 
composition  as  that  which  had  caused  the  famous  senatorial  deadlock  of 
1885.  In  joint  assembly  there  were  101  Democrats,  100  Republicans, 
and  3  Independents,  elected  as  representatives  of  the  F.  M.  B.  A.,  a 
farmers'  organization.  These  three  independent^,  Moore,  Cockrell,  and 
Taubeneck,  held  the  balance  of  power.  The  Republican  caucus  nomi- 
nated Richard  J.  Oglesby,  a  former  senator  and  three  times  Governor 
of  Illinois.  The  three  Independents  chose  A.  J.  Streeter  as  their  candi- 
date. The  balloting  continued  with  practically  no  change  from  January 
20  to  February  11,  1891,  thus— Palmer,  101;  Oglesby,  100;  Streeter,  3. 
Then  the  Republicans  substituted  for  Oglesby  the  name  of  Cicero  J. 
Lindly,  president  of  the  F.  M.  B.  A.,  the  organization  to  which  the 
three  Independents  acknowledged  allegiance.  Lindly  was  a  Republican, 
however,  and  the  three  Independents  would  not  support  him.  At  the 
same  time  the  Republican  joint  steering  committee  submitted  to  the  three 
Independents  a  long  list  of  proposed  candidates,  some  of  whom  had 
been  prominent  in  the  labor  or  farmer  movement.  Later  the  Republi- 
cans switched  to  A.  J.  Streeter,  the  candidate  of  the  Independents. 
Streeter  had  long  been  an  Independent  in  politics;  a  greenbacker,  a 
farmers'  alliance  man,  etc.  Several  Republicans  refused  to  vote  for 
Streeter.  Streeter's  "high-water  mark"  came  March  5th,  when  he 
received  98  votes — just  five  short  of  election.  A  couple  of  days  later 
there  were  newspaper  stories  that  the  five  Republicans  who  had  persist- 
ently refused  to  vote  for  Streeter  were  weakening.  The  Republican 
State  Committee  had  virtually  indorsed  Streeter  and  it  began  to  look 
as  if  he  might  be  elected. 

On  the  night  of  the  10th  of  March  Moore  and  Cockrell,  two  of  the 
three  Independents,  joined  in  a  public  statement  declaring  their  intention 
to  vote  for  Palmer  on  the  following  day.  Palmer,  accordingly,  was 
elected  the  next  day,  March  11,  on  the  154th  ballot.  On  this  ballot, 
the  entire  Republican  strength  of  the  assemblv  was  thrown  to  Cicero  J. 
Lindly,  the  ballot  resulting:  Palmer,  103;  Lindly,  100;  Streeter,  1— 
Taubeneck  of  the  "big  3"  sticking  to  Streeter  to  the  end.  I  have  known 
many  defeated  candidates  for  office,  but  I  never  have  witnessed  any 
disappointment  as  bitter  and  as  inconsolable  as  that  of  Mr.  Streeter  when 
the  election  of  Palmer  became  an  accomplislied  fact.  As  a  newspaper 
correspondent  I  called  at  his  room  at  the  Leland  Hotel  that  afternoon. 
As  he  lay  upon  a  sofa  he  vehemently  denounced  the  "damnable 
treachery,"  as  he  called  it,  which  had  caused  his  defeat.  Streeter  had 
really  believed  that  he  was  going  to  be  elected  and  Palmer's  election  was 
a  crushing  blow. 


95 

The  outcome  of  this  contest  was  a  most  fortunate  and  creditable  one 
for  the  State.  As  between  Palmer  and  Streeter,  even  many  Eepublicans 
preferred  Palmer,  for  Streeter  had  little  in  common  with  the  Eepublican 
party  and  his  election  would  have  been  a  party  misfortune.  Senator 
Palmer,  on  the  other  hand,  was  a  distinguished  and  able  statesman,  a 
man  of  broad  views  and  of  independent  action,  and  his  term  of  service 
in  the  Senate  reflected  great  credit  upon  himself  and  upon  his  State. 

I  shall  not  attempt  to  bring  my  story  of  senatorial  contests  "down 
to  date."  Since  the  deadlock  of  1891,  we  have  had  five  senatorial 
elections,  each  involving  a  contest — some  of  them  a  fierce  and  desperate 
contest.  But  the  limited  time  at  my  disposal  will  not  permit  me  to 
speak  of  them.  The  contest  now  in  progress  in  the  General  Assembly 
has  already  broken  all  previous  records  in  point  of  duration;  but  it  is 
"another  story"  that  must  be  reserved  for  some  future  occasion. 

In  this  brief  sketch,  I  have  not  attempted  to  mention  by  name  all  of 
the  really  great  men  who  have  served  Illinois  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  I  have  endeavored  more  particularly  to  note  some  of  the  memor- 
able contests  for  the  senatorship  that  have  occurred  iir  this  State.  I  may 
add  that  although  the  governorship  has  ever  been  regarded  as  the  natural 
stepping-stone  to  the  Senate,  only  six  of  the  twenty-five  men  who  have 
served  as  senator  since  181S  were  also  governors  of  the  State.  Of  this 
number  Ninian  Edwards,  one  of  the  first  two  senators,  became  Governor 
after  his  retirement  from  the  Senate,  although  he  had  been  previously 
Governor  of  the  territory.  W.  L.  D.  Ewing,  elected  Lieutenant- 
Governor,  was  Governor  only  two  weeks.  So  that  in  reality  only  four 
men,  first  elected  Governor,  have  afterwards  become  senator.  The  first 
Richard  Yates,  upon  retiring  from  the  office  of  Governor,  was  im- 
mediately elected  to  the  Senate.  Eichard  J.  Oglesby  and  Shelby  M. 
Cullom,  each  resigned  the  office  of  Governor  to  become  senator;  John 
M.  Palmer  was  elected  senator  eighteen  years  after  the  close  of  his  term 
as  Governor. 

It  will  be  a  matter  of  surprise  to  many,  no  doubt,  that  although  nearly 
all  have  sought  re-election  only  eiglit  senators  from  Illinois  have  suc- 
ceeded themselves.  These  were  Ninian  Edwards,  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  John 
McLean,  Elias  Kent  Kane,  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  Lyman  Trumbull,  John 
A.  Logan,  and  Shelby  M.  Cullom.  Only  four  senators  have  been  able 
to  secure, election  three  times — Stephen  A.  Douglas,  Lyman  Trumbull, 
John  A.  Logan,  and  Shelby  M.  Cullom.  The  record  for  length  of  service 
is  held  by  Senator  Cullom,  whose  first  election  occurred  in  1883.  He 
has  served  continuously  since  then,  having  been  elected  in  all  five  times. 
He  has  now  entered  upon  the  27th  year  of  his  service,  and  by  the  end 
of  his  present  term  will  have  completed  thirty  years  of  continuous  serv- 
ice as  senator  from  Illinois.  These  have  been  years  of  honorable  and 
efficient  service,  and  Senator  Cullom,  in  the  calm  and  deliberate  judg- 
ment of  posterity,  will  rank  among  the  great  constructive  statesmen  of 
the  period  in  which  he  served  the  State  and  jSTation. 

All  in  all,  Illinois,  in  a  period  covering  almost  a  century,  has  been 
ably  and  creditably  represented  in  Washington;  and  taking  that  period 


96 

as  a  whole,  in  the  average  ability,  integrity  and  inlluence  of  its  senators, 
it  has  been  unsurpassed  by  any  other  state.  Let  us  hope  that  the  high 
standard  set  by  Douglas,  Trumbull,  Yates,  Oglesby,  Palmer,  Logan, 
Davis,  Cullom  and  others,  will  be  maintained  by  Illinois  as  long  as  this 
republic  shall  endure. 


97 


EOCK  EIYER  IX  THE  REVOLUTION. 
By  William  A.  Meese.' 

The  winter  of  1779  and  '80  was  the  most  severe  in  many  years  in 
the  Illinois,  and  the  spring  of  1780  was  indeed  a  gloomy  one  to  the 
small  American  army  quartered  in  the  three  French  villages  of  Kas- 
kaskia,  Prairie  du  Eocher  and  Cahokia.  Colonel  George  Rogers  Clark 
had  departed  with  most  of  his  troops  to  a  place  called  the  Iron  Mines, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  river,  where  he  was  engaged  in  erecting 
Fort  Jefferson.  The  commandant  of  the  Illinois  was  Lieutenant 
Colonel  John  Montgomery,  an  Irishman  born  in  1748  in  Bottecourt 
county,  Virginia,  who  in  the  year  1771  was  one  of  the  celebrated 
"Long  Hunters''  in  Kentucky;  from  there  he  joined  Colonel  Chris- 
tian's regiment  and  took  part  in  the  Point  Pleasant  campaign  in  Dun- 
more's  war.  When  Colonel  George  Rogers  Clark  was  enroute  to  cap- 
ture the  Illinois  settlements  in  1778  at  "Corn  Island"  he  received  what 
his  biographers  say  was  "an  important  accession  to  his  little  army,  of 
twenty  "volunteers  from  Kentucky  under  Captain  Montgomery,"  ^  who 
was  described  as  "an  Irishman  full  of  fight  who  engaged  in  the 
enterprise  with  great  ardor."  Clark  in  the  fall  of  1778  was  promoted 
to  a  full  Colonelcy  and  Captain  John  Montgomery  was  made  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  and  siven  the. title  "Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Vir- 
ginia Troops  in  the  County  of  Illinois."  ^ 

A  letter  written  by  Colonel  Montgomery  to  Clark  in  September, 
1779,  shows  the  condition  the  American  army  was  in.  He  says:  "I 
can't  tell  what  to  do  in  Regard  of  clothing  for  the  Soldiers  as  the 
Goods  you  wrote  to  me  is  gone — and  I  would  Be  Glad  that  if  it  is  in 
your  power  to  Send  me  a  Relefe  to  me  for  the  Soldiers  if  it  is  onley 
As  Much  as  will  make  them  A  little  Jump  Jacote  and  a  pear  of  over- 
alls I  think  they  Mite  Scuffle  threw."  ^  The  time  of  service  of  most 
of  the  troops  had  expired.  Desertions  were  almost  a  daily  occurrence 
and  the  American  army  was  rapidly  diminishing  in  numbers. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  'SO  Clark,  who  had  now  l^-^en  made  a  gen- 
eral, decided  to  concentrate  his  troops  at  Fort  Jefferson.*  The  sol- 
diers at  Vincennes  were  recalled,  and  Colonel  Montgomery  was  given 
orders  to  retire  most  of  his  troops  from  the  Illinois  villages.  Governor 


^Monette's  Mississippi  Valley,  Vol.  11,  p.  101. 
-Butterfield,  Conquest  of  the  Illinois,  p.  270. 
^Draper  Mss.  49  J.  74. 
•'Virginia  State  Papers,  1-358. 


H  S 


98 

Patrick  Honrv  having  written  General  Clark  that  it  would  l)e  nec..'S- 
sary  to  withdraw  as  many  of  the  troop?  as  possible  from  the  territory 
north  of  the  Ohio :  for  he,  "need  expect  no  help  or  supplies  from  the 
State."  ^  Before  Montgomery  could  carry  out  his  orders,  news  was 
received  that  an  army  of  British  and  Indians  was  on  its  way  to  attack 
the  Illinois  settlements.  Instead  of  retreating  with  his  few  soldiers 
and  thus  virtually  obeying  the  orders  from  his  commander,  this  "Irish- 
man full  of  fight,"  did  not  desert  the  weak  French  settlements,  but  at 
once  set  about  fortifying  Cahokia,  the  most  northern  settlement  where 
he  was  stationed.  Montgomery  also  consulted  the  Spanish  Command- 
ant at  Pencour  (St.  Louis)  and  together  they  sent  a  joint  message  to 
Greneral  Clark  at  Fort  Jefferson,  notifying  him  of  the  threatened 
British  and  Indian  invasion.  Clark  at  once  set  out  for  Cahokia  and 
arrived  the  night  before  the  British  and  Indians  made  their  attack  on 
St.  Louis. 

In  1779  Spain  had  declared  was  against  England,  and  it  was  sup- 
posed that  British  officers  planned  this  attack  on  the  Spanish  posts  on 
the  Mississippi  in  retaliation,  but  it  seems  that  the  British  designs 
were  not  merely  to  attack  the  Spanish  posts.  A  letter  written  by  Patt 
Sinclair,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Michilimacinac,  to  General  Haldi- 
mand  sometime  between  Febmary  17th,  1789,  and  the  last  of  May 
that  year,  shows  that  this  movement  was  but  part  of  a  general  plan 
of  attack.  Captain  Charles  de  Langlade,  with  a  chosen  band  of  In- 
dians and  a  party  assembled  at  Chicago,  was  to  make  an  attack  by  the 
Illinois  river.  Another  party  was  sent  to  watch  the  plains  between 
the  Wabash  and  the  Mississippi,  and  the  expedition  against  Pencour 
(St.  Louis)  and  Cahokia  was  under  a  Mr.  Hesse,  a  British  trader 
(formerly  of  the  60th  regiment),  who  witli  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
men.  including  traders,  servants  and  Indians,  the  latter  had  assembled 
at  La  Prairie  du  Chien,  came  down  the  Mississippi  and  made  "an  at- 
tack on  the  Spanish  and  Illinois."  Still  another  body  of  British  were 
to  -attack  the  Spanish  settlements  at  the  mouth  of,  and  along  the 
lower  Mississippi.^  The  Indians  in  Captain  Hesse's  party  were  Me- 
nominees.  Sioux,  Winnebagoes  and  Sacs  and  Foxes,  most  of  the  latter 
joining  the  party  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rock  river  near  their  village. 

On  May  26th,  the  British  and  Indians  attacked  St.  Louis.  They 
killed  a  number  of  the  inhabitants,  but  failed  to  capture  the  place.  A 
part  of  the  army,  mostly  Indians,  on  the  next  day  crossed  the  Missis- 
sippi and  attacked  the  post  at  Cahokia,  but  were  equally  unsuccessful. 
The  Britisli  and  Indians  then  commenced  a  retreat  north,  one  part  go- 
ing by  wav  of  the  Mississippi,  the  other  by  way  of  the  Illinois  river. 

General  Clark,  after  this  engagement,  at  once  returned  to  Fort  Jef- 
ferson to  guard  against  an  expected  attack  on  that  place,  but  before 
leaving,  ordered  Colonel  ^Montgomery  to  pursue  the  enemv.  distress 
them,  and  attack  and  destrov  their  towns.      Montsromerv  was  ordered 


'Dr.  Mss.29  J.  14. 

^Canadian  Archives,  Series  B.  Vol.  97.    Pt.  2,  p.  349. 


99 

to  follow  the  enemy  up  the  Illinois  to  lake  (Peoria)  and  then  cross 
the  country  and  attack  the  town  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  on  Eock  river 
near  its  mouth. 

The  attack  by  the  American  army  on  the  Rock  river  town  of  the 
Sacs  and  Foxes  is  the  only  event  in  the  Eevolutionary  war  that  l^rought 
the  American  Army  so  far  north,  and  the  Sac  village  being-  the  ob- 
jective point,  it  is  well  worth  the  time  to  know  what  the  '"'Ancient" 
village  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  was. 


'^o^ 


The  Sac  and  Fox  Eock  Eiyer  Village. 

To  the  historian  that  part  of  our  State  now  Eock  Island  county 
offers  a  fruitful  field.  Here,  about  1722  or  some  ten  years  later,  the 
allied  tribes  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  Indians  settled,  and  along  the  north 
bank  of  the  Eock  river,  near  its  confluence  with  the  ]\Iississippi,  built 
a  village,  which  they  continuously  inhabited  until  driven  beyond  the 
Mississippi  by  United  States  soldiers  in  1831, — a  habitation  of  one 
hundred  and  nine  years,  a  longer  period  than  the  occupancy  of  any 
other  village  of  the  Xomadic  Eedmen  of  Xorth  America.  Much  has 
been  written  concerning  this  village;  some  writers  have  described  it  .is 
'^being  in  the  shape  of  a  right  angle,"  and  said  that  the  houses 
"were  built  as  a  general  rule,  facing  or  fronting  upon  the  public 
squares,  or  other  streets."  Others  have  said  the  village  was  laid  out  in 
"lots  and  blocks,"  much  like  our  modern  cities ;  luit  from  all  that  I 
am  able  to  learn,  the  Sac  wigwams  or  houses  were  built  facing  the 
river  and  extended  from  the  high  bluff  (now  called  the  Watch  Tower) 
down  within  a  mile  Avhere  the  Rock  river  empties  into  the  Mississippi. 
From  about  the  year  1800  the  Eock  Eiver  village  was  inhabited  almost 
solely  by  the  Sacs  and  such  of  the  Foxes  as  were  under  the  leadership 
of  the  War  Chief  Black  Hawk,  and  were  generally  known  as  the 
"British  Band."  The  Foxes  maintained  a  village  on  the  Mississippi 
river  where  the  City  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  is  now  located,  and  opposite 
the  lower  end  of  the  Island,  known  as  Eock  Island.^ 

That  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  loved  their  villages  and  surroundings  is 
no  wonder.  A  noted  writer  who  had  travelled  much  in  this  country, 
on  coming  up  the  Mississippi  river  and  landing  at  Fort  Armstrong  on 
Rock  Island,  some  eighty  years  ago,  Avrote,  "Setting  down  a  pair  of 
compasses  large  enough  to  extend  thirty-five  miles  around  the  lower  end 
of  Rock  Island  and  taking  a  sweep  around  it,  you  would  have  within 
the  circle,  the  handsomest  and  most  delightful  spot  of  the  same  size, 
on  the  whole  globe,  so  far  as  nature  can  produce  anvthing  called  beau- 
tiful." 2 

The  Sac  wigwams  Avere  "very  much  the  shape  of  a  New  England 
barn,  sixteen  or  eighteen  feet  wide,  and  from  twenty  to  fifty  or  sixty 
feet  long.  The  largest  were  calculated  for  from  two  to  four  families. 
They  were  built  by  setting  posts  in  the  ground,  and  siding  Avith  bark 
from  elm  trees.     This  bark,  cut  about  seven  feet  lonsr.  varied  in  Avidth 


^Morse's  Report  of  Indian  Affairs,  p.  124. 
=Tourto  Prairie  du  Chien.    Caleb  Atwater,  p.  64. 


100 

from  two  to  four  feet,  according  to  the  size  of  the  tree  taken  from. 
They  had  rafters,  and  on  these  were  laid  small  poles,  upon  the  poles 
was  placed  bark,  making  a  roof  that  turned  rain  very  well.  These 
wigwams  made  a  very  comfortable  summer  house.  Their  wigwams 
for  fall  and  winter  use  were  very  different,  being  of  flags  woven  into 
matting,  which  could  be  rolled  up,  and  enough  to  cover  a  wigwam 
carried  on  one  horse.  They  made  a  frame  of  small  poles,  one  end 
sharpened  and  stuck  in  the  ground,  the  other  bent  over  so  as  to  form 
a  circle  of  ten  or  twelve  feet,  then  they  placed  the  matting  around  and 
over  the  poles,  leaving  a  small  opening  in  the  top  for  the  smoke."  ^ 
The  Sacs  inhabited  the  Kock  Kiver  village  only  in  the  summer  and  fall 
while  cultivating  their  crops  of  corn,  beans  and  squashes.  This  de- 
scription is  by  an  early  pioneer  who  lived  among  these  people  some 
three  years  before  they  were  driven  across  the  Mississippi. 

A  traveler  in  Wisconsin  in  October.  17fifi,^  speaks  of  one  of  the  Sac 
towns  as  being  composed  of  aljout  ninety  houses,  built  of  hewn  plank 
neatly  joined  and  covered  with  bark,  and  that  the  streets  were  regular 
and  spacious. 

Refusal  of  the  Sacs  to  give  up  their  ancient  home  on  Eock  river, 
their  corn  fields,  their  fishing  and  hunting  grounds,  and  the  burial 
grounds  of  their  ancestors,  resulted  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  their 
forced   removal   toward   the   setting   sun. 

The  Attack  on  the  Sac  Village. 

In  no  history  of  the  early  Upper  Mississippi  or  of  Illinois  is  there 
any  mention  of  the  attack  upon  and  the  destruction  of  the  Sac  village 
on  Eock  river  during  the  Eevolution.  My  attention  was  first  called 
to  this  event  some  years  ago,  while  reading  Pike's  account  of  an  Expedi- 
tion to  the  Sources  of  the  Mississippi,  in  the  year  1805.  In  speaking 
of  this  town  of  the  Sac  nation.  Lieutenant  Pike  said:  "which  (I  was 
informed  by  a  Mr.  James  Aird)  was  burnt  in  the  year  1781  or  2  by 
about  300  Americans,  although  the  Indians  had  assembled  700  war- 
riors to  give  them  battle."  ^ 

James  Aird  mentioned  by  Pike  was  a  British  trader  whose  head- 
quarters were  at  Prairie  du  Chien  at  which  place  he  had  located  in  1778, 
and  he  with  other  British  and  French  traders  came  semi-annuallv  to 
trade  with  the  Sac  and  Fox  nations.  An  island  in  the  Mississippi  river 
about  a  mile  above  where  the  Eock  river  empties  into  the  Mississippi 
was  the  trading  ground.  It  was  near  both  the  Sac  and  Fox  villages. 
Here  the  traders  gave  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  credit  for  goods,  and  as  early 
as  1780,  this  island  was  known  as  Credit  island,  a  name  it  kept  until 
within  a  few  years. 

Had  it  not  been  that  complaints  concerning  Colonel  John  Montgomery 
were  made  to  General  Clark,  the  former  would  probably  never  have  made 
anv  mention  of  his  march  from  Cahokia  at  the  head  of  an  American 


'Reminiscences  of  Pioneer  Life,  J.  W.  Spencer,  p.  12. 

'Carver's  Travels  (1779),  p.  42. 

'■Pike  SDurces  of  the  Mississippi.    Appendix  to  Part  1,  p.  43 


101 

Army  in  June  1780,  and  his  attack  on  the  Sac  village  at  the  mouth  of 
Eock  river.  But  fortunately  for  posterity,  the  jealousy  existing  among 
the  officials  in  the  early  Illinois,  was  the  cause  of  this  complaint,  which 
forced  Colonel  John  Montgomery  to  write  a  letter  in  his  own  defense, 
in  which  he  mentions  his  part  in  the  attack  on  the  Sac  village  at  the 
mouth  of  Eock  river ;  and  I  am  pleased  to  say  that  in  an  examination  of 
his  record,  although  some  writers  have  accused  him  of  dishonesty,  I  am 
fully  convinced  that  this  "Irishman  full  of  fight"  was  not  only  an  honest 
man,  but  one  of  the  most  loyal  subjects  of  the  then  new  American 
Government.  In  a  letter  dated  February  22nd,  1783,  to  the .  Honorable 
the  Board  of  Commissioners,  for  the  Settlement  of  Western  Accounts, 
Colonel  Montgomery  after  reviewing  his  official  conduct,  says: 

"In  the  Spring 
of  1780,  we  were  threatened  with  an  Invasion.  Genl:  Clark  being  in- 
formed of  it  Hurreyed  his  departure  with  a  small  body  of  Troops  to  the 
Falls  of  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  when  he  receiving  other  expresses  from 
the  Spanish  Comm'dts  and  myself,  luckily  joined  me  at  Cohos,  time 
enough  to  save  the  country  from  Impending  ruin,  as  the  Enimy  appeared 
in  great  force  within  twenty-four  hours  after  his  arrival.  Finding  that 
thev  were  likely  to  be  disappointed  in  their  Design,  they  retired  after 
doing  some  mischief  on  the  Span'h  shore,  which  would  have  prevented, 
if  unfortunately  the  high  wind  had  not  prevented  the  signals  being  heard. 
In  a  few  days  a  number  of  prisoners  and  Disarters  left  the  Enemy  Con- 
firming a  report  that  a  body  of  near  thousand  English  and  Indian  Troops 
ware  on  their  march  to  the  Kentucky  Country  with  a  train  of  artillery, 
and  the  Genl :  knowing  the  Situation  of  that  Country  appeared  to  be 
alarmed  and  resolved  to  attempt  to  Get  there  previous  to  their  arrival. 
At  the  same  time  he  Thought  it  necessary  that  they  Enimy  was  retreat- 
ing up  the  Illinois  Eiver,  should  be  pursued  so  as  to  atact  their  Towns 
about  the  time  the  might  have  been  disbanded,  distress  them,  convince 
them  that  we  would  retaliate  and  perhaps  prevent  their  joining  the 
British  Emisarys  again.  Previous  to  my  knowledge  of  the  above  Eesolu- 
tion  I  had  informed  Genl:  Clark  of  my  Desire  of  Leave  of  absence  for 
sometime,  in  order  to  return  to  my  family.  It  was  then  he  informed 
me  of  his  resolution ;  and  that  the  Publick  Interest  would  not  permit  of 
mv  request  being  Granted,  that  I  must  take  command  of  the  Expedition 
to  Eock  Eiver.  while  he  would  attempt  to  interrupt  the  army  marching 
to  Kentucky,  and  if  they  got  them  before  him  Except  the  weakened  the 
country  too  much  he  would  raise  an  army  and  atempt  to  play  them  the 
same  Game  in  the  Miami  Country,  as  he  hoped  I  would  go  towards 
Miskelemacknor,  and  if  we  should  be  Tolerable  suksessful  and  the  busi- 
ness properly  arranged,  I  might  absent  myself  for  four  or  five  months 
in  the  fall  or  winter.  After  Given  me  Instructions  he  left  Kohos  the 
forth  of  June  with  a  small  Escort  for  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  on  his 
rout  to  Kentuckey.  I  immediately  proceeded  to  the  Business  I  was 
order'd  and  march'd  three  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  the  Lake  open  on 
the  Illinois  Eiver,  and  from  thence  to  the  Eock  Eiver,  Destroying  the 
Towns  and  crops  proposed,  the  Enimy  not  Daring  to  fight  me  as  the 
had  so  latelv  Been  disbanded  and  thev  could  not  raise  a  sufficient  force. 


102 

After  returning,  takeing  every  method  in  mv  power  to  regulate  business, 
I  was  resolved  to  return  home,  but  after  Deliberating  sometime,  was 
convinced  that  the  Eisque  by  land  was  Great  without  a  Guard,  which  our 
circumstances  would  not  admit  off,  and  that  I  could  posably  as  soon 
or  sooner  return  by  Water  than  land.  What  might  also  induce  me  in 
a  great  measure  to  Take  my  rout  by  Orleans,  was  the  probability  of 
Recovering  some  deserters  from  the  Spanish  Governor,  and  put  a  stop 
to  that  pernicious  practice,  which  I  in  a  great  measure  effected  as  that 
Gentlemen  appeared  willing  to  comply  with  any  proposition  in  his  power 
to  promote  our  interest."  ^ 

Colonel  Montgomer}'  gives  no  detailed  account  of  the  march  from 
Cahokia  _or  of  the  Rock  river  engagement.  He  merely  refers  to  it  as 
showing  how  his  time  was  employed  while  in  the  Illinois,  and  it  possibly 
was  but  a  minor  matter  to  this  "fighting  Irishman."  Aird,  who  un- 
doubtedly received  his  information  by  being  at  Credit  island  near  by, 
or  else  from  the  Indians  soon  thereafter,  says  the  Sacs  had  some  700 
w^arriors  to  defend  their  town.  It  is  possible  they  made  but  a  feeble 
resistance.  If  so  it  is  the  only  instance  that  history  records  of  the  Sacs 
running  from  an  enemy.  Black  Hawk  in  his  autobiography  does  not 
mention  this  event,  but  that  is  natural,  an  Indian  tells  only  of  his 
victories. 

In  this  expedition  the  Spaniards  from  St.  Louis  sent  two  companies 
each  of  fifty  men  and  the  French  of  the  Illinois  also  furnished  two. 
The  latter  it  seems  expected  to  capture  rich  booty  from  the  Indians  and 
it  seems  were  grievously  disappointed.  In  a  lengthy  letter  to  one  M. 
Mottin  de  la  Balme,  pensioner  of  the  King  of  France,  French  Colonel 
etc.,  who  was  then  in  the  Illinois,  the  Cahokians  made  a  complaint  they 
say: 

"Oh,  Colonel  Clark, 
affecting  always  to  desire  our  public  welfare  and  under  pretext  of  aveng- 
ing us,  soon  formed  with  us  and  conjointly  with  the  Spaniards  a  party 
of  more  than  three  hundred  men  to  go  and  attack  in  their  own  village 
the  savages  who  had  come  to  our  homes  to  harass  us,  and  after  substi- 
tuting Colonel  Montgomery  to  command  in  his  place,  he  soon  left  \is. 

"It  is,  then,  w^ell  to  explain  to  you,  sir,  that  the  Virginians,  who  never 
employed  any  principle  of  economy,  have  been  the  cause  by  their  lack 
of  management  and  bad  conduct,  of  the  non-success  of  the  expedition 
and  that  our  glorious  projects  have  failed  through  their  fault :  for  the 
savages  abandoned  their  nearest  villages,  where  we  have  been,  and  we 
were  forced  to  stop  and  not  push  on  further,  since  we  had  almost  no  more 
provisions,  powder  and  balls,  which  the  Virginians  had  undertaken  to 
furnish  us."  " 

I  have  found  only  one  other  mention  of  this  northern  Invasion,  and 
that  is  an  account  made  to  Dr.  Lyman  Draper  by  Captain  John  Rogers, 
who  was  one  of  Clark's  captains  and  commanded  a  Company  in  the 
Rock  river  expedition  who  said: 


'Calendar  Virginia  State  Papers.    Vol.  Ill,  p.  441. 
»Dr.  Mss.51  J.  75. 


103 

"April,  1780, 
proceeded  to  Falls  of  Ohio,  from  Fort  Pitt,  670  miles;  find  orders  to 
continue  on  to  the  Iron  Banks  of  Mississippi,  530  miles.  Here  I  explore 
the  country  on  both  sides  of  the  Ohio,  by  orders  of  Gen.  Clark  to  find 
an  eligible  place  to  build  a  fort  thereon.  The  General  now  received  an 
express  informing  him  of  an  intended  invasion  of  the  Village  of  Kaho- 
kias.  I  am  ordered  with  my  company  for  its  protection,  where  I  arrive 
200  miles;  soon  after  besieged  by  a  large  force;  on  their  raising  the  siege, 
join  our  forces  to  those  of  the  Spaniards  of  St.  Louis,  who  had  suffered 
much  by  said  army;  and  follow  the  enemy  to  their  towns  upon  the  river 
de  la  Rouze  (Eocke?)  distant  400  miles  out  and  400  in.  We  burn  the 
towns  of  Saux  and  Eeynards."  ^ 

It  is  more  likely  the  Sacs  made  little  or  no  resistance,  yet  it  was  at  a 
time  of  the  year  when  the  fighting  men  were  at  home.  It  was  the  time 
when  this  nation  always  engaged  in  cultivating  their  fields  of  corn,  beans 
and  squashes,  comprising  some  eight  hundred  acres. 

The  Sacs  thus  were  the  only  ones  punished  for  the  attack  on  St.  Louis 
and  Cahokia.  Yet  their  conduct  in  this  expedition  was  severely  con- 
demned by  the  British.  Lieutenant  Governor  Sinclair  in  making  his 
report  on  the  failure  of  the  St.  Louis-Cahokia  expedition,  said,  "The 
two  first  mentioned  Indian  Nations  (Winnebagoes  and  Sioux)  would 
have  stormed  the  Spanish  lines,  if  the  Sacs  and  Outagamies  (Foxes) 
under  their  treacherous  leader  Monsr  Calve,  had  not  fallen  back  so 
early,  as  to  give  them  but  too  well  grounded  suspicion  that  they  were 
between  two  fires."  " 

No  mention  is  made  how  Montgomery's  army  returned  but  it  is  safe 
to  presume  they  went  as  they  came,  by  land.  If  the  Indians  deserted 
their  village  they  undoubtedly  departed  in  their  canoes  down  to  the 
Mississippi,  and  thence  across  that  stream. 

Perhaps  somewhere  there  is  more  in  detail  an  account  of  this  northern 
invasion,  which,  when  found,  will  undoubtedly  prove  interesting. 


'Dr.  Mss.28  J.3. 

"Canadian  Archives,  Series  B.,  Vol.  97,  Pt.  2,  p.  389. 


104 


AUGUSTIN  MOTTIN  de  la  BALM. 

By  Clarence  M.  Burton 

The  name  of  LaBalm  should  be  a  household  word  as  familiar  as  that 
of  George  Rogers  Clark,  Francois  Vigo,  or  Pierre  Gibault  in  the  homes 
of  Michigan,  Illinois  and  Indiana.  That  LaBalm  lost  his  life  in  an 
effort  to  secure  freedom  to  the  territory  of  the  West,  should  add  a  crown 
of  glory  to  his  name  not  possessed  by  the  others  with  whose  achievements 
we  are  more  familiar. 

His  name  indicates  his  French  descent  though  the  annals  of  his  time 
do  not  inform  us  where  or  when  he  was  born.  He  is  first  mentioned  as 
a  citizen  of  France,  and  that  was  probably  his  native  counti}'.  We  are 
not  informed  as  to  his  participation  in  the  war  between  France  and 
England,  that  ended  in  the  absorption  of  Canada  by  the  latter  country 
in  1763,  but  if  he  was  of  sufficient  age  to  have  been  in  the  army  at  that 
time,  there  is  little  doubt  of  his  engagement  in  it.  His  name  first  occurs 
on  his  commission  as  quartermaster  in  the  Gendarmerie,  which  is  dated 
at  Versailles,  February  23,  1766.^ 

As  he  had  chosen  the  life  of  a  soldier,  the  succeeding  years  were  passed 
in  the  army  in  France,  but  when  the  war  of  American  Independence 
broke  out,  he  sought  to  participate  in  it  in  behalf  of  the  Americans  as 
against  the  hereditary  enemy  of  his  country.  He  applied  to  his  own 
government  for  permission  to  go  to  America,  but  Count  de  Vergennes 
refused  his  consent.  He  based  his  refusal  upon  the  impropriety  of 
France  letting  its  soldiers  go  to  America  to  engage  in  war  against  a 
nation  with  which,  at  that  time,  it  was  at  peace.  The  refusal  was  so 
worded  that  LeBalm  considered  it  an  encouragement  to  go,  if  he  would 
not  involve  France  by  so  doing.  Seeking  Silas  Deane,  who  was  at  that 
time  the  agent  in  Paris  for  the  United  Colonies  of  America,  he  placed 
before  him  evidences  of  his  ability  in  military  affairs,  and  obtained  a 
letter  of  recommendation,  dated  October  17,  1776,  and  addressed  to' 
John  Hancock,  as  one  who  would  be  of  service  to  the  Americans  in 
training  cavalry.  He  prepared  also  a  general  plan  or  proposal  for  work 
he  would  undertake  in  America  in  the  line  of  instruction  in  cavalry 
exercises." 

He  also  obtained  from  Benjamin  Franklin,  who. had  lately  arrived  in 
Paris,  a  recommendation  and  introduction,  dated  January  20,  1777. 

With  these  recommendations,  LaBalm  set  out  for  America  and  at  once 
made  application  for  a  position  in  the  cavalry.     Washington,  in  his 


'British  Museum  Mss.  21844. 

^  See  Appendix  1 .    Many  of  these  pajrers  are  too  long  to  be  attached  as  notes  and  as  they  have  never 
been  printed,  it  was  concluded  to  put  them  in  an  appendix. 


105 

letter  that  accompanied  LaBalm's  recommendation  says :  "I  am  afraid 
we  shall  never  be  able  to  find  places  equal  to  the  expectations  of  the 
French  gentlemen  who  are  now  here,  much  less  for  those  that  will  fol- 
low. The  high  rank  conferred  upon  those  who  first  came  over,  many  of 
whom  had  no  pretensions,  either  from  services  or  merit,  has  naturally 
raised  the  expectations  of  those  who  come  properly  recommended,  to 
such  a  pitch  that  I  know  not  what  will  satisfy  them."  ^ 

The  feelings  of  this  country  were  very  friendly  to  the  French  nation 
in  general,  and  particularly  affectionate  towards  the  French  soldiers 
who  were  coming  so  willingly  and  freely  to  assist  us  in  our  contest  for 
liberty.  There  was  a  somewhat  different  feeling  among  the  officers  of 
the  army.  The  French  officers  were  frequently  given  positions  over  the 
heads  of  our  own  soldiers.  This  bred  a  discontent,  that  soon  appeared 
on  the  surface,  and  the  Americans  resented  the  seeming  partiality  for 
the  foreigners. 

James  Lovel,  Secretary  of  Congress,  expressed  these  ideas  of  the  dis- 
appointed or  discontented  Americans  in  a  letter  to  Franklin  of  July  4. 
1777.  "It  is  not  to  be  doubted,"  he  wrote,  ''but  that  a  multitude  of 
foreign  officers,  by  no  means  deficient  of  merit,  are  willing  to  come  over 
and  supersede  such  of  ours  as  have  been  constantly  in  the  field,  and  have 
borne  innumerable  hardships  when  our  poverty  in  arms  and  ammunition 
would  have  terrified  the  stoutest  Europeans  who  have  been  accustomed 
to  systematic  campaigns." 

Whether  LaBalm  was  an  exception  to  the  general  rule  and  was  seek- 
ing an  office  where  there  was  much  labor  and  little  compensation,  or 
because  the  position  he  wanted  was  one  that  had  not  been  and  could  not 
be  properly  filled  by  any  person  then  in  the  army,  is  uncertain,  but  it 
appears  that  this  general  dislike  of  foreign  officers  did  not  extend  to  him, 
for  Lovel  stated  that  "Mr.  De  laBalm  may  be  Inspector-General  of 
Cavalry  without  umbrage  given  to  any  of  that  corps."  - 

He  had  alreadv  been  appointed  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  Horse  on  the 
26th  of  May,  1777,  and  was  nromoted  to  CoIoupI  and  Inspector-General 
of  Cavaln-  on  the  eighth  of  the  following  July.^ 


'This  letter  is  not  printed  in  full  in  Ford's  Washington,  Vol.  V.,  364. 

-  Franklin  in  France,  1-80;  Franklin's  Works.  (Sparks-Stevens)  VIII,  195;  Wharton  s  Dip.  Cor. 
II,  251;  Bigelow's  Franklin,  55;  Smyth's  Franklin,  Vol.  VII,  12  and  note.  The  recommendation  of 
Deane  was  found  on  the  person  of  LalBalm  when  he  was  killed.  A  copy  is  in  the  Library  of  Congress. 
(C.  C.  152,  4,  169).    It  was  sent  bv  Washington  to  Congress.  ^.  ,.  ,. 

In  Smyth's  Franklin  (note  oh  p.  12,  Vol.  VII)  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  of  Vergennes  in  which  he 
says  that  he  is  glad  permission  has  not  been  granted  LaBalm  to  go  to  America.  He  bases  this  refusal 
upon  the  impropriety  of  the  government  of  France  letting  its  citizens  go  to  America  to  take  part  in  that 
war  against  a  nation  which  was  at  peace  with  France .  The  very  terms  of  this  letter  indicated  that  Ver- 
gennes was  willing  that  LaBalm  should  go  if  he  would  not  involve  France. 

^Heitman's  Officers  in  the  Continental  Armv,  73;  LaBalm's  original  commission  as  inspector-general, 
now  in  the  British  Museum,  is  dated  Julv  8,  1777.  His  pay  as  Lieutenant  Colonel  was  to  commence 
Jan.  20, 1777.    Journals  of  Congress  VIII,  pp.  385,  539;  Mag.  of  American  History,  III,  366. 


106 

He  continued  to  exercise  the  office  of  Inspector-General  until  the 
following  October,  when  he  resigned  his  position,  much  to  the  regret 
of  Congress.^ 

He  made  plans  now  to  return  to  Paris  and  receive  a  grant  from 
Congress  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  pay  his  traveling  expenses  to  Bos- 
ton or  Charleston  and  a  further  sum  of  nine  hundred  livres  for  trav- 
eling expenses  to  Paris.^  These  sums  were  granted  to  him  in  response 
to  his  repeated  petitions  to  Congress  for  that  purpose. 


'He  resigned  Oct.  11, 1777.  Journals  of  Congress  IX,  797;  Canadian  Archives  B.,  182-84,  p.  186;  Papers 
of  Continental  Congress,  91,  81. 

Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress. 
41.    Vol.  1,  folio  144.  Translation. 

Gentlemen— The  Love  of  Liberty,  join'd  to  the  hope  what  I  entertained  of  raising,  forming,  disci- 
plining and  leading  to  Action  a  Corps  of  Cavalry  have  been  the  only  motives  wliich  have  induced  me  to 
this  Continent,  where  I  imagined  (afterthe  Promises  of  Mr.  Deane)  I  should  have  been  received  inaman- 
ner  somewhat  gracious.  Tliree  Months  having  elapsed  before  I  was  invested  with  my  present  Employ- 
ment (and  which  I  accepted  in  order  that  I  might  not  appear  deficient  in  point  of  Respect  tothose  who 
seemed  to  take  an  Interest  in  my  belialf,  con-\-inced  me  too  sensibly  of  how  small  a  consideration  my 
Zeal  for  the  Cause  of  America,  and  the  particular  Knowledge  I  had  acquir'd  in  the  Art  of  Cavalry  were 
consider'd  in  this  Country.  The  Persons  who  were  interested  in  knowing  me,  have  not  thought  it  an 
Object  worthy  their  Considerati  (on),  much  less  to  employ  me,  another  evident  Proof  of  a  Studied 
Indifference  with  Respect  to  what  concem'd  me,  or  my  Profession 

In  the  Department  I  at  present  hold,  there  still  remain 'd  the  Hope  of  rendering  your  Cavalry  fit  for 
Action,  and  to  ask  of  you,  in  case  I  should  be  happy  enough  to  merit  your  Approbation,  a  Rank  which 
would  nave  given  me  the  Right  to  lead  it  to  Action.  You  would  then  have  seen  Gientlemen  that  I  did 
not  come  over  to  America  merely  to  procure  Rank;  you  would  have  known  what  Art  united  with  Courage 
could  have  aflected:  But  this  Hope,  my  only  Recourse  in  this  Matter,  you  have  entirely  annihilated 
by  giving  the  Command  of  your  Cavalry  to  the  Baron  de  Polasky.  After  this  Step,  Gentlemen,  you 
will  easily  judge.  Gentlemen,  that  I  cannot  think  of  exerting  myself  to  form  a  Corps  which  is  to  be  under 
command  of  another  Person;  a  Person  who  has  perhaps  much  less  Experience,  less  true  Zeal,  not  more 
Courage,  and  without  Doubt  infinitely  less  vers'd  in  this  Branch  than  myself +In  consequence  of  these 
Reflections,  I  entreat  you  Gentlemen  to  order  me  Payment  of  what  is  due  me,  to  accept  of  my  Resig- 
nation, and  of  my  Wishes  for  the  Prosperity  of  your  Arms— I  am  with  Respectful  Consideration, 

Gentl'n  Your  Obed't  Hble.  Serv't, 

Le  Col.  La  Balme  Inspe'r  Cava. 
3d,  Oct.,  1777. 

(Endorsed)  Memorial  of  Mons.  La  Balme  to  Congress — Resignation  accepted  and  arrearages  ordered 
to  be  paid . 
Oct.  3,  1777— No.  2. 

Memorial  of  Lt.  Col.  La  Balme  Insp'r  of  Cavalry— Resignation  accepted.  Arrearage  ordered  to  be 
paid. 

^Journals  of  Congress  IX,  878. 

Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress. 
41.    Vol.  1,  folio  150. 

Sir— You  are  so  good  a  Patriot,  and  also  so  Kind,  that  it  would  be  very  difficult  for  one  to  resist  the 
great  ascent  which  those  precious  qualities  give  you  over  sensible  minds. 

Ever  since  my  intellectual  faculties,  have  been  improved  to  the  Knowledge  of  what's  good  from  what's 
ill  I  always  pai'd  a  due  honnourto  those  virtues,  and  I  dare  assure,  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a 
man  in  the  World  of  more  Republican  principles,  or  more  fond  of  independence,  and  consequently  more 
eager  than  I'am  in  defending  the  cause  of  every  true  American .  Therefore  I  have  only  a  thing  to  desire, 
I  mean  the  means  of  being  usefull,  and  the  security  that  my  designs  won't  be  thwarted  if  they  are  well 
projected. 

I  brought  over  with  me  to  America,  nor  fastuous  titles,  neither  wealths,  but  I  brought  morals,  with 
some  learning  in  the  Art  of  War,  and  the  desire  of  making  my-self  eminent  in  the  rank  which  I  would 
be  trusted  with.  If  some  other  quahty  is  necessary  to  repell  tlie  Ennemy,  I  must  confess  I'm  ignorant 
of  it.     Such  are  my  dispositions,  but  now  I'm  to  speak  of  my  pecuniary  means. 

By  the  considerable  time  I  have  been  in  this  Country  -nithout  any  Commission,  by  my  travels,  and 
by  the  great  expences  in  which  a  stranger  is  engaged,  specially  when  he  has  somebody  living  at  his  ex, 
pences  (I  brought  over  two  Officers  with  me)  I  have  been  compelled  to  sell  the  remains  of  my  bagages 
part  of  which  had  been  stolen  from  me,  by  the  Waggoner  Samuel  Park.  I  say  I  have  been  obliged  to 
sell  them  for  Uving.  Now  I  don't  fear  to  own,  that  some  books,  a  small  sum  of  money,  an  horse,  a  cloak 
and  a  Sword,  make  all  what  is  my  property  in  the  Continent  of  America.  You  perceive  Sir,  by  that 
account,  which  is  exactly  true,  that  my  expences  being  greater  than  my  means  it  was  prudent  for  me  to 
look  for  sliifts  somewhere  else. 

Since  you  will  Keep  me  here,  and  give  me  an  occasion  for  making  use  of  my  zeal  for  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  I  desire  that  you  would  grant  me,  that  the  full  pay  of  my  rank  be  continued  to  me,  without 
any  interruption. 

Then  I'll  make  the  best  endeavours  for  answering  your  Patriotical  designs,  and  for  con\Tnclng  you  of 
the  respectuous  consideration  with  which  I'm, 

Sir,  Your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 
'^~  Col.  La  Balme. 

Yorktown^  December 25th  1777.       "■"""' 

To  the  Right  Honnourable  Collon'  Lawrens,  President  of  the  Honnour.  Congress,  Yorkto'wn. 

6  Dec.  25,  1777,  N.  3.  A  memorial  from  mons.  de  la  Balme,  read  27,  Dec,  1777.  Consideration  post- 
poned. 


107 

On  the  eleventh  of  January,  1778,  he  wrote  to  Congress,  calling  at- 
tention to  his  previous  letter  regarding  the  conquest  of  Canada  and 
asking  that  he  be  not  condemned  unheard.  He  said  that  the  English, 
seeing  the  Americans  attempt  nothing  on  Canada  and  leaving  only 
feeble  garrison  to  guard  it,  are  giving  all  of  their  forces  to  General 
Howe,  thus  permitting  him  to  act  vigorously  in  other  parts  of  the 
continent.  "Deprived  in  part,"  he  continues,  "of  the  advantages 
of  commerce;  irritated  by  the  vague  promises  of  an  obstinate  King 
and  Parliament  overcharged  with  taxes,  and  burdened  with  a  war  which 
they  are  forced  to  carry  on  against  countries  too  distant  for  a  people 
whose  credit  is  already  exhausted,  the  English  nation  will  soon  by  their 
joint  clamor  extort  orders  to  their  generals  to  use  artifice,  force,  and 
violence,  which  commonly  degenerates  into  cruelty."  ^ 

A  few  days  later  (Jan.  22d)  he  again  wrote  to  Congress,  offering 
his  personal  services.  He  said  he  had  made  the  same  offer  on  a  previ- 
ous occasion,  but  had  heard  nothing  from  it.  "However  it  be,"  he 
wrote,  "if  you  think  I'm  able  to  undertake  something  useful  to  the 
United  States,  give  me  the  means  of  showing  my  zeal  in  this  occasion 
and  of  employing  my  leisure  frutuously.    It  is  what  I  wish  the  most."  ^ 

These  frequent  applications  to  Congi-ess  assumed  the  aspect  of  im- 
portunities and  displeased  the  members  of  that  body.  In  reply  to  a 
communication  in  February,  1778,  the  following  resolution  was  passed: 
"Eesolved,  That  910  dollars  be  paid  Mons.  de  la  Balme,  in  full  of  all 
claims  and  demands  against  the  United  States  and  that  the  Committee 
on  Foreign  applications  inform  Mons.  de  la  Balme  that  Congress  have 
no  further  occasion  for  his  services."  ^ 

At  this  time  he  was  in  Philadelphia,  but  being  without  an  occupation, 
he  obtained  leave  from  General  Gates  to  go  to  Albany.  He  did  not  re- 
main long  in  that  place,  but  returned  to  Philadelphia  and  planned  the 
opening  of  a  workshop  twenty-eight  miles  from  that  place.     He  issued 


'See  Appendix 2. 

=  See  Appendix  3. 

^(Journals  of  Congress,  X,  157.)    (Chicago  Hist.  Soc,  Vol.  V,  p.  3.3.) 

Papers  of  the  Continential  Congress.    41.    Vol.  1,  folio  168.     Jany.  1, 1779.    N.  4. 
Memorial  from  Col.  De  la  Balme,,  read  4,  Jany.,  1779.    Referred  to  the  board  of  treasury.    Passed  at 
Treasury,  7th  Jany. 
To  the  Honourable  the  Continental  Congress: 

The  Memorial  of  Colonel  de  la  Balme  most  respectfully  sheweth  That  when  in  the  Year  One  Thousand 
Sevenhundred  and  Seventy  Seven  Your  Honorable  House  was  pleased  to  grant  Your  Memorialist  his 
Discharge  form  the  Service  and  at  the  same  time  to  allow  his  Account  of  120  Louis  d'or,  he  received  on 
Your  Order,  at  the  Treasury  the  Sum  of  576  Continental  Dollars,  that  is  4  4-5  dollars  pr.  Louis  d'or:  which , 
considering  the  Depreciation  of  that  Money  he  then  took  as  on  account  of  his  demand  And  nowwith 
due  Submission  to  Your  Honours  he  conceiveth  "that  by  his  replacing  into  Your  Treasury  the  said 
Sum  of  576  Dollars  in  the  same  Specie  as  he  received  it,  he  would  by  \irtue  of  some  Stipulations  before 
his  Departure  from  France  made  with  your  Commissioner  Mr.  Deane  be  intitled  to  receive  a  Bill  of  Ex- 
change for2SS0  Livres  Tumois  payable  in  France  equal  to  his  Demand  of  120  Louis  d'or  at  24  Livres  pr. 
Louis  d'or"— It  would  have  been  extremely  flattering  if  in  consequence  of  the  Motives  which  brought 
Your  Memorialist  over  to  this  Continent,  lie  had  been  put  in  a  way  to  compensate  America  by  some 
or  other  Act  of  eclat  in  her  favor  for  any  Expences  She  should  be  put  to  on  his  Score  as  it  was  with  great 
Reluctance  that  he  presented  his  moderate  Account  of  120  Louis  d'or,  whereof  he  would  rather  have 
made  a  Sacrifice  to  her  Cause  if  Fortune  had  placed  him  in  a  degree  of  Affluence  to  aflord  such  like  Sac- 
j^flces— As  Your  Memorialist  and  his  case  mav  be  unknown  to  some  of  the  Members  of  Your  Honorable 
House  He  begs  leave  to  mention  that  last  Spring  when  he  returned  from  Albany  where  he  had  served 
as  Volunteer,  He  offered  to  HisJExcellency  General  Washington  to  exercise  300  Horse  and  to  teach  the 
Men  their  Manoeuvres  in  Battle  without  requiring  any  Rank  or  pay  for  his  Service. 

Col.  De  La  Balme. 
Philad.  Jan.  1st  1779. 


106 

notice?  in  tlic  En2;lis'..,  French  and  German  languages,  requesting  all 
persons  who  had  deserted  from  the  army  or  navy  of  any  other  nation 
than  the  United  States  or  French,  to  find  shelter  and  employment  at 
his  workshops. 

The  intention  was  to  give  temporary  relief  and  to  induce  these  de- 
serters to  join  the  army.^ 

In  March,  1780,  he  applied  to  Washington  for  permission  to  visit 
the  southern  states.^  This  expedition  was  either  very  brief  or  was  not 
undertaken  at  all,  for  in  June  he  was  at  Fort  Pitt.^  From  this  writ- 
ings, from  this  place,  we  find  his  first  plans  to  collect  an  army  and 
attack  and  capture  Detroit.* 

An  effort  has  been  made  to  show  that  in  this  project  LaBalm  was 
working  to  regain  the  western  country  for  France  and  that  he  was 
not  working  in  the  interest  of  the  United  States.^  It  is  certain,  how- 
ever, that  his  movements  were  known  to  the  Americans  and  were  car- 
ried on  with  their  approval,  though  not  with  their  official  consent.  The 
invasion  of  the  western  country  was  the  dream  of  Colonel  Brodhead, 
who  was  in  command  at  Fort  Pitt.  His  frequent  applications  to  in- 
vade the  Indian  country  and  capture  Detroit  had  been  constantly  met 
with  refusals  because  he  could  not  be  allowed  a  sufficient  support  to 
warrant  the  undertaking. 

A  Detroit  Frenchman,  M.  Godfroy,  or  Linctot  as  he  is  usually  re- 
ferred to,  was  fitting  out  an  expedition,  at  Fort  Pitt,  and  Brodliead 
sent  notice  of  it  to  the  President  of  Congress,  and  with  it  sent  his 
expressions  of  regret  that  he  was  not  as  favorably  situated  as  Linctot. 
"Xow,  had  I  but  men  and  provision,  I  might  do  something  to  gain 
a  laurel,  but  in  my  present  circumstances,  it  is  probable  I  may  lose  my 
reputation  for  what  shall  not  be  a  fault  in  me."  ^ 

Linctot  was  a  French  Canadian,  who  had  been  all  over  the  western 
countrv.     He  was  attached  to  the  American  cause  and  was  disliked  and 


'  See  Appendix  4. 
^Seep.147. 

Letters  to  Washington,  Vol.  36,  folio  87. 
Mons.  De  Balme,  5,  March,  1780.    Ansd.  14. 

Sir— Though  I  have  not  been  happy  enough  as  to  give  your  Excellency  proofs  of  my  zeal  for  the  Amer- 
ican cause,  you  So  honourably  defend,  I  no  less  dare  flatter  meself  that  His  Excellency  has  not  been  in- 
sensible to  it,  and  will  be  So  good  as  to  grant  me  the  following  asldng. 

I  intend  to  travel  within  a  little  towards  the  Southern  States  of  America,  where  I  maj-  be  confounded 
with  many  adventurers,  because  Mr.  Lovel  one  of  the  honorable  the  Congress  has  lost  the  recommending 
letters,  I  intrusted  with,  when  I  moved  for  an  employment  in  Phyladelphia. 

Some  of  those  letters  were  exhibited  to  your  Excellency  at  the  time  of  my  arrival  in  this  Continent 
I  Hope  thas,  (that?)  in  consequence  of  the  good  Character  they  gave  me,  you  will  be  pleased  to  give  me 
one  of  yours  to  idemifyme  of  their  being  lost. 

I  entertain  a  too  high  Idea  of  the  equitable  proceedings  of  your  Excellency  towards  the  foreigners 
not  to  expect  with  a  Secure  Confidence  Such  a  favor  of  yours. 
I  am  with  the  greatest  respects  of  his  Excellency, 

The  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 
De  la  Balme. 
Philadelphia  the  V.  Mch.,  1780. 

='ni.  Hist.  Col.,  Vol.  II,  p.  LXXXIX.    Also  \'ol.  5,  p.  161. 

^La  Balm  was  fairly  well  versed  in  the  English  language,  and  many  of  the  letters  from  him  are  in 
English. 

■^F.  J.  Turner  in  Am.  Hist.  Rev.  X,  255. 

"Penn.  Arch.  1st,  Series  VIII,  559,  Sept.  17,  1780.    It  would  appear  that  Lincot  was  paid  by  Vir- 
ginia or  by  the  general  government.    See  a  letter  from  Thomas  Jefferson  to  Col.  Todd,  March  19,  1780. 
'^'The  draughts  from  yourself  and  Col.  Clarke  on  Pollock,  those  presented  us  by  LaGrass  and  Linctot, 
others  for  about  50,000  dollars  presented  by  a  Mr.  Nathan    *    *    *    have  rendered  us  bankrupt  here. 
Early  Chicago  and  Dhnois,  358. 


109 

feared  by  the  British.  His  acquaintance  among  the  Indians  and  his 
power  over  them  was  great.  His  plan  for  invading  the  country  in  con- 
junction with  the  friendly  Indians  and  with  a  body  of  French  Cana- 
dians was  acceptable  to  the  Americans,  though  they  were  powerless  to 
assist  him.  In  the  early  part  of  1780,  both  LaBalm  and  Linctot  were 
in  Fort  Pitt  making  arrangements  for  a  concerted  attack  on  Detroit. 
Linctot,  with  about  thirty  Indian  followers,  left  Fort  Pitt  od  the 
seventh  of  May  to  visit  the  Indian  nations  and  ask  them  to  join  the 
French  in  an  attack  on  the  British.^ 

LaBalm  contemplated  going  down  the  Ohio  river  and  meeting 
Linctot  at  the  French  settlements  in  Illinois.  Linctot  was  to  proceed 
across  the  country,  visiting  the  Indian  tribes  on  the  way.  That  this 
undertaking  was  in  the  interest  of  the  Americans  is  evidenced  '^y 
LaBalm's  report  to  the  Minister  of  France,  for  he  says  that  Linctot's 
visit  to  the  different  nations  is,  "so  as  to  secure  them  for  the  United 
States,  to  which  the  French  unanimously  adhere." 

A  letter  of  Colonel  Daniel  Brodhead  to  President  Eeed,  not  dated, 
but  probably  in  June,  1789,  says:  "It  is  near  four  weeks  ago,  since 
I  sent  a  French  gentlemen  with  speeches  to  the  Indians,  threatening 
them  with  the  force  of  France,  Spain  and  America,  if  they  did  not 
immediately  desist  from  further  hostilities.  This  gentleman  is  in  the 
service  of  the  state  of  Virginia.  He  speaks  several  of  the  Indian  lan- 
guages to  perfection  and  his  address  is  well  calculated  to  influence 
them.  When  he  returns,  I  will  write  you  what  success  attends  the 
messages.  Some  of  the  Indian  nations  certainly  merit  a  total  extir- 
pation, but  whilst  we  want  the  means  to  chastise  them,  it  may  be  good 
policy  to  amuse  them,  as  they  have  us,  and  I  have  directed  the  French 
gentleman  (Major  Lanctot)  to  do  it  as  much  as  in  him  lies."  ^ 

LaBalm's  report  of  his  transactions  up  to  the  time  of  his  departure 
for  the  West  explains  his  attachment  to  the  iVmerican  cause  and  gives 
some  indications  of  his  future  undertakings.  It  was  sent  to  the  Min- 
ister, Lucerne,  and  is  as  follows:  "Monsieur:  Before  proceeding 
further  on  my  course,  I  believe  I  ought  to  report  to  5four  Excellency 
without  waiting  for  a  more  favorable  opportunity.  My  arrival  at 
Fort  Pitt,  perhaps  rendered  me  useful  to  United  States,  especially  as 


iQan.  Arch.  B.  181,  p.  275.  This  day  probably  should  be  July  7,  as  on  that  day  Brodhead  directed 
Linctot  to  go  to  Cooshocking  and  induce  the  Indians  to  adhere  to  the  American  cause  and  inform  them 
that  unless  they  made  peace  with  the  United  States  their  country  would  be  invaded.  Penn.  Arch. 
XII,  246. 

There  are  other  letters  from  Brodhead  which  indicate  that  Linctot  was  working  in  the  interest  of  the 
United  States.  lb,  258,  259.  Kocheblave,  the  former  French  Governor  at  Kaskaskia,  in  his  letter  of 
Sept.  9,  1780,  (Can.  Arch.  B.  122,  p.  545)  says  that  Linctot  is  a  Canadian  whose  head  has  been  turned 
by  a  letter  from  d'Estaing  or  promises  from  Congress. 

It  is  possible  that  Linctot  was  sent  first  on  May  7th  and  that  he  returned  and  was  sent  a  second  time 
on  July  7th.    This  would  agree  with  the  letters  of  LaBalm  and  Brodhead,  (Penn.  Arch.  VIII,  300). 

=  Penn.  Arch.  Vol.  VIII,  p.  300.  Major  Lanctot  left  Fort  Pitt  shortly  after  May  4,  1780,  to  carry  a 
message  to  the  Indian  Council  at  Coochocking.  He  carried  a  message  to  Rev.  John  Heekenvelder,  the 
Moravian  teacher.  Penn.  Arch.  XII,  228.  He  Also  carried  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  David  Ziesberger,  another 
Moravian  teacher.  This  letter  is  dated.  May  8,  1780,  indicating  that  Lanctot  did  not  leave  Pittsburg 
before  that  date.  Penn.  Arch.  XII,  231.  Lanctot  was  at  the  Delaware  towns  in  August,  sending  mes- 
sages to  the  Indians  to  prevent  them  from  working  in  unison  with  the  English.  Penn.  Arch.  XII,  258. 
263.  Letters  of  Brodhead,  dated  Aug.  21,  1780.  Broadhead  wrote  to  Lanctot,  who  was  then,  (Aug, 
23, 1780)  at  the  Delaware  Council,  to  return  to  Fort  Pitt  as  soon  as  possible.  Penn.  Arch.  XII,  259.  Lanc- 
tot was  still  in  Coochocking  in  September  and  wrote  to  Brodhead  that  the  Indians  from  Detroit  were 
preparing  to  attack  the  frontiers.    Penn.  Arch.  XII,  269,  270,  271. 


110 

they  were  threatended  with  a  general  Indian  war.  A  French  officer, 
bom  in  Canada,  Monsieur  Godefroi  de  Linctot,  a  wanderer  (for  sev- 
eral years)  among  the  savages  because  he  refused  to  serve  under  the 
British  flag,  followed  by  about  thirty  trusty  Indians,  left  that  place 
the  7th  of  last  ]\Iay,  to  visit  the  Nations,  in  order  to  ward  off  the 
Loups,  who  threatened  the  frontiers  of  the  United  States.  The  strings 
of  wampum  which  he  gave,  and  the  Avords  of  peace  were  welcomed  bv 
the  Loups,  the  Shawanes,  the  Hurons,  etc.  Several  of  the  Indians  re- 
turned with  Monsieur  de  Lintot  to  give  pledges  for  the  others.  On  tbat 
occasion  I  passed  for  a  French  officer  who  had  come  to  learn  the  true 
inclinations  of  the  children  of  the  French  King,  their  benefactor.  Af- 
ter holding  council,  the  Indians  delegated  came  to  assure  me  of  their 
lasting  affection  and  complete  obedience  to  the  will  of  their  Father, 
and  to  tell  me  that  they  M'ere  ready  to  follow  the  French  M-arriors,  'lO 
raise  the  tomahawk  and  strike  to  the  death  the  enemies  of  their  oon- 
erous  protector,  'HDut,"  they  added,  "if  our  Father  is  allied  with  the 
Americans,  why  do  they  let  us  want  for  everything?  Must  we  die  with 
our  women  and  our  children  because  we  reject  the  offers  which  the 
English  make  us?  We  do  not  love  them.  We  are  ready  to  strike, 
but  our  urgent  needs  will  force  us  in  the  end  to  give  an  ear  to  their 
proposals,  if  they  persist  in  refusing  us  that  aid  here,  without  which 
we  cannot  exist.  The  deer,  which  ought  to  provide  us  with  food  and 
procure  for  us.  in  exchange  for  their  skins,  the  clothing  to  which  we 
have  become  accustomed,  are  much  wilder  than  they  were  before  we 
made  use  of  fire-arms.  We  need,  then,  powder,  guns,  clothes,  while 
they  give  us  only  burning  liquors,  which  kill  our  young  men.  They 
made  us  a  thousand  promises  at  Philadelphia  last  year.  In  reality, 
they  do  not  rememlDcr  more  than  a  part.  We  are  forgotten,  abandoned, 
besoucfht  bv  another  race  and  sometimes  threatened  bv  the  Encrlish. 
Under  such  circumstances,  what  can  we  do?  What  should  we  do?" 
"You  should  remain  peaceful  and  quiet,"  I  said  to  them,  "unless  you 
wish  to  fall  under  the  displeasure  of  your  Father,  to  expose  yourselves 
to  his  vengeance  and  to  that  of  the  Spanish  and  of  the  United  States, 
his  allies,  and  to  see  yourselves  abandoned  by  the  English,  who  are 
threatened  on  all  sides,  even  in  their  own  country."  I  added  such  argu- 
ments as  seemed  to  me  most  suited  to  convince  them.  Then  they 
withdrew  to  their  camp,  telling  me  that  they  were  ready  to  march 
against  the  enemies  of  their  Father  and  his  allies  when  it  would  be 
required  of  them.  We  have  several  times  served  liquor  to  the=e  gen- 
tlemen, who,  well  painted  and  plumed,  have  dnmk  immoderately  of 
the  most  powerful  liquors.  I  hope  that  their  promise  will  1)e  well 
kept,  but  I  confess  that  I  have  not  a  great  deal  of  confidence  in  it,  be- 
cause he  digs  a  pit  for  his  feet  who  makes  promises  in  regard  to  the 
conduct  of  those  frontiers  folk,  for,  with  the  exception  of  the  command- 
ant of  Fort  Pit,  they  have  all  behaved  abominably  toward  the  Indians. 
While  the  treaty  was  being  negotiated  at  the  Fort,  a  party  of  eight  men 
visited  the  Nations  and  murdered  some  of  the  Indians.  Some  others 
stole  four  horses  near  their  camps.      From   all   these   tricks  and   this 


Ill 

treacliery,  there  must  result  a  great  depth  of  hatred  which  necessarily 
generates  the  warfare  of  which  several  families  are  the  victims.  Thi? 
then  is  the  result  of  the  disorders  and  inconsistencies  which  in  many  in- 
stances appear  to  characterize  the  English  colonists.  We  set  out,  my- 
self the  fourth,  a  Frenchman,  to  navigate  the  Ohio,  well  armed,  and  to 
proceed  to  the  Illinois,  accompanied  by  a  somewhat  elderly  Shawnee 
princess.  As  for  Monsieur  Godefroi  de  Lintot,  he  set  out  for  the  same 
place  by  land.  He  will  visit  the  Nations,  whose  different  languages 
he  speaks  very  well,  with  the  view  to  strengthening  their  attachment 
to  the  cause  of  the  United  States  in  which  the  French  unanimously  take 
a  vital  interest.  That  officer  is  indeed  worthy  of  the  greatest  praise. 
His  zeal  in  that  respect  has  led  him  to  give  to  the  Indians,  his  horses, 
his  personal  effects,  and  often  his  clothing  to  strengthen  their  attach- 
ment to  the  French.  One  would  think  in  considering  his  generosity 
that  France  would  heap  favors  upon  him.  Instead,  she  ignores  the 
nobility  of  these  acts.  This  is  the  testimony  that  I  do  not  begrudge 
him  together  with  all  those  who  know  him,  and  which  I  hope  sincerely 
will  be  of  benefit  to  him.  I  hope  that  the  French  scattered  over  the 
two  hemispheres  will  draw  from  this  a  knowledge  of  the  good  feeling 
which  exists  between  them  and  the  Indians,  so  that  being  strongly 
united  they  will  be  able,  far  from  receiving,  to  make  the  law  for  any 
one  authority,  because  I  learn  that  all  who  are  independent  or  even  on 
the  verge  of  becoming  so,  are  ready  for  a  paternal  hand  to  be  ex- 
tended, an  omen  of  their  future  happiness.  Time  will  lift  the  veil 
which  hides  the  future  from  the  curious  and  attentive  observers  of 
catastrophies  and  revolutions. 

"In  whatever  place  I  set  my  foot,  it  will  give  me  a  true  pleasure  lo 
inform  your   Excellency  of  whatever  I   deem  worthy  of  his  attention 
and  I  assure  him  of  the  respectfiil  consideration  with  which  I  am  ever, 
"Your  Excellency's  very  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

"Colonel  La  Balm."  1 

Thomas  Bentley  was  the  first  person  to  give  information  to  DePey- 
ster,  who  was  in  command  at  Detroit,  of  the  advent  of  LaBalm  at  Yin- 
cennes.  Bentley  was  a  trader  who  had  been  in  the  Illinois  country 
and  had  passed  through  the  various  villages  and  settlements  there  and 
in  Michigan,  even  as  far  north  as  Mackinac.  For  some  time  he  had 
been  suspected  of  being  too  friendly  to  the  Americans,  and  the  suspi- 
cion had  become  so  strong  that  he  was  taken  into  custody  by  orders  of 
Lieut.-Govemor  Sinclair,  of  Michillmacinac,  and  was  confined  in 
Detroit  for  several  months.  His  property  and  papers  were  taken  from 
him.  There  was  no  trial,  for  there  was  no  provision,  in  law,  for  such 
a  proceeding.  His  offence  was  of  a  military  character  only  and  his 
case  was  one  of  many  that  occurred  in  Detroit  at  this  time.  There  was 
a  disposition  on  the  part  of  DePeyster  to  let  him  go  free,  at  one  time, 
but  on  further  consideration  he  was  still  kept  confined  and  was  sent 
to  Quebec  as  a  dangerous  person.  He  managed  to  escape  and  enter  the 
American  lines. 


'This  article  was  prepared  before  Vol.  5,  of  the  HI.  His.  Collections  was  issued  from  the  press  and 
some  of  the  papers  in  this  article  are  printed  in  that  volume. 


112 

Makino^  his  wav  westward,  the  first  information  we  liave  from  him 
is  a  letter  from  Vincennes,  dated  August  17,  1780.^  He  had  for- 
given the  injuries  inflicted  upon  him  by  DePeyster  and  now  bogs  that 
he  will  pennit  the  Macombs,  who  were  exlensivo  traders  at  Detroit, 
to  send  him  some  bales  of  goods  that  he  might  sell  to  retrieve  liis  lost 
fortune  and  to  repay  his  creditors.  In  this  letter  he  says:  "Since  my 
return  to  this  place,  I  have  been  informed  that  belts  have  been  iont 
off  from  this  to  tlic  Shawnese  and  other  nations,  by  a  French  colunel, 
who  came  here  about  a  month  ago,  which  belts,  from  what  I  can  under- 
stand, import  that  the  savages  should  remain  quiet  and  not  go  to  war 
any  longer,  as  the  French  are  coming  again  among  Ihem,  who  are  to 
drive  both  the  Americans  and  the  English  out  of  the  country  and  are 
to  possess  themselves  of  Canada  and  its  dependencies  and  1  am  well 
informed  that  other  French  emissaries  have  been  sent  to  difEerent  na- 
tions, probaly  for  the  same  purpose.  Thinking  that  this  might  be  in- 
teresting for  you  to  know,  I  have  thought  it  necessary  to  give  you  this 
intelligence."  So  little  credence  was  given  to  this  information  that 
DePeyster  made  no  note  of  it  in  his  official  reports  and  undertook  no 
investigation  to  ascertain  whether  it  was  true  or  false. 

On  reaching  Vincennes  in  July,  LaBalm  ascertained  that  the  acts  of 
the  Virginia  troops  had  created  in  the  French  citizens  a  feeling  of 
antipathy  against  the  United  States  which  was  similar  to  the  feelings 
already  entertained  by  the  Indians.  The  Virginians  had  been  insolent 
and  overbearing  and  there  was  a  feeling  that  the  British  rule  was  milder 


Post  Vincennes,  17,  Augt.,  1780. 
'  Sir— Since  my  return  to  this  place  I  have  been  informed  that  Belts  have  been  sent  off  from  this  to 
the  Shawnese  and  other  Nations  by  the  French  Colonel  who  came  here  about  a  month  ago  which  Belts 
from  what  I  can  understand  import  that  the  Savages  should  remain  quiet  and  not  go  to  war  any  longer 
as  the  French  are  coming  again  amongst  them,  who  are  to  drive  both  the  Americains  and  English  out 
of  the  country  and  are  to  possess  themselves  of  Canada  &  its  dependencies  and  I  am  well  inform 'd  that 
other  French  emmissaries  have  been  sent  to  different  nations  probably  for  the  Same  purpose  thinking 
that  this  mi^ht  be  Interesting  for  you  to  know  have  thought  it  necessary  to  give  you  this  intelligence 
The  great  injustice  done  me  by  Rocheblave  and  others  and  the  losses  to  wliich  that  has  subjected  me 
induce  me  to  hope  that  you  would  be  kind  enough  to  Permit  Messrs.  Macombes  to  send  me  a  few  Bales 
of  goods  this  Fall  as  it  would  be  the  means  of  enabling  me  to  recover  myself  in  some  manner  from  the 
heavy  looses  I  sustain'd  during  my  detention  in  Canada.  You  may  rest  assured  that  the  goods  will 
not  be  made  a  bad  use  of  being  intended  for  the  Savages  and  inhabitants  only  and  I  can  moreover  inform 
you  that  the  Savages  and  inhabitants  are  so  discontented  with  the  Americains  both  here  and  at  Illi- 
nois that  regular  troops  would  be  received  with  open  arms  particularly  if  runner  were  sent  before  to  assure 
the  inhabitants  that  no  evil  would  befall  them.  I  cou'd  wish  to  communicate  anything  essential  for  you 
to  know  from  this  but  I  shall  be  fearful  to  write.  If  Messrs.  Macombes  send  me  any  goods  you  can  easily 
Convey  a  letter  in  a  piece  of  goods  marking  the  piece  in  the  invoice  with  a  X  signifying  therein  in  what 
manner  I  can  be  of  use  and  you  may  depend  upon  everything  in  my  power.  By  the  batteaus  just  ar- 
rived from  New  Orleans  we  "are  inform'd  the  Spaniards  have  taken  Mobile  (a  place  of  no  consequence) 
But  they  have  not  yet  attacked  Pensacila:  Don  Galvez.  the  general  had  some  disagreement  with  the 
admiral  of  the  Squadron  which  cause  the  latter  to  quit  tne  expedition  and  return  to  Havannah.  I  sin- 
cerely hope  they  wUl  not  succeed  against  Pensacola.  If  an  expedition  of  3,000  men  could  be  sent  by  way 
of  Presqu'isle  they  would  take  fort  Pitt  and  the  Ohio  communications  leaving  garrison  therein  and  sasily 
possess  themselves  of  New  Orleans.  Give  me  leave  most  earnestly  to  request  that  you  will  be  pleased 
to  suffer  me  some  goods  to  be  sent  me  this  Fall;  it  will  relieve  the  distresses  of  my  mind  which  are  beyond 
all  measure  great  and  enable  me  to  quite  the  country  next  year.  I  feel  most  Sensibly  for  a  widow  sister 
and  six  small  children  who  look'd  up  to  me  for  support  bereft  of  which  by  my  misfortunes  for  these  three 
years  pa.st  I  am  convinced  are  in  want  of  the  Very  necessaries  of  life;  These  call  for  my  utmost  exertions 
to  put  myself  in  a  Situation  to  send  them  some  relief,  which  depends  on  you  alone  to  enable  me  to  do. 
You  need  not  be  under  the  least  apprehension  whatever  that  such  goods  will  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
Americans  who  I  can  inform  you  are  preparing  to  evacuate  this  post  in  a  few  days  and  wUl  I  doubt  not 
evacuate  the  Illinois  altogether  in  the  course  of  twelve  months  more.  They  have  100  say  one  hundred 
men  at  the  Illinois  (what  they  call  troops)  without  the  least  discipline  badly  cloth'd,  badly  fed  and 
worse  paid .  You  may  judge  therefore  how  small  and  feeble  would  be  their  exertions  against  the  reg- 
ular troops  FalstaS's  men  all-t-I  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  two  letters  I  have  already  wTote  you  and  remain 
with  the  utmost  respect  Sir, 

Your  most  obed't  &  very  hble.  Serv't, 
T.  Bentley. 
From  Mr.  Bentley,  Post  Vincennes,  17,  Aug.,  1780.    Can.  Arch.,  Series  B.,  Vol.  185,  p.  62. 


iia 

and  more  preferable.  McCarty,  in  his  report,  says  that  the  people  of 
Cahokia  sent  by  LaBalm  to  Congress  an  account  of  their  grievances  and 
of  the  "enormities  committed  in  this  country  by  our  troops."  "I  must 
confess  many  things  have  been  done  which  should  not."  ^ 

LaBalm  believed  that  the  Canadians  in  the  Illinois  would  join  him 
in  the  expedition  against  Detroit  and  that  the  Canadians  at  Detroit 
would  rise  to  a  man  when  it  was  ascertained  that  he  was  on  the  road 
to  that  place.  He  now  first  learned  that  the  undertaking  must  be  made 
by  the  French  and  Indians  and  that  he  could  get  little  assistance  from 
the  Americans  because  of  the  feeling  of  the  former  against  the  Virginians. 

A  message  from  Brodhead,  accompanied  by  another  from  a  French- 
man at  Fort  Pitt,  advising  the  Indians  to  join  the  Americans,  was  sent 
to  the  Delawares.  This  Frenchman  appears,  from  the  text,  to  have 
been  Linctot.  The  Indians  concluded  that  the  Virginians,  French  and 
Spaniards  were  now  arrayed  against  the  English. - 

From  Vincennes  LaBalm  went  to  St.  Louis  and  presented  an  address 
(dated  Sept.  17,  1780)  to  the  French;  thence  to  Cahokia  where,  on 
September  21,  an  address  was  presented  to  him  by  the  French  inhabit- 
ants setting  forth  their  grievances  against  the  Virginians.  They  detailed 
many  of  the  causes  of  their  complaints  against  the  Virginian  officers 
and  troops  and  referred  to  the  King  of  France  who,  they  said,  would 
not  permit  his  subjects  to  be  so  treated  if  he  knew  of  their  condition. 
"It  is  then,  sir,"  they  conclude,  "with  all  the  affection  and  zeal  which 
we  promise  you,  that  we  ask  you  to  be  willing  to  interest  yourself  in  our 
grievances  and  speak  in  our  favor.  May  the  heavens  bring  it  about 
that  by  your  intervention  we  may  be  able  to  attain  that  to  which  we 
aspire,  which  is  nothing  less  than  the  happiness  of  seeing  ourselves 
again  all  French.  We  have  nothing  to  offer  you  in  hostage  except  the 
greatest  fidelity  of  heart  which  we  shall  never  cease  having."  ^ 


'Dl.  Hist.  Coly  Vol.  II,  p.  621. 

^Mich.  Pion.  Hist.  Soc.  X,  427.  The  charges  made  by  Bently  against  LaBalm,  in  111.  Hist.  Col., 
Vol.  II,  p.  618,  should  be  taken  cum  grano  salis.  Bently  had  been  a  prisoner  at  Detroit  and  had  escaped 
and  returned  to  Vincennes.  He  was  still  much  inclined  to  the  British  side  as  his  correspondence  in- 
dicates.   Pierre  Prevost  was  with  LaBalm,  HI.  Hist.  Col.,  Vol.  II,  p.  477. 

Extract  from  a  letter  from  Linctot  to  Pres.  Reed,  dated  Stpt.l3, 1780.  "Ihopethat  my  wishes  may  be 
accomplished,  that  at  present  you  may  have  sufficient  provisions  to  carry  on  an  expedition  which  will 
be  the  only  method  to  stop  the  Nations.  If  they  have  not  faith  I  lose  entirely  their  confidence.  I  have 
already  lost  a  party.  (Here  is  something  particular).  They  were  twelve  days  coming  from  Coehoquin 
and  the  moravians  went  to  meet  M.  Deplanteur  that  was  sick.  A  party  paid  by  the  English  have  stopt 
me  and  I  dare  not  follow  them;  a  great  quantity  of  the  party  were  in  search  of  me  and  would  have  taken 
me  to  Detroit .    I  hid  myself  till  the  party  separated . ' '     Penn .  Arch .  X,  551 . 

Dejean  a  Haldinand.  Monsieur+I  have  at  last  (at  the  request  of  M.  Benthley,  who  has  rendered 
me  great  services)  obtained  permission  to  come  this  far,  but  you  will  perceive  by  the  letter  which  the 
Commandant  will  send  you,  that  I  cannot  come  to  Detroit.  Moreover  being  advised  that  the  House  of 
Commons  at  London,  the  advocates  of  the  province  of  Quebec  and  the  Grand  Jury  charge  me  with  the 
faults  of  Governor  Hamilton,  whtther  committed  by  him  or  by  myself  in  obedience  to  his  orders,  I  wUl 
wait  till  he  has  been  to  England  to  put  forward  the  defence  which  he  claims  to  have,  as  I  do  not  wish 
(after  having  borne  the  chains  at  Williamsburgli  for  a  hundred  and  twenty-nine  days)  to  be  his  scape- 
goat .  I  have  requested  the  Commandant  to  send  you  the  parole  which  I  have  accepted .  You  may  judge 
for  yourself  whether  in  signing  it  I  have  failed  in  my  duty.  Moreover  General  Philips  and  General 
Hamilton  have  signed  a  similar  one.  After  Captain  La  Motte  and  myself  had  accepted  the  parole,  he 
refused  to  assist  us,  saying  that  before  leaving  the  prison  we  must  foresee  from  what  side  would  come 
our  aid.  I  have  written  to  the  Commandant  at  Detroit  asking  him  to  permit  Madame  Dejean  to  joiti 
me  with  my  children.  Seeing  for  myself  the  dire  necessity  of  exile  (after  my  sufferings)  for  the  faults 
of  another,  The  circumstances  of  the  time  and  my  present  situation  prevent  my  saying  more.  I  have 
honor  to  be  with  the  most  profound  respect,  your  very  humble  and  obedient  servant.  Vincennes,  July 
28,  1780.    P.  Dejean. 

^Translation  in  El.  Hist.  Col.  2,  551.    The  address  of  Sept.  17th  is  in  Vol.  V,  on  p.  181. 

— 8  H  S 


114 

He  next  appears  at  Kaskaskia  on  the  24th  of  September,  making 
preparations  for  his  expedition.  He  estimated  that  he  would  be  at 
Vermilion  on  the  10th  day  of  October  and  would  there  meet  those  who 
were  to  join  him  from  Vincennes.  He  remained  nearly  a  month  at 
Kaskaskia. 

Eichard  McCarty  reported  on  October  14th  that  LuBalm  had  been  at 
Kaskaskia  raising  a  party  to  go  against  Detroit  and  that  the  people  had 
sent  memorials  by  him  to  Congress  and  to  the  French  envoy  at  Phila- 
delphia. LaBalm  told  the  people  that  French  troops  would  be  there 
in  the  spring.^ 

Among  other  preparations  for  an  advance  into  the  country  controlled 
by  the  English,  LaBalm  undertook  to  ascertain  the  disposition  of  the 
French  citizens  and  others  whom  he  might  meet  on  the  road  to  Detroit 
and  at  that  place.  At  Miami  he  reported  a  thousand  pounds  of  powder 
with  lead,  arms,  blankets  and  other  merchandise  in  the  storehouse  of 
Beaubien  and  in  charge  of  Lafontaine.  Beaubien  and  Lafontaine  were 
both  from  Detroit  and  the  former  was  closely  connected  with  the  British, 
and  in  their  employ.  He  was  greatly  disliked  and  distrusted  by  LaBalm 
and  his  followers.  The  inhabitants  at  this  post  w^ere  "inclined  to  the 
cause." 

At  Eoche  de  Bout  there  were  stored  ammunition  and  provisions  and 
some  cannon.  At  Sandusky  there  were  stationed  some  British  soldiers. 
At  Detroit,  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  were  many  Frenchmen,  a 
few  only  of  whom  were  ill-disposed.  He  reports  that  Monforton  (who 
was  register  of  deeds  at  a  later  time)  should  be  watched;  that  Adhemar 
was  a  dangerous  man;  Gregoire  (Gregor  McGregor,  a  sheriff  at  a  later 
date),  an  Englishman,  was  a  thorough  scoundrel;  that  Navarre  (the 
royal  notary  under  the  French)  was  a  treacherous  man;  and  Anthony 
(probably  George  Christian  Anthon,  surgeon  at  Detroit,  son-in-law  of 
Adhemar,  and  father  of  the  Greek  scholar  Charles  Anthon)  amounts 
to  nothing.  Alexis  Maisonville  was  a  dog  to  hang.  Others  bore  better 
characters  in  the  estimation  of  LaBalm  and  his  informers.  A  rough 
map  of  the  country  was  made  to  guide  the  men  on  their  travels  or  to 
show  them  the  villages  and  posts  they  were  to  visit  or  avoid,  as  circum- 
stances would  dictate.^ 

Before  starting  LaBalm  issued  to  his  followers  the  following  address 
to  increase  their  enthusiasm  in  the  enterprise : 


■  Va.  St.  Pap.  1,  380.  McCarthy,  in  his  journal,  says:  "Col.  De  la  Balme  is  arrived  here  from  Au- 
poste  (Vincennes)  with  an  escort  of  30  men.  French  and  Indians  and  is  now  at  Cahos  and  St.  Louis. 
111.  Hist.  Soc.  Col.,  Vol.  2,  p.  620.  "Got  permission  in  \\Titing  from  Col.  Montgomery  to  go  to  Cahos 
and  St.  Louis  on  my  private  business,  the  30th  sett  off  for  Cahos;  arrived  Sun.  1st  Oct.  2nd  went  to  St. 
Louis  to  see  my  uncle;  came  back  the  4th,  when  I  found  Col.  de  la  Balm  raising  a  party  for  Detroit,  of 
volunteers,  with  those  from  Cascaski,  Capt.  Plassy  at  their  head,  our  little  doctor  Ray  with  them." 
Richard  Winston,  also  at  Kaskaskia  wrote  at  the  same  time:  "There  passed  this  way  a  Frenchman,  . 
called  himself  Colonel  de  la  Balm,  he  says  in  the  American  service.  I  look  upon  him  as  a  malcontent, 
much  disgusted  at  the  Virginians,  yet  I  must  say  he  done  some  good,  he  pacified  the  Indians.  He  was 
received  by  the  inhabitants  just  as  the  Hebrews  would  receive  the  Messiah,  was  conducted  from  the  post 
here  by  a  large  detachment  of  the  inhabitants  as  well  as  different  tribes  of  Indians.  He  went  from  here 
against  Detroit  being  well  assured  that  the  Indians  were  on  his  side.  Got  at  this  place  and  the  Kahos 
about  fifty  volunteers.    They  are  to  rendezvous  at  Quia."    Va.  St.  P.  1,  381. 

-Manuscript  in  Haldimand  papers.    Can.  Arch.  B.  184=  p.  494.    See  appendix  6. 


115 

"Address  to  the  Canadians;  to  the  Friends  of  Liberty! 

"Canadians,  it  is  time  to  take  sides.  The  measure  is  filled  to  over- 
flowing. Morally  as  well  as  physically  there  exists  bounds  beyond  which 
that  which  was  good  becomes  evil. 

"Up  to  this  moment,  the  excessive  patience  with  which  you  have 
armed  yourselves  against  oppression  has  appeared  solely  dictated  by 
prudence,  by  sanity,  by  worldly  principles.  It  is  thus  that  one  judges 
the  men  Avho  are  watchful  of  the  progress  of  events.  Xow  that  your 
o^jpressors  preserve  no  government  but  humiliations,  outrages  are  the 
reward  of  your  submission.  Now  that  punishments,  torments  of  all 
sorts,  even  death,  the  most  ignominous  are  offered  you  as  a  reward,  if 
you  refuse  to  be  the  tools  of  tyranny,  it  would  be  stupidity,  it  would 
be  infamous  cowardice  to  wait  longer  to  throw  off  the  yoke.  Do  not 
allow  them  to  bow  you  down  with  this  terrible  yoke.  Meet,  unfortunate 
colonists,  the  evils  with  which  you  are  threatened  and  while  there  yet 
remains  to  you  a  safe  resource,  make  precious  use  of  it.  Deprived  of 
the  advantages  which  a  vigorous  commerce  provides,  burdened  with 
the  enormous  expenses  which  the  war  in  the  Indies  necessitates,  the 
EnglisTi  nation,  a  nation  shaken,  with  credit  exhausted,  will  find  herself 
more  and  more  obliged  to  resort  to  violence,  to  exactions  the  least 
endurable. 

Little  scrupulous  over  choice  of  means,  the  government  will  force  you 
in  common  with  the  other  inhabitants  of  America,  who  have  unfolded 
the  standard  of  liberty,  to  waste  your  forces,  your  blood,  your  life,  in 
order  to  forge  for  each  other  chains.  Then  unhappy  and  innocent 
victims,  you  will  need  to  use  all  your  powers  to  provide  for  the  need  of 
your  tyrants.  Then  you  will  all  be  nothing  but  mean  slaves,  deprived  of 
the  smallest  pleasures  of  life.  The  authors  of  your  misery  will  no  longer 
maintain  the  standard  of  courage  of  their  forefathers,  having  humbled 
themselves,  fearing  to  unite  with  you;  your  wives  in  tears  will  sigh 
without  respite  over  their  pains  and  their  misery,  your  children  will 
reproach  you  for  their  existence.  The  whole  world,  whose  envy  you 
can  excite,  and  whose  admiration  you  can  arouse,  will  at  last  look  upon 
you  with  the  greatest  contempt. 

"Oh !  unfortunate  people !  what  a  horrible  calamity,  what  torments 
await  you,  if  you  do  not  employ  a  prompt  remedy  for  the  evils  which 
are  about  to  be  heaped  upon  you. 

"Touched  to  the  quick  by  your  misfortunes,  we  bring  you  anns,  muni- 
tions of  war,  we  come  as  compatriots,  as  friends,  as  brothers,  to  offer 
you  our  arms,  to  fight  our  common  enemies.  We  come- to  conquer  or  to 
perish,  arms  in  hand.  We  come  to  free  you,  if  you  will  second  our 
efforts  and  our  daring. 

"Hardened  by  your  harsh  climate,  you  can  do  all  in  combat.  With 
arms  and  with  determination  y-ou  can  overthrow,  crush  to  atoms,  your 
oppressors,  as  the  north  wind  bends  or  breaks  the  fragile  reed. 


116 

"Canadians,  remember  your  origin,  remember  that  the  blood  which 
flows  in  your  veins  took  its  source  among  people  kind,  gentle,  generous, 
yet  proud  and  brave.  Be  men,  a  colony  which  can  easily  muster  sixty 
thousand  foot  soldiers  is  a  nation  to  be  feared. 

"Ministers  of  the  Savior,  be  on  your  guard  to  avoid  conniving  at  the 
enslaving  of  your  fellow-citizens,  by  pernicious  insinuations  by  unwise 
discourse.  Your  office  authorizes  you  to  watch  over  your  parishioners 
as  to  their  spiritual  needs,  but  not  as  to  their  temporal. 

"Oh !  you,  who  pride  yourselves  on  your  ships,  do  not  allow  yourselves 
to  be  dazzled  by  vague  promises,  by  ridiculous  fictions.  Do  not  forget 
that  you  are  French  and  that  in  spite  of  your  rights,  you  will  shortly 
become  the  slave  of  a  power  which  has  been  perpetually  a  war  with  your 
illustrious  ancestors. 

"The  mother  country  reaches  out  to  you  her  arms  in  aid.  She  wishes 
not  to  conquer  but  to  rule  you  by  wise  laws  in  order  to  make  you  happy. 
She  aspires  only  to  unite  herself  to  you,  only  to  send  back  to  your 
country  the  abundant  streams  of  products  of  her  soil.  From  the  other 
side  no  aid  can  come  to  the  English.  The  winds  of  the  north  have 
hardened  the  surface  of  the  rivers  which  bathe  the  wall  of  your  capitol 
on  their  majestic  way  to  empty  their  watersjnto  the  great  ocean.  They 
present  to  navigators  a  resistance  unconquerable.  They  will  be  ploughed 
only  by  the  ships  of  your  friend. 

"Hasten,  Canadians,  to  end  your  troubles,  you  can  do  it,  uniting  all 
in  that  happy  and  brilliant  era.  With  what  joy,  with  what  prosperity, 
with  what  happiness  will  not  your  success  be  followed.  My  friends,  all 
nature  will  become  briarht.  She  will  take  on  another  form  to  your 
eyes.  Insular  European,  you  must  use  moderation  and  justice;  you 
must  appreciate  the  great  advantages  that  you  derive  from  the  New 
World  that  your  arms  have  fertilized.  You  need  not  resort  to  extreme 
and  foolish  measures  with  the  men  who  furnish  you  support  and  make 
of  their  wealth  an  ofEense.  In  fact  you  would  enjoy  the  comforts  of 
peace.  While  you  are  in  a  fatal  crisis,  you  seek  to  make  victims,  you 
proclaim  a  despotism  toward  a  peaceful  people.  And  far  from  being 
submissive  or  frightened  you  will  have  inspired  nothing  but  hatred  and 
a  sovereign  contempt. 

"You  have  thought  to  stun,  to  take  by  force,  the  world.  Y^'ou  may 
instead  become  its  support  and  prey.  In  a  word,  America  is  for  England, 
a  country  of  proscription.  Such  are  the  stubborn  Ensflish.  The  effects 
of  an  ambition  without  limit;  such  are  the  results  of  false  combinations; 
such  is  the  reward  destined  for  the  infamous  tyranny."  ^ 

It  will  be  noted  that  in  this  address,  while  all  mention  of  the  United 
States  is  omitted,  his  complaints  are  all  directed  against  the  British" 
government. 

The  company  left  Cahokii  on  the  third  of  October  witli  fo"tv-one 
men,  expecting  that  others  would  meet  them  at  Ouia.-  The  journal 
or  orderly  bock,  of  LaBalm  begins  on  tlic   ISth   dav  of  October.  ITSO. 


'aEndorsed  "address  to  the  Canadians,"  found  in  the  papers  of  Colonel  de  la  Balms. 
=bMich.  Hist.  Society  X.,  44S. 


117 

On  that  date  he  was  at  Ouia,  devising  rules  for  the  orderly  march  of 
his  little  army,  and  making  preparations  for  an  immediate  advance. 
With  103  men  he  proceeded  to  the  Miami  town,  where  was  located  the 
store  house  of  Beaubien.  They  were  well  mounted  and  were  only  four 
days  on  the  road.  His  journal  contains  the  rules  he  laid  down  for 
the  preservation  of  order  and  the  prevention  of  plundering  and  other 
disgraceful  actions  of  soldiers  not  under  proper  control.^ 

He  remained  twelve  days  at  Miami,  waiting  for  troops  that  were  ex- 
pected to  arrive  from  Vincennes.  He  hoped  to  assemble  there  a  body 
of  four  hundred  Canadians  and  Indians.  Looking  upon  Beaubien  as 
an  enemy  to  their  cause,  La  Balm  seized  his  goods,  provided  his  follow- 
ers with  such  articles  as  they  needed,  and  ordered  the  rest  divided  into 
three  parts.  One  portion  was  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  levy  of  the 
legion.  Another  portion  was  reserved  for  the  Indians,  both  those  with 
the  army  and  those  who  were  to  join  them.  The  remaining  portion 
was  reserved  for  the  "French,  including  the  officers,  except,  of  course, 
those  who  return  from  Miami,  with  the  exception  of  the  interpreter, 
will  have  only  a  half  share,  because  it  would  not  be  fair  for  them  to  be 
treated  as  well  as  those  who  are  destined  to  free  their  compatriots  at 
Detroit  and  the  other  French." 

At  the  time  of  LaBalm's  entry  into  the  Miami  towns,  most  of  the 
Indians  were  absent,  and  it  was  not  until  he  had  been  there  twelve 
days  that  they  began  to  return.  After  waiting  so  many  days  without 
word  from  the  remainder  of  his  troops,  LaBalm  feared  that  they  would 
not  arrive  in  time  to  proceed  with  him,  and  he  withdrew  with  the  plun- 
der that  he  had  collected,  to  Aboite  Creek,  some  sixteen  miles.  The 
different  accounts  all  agree  that  here  he  was  attacked  in  the  night  by 
the  Indians  under  Little  Turtle,  urged  on  by  Beaubien  and  Lafountaine, 
who  had  returned  to  their  home  only  to  find  their  home  robbed  and 
had  followed  up  the  maurauders.  LeBalm  was  taken  by  surprise  by  the 
night  attack,  and  was  soon  defeated  in  the  engagement  that  followed. 
LaBalm  and  many  of  his  followers  were  killed,  and  many  others  taken 
prisoners  and  carried  to  Detroit. 

The  first  news  of  LaBalm's  battle,  although  imperfect  in  some  par- 
ticulars, contains  some  information  not  in  the  subsequent  reports. 
DePeyster  wrote,  on  November  13th:  "A  detachment  of  Canadians 
from  the  Illinois  and  Post  Vincent  arrived  there  (at  the  Miami's 
town)  about  ten  days  ago,  and  entered  the  village,  took  the  horses,  de- 
stroyed the  horned  cattle,  and  plundered  a  store  I  allowed  to  be  kept 
there  for  the  convenience  of  the  Indians,  who  soon  after  assembled 
and  attacked  the  Canadians,  led  by  a  French  colonel,  whose  commis- 
sion I  have  the  honor  to  enclose.  The  Miami,  receiving  the  fire  of  the 
enemy,  had  five  of  their  party  killed,  being,  however,  more  resolute 
than  savages  are  in  general,  they  beat  off  the  enemy,  killed  thirtv  and 


'See  Journal.    Appendix  5. 


118 

took  LaBaliii  prisoner,  with  his  papers  which  I  also  enclose.  I  expect 
the  colonel  in  every  hour."  "You  will  see  from  this  that  this  excur- 
sion was  no  less  an  attempt  on  Detroit,  independent  of  the  rebels."  ^ 

La  Salle's  storv  of  LaBalni  is  sli.irhtly  diffin-ent  and  irivos  other  de- 
tails. He  says  that  LaBalm  took  possession  of  the  Miami  village  with- 
out resistance,  and  remained  there  some  days  ti-ying  to  win  over  the 
six  or  eight  French  traders  to  his  cause.  After  plundering  Beaubien's 
storehouse,  he  retired  to  near  Aboite  Creek  and  encamped.  Beaubien 
and  Lafontaine  incited  the  Indians  to  follow  and  attack  LaBalm.  They 
soon  collected  the  warriors  under  their  chief,  Little  Turtle,  and  fell 
upon  the  French  in  the  night  time,  killing  nearly  all  of  them.^ 

That  LaBalm  succeeded  in  raisino;  an  armv  and  ijroceedin^  so  far 
on  his  way  to  Detroit  without  a  note  of  warning  being  sent  to  DePey- 
ster,  the  officer  in  charge  of  that  place,  was  a  matter  of  surprise  to  the 
military  department.  DePeyster  wrote  concerning  it:  "But  what 
astonished  me  was  that  they  were  near  twelve  days  at  Miami,  before 
we  got  the  account  of  it  here."  Haldimand  said  that  "it  was  cer- 
tainly the  beginning  of  a  general  attack  planned  against  the  province." 
He  thought,  however,  that  the  Miami  Indians  were  acting  from  inter- 
ested motives,  in  not  conveying  notice  of  LaBalm's  approach  to  the 
British.^  The  Indians,  themselves,  said  it  was  because  LaBalm's  sol- 
diers would  not  permit  them  to  leave  their  village. 

It  was  some  time  before  information  of  the  affair  reached  Governor 
Haldimand,  but  when  the  news  came  to  him,  he  immediately  wrote 
to  DePeyster,  as  follows:  "I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  15th 
of   November,   reporting  the   defeat  of  _Mons.   LaBalm,   and   transmit- 


'Mich.  Hist.  Soc.  XIX,  581.  LaBalm's  aide,  Rh6,  (or  Rey)  said  there  were  four  hundred  men 
under  LaBalm,  but  only  tliree  hundred  of  them  reached  the  Miami  town.  Ibid  582.  Dr.  Rey.  "Our 
little  doctor,"  as  he  is  called  in  one  place,  was  carried  to  Detroit,  and  there  gave  an  account  of  the  en- 
tire exploit.  Mich.  Hist.  Soc.  X,  448.  It  is  to  be  regreted  that  Rey's  account  was  not  reduced  to  writing 
for  preservation. 

Quebec,  3rd,  Deer.,  1780. 
Lord  Geo.  Germain, 

My  Lord— "I  retarded  the  sailing  of  the  last  vessel  from  this  Post  in  hopes  of  the  Arrival  of  an  Express 
from  Halifax  wth  the  Dispatches  which  were  on  board  the  "Garland"  Frigate  for  me,  &  with  a  -s-iew 
to  give  Your  Lordship  account  as  late  as  possible  from  this  Country. 

"The  Vessel  would  have  sailed  yesterday  had  it  not  been  on  shore  for  want  of  Precaution  of  the  master 
in  not  bringing  it  to  the  proper  Wharf,  the  weather  has  set  in  so  very  cold  &  the  Ice  forms  so  fast  that  there 
is  a  risk  of  the  vessel  not  getting  away,  however  its  stay  has  given  me  time  to  receive  this  day  letters  from 
Detroit  &  Niagara  which  confirms  the  loss  of  the  armed  ship  "Ontario, "  upon  the  lake  of  the  same  name 

Inclosed  is  a  return  of  the  officers  &  others  wlio  perished  on  that  occasion. 

"I  likewise  sent  your  Lordship  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Major  de  Peyster  ofthe  8th  Regiment  who  com- 
manded at  Detroit,  I  consider  this  atteriipt  of  Colonel  Balme  as  in  part  ofthe  execution  of  that  Plan  which 
the  Enemy  has  formed — I  am  sorry  to  find  the  Canadians  in  the  Upper  Country  are  so  lost  to  a  sense 
of  their  Duty  &  are  so  much  inclined  to  favor  the  Plan  ofthe  Enemy— The  necessity  of  a  strong  Force 
in  order  to  guard  so  extensive  a  Country  is  e\ident.  Your  Lordship  will  likewise" observe  how  very 
incumbent  it  is  upon  the  Commanding  Officer  at  Detroit  to  take  care  what  kind  of  men  he  allows  to 
go  as  Traders  into  the  Indian  Country— The  present  is  not  the  time  for  pushing  Commerce,  it  is  that 
of  Defence,  &  nothing  will  more  tend  to  keep  the  Indian  Allies  to  their  E)uty  than  to  make  them  feel 
a  Dependence  upon  the  King  their  Father  for  such  goods  as  have  now  become  in  some  manner  neces- 
sary to  their  existence .  I  know  that  the  Traders,  either  ignorant  of  the  necessity,  or  indifferent  to  every 
Consideration  but  that  of  interest,  will  not  fail  to  complain  against  the  Commanding  Officer  as  being 
influenced  by  Partiality  in  the  choice  ofthe  Traders,  whom  he  sends  there,  but  such  is  the  Misfortune 
in  this  distant  Country,  that  an  Officer  who  does  his  Duty,  must  sufEer  trie  abuse  of  Popular  clamor 
till  such  time  as  experience  will  discover  his  motives  &  justify  his  conduct. 

I  have  the  Honor  to  be,  &ca.  &ca., 

(Signed)  Fred  Haldimand. 
Can.  Arch.  Series  B^  Vol.  57,  pt.  2,  p.  316. 

-Brice's  Hist.  Fort  Wayne,  p.  104.    The  Aboite  was  a  small  stream  emptying  into  the  Wabash 
above  Fort  Waj-ne.    Law's  Hist,  of  Vincennes,  where  there  are  several  notes  on  LaBalm,  p.  133.    Dil- 
lon's Hist.  Ind.,  Vol.  I,  p.  189. 
'Mich.  Hist.  Soc.  IX,  641. 


119 

ting  his  commission,  etc.  I  consider  this  event  as  a  very  fortunate 
circumstance,  and  recommend  strongly  to  you  to  study  every  means 
by  which  it  can  be  improved.  It  was  certainly  the  beginning  of  a 
general  attack  planned  upon  this  province,  which,  from  different  in- 
telligence, I  have  received,  I  have  every  reason  to  think  will  be  attempted 
in  the  spring  against  the  upper  posts.^ 

The  affair  was  a  sensation  to  the  officers  and  commandants.  It  con- 
veyed a  threat  of  something  of  more  importance  yet  to  come  and  put  the 
posts  on  the  lookout.  The  logical  point  for  an  attack  on  Canada  was 
Quebec,  as  the  capture  and  retention  of  that  stronghold  would  have  put 
all  the  western  posts  at  the  mercy  of  the  Americans,  but  it  appeared 
now  that  the  attack  was  to  come  from  the  west  and  that  with  the  aid 
of  the  Canadians,  Detroit  and  Mackinac  would  soon  be  taken  and  filled 
wiith  troops  friendly  to  the  rebels,  who  would  soon  sweep  down  upon 
Montreal  and  Quebec.  How  thankful  Avere  the  British  that  the  first 
attack  had  met  with  so  severe  a  repulse ! 

Every  precaution  was  made  to  prevent  a  further  surprise.  Addi- 
tional troops  were  sent  to  Detroit.  The  store  house  of  Beaubien  was  re- 
plenished. Disaffected  people  at  Detroit  and  Mackinac  were  ordered 
from  the  county,  or  were  forcibly  carried  as  prisoners  to  Quebec. 
DePeyster  was  a  capable  commandant  and  he  was  retained  in  his  posi- 
tion at  Detroit  until  after  the  war  was  ended.  The  states  were  too  poor 
in  money  and  men  to  make  an  attack  on  Detroit  that  could  carry  it. 
Bird,  McKee,  Elliott,  and  the  Girtys,  with  their  Indian  companions, 
invaded  the  southern  country  time  and  again  and  carried  back  to  De- 
troit plunder  and  scalps  and  prisoners,  and  no  resistance  of  any  im- 
portance was  ever  offered  them. 

In  the  summer  of  1780,  DePeyster  had  sent  several  detachments  with 
Indians  to  annoy  the  settlers  on  the  frontier  and  in  Kentucky.  McKee 
and  Bird  had  returned  from  one  of  these  expeditions  in  August,  and 
McKee  had  immediately  set  out  to  arouse  the  Indians  for  another  at- 
tempt.^ 

He  was  to  receive  the  support  of  the  rangers  and  Chabert's  Canadian 
Volunteers.  Eumors  were  afloat  that  the  Americans  were  coming  from 
Fort  Pitt  and  the  Creoles  were  about  to  attack  Mackinac,  but  Lhere  is 
no  mention  in  any  of  the  official  reports  that  there  was  anything  wrong 


'Misc.  of  an  ofScer.  250.    Letter  dated  Jan.  6,  1781. 

"In  vain  shall  medicine  kettles  boU, 
They'll  not  repay  the  juggler's  toil; 
Each  path  would  soon  be  covered  o'er 
With  brains,  stones  and  human  gore, 
While  troubled  waters  lash  the  shore, 
Observe  the  wretched  Kickapoose: 
What  have  they  gained  bj'  Lenctot's  news? 
The  Ottagams,  Pioreas  and  Sacks, 
Have  scarce  a  blanket  on  their  backs." 
Miscellanies  of  an  Officer.    (Arent  Schuyler  DePeyster.)    Original  edition,  (1813),  p.  20.    Reprint, 
p.  7. 

In  one  of  his  letters  to  the  Indians,  DePeyster  says:  "  Send  me  that  little  babbling  Frenchman,  named 
Monsieur  Linctot,  he  who  poisons  your  ears,  one  of  those  who  says  he  can  amuse  you  witli  words  only. 
Send  him  to  me  or  be  the  means  of  my  getting  him,  and  I  will  then  put  confidence  in  you.  I  then  will 
deal  with  you  as  with  the  other  Indians  whom  I  call  my  friends,  my  brothers  and  my  children,  and 
to  whom  I  request  you  to  give  free  passage  and  kind  entertainment.  If  you  have  not  an  opportunity 
to  bring  me  the  little  Frenchman,  you  may  bring  me  some  Virginia  prisoners . ' '  Misc.  of  an  officer,  p .  252 . 
=Mich.  Hist.  Soe.  X,  420. 


120 

in  the  direction  of  Kaskaskia.  The  proceedings  of  LaBalm  were 
entirely  unknown  to  the  British  Military  Department,  and  no  informa- 
tion concerning  him  or  his  enterprise  was  conveyed  to  Detroit,  except 
the  letter  from  Bentley,  elsewhere  mentioned.  The  Indians  from  St. 
Joseph  to  the  number  of  200,  came  to  Detroit  with  Dequiodre  in  the 
last  of  August.^ 

There  lias  been  some  claim  uiade  that  LaBalm  planned  the  sacking 
of  St.  Joseph,  which  took  place  some  time  after  the  battle  of  the 
Miamis.  This  would  seem  to  be  hardly  probable  as  that  affair  occurred 
after  LaBalm's  death  and  resulted  from  an  incursion  led  by  a  half- 
breed  French-Indian,  Hamelin,  and  an  Irishman,  Thomas  Brady.  It 
was  organized  for  plunder  only.  The  robbers  retreated  up  the  lake 
shores  until  they  were  overtaken  by  the  Indians,  who  had  returned  io 
St.  Joseph.  Several  of  them  were  killed.  Brady  was  taken  a  prisoner 
to  Detroit,  where  he  informed  DePeyster  that  he  no  longer  wished  to 
live  under  the  American  flag.  He  subsequently  escaped  and  returned 
to  his  old  home. 

It  was  Dequindre  who  led  these  Indians  when  they  defeated  the 
raiders  Hamelin  and  Brady  after  they  had  sacked  St.  Joseph.  The  de- 
feat at  St.  Joseph  and  Miamis  encouraged  the  Indians  to  adhere  to  the 
British.2 

Perhaps  it  was  just  as  well,  for  the  final  result  of  the  war.  that 
LaBalm  met  defeat  at  the  time  he  did,  but  we  are  inclined  to  think 
as  the  Spanish  Governor  at  that  time  wrote  concerning  him :  "I  am 
very  sorry  for  what  has  happened  to  Monsieur  LaBalme,  and  that,  in 
my  opinion,  the  same  had  a  great  part  in  having,  perhaps,  attempted 
with  improduence,  an  undertaking  which  needed  more  time,  more 
strength  and  better  circumstances.^ 


APPENDIX  I. 
LaBalm's  Proposal. 

Colonel  de  laBalme  proposes  to  enter  the  American  service. 

Considering  the  advantage  which  the  Americans  can  have  over  the 
Eoyalists,  it  is  in  their  power  to  provide  themselves  with  cavalry.  That 
branch  of  the  service  is  the  most  active  and  the  most  destructive  when 
given  free  rein,  is  a  source  of  great  strength  in  battle,  where  it  nearly 
always  determines  the  result,  and  especially  in  a  close  campaign.  That 
is  a  fact  generally  admitted. 

M.  de  la  Balme  offers  to  get  ready,  in  three  months,  four  hundred 
horse  and  some  Indians,  as  it  will  be  necessary  to  instruct  some  men  to 
direct  them  with  effect  against  the  enemy  and  to  execute  the  necessary 
evolutions  dependent  on  circumstances,  he  asks: 


'Can.  Archives,  B.  122,  p.  537. 

=Mich.  Hist.  X,  465.    Clark  attempted  ,in  1779,  to  raise  troops  to  attack  St.  Joseph,  destroy  the 
fortifications  and  return  with  the  stores  to  Louisville.    The  party  to  lead  this  expedition  was  J'ames 
Selby.  •  DePeyster  reported  that  Selby  was  unable  to  obtain  volunteers  for  this  expedition,  for  they 
had  no  shoes,  and  consequently  could  hot  undertake  it.    Can.  Arch.,  B.  1S4,  p.  131. 
=  Letter  of  Martin  Navarro,  translated  in  Wis.  Hist.  Col.,  XVIII,  423. 


121 

1st.  To  be  chief  of  that  corps,  to  command  it  under  the  orders  of 
the  general,  to  advise  the  council  in  those  matters  which  it  appears  to 
him  are  most  suited  for  that  kind  of  service. 

2nd.  To  have  the  expenses  of  the  journey  defrayed  as  well  as  those 
of  one  or  two  persons  of  his  suite. 

As  to  equipment  M.  de  la  Balme  does  not  ask  that  it  be  considerable. 
It  is  not  as  a  mercenary  that  he  would  use  his  arms  and  the  talent  with 
which  he  is  perhaps  endowed,  but  as  a  zealous  and  intrepid  defender  of 
liberty. 

Notice  M.  de  la  Balme  names  many  persons  of  the  first  rank  who  will 
bear  witness  to  the  honesty  of  his  character  and  his  military  capacit}^,  on 
request. 

Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress. 
78.     VII,  f.  155 

Eegulation  of  the  Honourable  the  Congress  for  the  Troops  of  the 
Continent  of  America,  which  the  United  States  maintain,  to  defend  their 
respective  Eights  against  the  unjust  Encroachments  of  the  British  King 
and  Parliament. 


Containing 

7 

Articles 


Chapter  the  First 

Dispositions  for  a  Campaign.    2  of  Provisions,  3  of  Magazines  4  of  Subsistance  5  o 
Distributions  6  Deposits  and  7  of  Carriages  and  Equipages. 


Containing 

7 

Articles 


Chapter  the  Second. 

1  of  Levies  2  of  the  Assembling  of  Troops.  .3  of  cloathing  them  4  of  the  Formation  of 
different  Corps  5  of  their  Duty,  6  of  the  order  of  Battle  either  for  the  Offensive  part  or  for 
a  Defencive. 


Containing 

6 

Articles 


Chapter  the  Third. 

1  of  the  Manual  of  the  Gun  2  of  the  Attack  or  the  Defence  of  the  Post  3  of  Evolutions 
4  of  the  Charges  5  of  the  Retreat  6  of  the  Duty  of  O  fficers  in  General  and  that  of  a  Soldier. 


Containing 

6 

Articles 


Chapter  the  Fourth. 

1  of  Flying  Camps  2  of  Detachments  3  of  Corps  of  Observation  4  of  Guards  5  of  the  Parole 
6  of  Order. 


Containing 
9 

Articles 


Chapter  the  Fifth. 

1  of  Marches  2  of  lying  on  their  Arms  3  of  Encamping  4  of  Quarters  5  of  Leave  of  Absence 
6  of  Furlows  limited  or  absolute  and  7  of  MUitary  Rewards  or  Punishments. 


37  Articles  in 
5  Chapters. 


'Note.  These  5  Chapters  containing  but  37  Articles,  it  will  be  very 
easy  for  every  military  Person  to  instruct  himself  in  the  Principles 
of  War,  which  it  is  indispensably  necessary  for  him  to  understand  well 
in  order  for  him  to  be  entitled  to  success  in  Arms.  As  to  the  Evolutions 
of  the  different.  Troops  I  shall  give  Plans  of  them  with  an  E'xplanation 
which  will  make  them  easy  to  be  understood  by  every  one;  And  by 
simplifying  them  and  adapting  them  to  the  Nature  of  the  Country  in 
which  the  War  is  carried  on,  and  to  the  learning  and  genius  of  the 


122 


Individuals  which  compose  the  American  Army  relative  to  the  duty  of 
different  Corps,  I  doubt  they  may  be  perfectly  learned  in  less  than  two 
Months  by  only  exercising  the  Troops  once  or  twice  P  week,  two  hours 


each  time. 


APPENDIX  11. 


Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress. 
Xo.  78  YII  folio  149. 

Letter  from  Mons.  de  la  Balm, 
read  13  Jany.  1778 

referred  the  board  of  war 
Colo,  de  la  Balme 

no  date  Eecd.  &  ansd. 
11  Jany.  1778. 
Sir. 

In  Consideration  of  the  Zeal  for  the  American  Cause  which  animates 
me,  suffer  me  to  remind  you,  that  there  is  already  some  considerable 
time  elapsed  since  I  had  the  Honour  of  communicating  to  you  a  Hint 
concerning  Canada.  In  War,  Success  is  frequently  merited  by  a  timely 
Attention,  especially  in  Expeditions  which  require  the  Assistance  of 
particular  Seasons. 

I  know  not  whether  the  Eevolution  which  I  propose  to  excite  in  that 
Country,  is  thought  of  little  Importance.  Upon  a  simple  State  of  the 
Business,  such  as  that  which  I  gave  in,  it  is  very  possible  to  entertain 
an  unfavourable  idea  of  it.  But  let  me  beg  it  as  a  favour,  not  to  be 
condemned  unheard.  I  have  such  Eeasons  to  oppose  to  the  Objections 
which  may  be  made  to  my  Proposal  as  will  I  dare  hope,  sufficiently 
justify  it. 

Without  entering  here  into  the  Detail  necessary  to  discuss  my  Opin- 
ion with  Judgment  I  may  in  the  mean  time  say.  That  the  English 
seeing  us  attempt  nothing  on  Canada,  and  leaving  only  feeble  Garrisons 
to  guard  it  may  from  thence  afford  Genl.  Howe  considerable  Eeinforc- 
ments,  and  act  vigourously  in  Concert  with  him  in  any  other  Part  of 
the  Continent 

Deprived  in  part  of  the  Advantages  of  Commerce,  irritated  by  the 
vague  Promises  of  an  obstinate  King  and  Parliament,  over  charged  with 
Taxes,  and  burthered  with  a  War  which  they  are  forced  to  carry  on 
against  Countries  too  distant  for  a  People  whose  Credit  is  already 
exhausted,  The  English  Xation  will  soon  by  their  Joint  Clamour, 
extort  orders  to  their  Generals  to  use  Artifice,  Force  and  Violence  which 
commonly  degenerates  into  Cruelty.  Carleton  then  will  quit  his  mild 
manner  and  use  his  Authority.  He  in  the  last  Campaign  forced  500 
Canadians  to  take  up  Arms  against  America.  In  the  ensuing  he  may 
perhaps  enroll  5  or  6000,  whose  Assistance,  with  a  little  Foresight  we 
might  have  to  combat  the  Enemies  of  Libert}'  to  more  advantage. 


123 

I  hope  Sir  you  will  not  disapprove  of  Eeflexions  occasioned  by  the 
real  Attachment  which  I  have  to  a  Cause  equally  to  you,  and  that  you 
will  accept  of  the  respectful  Sentiments  with  which 

I  am  Sir 

Your  very  hble.   Servant  . 
De  La  Balme. 
I  take  the  Liberty  of  begging  you  would  inform  me  whether  the  Hon- 
ourable Congress  have  determined  any  thing  concerning  the  Continuance 
of  my  Appointments 


APPENDIX  III. 

Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress, 

No.  78.  VII  folio  15L 

The  Bt.  Honourable 

CoUonel  Lawrens — 
Presidt.  of  the  Honn'e.  Congress. 
Colo.  La  Balme 

Letter  from  Col.  de  la  Balme 

Yorktown  23  Jany.  1778. 

read  26. 

referred  to  the  board  of  war. 
Sir 

Always  in  hopes  of  concurring  to  the  good  success  of  the  American 
arms,  I  have  the  honour  to  offer  you  my  services  for  working  concur- 
rently with  any  other  Officer,  about  a  military  regulation,  of  which  a 
succinct  plan  is  hereby  inclosed.  As  soon  as  I've  been  able  to  examine 
attentively  your  troops  and  your  Army,  I've  been  sensible  of  the  urging 
necessity  you  are  in  for  drawing  a  general  Plan  concerning  the  Capital 
Operations,  and  the  duty  which  every  individual  ought  to  perform 
according  to  the  place  which  he  occupies. 

The  Eomans  were  always  repeating:  It  is  not  from  the  number,  nor 
from  a  blind  Valour;  that  the  Victory  is  to  be  expected;  but  it  is  from 
a  good  order  and  from  the  Knoivledge  of  ^Yar.  In  fact,  nothing  is  more 
like  a  Cahos,  specially  in  an  engagement,  than  an  Army  without  order, 
and  unacquainted  with  the  greatest  part  of  the  military  principle. 
Therefore,  as  all  the  Nations  who  alternatively  subdued  the  Known 
world,  always  paid  a  particular  regard  to  the  precepts  of  the  Art  of 
War,  and  as  people  who  have  no  notion  of  the  Laws  can't  be  considered 
as  infraction  of  them,  T  think  that  it  would  be  essential  in  this  rising 
State  to  prescribe  what  the  American  Soldiers  are  to  learn  and  to 
perform  exactly. 

I  have  already  made  that  proposal,  to  one  of  the  members  of  the  Honn'e. 
Congress  a  long  while  ago,  but  he  did  not  take  any  notice  of  it,  I 
suppose  by  some  well  groimded  motives  which  I  don't  know,  and  which 
I  never  tried  to  hear.  However  it  be,  if  you  think  I'm  able  to  undertake 
something  usefull  to  the  United  States,  give  me  the  means  of  shewing 
my  zeal  in  this  occasion,  and  of  employing  my  leasure  fructuousl}''.  It 
is  what  I  wish  the  most. 


124 

My  request  is  not  caused  by  a  blind  presumption.  I've  made  my 
own  study  of  the  Art  of  War  a  long  while  ago,  and  I  ask  to  work  only 
in  competition  with  every  other  Oiliccr,  persuaded  that  the  writings  of 
those  whose  opinions  are  more  right  and  conform  to  your  interest  will 
be  preferred.  It  is  in  that  manner  that  it  should  be  acted  when  it  is 
question  of  important  projects,  in  requiring  the  superior  Officers  to  give 
up  their  advice  by  writing.  Nothing  would  be  more  proper  for  con- 
taining a  great  many  people,  who  question  nothing,  when  they  are  only 
to  speak,  and  for  getting  out  of  conceit  with  those  with  a  foolish  pre- 
sumption, try  to  impose  upon  other  people.  For,  it  may  be  remarked 
that  in  this  age,  in  everything  and  every  Country,  selfish  interest  makes 
great  progress,  and  that  the  pernicious  spirit  of  gulling  is  creeping  in 
every  where. 

I've  the  honour  to  be,  with  a  respectuous  regard. 

Sir, 

Your  obedient  and  humble  Ser'v't. 
Col'o.  La  Balme. 
Yorktown  22'd.  Januarv 

1778. 

Librarv  of   Congress. 

In  "Old  Washington  Calendar."     George  Washington,  1732-1799. 

Manuscripts,  Vol.  6,  folio  235. 

Colo.  De  la  Balmes, 

(Endorsed).     Explanation  of  the  dutv  of  Inspector  General  of  Cavalry. 

1778. 
Colonel  de  la  Balme  has  the  honour  of  exposing  To  vour  excellency, 
That, 

The  duty  of  an  inspector  General  is  to  learn  a  troop  of  horses  how 
to  manage  Their  horses  and  dress  them  well,  to  look  over  Their  arms 
&  reimplace  new  one's  if  it  is  wanted,  to  have.  The  charge  of  The 
accoutrements,  furniture  &  generally  of  every  article  belonging  1o 
troop  of  cavalry  as  well  to  The  horses,  to  discipline  &  exercise  all  The 
different  regiments  of  light  horses. 

Colonel  la  Balme  shall  address  himself  to  his  excellency  every  Time 
he  shall  think  proper  to  make  some  alterations  in  order  to  have  The 
approbation  and  orders  of  The  commander  in  chief. 
Nota.  Colonel  la  Balme  intentions  are  to  simplifv  everv  Thins;  con- 
cerning  The  light  horse  troops  &  to  render  The  exercises  only  useful 
to  the  present  war  That  his  excellency  carries  on  on  This  continent, 
he  and  no  other  views  in  coming  to  america,  but  to  be  useful  &  live 
well  with  all  The  good  people  of  This  Country,  he  desires  nothing  ^o 
much  as  conciliating  The  hearts  and  friendship  of  all  The  gentlemen 
with  which  he  is  to  serve  in  order  That  he  might  contribute  to  The  good 
of  america  by  union  &  conCord  which  are  so  necessary  among  officers 
That  defend  so  good  a  cause. 

Colonel  la  Balme  beseech  your  excellency  to  be  sensible  of  it  till  he 
be  in  a  position  to  give  positive  proofs  of  his  behaviours  accordinglv. 


125 

APPENDIX  IV. 

To  the  Puhlic— 

Soon  doth  the  war,  that  Scourge  of  Man  exert  its  poignant  Eigours 
over  the  Country,  where  it  has  fixed  its  Seat — Even  by  that  War  which 
the  United  States  of  America  have  waged  to  defend  their  Eights, 
against  the  Ambitious  and  unjust  attempts  of  the  King  of  Great  Bri- 
tain and  his  Parliament,  many  Men,  as  well  Americans  as  strangers, 
have  been  reduced  to  dire  Miseries. 

Colonel  de  la  Balme,  a  French  officer,  sympathizing  with  their  dis- 
tresses, has  begun  to  erect  about  38  miles  from  Philadelphia  a  Eow  of 
Workshops,  where  such  of  those  Sufferers  who  are  destitute  of  any  other 
expedients,  may  honestly,  if  they  incline  to  Work,  by  means  of  their 
own  Labour,  overcome  the  difficulties  of  their  Misfortunes. 

Soldiers,  Sailors,  Deserters  from  any  Troops  (except  the  American 
Army  and  French  Navy)  Carpenters,  Bakers,  &c,  of  any  Number, 
shall  be  employed  if  possible  in  such  sort  of  Business  as  is  most  suita- 
ble to  their  Constitution,  Trade  and  Faculties.  They  shall  have  good 
wages,  victuals,  lodgings,  Fuel  Candles  and  Washing  at  the  Expense 
of  the  Ulidertaker,  and  if  he  be  satisfied  with  their  conduct  they  shall 
be  sufficiently  cloathed  so  as  to  Eepel  the  Eigours  of  Winter. 

Note — The  Diet  is  to  be:  Before  going  to  Work  a  Crust  of  Bread, 
&  a  Biscuit,  and  a  glass  of  the  best  Eum;  Breakfast,  Fruit,  Potatoes 
and  broil'd  meat;  For  Dinner,  Soup  and  boil'd  meat;  Supper,  Soup 
and  roasted  meat.  Fresh  meat  will  be  served  as  much  as  can  be,  and 
from  time  to  time  some  Beer  or  Cyder.'' 

Mons:  de  la  Balm  has  taken  and  always  shall  take  great  care  to 
chuse  for  his  Working  places  such  as  have  a  wholesome  Air  and  pure 
Waters;  and  in  General,  he  will  use  all  means  that  can  be  devised  by 
Man  for  the  Preservation  of  Health  of  the  Persons  to  be  employed 
by  him — an  advantage  which  is  very  valuable  to  everybody,  but  more 
especially  to  those  who  are  cast  upon  a  strange  Country. 

Any  person  wanting  Employ  may  enquire  of  Mr.  Charles  Berger, 
who  will  acquaint  them  with  the  particulars  of  the  hereinbefore  pro- 
posed Settlement.  He  lodges  with  M.  Panet,  master  of  the  French 
Language,  in  Cherry  Alley,  at  Philadelphia. 

Those  who  will  agree  and  be  of  good  Morals,  in  good  Bodily  Health 
and  Strength,  and  willing  to  make  the  best  use  thereof.  Drunkards, 
Men  of  quarrelsome  and  Licentious  Dispositions,  stupid  and  slothful 
Fellows,  must  be  discharged  as  soon  as  they  discover  any  of  these  fail- 
ings; For  a  Watchful  eye  will  be  kept  over  all,  that  each  may  do  his 
work  at  the  best  of  his  abilities,  and  live  in  Peace  with  everyone.  And 
as  order  is  absolutely  requisite  where  a  certain  Number  of  Persons  are 
Collected,  and  the  success  of  their  Enterprises  most  always  depends 
thereon,  so  certain  Eegulations  are  made  to  which  every  Man  must 
oblige  himself  to  submit. 

Whatever  be  the  success  of  this  Undertaking,  the  author  shall  con- 
sider himself  doubly  recompenced  for  his  trouble  if  oh  one  side  he  can 


126 

give  some  Relief  to  infortunate  Men,  and  if,  on  the  other,  he  can  in 
greater  abundance  procnrc  such  Articles  as  the  Public  stands  in  need 
of,  and  of  which  Philadelphia  is  in  the  greatest  want. 

Note — Shortly  will  be  mentioned  in  the  Public  Papers  the  Place  in 
the  City  of  Philadelphia  where  a  Magazine  is  to  be  kept  of  Timber  & 
Wood  for  Carpenters,  Turners.  Joiners,  Wheelwrights,  Firewood  and 
Cedar  prepared  for  making  Inclosures,  which  will  be  sold  rather  cheap- 
er than  the  ordinary  prices. 
Philadelphia,  Printed  by  Henry  Miller,  1778. 

— Canadian  Archives,  B.  18-i,  pt.  II,  p.  398. 


APPENDIX  V. 

Order  given  today  the  18th  of  October,  1780,  by  Colonel  de  la  Balme 
to  his  division. 

Colonel  de  la  Balme  orders  all  the  young  men  who  have  come  with 
him  to  the  Ouyas,  to  conduct  themselves  properly,  to  overhaul  their 
arms  so  that  they  will  lack  nothing  on  the  expedition  which  he  proposes 
to  make,  to  keep  their  arms  in  the  best  condition  possible,  not  to  wander 
aside  at  their  leisure  without  his  permission :  to  use  fair  means  in  their 
treatment  of  the  inhabitants  of  Ouyas,  who  are  well  disposed  to  enter- 
tain us  in  their  homes  among  them,  to  care  for  their  horses,  taking  good 
care  that  they  do  not  stray  off,  to  live  among  them  on  friendly  terms,  to 
conduct  themselves  as  becomes  soldiers,  to  impart  to  Col.  de  la  Balme 
whatever  information  they  can  obtain  conducing  to  the  success  of  the 
expedition  which  he  proposes,  to  observe  the  most  careful  secrecy  regard- 
ing it,  to  bring  along  with  them  the  leaden  bullets  which  were  distributed 
among  them,  not  to  wander  ofl:  at  night,  to  hold  themselves  ready  to  be 
called,  because  the  small  number  of  men,  and  their  fatigue,  will  not 
permit  a  guard  to  be  posted. 

Colonel  de  la  Balme  has  too  good  an  opinion  of  the  young  men  who 
have  been  willing  to  follow  him  not  to  expect  that  they  will  conform 
to  this,  his  order. 

Signed, 

Col.  de  la  Balme. 
Order  given  the  18th  at  Ouya. 

The  soldiers  of  the  expedition  under  project  are  ordered  to  hold  them- 
selves in  readiness  for  instant  departure.  To  that  end  M.  Plasq  will 
distribute  provisions  necessary  for  twelve  days  and  forty  rounds  of 
powder  and  ball  to  each.  They  will  assemble  at  three  o'clock  at  the 
house  of  M.  Magnau  in  order  to  have  the  time  needed  to  prepare  for 
departure  or  try  to  assist  the  foot-soldiers  as  much  as  possible. 

Colonel  de  la  Balme  commands  constant  observance  of  the  silence 
and  secrecy  so  necessary  to  the  success  of  the  enterprise  and  and  he  asks 
them  to  inform  him  concerning  all  matters  conducive  to  it.  The  inhabit- 
ants of  Ouya  who  propose  to  join  the  detachment  are  invited  to  meet  at 
the  rendezvous  announced  above,  in  order  that  their  names  and  number 


121 

may  be  obtained.  The  more  there  are,  the  better  things  will  go.  All 
the  French  have  the  same  interests.  It  is  the  cause  of  all  which  has 
induced  us  to  march  against  our  common  enemies.  Accordingly  we 
have  the  same  reason  to  end  our  troubles  and  expose  the  cruelties  which 
have  tormented  us  every  day,  by  vigorous  action. 

Signed, 

Col.  de  la  Balme. 
Order  of  the  19th  given  at  Ouya. 

Captains  Plasq  and  Cravoin  are  requested  by  Colonel  de  la  Balme  to 
make  arrangements  necessary  to  have  twelve  young  men  mount  guard 
today.  They  will  assemble  at  ten  o'clock  precisely  before  the  house  of 
M.  Magnau  for  inspection  by  the  Colonel  who  expects  that  his  young 
soldiers  will  be  in  good  military  order. 

A  sentinel  will  be  placed  outside  of  each  of  the  gates  of  the  fort, 
who  will  be  on  duty  two  hours,  and  each  of  the  others  will  do  the  same 
to  complete  the  twenty-four  hours.  Their  orders  will  be  to  cry  "Qui 
Vive"  to  all  men  they  can  see  when  they  are  within  hearing,  whether 
they  be  friends  or  enemies.  The  sentinels  will  cry  "Halt  there,"  and 
immediately  summon  the  guard  to  come  and  investigate.  He  will  detail 
five  men  who  will  march  two  by  two  preceded  by  the  officer  of  the  guard. 
When  they  are  within  hearing  they  will  cry  also  "Qui  Vive,"  ordering 
a  halt  to  the  troops  whether  they  are  friends  or  enemies.  They  will 
detail  one  man  to  advise  the  commandant  or  any  other  officer  of  the 
garrison.  The  rest  will  fall  back  to  the  sentinel  to  fire  together  upon 
the  enemy.  In  case  they  advance,  they  wall  load  their  guns  promptly 
after  having  closed  the  gate  of  the  fort,  crying  out  in  a  loud  voice  '^To 
arms !  To  arms !"  Then  all  the  soldiers  will  betake  themselves  to  the 
point  where  the  guard  calls  for  aid,  while  the  sentinel  on  the  opposite 
side  will  enter  the  gate,  and  close  it  quickly  if  the  enemy  have  not  come 
upon  him.    If  that  has  happened,  he  too,  will  call  out  loudly,  "To  arms !" 

The  officers  will  preserve  the  most  exact  order  possible  to  avoid  the 
confusion  which  usually  occurs  at  such  a  time. 

The  officers  are  requested  to  make  a  copy  of  this  order,  and  indeed  of 
the  preceding  ones  in  a  little  book  designed  for  the  purpose,  in  order  to 
read  them  several  times  to  the  troops  that  each  soldier  may  engrave  them 
on  his  memory  and  inform  himself  of  the  military  principles  which  will 
make  for  their  own  safety  and  for  the  success  of  our  undertaking. 

Signed, 

Col.  de  la  Balme. 
Order  of  the  21st,  given  at  Ouya. 

The  soldiers  of  the  detachment  are  requested  to  hold  themselves  ready 
to  mount  their  horses  before  the  gate  of  the  fort  at  two  o'clock  preciselv. 
Delitalieu  much  desires  to  take  upon  himself  to  distribute  to  the  soldiers 
of  post  Vincennes  provisions  sufficient  for  twelve  days,  to  refill  the 
powder  horns,  and  to  give  to  each  forty  bullets,  of  course  to  those  who 
shall  be  willing  to  come  with  us  to  our  friends  in  arms. 

Colonel  de  la  Balme  expects  that  they  will  all  hasten  to  the  post 
without  losing  an  instant  at  Ouya  because  the  briefest  moments  in  war 


128 

are  always  very  precious,  and  since  the  Colonel  is  persuaded  that  it  is 
not  their  fault  that  they  have  not  come  sooner,  he  will  preserve  for  them 
their  share  of  the  booty  which  he  hopes  to  seize  from  the  accursed  Baubin. 

If  the  men  of  Post  Vincennes  make  as  good  time  as  I  hope,  they  will 
join  us  at  the  first  arming,  or  Ave  will  be  compelled  to  wait  for  them  a 
while  in  order  to  set  together  for  La  Eoche  debout  where  provisions  and 
goods  await  us  to  change  hands.    . 

It  is  expressly  enjoined  that  each  man  shall  keep  his  distance,  march 
in  good  order  without  much  noise,  in  a  word  in  military  order. 

Signed, 

Col.  de  la  Balme. 
Order  of  the  22nd. 

The  officer  of  the  mounted  guard  will  march  preceded  by  the  light 
infantry  to  compose  the  advance  guard.  That  officer  and  his  troop  will 
regulate  their  march  so  that  they  will  be  only  about  two  thousand  paces 
from  the  army,  being  constantly  on  the  lookout  for  the  enemy,  to  prevent 
surprise.  He  will  moreover  take  care  not  to  let  any  one  pass  in  advance 
without  permission  in  writing  from  the  Commandant.  He  will  place 
under  arrest  all  those  whom  he  finds  on  his  route  whenever  it  is  possible 
for  him  to  do  it. 

Those  who  are  henceforth  found  in  advance  of  the  ordinary  guard  will 
be  arrested  and  will  be  tried  as  deserters  or  spies,  and  will  be  dealt  with 
according  to  the  decision  of  the  Council. 

The  march  will  be  made  at  a  pace  so  regulated  that  the  foot-soldiers 
laden  with  supplies  can  follow,  and  not  fall  prey  to  the  enemy. 

A=  for  those  who  are  compelled  to  stop  perhaps  from  some  accident, 
let  them  remove  themselves  a  little  from  the  line  of  march  in  order  not 
to  hinder  those  Avho  follow  them,  and  if  there  is  a  had  passage  or  they 
are  stopped  by  the  precedino-  file,  let  them  turn  to  right  and  left,  and 
do  their  best  not  to  stop  the  rest  of  the  column  and  to  pass  in  succes- 
sion, and  file  through  as  promptly  as  possible. 

It  is  enjoined  to  each  to  start  only  when  so  ordered,  and  to  live  to- 
gether peaceably  and  on  good  terms. 

On  the  march,  let  great  attention  to  rules  be  given,  preserving  a  dis- 
tance of  five  paces  only  between  the  men.  They  will  follow  the  column 
at  a  distance  of  a  thou-and  paces. 

The  greatest  silence  is  enjoined  always.  It  is  expressly  forbidden  to 
fire  arms.  If  we  are  attacked  by  night,  let  every  man  station  himself 
quickly  on  the  left  side  of  the  camp,  in  good  order  and  silently,  in  as 
close  a  formation  as  possible,  in  order  not  to  fire  on  our  troops,  and  to 
avoid  the  confusion,  which  is  always  too  great  on  such  occasions.  If  it 
is  necessary  to  retreat,  the  men  of  Ouya  and  Vincennes  post  will  set 
out  promptly  to  station  themselves  a  hundred  paces  in  the  rear  in  order 
to  place  themselves  advantageously  and  to  hold  themselves  ready  to 
fire  immediately  after  the  soldiers  have  retreated  a  hundred  paces  in 
order  to  station  themselves  better.  At  the  first  order,  load  promptly  in 
order  to  fire  when  the  others  have  passed  them.     Then  all  alternately 


129 

when  they  are  advised  of  the  same.  If  it  is  necessary  to  advance,  let 
them  do  it,  passing  always  at  the  same  distance,  and  marching  always 
as  far  as  possible  under  the  shelter  of  the  trees. 

The  officers  of  the  guard  will  keep  to  the  rear  in  order  to  give  the 
alarm  as  soon  as  possible,  while  the  officers  of  the  mounted  guard  will 
command  the  advance  guard,  and  when  he  has  information  to  give  he 
will  detail  a  man  instead  of  quitting  his  post,  and  in  case  he  (discovers) 
the  number  of  the  enemy  to  be  superior  to  his  own,  he  will  withdraw 
his  troop  quickly  without  discharging  their  guns. 

If  we  are  attacked  at  the  head  of  the  column  let  the  word  be  passed 
to  form  a  line  of  battle  at  the  front.  If  it  is  (at  the  rear)  of  the 
column,  in  that  case  one  will  stay  in  the  rear.  If  it  is  on  the  flank,  let 
it  cry  to  the  other  "In  battle  array !" 

The  officers  are  particularly  charged  to  preserve  good  order,  and  see 
that  no  one 

They  must  not  forget  that  they  should  set  a  good  example  on  all 
occasions. 

Signed, 

Col.  de  la  Balme. 
Order  of  the  23rd. 

Colonel  de  la  Balme  who  according  to  strict  military  procedure  should 
not  leave  the  body  of  his  army,  wishes  indeed  to  promote  the  success  of 
our  enterprise  by  going  on  the  advance  to  surround  the  post  of  Quia. 
He  asks  therefore  the  foot-soldiers  and  the  cavalry  who  have  the 
strongest  horses  to  accompany  him  and  help  to  carry  out  his  purpose. 

The  officers  of  the  guard  will  remain  to  watch  at  their  post  to  preserve 
carefully  good  order  in  the  guard,  to  prevent  disturbance  in  the  camp 
and  to  make  frequent  rounds  to  see  that  the  sentinels  are  obeying 
orders. 

It  is  an  example  which  they  must  set  and  a  duty  which  they  cannot 
in  any  way  escape. 

Signed, 

Col.  de  la  Balme. 
Order  of  the  25th. 

An  exact  observance  of  the  order  of  march,  silence  particularly  in 
approaching  the  Ouias,  good  order  on  entering  that  post  is  strictly 
enjoined.  The  sentinels  outside  as  well  as  within  will  take  great 
care  to  arrest  anyone  who  is  about  to  wander  away,  and  will  see  espe- 
cially that  no  one  carries  anything  away.  They  will  warn  the  com- 
mandant if  they  perceive  troops  or  Indians  who  are  assembled  to  a 
certain  number  and  stop  them  by  a  challenge,  close  to  where  they  have 
been  discovered. 

In  camp  likewise  let  great  care  be  taken  to  prevent  confusion  and 
tumult  in  order  to  hear  distinctly  the  orders  which  it  may  be  necessary 
to  give  in  case  of  unforseen  events  and  that  we  may  be  able  (to  act) 
with  diligence  in  collecting  our  baggage. 

I  enjoin  all  and  especially  the  officers  to  treat  with  consideration  the 
French  who  would  not  yield  to  the  infamous  solicitations  of  the  English, 

— 9  H  S 


130 

while  as  to  those  inhabitants  who  have  stirred  up  the  Indians  to  spill 
tlie  blood  of  their  compatriots,  let  them  be  seized.  If  they  resist  take 
them  at  once  imder  guard  to  tlie  house  of  Srs  Marts,  that  they  may  be 
prevented  from  seizing  arms  imder  pain  of  death  and  leaving  the  place 
where  they  shall  have  been  confined  without  any  sort  of  protestations 
until  the  Commandmant  has  given  them  permission. 

We  are  all  French,  therefore,  civilized,  honorable  intercourse  and 
pleasantries  are  permissible  between  us,  but  outrages,  violence,  par- 
ticularly toward  women,  are  entirely  forbidden  to  us.  The  sex  more 
wortliy  of  our  compassion  tlian  our  anger  demands  from  us  every  sort 
of  consideration. 

The  greatest  favor  tliat  the  soldiers  who  have  wished  to  join  the 
volunteers  and  Colonel  de  la  Balme  could  give  to  him  the  best  proof 
they  could  furnish  him  of  their  regard  lies  in  acting  in  obedience  to 
his  orders. 

It  suffices  that  the  decent  men  have  their  faces  in  their  hands  in  order 
not  to  succeed. 

Signed, 

Col.  de  la  Balme. 
Order  of  the  26th. 

Immediately  after  dinner  the  young  men  will  continue  to  mount  a 
guard  of  sixteen  men.  Colonel  de  la  Balme  to  be  inspected  solely  as  to 
their  arms  which  should  be  in  good  order  and  loaded  or  carried  along 
with  their  l^elongings,  which  are  elsewhere  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Coutures 
where  Mr.  Prive  is,  to  pass  order.  The  officers  must  take  great  pains 
in  that  respect. 

Colonel  de  la  Balme  would  be  denying  himself  a  great  satisfaction 
were  he  not  to  inform  the  young  men  who  have  followed  him,  that  their 
great  activity  and  their  resolution  has  given  him  the  greatest  satisfac- 
tion and  that  he  views  that  circumstances  in  the  light  of  a  certain 
presage  of  the  success  of  our  expedition. 

Signed, 

Col.  de  la  Balme. 
Order  of  the  27th. 

The  soldiers  arrived  at  Miami  and  those  who  are  coming  are  advised, 
as  they  have  already  been  to  hold  themselves  ready  to  depart  at  the  first 
command.  After  this  every  one  must  have  his  arms  in  readiness  and 
prepare  provisions  for  twenty  days,  he  must  go  to  the  tailors  who  will 
make  the  clothing  necessary  to  withstand  the  rigors  of  winter. 

All  the  young  men  except  those  who  form  the  guard  will  assemble 
before  the  house  of  Baubin  with  their  arms  and  their  equipment. 

M.  Newson  is  charged  (to  deliver)  to  the  Americans  the  orders  which 
are  given.  He  will  assist  as  well  as  M.  Saint  Core  and  Bapti  de  Lisle 
as  well  as  the  officers  in  the  distributions  and  other  necessary  details. 

The  officers  are  enjoined  to  exercise  kindness  and  civility  in  their 
commands  which  should  have  reference  only  to  what  concerns  the  order 
and  service,  and  when  it  happens  that  those  who  are  ordered  to  do 
such  and  such  thinsfs  that  mav  be  necessarv,  shall  refuse  io  obev  the 


131 

order,  the  officers  instead  of  using  violence  in  any  form,  will  report  to 
Colonel  de  la  Balme  who  after  having  given  the  order  himself  without 
being  obe3'ed,  will  pronounce  the  person  a  rebel  as  being  a  very  bad 
example  and  consequently  being  more  hurtful  than  useful  to  the  pro- 
jected enterprise. 

We  are  all  working  in  the  same  cause,  we  are  all  friends,  but  it  is 
necessarjr  that  officers  command  any  body  of  men  assembled,  if  they 
do  not  wish  to  be  regarded  as  brigands,  if  they  do  not  wish  to  make 
themselves  hated  by  himself,  one  succeeds  at  nothing.  Here  is  what 
each  soldier  must  do  and  he  must  conform  himself  to  that  absolutely. 

Signed, 

Col.  de  la  Balme. 

It  will  be  necessary  in  spite  of  their  fatigue,  for  the  late  arrivals  to 
auginent  the  guard  by  six  men  in  order  to  place  a  sentinel  outside  the 
post  within  hearing,  to  prevent  some  evil  minded  person  from  carrying 
off  some  of  our  canoes,  and  who  will  notify  the  guard  if  any  such  thing 
is  attempted. 

The  gentlemen  will  report  to  Colonel  de  la  Balme  concerning  the 
condition  in  which  they  find  affairs. 

The  young  men  who  propose  to  continue  their  career  in  this  enter- 
prise which  has  brought  us  together  will  declare  their  intentions  in 
that  regard.  It  is  proposed  to  all  those  of  Ouia,  and  other  young  men 
of  good  will  and  resolution,  that  they  make  known  their  intentions. 
They  will  enroll  therefore  tomorrow  morning  or  sometime  later  in 
the  day. 

After  the  food  and  ammunition,  the  arms  and  effects  which  belong 
to  the  Indians  and  the  necessary  clothing  as  well  as  the  stuff  destined 
to  clothe  them  is  deducted,  the  effects  which  are  still  at  Baubiens  will 
be  distributed  and  divided  according  to  the  announcement  made  above. 
The  goods  will  be  divided  into  three  parts. 

One  of  the  portions  is  intended  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  expedi- 
tion and  for  the  pay  of  the  legion.  The  two  others  will  be  distributed, 
the  one  to  the  Indians  as  presents  except  to  those  who  are  absent,  and 
the  other  to  the  French,  including  the  officers,  except  of  course  that 
those  who  return  from  Miami,  with  the  exception  of  the  interpreter, 
will  have  only  a  half  share  because  it  would  not  be  fair  for  them  to 
be  treated  as  well  as  those  who  are  destined  to  free  their  compatriots 
at  Detroit  and  the  other  French.  This  will  entitle  them  to  a  double 
recompense. 

The  persons  named  for  the  distribution  as  well  as  the  officers  will 
come  tomorrow  morning  from  nine  to  ten  o'clock  to  the  lodging  of  the 
Colonel  to  distribute  the  necessary  salt  and  corn  to  the  young  men. 

It  is  very  important  that  about  forty  or  fort^^-five  men  set  out  at 
the  earliest  moment  to  stop  the  loaded  canoes  which  are  coming  from 
the  Ouia,  before  those  who  conduct  them  are  warned  of  our  arrival. 
The  Colonel  will  give  to  this  detachment  such  written  instructions  as 
will  contribute  to  the  success  of  that  very  important  measure. 


132 

The  officers  will  take  great  care  from  this  moment  to  obtain  the  names 
of  those  persons  who  will  willingly  march,  and  report  their  condition 
to  the  Colonel  tomorrow  at  guard  mount. 

The  Colonel  observes  that  considerable  time  has  already  elapsed  since 
his  arrival  at  the  Quia,  If  he  had  had  men  the  detachment  would  have 
set  out  before  this.  Every  one  ought  to  perceive  that  the  least  delay  is 
harmful  to  his  interest.  Every  one  ought  to  consider  this  in  order  to 
receive  his  courage  in  consequence. 

Col  de  la  Balme. 


APPENDIX  VI. 

Information  concerning  the  Miamis,  etc.,  etc. 

What  is  the  quantity  and  nature  of  the  merchandise  which  is  at 
Miami  ? 

A  thousand  pounds  of  powder  and  of  lead  in  proportion,  arms, 
blankets,  cloth,  shirts,  and  other  merchandise  of  trade  value  at  about 
Fifty  Thousand  livres,  the  whole  in  the  warehouse  of  Beaubien  in 
charge  of  Monsieur  Lafountaine  and  an  old  man.  x\nother  warehouse 
of  M,  Montou,  an  associate  of  Beaubien  valued  at  about  Fifty  Thousand 
livres. 

"Who  are  the  inhabitants  to  whom  it  is  entrusted  and  their  names? 
their  character? 

Mons.  Barthelemy,  M.  Eivard,  Mons.  Sevrance,  M.  Guoin,  of  Detroit, 
M.  Lascelle,  M.  Pottervin,  M.  Paillet,  M.  Duplessy  and  other  individ- 
uals, equally  inclined  toward  the  cause,  an  American  named  George, 
who  is  moreover  a  Jew. 

What  are  the  posts,  where  there  are  traders  with  merchandise? 

LaEoche  du  Bout,  Twenty-four  leagues  from  Detroit,  a  depot  where 
there  are  ammunition,  provisions  and  a  trader.  There  must  not  be 
forgotten  the  canons  which  are  disposed  in  different  places  about  this 
post. 

Where  are  the  stations  to  which  the  English  look  for  help  for  the 
expedition  of  the  Chatouinons? 

Sandoisque  thirty  leagues  from  Detroit  by  Lake  Erie  where  they  can 
get  soldiers  who  support  the  Chatouinons  above  that  place  and  Grand 
Village. 

On  the  south  side. 

M.  Labelle,  father,  the  Beaubiens,  north  and  south,  M.  Magantel, 
Godet,  kinsman  of  M.  de  Placey,  Father  Potier,  a  good  old  man,  speak- 
ing Huron  (Morrisceau  mistrusts  him),  Melosche,  a  good  Frenchman, 
Drouillard  at  the  wind-mill,  Monforton  to  be  watched,  L'Angolis,  an 
honest  man.  Baby  a  merchant  at  the  fort,  Admer,  merchant,  a  dangerous 
man,  M.  Gregoire,  English,  a  thourough  scoundrel,  Navarre,  a  treacher- 
ous man,  and  Antonny  amounts  to  nothing,  Beaubien,  a  profligate. 


133 

On  the  north  side. 

Messierus  Chacehton,  merchant,  three  fourths  of  a  league  from  the 
fort,  to  whose  house  the  proud  Commandant  goes  now  and  then  to 
take  his 

When  he  invites  him  to  dine  he  would  find  good  company  there. 

The  distance  to  these  posts  ?  Who  are  the  Captains  of  the  Militia  and 
their  character? 

On  the  side  toward  the  Poux  (or  the  north)  1st.,  M.  Gamelin,  2nd 
Campeaux,  3rd.,  Battiste  Campeaux,  son,  Campeau  whose  company  has 
refused  to  march  is  responsible  for  it. 

On  the  south  side. 

How  many  companies  of  militia  are  there  at  Detroit? 

1st.,  Alexis  Maisonville,  a  dog  to  hang. 

2nd.,  M.  Bondy,  Bondy  whose  company  has  refused  to  march  and  who 
likewise  is  responsible  for  this. 

The  extent  of  the  south  side  by  and  large,  that  is  to  say  the  distance 
one  must  traverse  to  go  through  the  settlement? 

On  the  south  side  five  leagues  are  settled,  four  leagues  below  the  fort, 
and  one  above. 

On  the  north  side  an  extent  of  three  leagues,  and  one  toward  the 
Poulx. 

After  having  traversed  the  southern  shore  can  not  one  cross  to  the 
Isle  aux  Cochons  to  gain  the  north  shore? 

Yes,  above  from  the  east. 

Where  are  the  Americans? 

It  is  reported  that  they  are  in  -the  fort. 

How  far  can  one  approach  under  cover  in  order  to  gain  the  fort? 

What  are  the  Nations  and  their  number  to  be  found  around  Detroit 
who  are  to  be  feared,  or  to  whom  can  they  be  attached? 

The  Outaouis  to  the  number  of  Two  Hundred  fifty  are  for  us.  A 
small  village  of  Hurons  within  sight  of  the  Fort,  who  are  to  be  mis- 
trusted, and  who  may  be  won  over.  It  is  supposed  that  they  have  gone 
into  winter  quarters. 

A  man,  Pierre  DesauUiers,  interpreter  for  the  Hurons,  and  Isadore 
Chesne,  also  interpreter,  Tiicker,  English,  from  the  Fort  is  the  inter- 
preter for  the  Outaoiiais  and  the  Poux. 


134 


A. — Settlement  at  Detroit. 

B. — Isle  au  dinde. 

C— Isle  au  Bois  Blauu. 

D. — Michilimackinas,  whence  the  expedition  can  set  out. 

E. — Fort  Erie,  near  Niagara  where  there  is  a  portage. 

F. — Chicago,  portage  where  the  British  troops  may  be,  falls  into  the 
little  river,  then  into  the  Illinois,  then  into  the  Mississippi. 

G. — The  river  whence  one  can  go  from  Detroit  to  Fort  Duquesne, 
where  there  is  a  portage  from  presque  ile  of  seven  leagues. 
From  the  Miss  one  can  go  to  the  Lake  six  leagues  across  on  the 
lake,  twelve  leagues  from  the  lake  to  the  fort  of  Detroit.     It  is 
called  six  leagues  to  the  Detroit  Eiver. 

F. — Isle  au  coehon  Lac  St  Clair. 

G.— Lac  St  Clair. 

H. — Catoroconi. 

J. — Xiagara. 

K. — The  deer  route,  the  provision  post,  which  comes  from  Canada. 
Chonagin  where  one  can  step  the  passage,  or  where  one  can  sur- 
prise the  fort  on  the  Isle  du  H. 


135 


THE  SIEUES  DE  ST.  ANGE. 
By  Walter  B.  Douglas. 

I  have  undertaken  to  piece  together  the  story  of  the  lives  of  three 
men  of  one  family  all  of  whom  were  leaders  among  the  first  white  in- 
habitants of  the  Illinois  country. 

The  story  takes  its  beginning  at  a  time  when  Illinois  was  on  the 
border  of  Canada  and  Louisiana,  nearly  two  hundred  years  ago.  It 
closes  at  a  time  Avhen  the  Mississippi  Eiver  had  come  to  be  the  boun- 
dary line  between  the  possessions  of  Great  Britain  and  Spain,  fifty- 
four  years  later.  It  relates  to  three  men  who  were  called  by  the  name 
of  St.  Ange,  a  name  which  they  have  inefEaceably  interwoven  with  the 
liistory  of  Illinois,  of  Missouri,  of  Kansas,  of  Mississippi  and  of  In- 
diana. 

The  story  is  necessarily  a  short  one  because  of  the  dearth  of  ma- 
terials. The  early  Illinoisans  did  not  take  themselves  so  seriously  as 
did  the  Pilgrims  and  Puritans  of  Massachusetts.  It  never  occurred  to 
them  that  they  were  the  chosen  of  God  for  the  founding  of  a  new  em- 
pire. So  they  left  no  written  accounts  of  their  doings  except  such  aS 
were  required  by  official  duty,  and  many  of  those  still  remain  buried 
in  European  archives.  Bits  of  information  are  to  be  picked  up  here 
and  there,  and  when  they  are  put  together  in  like  manner  as  a  child 
assembles  the  sections  of  a  puzzle  map,  there  are  many  gaps  which 
cannot  be  filled. 

These  men  were  called  St.  Ange  probably  after  a  district  in  Canada 
known  as  la  cote  de  St.  Ange.  Names  among  the  French  at  that  time 
liad  not  the  stability  that  they  had  among  the  English ;  they  seemed 
to  be  personal  or  territorial  rather  than  family  designations.  For  in- 
stance, the  last  Spanish  governor  of  Upper  Louisiana  was  a  French- 
man named  De  Lassus;  his  father  was  called  Deluziere  and  his  brother, 
de   St.   Vrain.  ^ 

The  family  name  of  the  St.  Anges,  if  they  had  one,  was  Groston. 
The  eldest  of  the  three  is  designated  in  some  of  the  Canadian  records 
as  Eobert  Groston,  sometimes  Groston  dit  St.  Ange,  but  generally  de 
Ange.  Whether  the  particle  de  properly  indicates  that  the  family  was 
of  the  nobility,  has  been  questioned.  I  know  of  no  record  of  any  fief 
or  seigniory  which  belonged  to  it.  But  in  a  memoir  of  the  King  of 
France,  Robert  Groston  is  spoken  of  as  the  Sieur  de  St.  Ange,  and  that 
may  well  justifv  the  belief  that  he  was  not  assuming  a  rank  to  which 
he  was  not  entitled.^ 


'17  Wisconsin  Historical  Collections,  155. 


136 

"A  King  can  mak'  a  belted  knight, 
A  marquis,  duke  and  a'  that," 
and  for  a  King  to  call  a  man  such,  is  at  least  persuasive  evidence  that 
he  is  what  he  is  called. 

Kobert  Groston  de  St.  Ange  appears  to  have  been  an  European 
Frenchman,  from  the  province  of  Champagne.  When  he  came  to 
Canada  is  not  known.  Bienville  said,^  in  1736,  that  he  had  served 
tiie  King  for  fifty  years,  and  from  this  we  may  infer  that  he  was  in 
Canada  as  early  as  1686.  He  must,  therefore,  have  come  to  America 
and  entered  the  military  service  at  an  early  age.  He  is  said  to  have 
been  a  sergeant  in  the  Company  of  Noyan,  but  that  he  should  have 
held  siTch  a  rank  is  not  in  accord  with  the  knowTi  facts  of  his  later 
history,  and  is  not  to  be  credited  in  absence  of  satisfactory  evidence. 
He  married  in  1692,  Marguerite  Crevier.  The  name  Crevier  is  upon 
the  roll  of  an  assemblv  of  twenty  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Can- 
ada in  1678.^  According  to  the  great  Genealogical  Dictionary  of  the 
Abbe  Tanguay,^  Marguerite  Crevier  was  forty-seven  years  old  at  the 
time  of  this  marriage,  and  had  been  three  times  widowed.  Eight  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  marriage,  six  sons  and  two  daughters.  Madame 
Marguerite  died  in  1708,  leaving  seven  St.  Ange  children  surviving, 
the  youngest  being  six  years  old.  In  1718.  St.  Ange  married  for  his 
second  wife  Elizabeth  Chorel  de  Saint  Eomain,*  who  was  born  about 
the  year  1693.      Of  this  marriage  there  was  one  daughter,  Elizabeth. 

The  father;  the  eldest  son,  Pierre,  who  was  born  17  November.  1693; 
the  sixth  son,  Louis,  who  was  bom  20  February,  1702;  the  second  wife 
and  her  daughter,  became  inhabitants  of  Illinois,  and  all  died  here  ex- 
cepting the  two  sons ;  the  others  remained  in  Canada. 

jSTeither  the  name  of  Groston  or  of  St.  Ange  appears  in  history 
otherwise  than  in  connection  with  Eobert  de  St.  Ange  and  his  two 
sons.  It  is  a  notable  thing  how  out  of  the  throng  of  human  beings 
which  exists  with  no  more  apparent  historical  significance  than  the 
weeds  by  the  roadside,  there  springs  unheralded  some  man — a  Shakes- 
pere,  or  a  Lincoln — who  fixes  the  attention  of  the  world  for  all  time. 
For  the  St.  Anges  no  such  rank  can  be  claimed,  but  they  were  memora- 
ble figures,  well  worthy  of  a  place  in  the  fore  front  of  the  histor\^  of 
the  great  commonwealths  of  the  Mississinni   Valley. 

The  connection  between  St.  x'Vnge  and  Illinois  began  in  1721. 

Father  Charlevoix,  a  French  Jesuit,  was  charged  by  the  King  of 
France  with  the  duty  of  discovering  the  sea  of  the  West — the  Pacific 

'6  Margry,  Decouvertes  et  Etablissements  des  Fraucais  Vol.  6,  p.  448. 

-Rapport  de  M.  Edouard  Richard,  Supplement  des  Archives  Canadiennes  1899,  p.  67. 

^Dktionnaire  Genealoqique  des  Families  Canadiennes,  Par  L'Abbe  Tanguay,  Vol.  4,  p.  382,  Vol.  .■?,  p. 
199.  Christophe  Crevier  a  native  of  Rouen,  passed  over  to  Canada  and  established  himself  at  Three 
Rivers.  Hisdaughter  Jeanne  married,  in  1652,  Pierre  Boucher,  Sieurde  Boucherville.  His  sons,  taking 
names  from  concessions  of  land  made  to  them,  came  to  be  known  as  Crevier  de  St.  Francois,  Crevier  Duv- 
emav  and  Crevier  de  Bellerive.  They  contracted  alliances  with  the  best  families  of  Canada.  One  of 
tlie  Crevier's  was  nephew  of  Hertel  deChambly.    Historie  des  Grandes  Families  du  Canada,  pp.  2.30,  402. 

In  a  letter  from  Mr.  Benjamin  Suite,  than  whom  there  is  no  greater  authority  on  Canadian  history, 
he  says  that  the  name  was  taken  from  ttie  isle  of  Bellerive  at  the  embouchure  of  the  Saint  Maurice,  which 
Island  still  bears  the  name, 

It  is  likely  that  the  Marguerite  Crevier  who  became  the  wife  of  Robert  Groston  de  St.  Ange  was  the 
granddaughter  of  Christoplie  Crevier,  and  the  daughter  of  his  son  Crevier  de  Bellerive,  instead  of  the  much 
married  lady  indicated  by  the  Abbe  Tanguay. 

■•The  St.  ftomains  were  also  a  family  of  distinction.  See  Rapport  de  M.  Edouard  Richard,  pp.  68,  97, 
where  they  are  included  in  a  list  of  twenty  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Canada.  One  of  them — Gabriel 
,  St.  Romain-^ied  at  St.  Louis,  in  1780. 


137 

Ocean.^  He  came  to  America  in  1720,  spent  the  winter  in  Canada, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1721,  he  started  on  his  travels  with  two  canoes, 
eight  voyageurs,  and  such  merchandise  as  was  necessary  for  use  in  se- 
curing the  good  will  of  the  natives.  He  journeyed  in  a  leisurely  way 
through  the  lakes,  stopping  for  a  considerable  time  at  Mackinac,  at 
Green  Bay,  at  St.  Joseph  in  Michigan,  carried  his  boats  to  the  Kanka- 
kee river  and  came  down  the  Illinois,  making  a  stop  at  Peoria,  and 
reached  Kaskaskia  in  October,  1721.  He  wrote  long  gossipy  letters 
from  each  of  his  stopping  places  to  a  Duchess  in  France,  and  the 
volume  into  which  these  letters  were  gathered  constitutes  a  store  house 
of  interesting  information  concerning  the  country  and  the  charactjr 
and  methods  of  life  of  the  people.  In  a  note  to  a  letter  dated  at  Kas- 
kaskia, October  20,  1721,  he  says: — 

"M.  de  St  Ange,  who  has  since  much  distinguished  himself  against 
the  Eenards,  commanded  my  escort,"  ^ 

This  is  his  only  mention  of  St.  Ange,  in  this  book.  Charlevoix  con- 
tinued his  voyage  to  the  gulf,  where  St.  Ange  no  doubt  accompanied 
him. 

On  May  30,  1722,  St.  Ange  was  commissioned  Ensign,^  but,  like 
so  many  of  the  French  officers  in  America,  with  only  half  pay.  The 
King  seemed  to  have  the  idea  that  money  was  a  superfluity  with  his 
American  officers.  They  were  dignified  by  being  called  ojficiers  re  formes, 
instead  of  half  pay  officers. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  St.  Ange's  wife,  daughter  and  two  sons 
came  to  Illinois.  But  the  family  was  not  allowed  to  remain  long  to- 
gether. St.  Ange  and  his  younger  son,  Louis,  who  took  from  his 
mother  the  name  of  de  Bellerive — that  being  the  name  of  an  island 
owned  by  her  family  at  the  mouth  of  the  Eiver  St.  Maurice  in  Can- 
ada— were  sent  on  an  expedition  up  the  Missouri  river. 

In  1719,  the  Spanish  of  New  Mexico,  guided  by  L'Archeveque,  a 
renegade  Frenchman,  who  was  one  of  the  murderers  of  La  Salle,  sent 
an  expedition  to  the  northeastward  to  block  the  progress  of  the  French 
in  their  direction.*  There  are  many  different  stories  about  this  expe- 
dition, and  its  fate.  The  fact  is,  that  it  was  destroyed  by  the  Indians 
and  almost  every  man  killed ;  where  and  by  what  nation  they  were 
killed  is  not  yet  finally  determined.  The  news  was  carried  far  and 
wide.      Charlevoix  met  at   Green  Bay  two  Indians  who  had  in  their 

•Rapport  de  M.  Edouard  Richard  p.  530. 

'^Letters  to  the  Dutchess  of  Lesdiqueres,  London,  1762,  p.  289. 

Writers  wtio  have  mentioned  St.  Ange,  have  not  distinguished  between  the  father  and  the  son.  This 
confusion  of  persons  appears  in  Parlcman's  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  Vol.  2,  p.  275 ;  in  Le  Pantheon  Canadien, 
1858;  under  Bellerive;  in  Wallace's  Illinois  and  Louisiana  under  French  Rule,  p.  361 :  in  Mason's  Chapters 
of  Illinois  History,  p.  217,  and  in  the  notes  to  the  Jesuit  Relations,  vol.  70,  p.  317.  The  first  printed  cor- 
rection of  this  error  was  made  by  J.  P.  Dunn,  Jr.  in  his  history  of  Indiana  in  the  American  Common- 
wealths series.  And  see  also  article  by  Mr.  Dunn  in  publications  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Library, 
No.  10,  on  "  Father  Gibault,  the  Patriot  Priest  of  the  Northwest." 

^Report  on  Canadian  Archives  1904,  Appendix  K.  p.  10. 

*Bandelier,  The  Expedition  of  Pedro  de  Villazur,  Papers  of  the  Archaeological  Institute  of  America 
Series  V.;Margry,  Decouvertes  et  Etablissements  des  Francais,  Vol.  6,  pp.  385-452;  Le  PageduPratz, 
Histoirede  la  Louisiane,  Vol.  1,  p.  324,  Vol.  2,  pp.  141-221;  Dumont,  Memoires  Hisioriques  sur  la  Louisiane, 
Vol.  2,  p.  74;  Bossu,  Nouveaux  Voyages,  Vol.  1,  pp.  161-178;  Parkman.  A  Half  Century  of  Conflict,  Vol. 
1,  pp.  360-366. 


138 

possession  articles  taken  from  the  Spaniards.^  La  Harpe  heard  the 
news  on  Ked  river;  and  many  of  the  trophies  were  carried  by  the  In- 
dians to  Fort  Chartres. 

The  French,  in  order  to  forestall  any  further  attempt  by  the  Span- 
iards to  cstablisli  themselves  in  tlie  Missouri  country,  sent  an  expedi- 
tion under  Bourgmont — the  same  probably  who  was  for  some  years 
commandant  at  Detroit — to  build  a  fort  on  the  Missouri  river.- 

Bouroniont's  party  went  up  the  river  in  17^3,  and  erected  a  palisade 
fort  with  barracks  for  the  men  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  in  what 
is  now  Carroll  county,  Missouri,  opposite  to  Avhat  is  now  called  the 
Teetsaw  (Petitsas — Petit  Osage),  plain,  in  which  at  that  time  there 
was  a  village  of  the  ]\lissouris  'and  a  village  of  the  Osages.  One  pur- 
pose of  the  building  of  this,  fort,  which  was  named  Fort  Orleans,  was 
to  establish  peace  among  the  neighboring  tribes.  Consequently,  in  the 
summer  of  1724,  an  expedition  was  sent  out  from  the  fort  to  visit  the 
Kansas  Indians  in  the  East  and  the  Padoucas  in  the  West  of  what  is 
now  the  state  of  Kansas.  Both  the  men  and  the  officers  suffered  with 
such  a  plague  of  fever  and  ague  that  this  expedition  had  to  be  given 
up.  A  few  weeks  later,  a  second  attempt  was  made,  which  was  suc- 
cessful. A  portion  of  the  expedition  went  by  water  and  a  portion  by 
land.  A  journal  was  kept  of  the  march  overland,  telling  of  each  day's 
journey,  and  describing  the  beautiful  and  fertile  country  through  which 
they  passed.  They  made  the  journey,  about  one  hundred  miles,  in 
four  days,  to  a  point  on  the  river  opposite  the  Kansas  village  which  was 
situated  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  present  city  of  Atchison,  Kansa.^. 
After  a  ten  davs'  march  to  the  westward  from  the  Kansas  village,  thev 
reached  the  Paduocas,  a  tribe  which  has  been  variously  identified  as 
the  Kiowas  or  the  Comanches.  They  staid  at  the  Padouca  village  for 
four  days.  Their  reception  was  of  the  most  friendly  nature  and  the 
time  of  their  stay  was  one  continual  powwow.  Presents  were  ex- 
changed, speeches  were  made  by  both  parties,  and  the  Paduocas  swore 
eternal  friendship  for  the  French  and  their  allies,  and  hatred  to  the 
Spanish.  On  the  first  journey  both  of  the  St.  Anges  were  of  the  party, 
but  on  the  second  the  elder  St.  Ange  was  left  in  command  of  Fort 
Orleans,  and  the  younger  w^ent  as  second  in  command  under  Bourgmont. 
The  elder  St.  Ange  is  spoken  of  in  Bourgmont's  account  of  his  expedition 
as  ensign,  though  in  December,  1722,  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant 
with  half  pay.  It  may  be  that  news  -of  his  promotion  did  not  arrive  at 
Fort  Chartres  until  after  his  departure. 

Bourgmont  speaks  of  Louis  St.  Ange,  whom  he  calls  de  St.  Ange 
and  Bellerive,  indifferently,  as  cadet  dans  les  troupes.  The  party  reached 
Fort  Orleans  on  the  return  from  the  Padoucas  November  5,  1724. 

The  next  sjiring  Bourgmont  made  up  a  partv  of  the  neighboring  In- 
dians, including  a  "princess"  of  tlio  Missouri?,  and  took   them  for  a 

^Letters  to  the  Dutchess  of  Lesdigukres,  p.  204. 

-Maxf^,  Decouverteset  Etahlissementsdes  Francais,'p.  387ff;  Le  PageduPratz.  Histoiredela  Louisiane, 
Vol.  2, 141-221;  Parkman,  A  Half  Century  of  Conflict,  Vol.  1,  pp.  360-366.  See,  for  sketch  of  Bourgmont, 
Heinrich's  Louisiane  Sous  la  Compagne  des  Tndes,  p.  127.,  JV. 


139 

visit  to  the  King  of  France.^  The  ekier  St.  Ange  was  left  in  command 
of  the  fort.  A  couple  of  years  later  we  find  him  again  in  service  in 
Illinois.  The  old  records  show  that  in  1729,  he  hought  a  house  in  the 
prairie  near  Fort  Chartres.  And  in  1730,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  fort,-  succeeding  De  Liette,  a  nephew  of  Henri  de 
Tonty.  Fort  Chartres  was  not  at  that  time  the  magnificent  stone  for- 
tress "that  it  became  in  later  years.  It  was  only  a  little  palisade  fort, 
liut  its  commander  was  the  chief  officer  of  an  extent  of  country  greater 
than  that  of  most  of  the  great  empires  of  the  world.  It  was  St.  Ange's 
fortune  in  the  first  year  of  his  incumbency  to  conquer  in  battle  the 
great  enemy  of  his  country.  In  their  dealings  with  the  Indians,  the 
French  methods  were  very  different  from  the  English.  The  English 
crowded  against  the  Indians  until  a  conflict  was  inevitable  and  then 
crushed  them.  The  French  lived  among  them,  intermarried  with  them 
and  treated  them  with  something  of  the  consideration  to  which  a  com- 
mon humanity  entitled  them.  The  French  wars  with  the  Indians 
were  few.  But  from  the  beginning,  there  was  a  radical  antagonism 
between  the  nation  of  tlie  Eenards  or  Foxes  and  the  French.  The  Fox 
Indians  were  the  aristocrats  of  the  northwest.  They  have  some  of  the 
great  ("lualities  of  the  Jewish  race.  They  are  a  distinct  people  to  this 
day.  This  is  not  the  time  to  talk  of  the  history  of  the  Foxes,  but  T 
want  to  speak  of  one  thing.  ]\Iany  years  later  than  the  time  which  we 
are  considering,  the  Foxes  were  driven  by  the  power  of  the  United 
States  from  their  country  east  of  the  Mississippi  to  a  new  and  strange 
land  beyond  the  Missouri.  They  were  all  unhappy,  and  their  women 
began  to  starve  themselves  to  death.  A  council  was  held  and  it  was 
determined  to  return  to  the  eastward.  In  Iowa  they  succeeded  in  in- 
ducing the  then  Governor  to  hold  for  them,  as  their  trustee,  land 
bought  with  their  money.  The  United  States  government  denied  them 
their  annuities  and  there  was  another  starving  time,  but  at  last  they 
overcame  all  opposition  and  have  for  many  3^ears  lived  their  own  lives 
on  their  own  ground.^  The  war  between  the  French  and  the  Foxes 
had  been  going  on  for  many  years  when  St.  Ange  undertook  the  com- 
mand in  Illinois. 

The  Foxes  were  implacable  enemies;  and  though  they  were  much 
weakened  by  massacres  of  their  people,  men,  women  and  children  suf- 
fered together;  they  never  failed  to  strike  the  French  or  their  Indian 
allies  when  opportunity  offered.  The  French  government  had  deter- 
mined that  nothing  but  their  extermination  would  bring  a  peace.  Early 
in  1730  it  was  reported  that  they  had  resolved  to  abandon  their  country 
and  go  eastward  to  join  the  Iroquois  who  were  friends  of  the  English. 
St.  Ange  was  urged  to  attack  them  but  his  militia  were  unwilling. 
Finally  a  deputation  of  Cahokia  Indians  visited  St.  Ange  at  Fort  Char- 
tres and  reported  that  the  Foxes  had  captured  some  of  their  people 

'  Dumont,  Memoires  Historiqttes  Vol.  2,  p.  75:  Mercure  de  France,  December,  1725,  (copy  in  library  o  f 
Missouri  Historical  Society,  Gift  of  Edward  A.  K.  Killian,  Esq.)  Bossu,  Nouveaux  Voyages,  Vol.  1,  p.  161. 

^See  articles  on  "  Meskwakia,"  and  "  The  Meskwakia  People  of  To-Day"  in  4  Iowa  Journal  of  History 
and  Politics,  pp.  179,  190:  See  also  "  Lost  Maramech  and  Earliest  Chicago"  by  John  F.  Steward.  And 
see  also  The  Folk  Lore  of  the  Musquakies,  by  Mary  Alicia  Owen. 

^Mason,  Chapters  of  Illinois  History,  p.  220;  Illinois  in  the  Eighteenth  Century  (Chicago  Historical 
Society  Papers)  p.  28. 

••17  Wisconsin  Historical  Society  Collections,  p.  110.  Letter  from  Beauhamois  and  Hocquart  to  the 
French  Minister. 


140 

near  the  Eock  (afterwards  Starved  Eock)  on  the  Illinois  river  and  had 
burned  the  son  of  their  principal  chief.  The  demands  of  the  allies 
could  not  be  resisted,  and  on  August  10,  1730,  St.  Ange  marched  out 
from  Fort  Chartres  with  about  one  hundred  soldiers  and  militia  men. 
They  marched  to  the  northeastward,  reinforced  by  various  bodies  of 
Indian  allies  on  their  way,  until  the  army  consisted  of  about  five  hun- 
dred men. 

They  found  the  Foxes  in  what  is  now  La  Salle  county.  They  had 
built  a  fort  in  a  small  grove  of  trees  on  the  bank  of  a  little  river  (now 
Covell  Creek)  which  then  ran  through  a  prairie,  about  four  leagues  in 
circumference,  without  a  tree  except  two  groves  about  sixty  arpents 
from  one  another.^  The  fort  was  built  on  a  gentle  slope  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  it  was  exposed  to  fire  from  the  higher  ground.  St.  Ange  posted 
his  men  in  such  a  w-ay  as  to  command  the  fort  and  also  the  access  to  the 
river,  intending  to  cut  off  the  Indians  from  the  water,  but  the  Foxes 
emulated  their  namesakes  and  burrowed  in  the  ground  so  that  they  were 
hidden  from  the  view  of  the  enemy,  and  they  tunnelled  to  the  river,  so 
that  their  supply  of  water  was  abundant.  St.  Ange  was  joined  by 
De  Villiers  from  St.  Joseph  with  fifty  or  sixty  French  and  five  hundred 
Indians,  and  by  De  Noyelle  from  the  post  of  the  Miamis  with  ten 
Frenchmen  and  two  hundred  Indians,  making  the  attacking  army  to 
consist  of  about  fourteen  hundred  men.  Among  this  number,  however, 
were  a  detachment  of  Saukees  who  w'ere  at  heart  the  well-wishers  of  the 
Foxes  and  some  three  hundred  Cahokias  who  could  not  be  trusted  and 
who  finally  deserted.  The  Foxes  made  sorties  both  by  day  and  by  night; 
they  parleyed  with  the  French  and  wdth  the  Indians.  St.  Ange  was 
disposed  to  make  terms  with  them,  but  some  of  his  Indian  allies  would 
not  hear  to  it  and  an  order  came  from  the  Governor  in  Canada  for- 
bidding it.  The  Foxes  held  out  for  twenty-three  days.  Their  food  was 
exhausted  and  they  lived  on  the  skins  which  constituted  their  gannents 
and  their  quivers  and  gun  cases.  The  French  were  not  in  a  much 
lietter  condition.  Though  their  hunters  brought  in  such  game  as  could 
be  found;  game  soon  became  scarce  and  the  Indians  began  to  fall  away. 

The  eighth  of  September  was  a  beautiful  day,  the  skies  were  blue, 
the  air  was  soft  and  all  nature  seemed  at  its  best,  but  about  an  hour 
before  sunset  black  clouds  arose  and  brought  a  terrible  storm  of  wind 
and  rain  which  lasted  until  nightfall,  and  the  night  was  very  dark  and 
foggy.  St.  Ange  set  special  guards,  but  favored  by  the  darloiess  the 
Indians  evaded  them,  and  evacuated  their  fort.  Their  movements  were 
betrayed,  however,  by  the  crying  of  the  children,  who  being  aroused 
from  their  sleep  could  not  be  quieted.  The  French  and  their  allies  were 
on  the  qui  vive  and  at  daybreak  set  out  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives.    The 

'That  the  exact  site  of  the  Fox  fort  will  ever  be  discovered  is  imlikely.  Mr.  John  F.  Steward,  who  has 
given  much  careful  study  to  the  subject,  is  of  the  opinion  that  it  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  Illinois 
river  at  Maramech  hill  in  Kendall  county.  The  authority  for  the  location  suggested  is  a  letter  from 
Hoequart  to  the  French  Minister  of  date  i.5  .January,  17.31.  In  that  letter  it  is  said,  "  T  have  no  doubt, 
Monseigneur,  that  you  have  learned  by  wayoftheMississippiof  the  defeat  of  the  Renard  savages  that  hap- 
pened on  September  9th  last,  in  a  Plain  situated  between  the  River  Wabache  and  the  River  of  the  illinois. 
About  60  Leagues  to  the  South  of  The  Extremity  or  foot  of  Lake  Michigan  to  the  East  South  East  of  le 
Rocher  in  the  Illinois  country."  17  Wisconsin  Historical  Collections,  p.  129.  For  statements  of  Mr. 
Steward's  views  see  "  Lost  Maramech  and  Earliest  Chicago,"  and  Publication  of  The  Illinois  State  His- 
torical Library,  No.  13,  p.  251. 


141 

women,  children  and  the  old  men  M^ere  leading  in  the  flight  and  the 
warriors  had  posted  themselves  in  the  rear  to  protect  them.  An  imme- 
diate onset  was  made  which  was  bravely  opposed  by  the  Foxes,  but 
weakened  as  they  were  by  long  fighting  and  fasting  they  were  soon 
scattered,  and  an  indiscriminate  massacre  began;  more  than  two  hun- 
dred warriors  were  killed  and  many  wounded  and  made  prisoners.  The 
women  and  children  were  nearly  all  destroyed.  Not  more  than  fifty 
or  sixty  men  escaped  and  they  were  without  weapons  or  means  of  pro- 
curing subsistence.^ 

The  Foxes  never  again  made  head  against  the  French,  but  they  were 
followed  by  them  with  persistent  hate,  their  villages  were  surprised 
and  their  people  massacred  until  it  seemed  as  if  they  were  wholly 
exterminated.  Yet  in  the  course  of  about  forty  years  they  had  so 
recuperated  that  they  were  able  to  wreak  a  bloody  vengeance  upon  the 
Indians  of  Southern  Illinois,  and  to  enact  near  the  scene  of  their 
ruinous  defeat  the  tragedy  of  the  Starved  Rock. 

St.  Ange  governed  the  Illinois  country  for  four  years,  uneventful 
years  they  appear  to  have  been  after  the  battle  with  the  Foxes,  for  no 
record  of  them  has  been  found.  They  were  years  in  which  the  colony 
was  taking  firm  root  in  the  land,  and  growing  in  numbers  and  in 
strength,  while  their  traders  and  voyageurs  were  searching  out  the 
country  even  to  the  greater  northwest  of  the  upper  Missouri.  St.  Ange 
retired  from  the  command  in  1734,  and  was  succeeded  by  Pierre 
D'Artaguette,^  who  sprang  from  an  ancient  family  of  the  Province  of 
Beam,  of  which  it  is  said  that  "the  family  has  always  been  large,  and 
never  wealthy,  on  account  of  the  great  number  of  their  children.'^  ^ 

In  April,  1738,  Saint  Ange  received  his  commission  as  Captain,  with 
half  pay.  He  had  then  served  the  King  for  fifty-two  years.  It  was  a 
service  crowded  with  difficulties  and  dangers  and  hardships.  He  received 
the  highest  honor  that  the  service  afforded — the  command  of  the  country, 
but  otherwise  it  would  seem  that  his  only  reward  was  the  consciousness 
that  he  had  done  his  work  well. 

The  church  records  of  the  parish  of  St.  Anne  de  Fort  Chartres  are 
missing  for  the  time  between  the  30th  July,  1736  and  the  19  October 
1743.  In  the  extant  records,  under  date  30  November,  1743,  there  is 
the  entry  of  the  baptism  of  two  children  born  of  slave  parents,  the 
•property  of  Madame  St.  Ange,  and  she  is  described  as  the  widow  of 
the  late  Monsieur  de  St  Ange,  Capitaine. 

The  daughter  Elizabeth  was  married,  probably  in  the  year  1739,  to 
the  Chevalier  Francois  Coulon  de  Villiers,  of  a  Canadian  family  of 
great  distinction.  One  of  his  brothers  was  Jumonville  who  was  killed 
by  a  party  of  Virginia  militiamen  under  the  command  of  Washington, 
and  another  brother  was  Louis  Coulon  de  Villiers,  usually  called  Le 
Gravd  Villiers,  who  took  Washington  prisoner  at  Fort  Necessity  July 

'The  original  sources  of  information  concerning  this  affair  are  to  be  found  in  17  Wisconsin  Historical 
Society  Collections,  pp.  109-130. 

=In  1732,  the  friends  of  d' Artaguette  were  urging  his  appointment  to  the  place  held  by  St.  Ange.  "  He 
will  make  more  progress  there,"  they  said,  "  than  Sieur  de  St.  Ange,  the  father,  who  commands  there, 
and  whom  the  Indians  find  too  old.''    3  Indiana  Historical  Publications,  p.  299. 

^Manuscript  sketch  of  the  d' Artaguette  family  in  the  library  of  Missouri  Historical  Society. 


142 

3,  1754.  Elizabeth  St  Ange  do  Villiers  died  at  Fort  Chartres,  March 
G,  3  755,  leaving  several  children^  and  some  of  her  descendants  are  still 
living  in  Missouri  and  Louisiana.^ 

Madame  St  Ange,  the  widow  of  Hobert  Groston  de  St  Ange,  died 
suddenly  at  Fort  Chartres  February  23,  1763,  aged  about  seventy-nine 
years. 

Of  the  life  of  I'ierre  de  St  Ange  liltlc  is  known,  liis  place  in  history 
is  fixed  by  his  death  rather  than  by  his  life.  He  was  a  soldier  in  Illinois 
as  early  as  1733,  he  was  commissioned  as  ensign  December  liUh  of 
that  year.  It  is  recorded  tliat  a  party  of  which  he  was  in  command 
was  attacked  by  the  Indians  in  1734  and  one  of  his  soldiers  was  killed.^ 
Then  for  a  period  of  twelve  years  nothing  is  to  be  fonnd  concerning 
him,  except  the  record  of  his  presence  at  a  wedding  in  Kaskaskia  1737. 

In  the  south  the  French  became  involved  in  a  war  with  the  Chicka- 
saws,  and  a  great  expedition  was  planned  which  should  attack  them  in 
their  own  country  and  put  it  out  of  their  power  to  make  further 
trouble.  Bienville  was  to  march  with  an  army  from  Xew  Orleans,  and 
the  colonies  in  Arkansas,  Illinois,  and  on  the  Wabash  Avere  to  furnish 
their  quotas.  A  place  of  meeting  was  appointed  and  an  attack  was 
to  be  made  in  force.  On  February  20,  1736,  the  northern  contingent 
set  out  from  Fort  Chartres,  under  the  commandant  Pierre  D'Artaguette. 
He  had  under  him  many  distinguished  officers,  among  them  Pierre  de 
St  Ange,  who  appears  to  have  been  second  in  command,  and  Vincennes, 
the  commandant  of  tlie  post  on  the  Wabash.  There  were  forty-one 
regular  soldiers  and  ninety-nine  militiamen.  In  addition  there  were 
thirty-eight  Iroquois,  thirty-eight  x\rkansas  Indians  and  about  two 
hundred  Illinois  and  Miamis.  They  went  down  the  river  to  the  neigh- 
1)orhood  of  ]\Iemphis  and  from  there  marched  southeastward  to  the 
Chickasaw  village  in  what  is  now  Lee  County,  Mississippi.  Bienville 
had  been  detained,  and  had  written  D'Artaguette  to  wait  for  him,  but 
the  Indians  forced  the  fighting.  D'Artaguette  attacked  them  with  great 
vigor,  and  a  desperate  battle  was  fought.  Early  in  the  action  the 
Illinois  and  Miami  Indians  had  run  away.  The  Iroquois  and  Arkansas 
remained  loyal  and  it  was  only  by  their  aid  that  any  of  the  attacking 
party  escaped  alive.  D'Artaguette  received  three  severe  wounds  but  con- 
tinued to  fight,  leaning  against  a  tree,  until  another  shot  stretched  him 
upon  the  earth.  St  Ange  took  command  and  continued  the  fight  until 
they  were  overwhelmed  by  numbers.  The  Chickasaws  had  five  or  six 
hundred  fighting  men  and  were  aided  by  aliout  twenty  English.  Xearly 
one  hundred  of  the  French  were  killed,  twenty  escaped  and  twenty-two 
were  captured.  Among  the  prisoners  were  D'Artaguette,  St.  Ange,  Vin- 
cennes, Dutisne,  a  Jesuit,  Father  Senat,  and  several  other  officers. 
Seventeen  of  the  captives,  including  all  of  those  named,  were  burned  by 
the  Chickasaws  on  the  day  of  the  fight.  They  were  tied  to  stakes  at 
about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon;  slow  fires  were  built  around  them 
and  the  torture  continued  until  midnight.     An  Indian  woman  carried 


^ Notes  stir  la  FnmUle  Couloir  de  Villiers,  Par  I'Abbc  Amedee  Gosselin,  Levis,  1906. 
=16  Wisponsin  Historical  Society  Collections,  p.  454. 


143 

to  New  Orleans  the  story  of  their  deaih.  They  faced  their  enemies  to 
the  last,  and,  in  tlie  midst  of  the  flames,  they  "sang  as  is  the  fashion 
among  the  Indians,  who  thereby  judge  of  the  valor  oi^  men."  ^ 

Louis  de  St  Ange  was  at  this  time  in  eom.mand  of  a  post  on  the 
Missouri.  Fort  Orleans  had  been  destroyed  by  the  Indians  some  time 
before  and  another  fort  had  been  built  near  the  mouth  of  the  Kaw  or 
Kansas  river,  and  it  was  there  that  St  Ange  was  stationed.  His  father 
wrote  to  Bienville  asking  that  he  might  be  given  the  position  left  vacant 
by  the  death  of  Vincennes.-  The  request  was  granted  and  Louis  de 
St  Ange  was  in  July,  1736,  transferred  from  the  Missouri  to  the 
Wabash.  He  remained  in  command  of  the  post  which  is  now  the  City 
of  Vincennes  for  twenty-eight  years.^  The  white  population  was  small 
and  he  was  the  beneficent  pater  familias  of  the  village.  He  advised 
them  in  their  troubles,  adjudged  their  controversies,  danced  at  their 
merry  makings,  and  signed  the  church  register  of  their  births  and  mar- 
riages. Though  his  village  was  small  the  field  of  his  activity  was  widely 
extended.  His  correspondence  shows  that  he  kept  in  touch  with  the 
movements  among  the  Indians  from  the  Hudson  river  to  the  Missis- 
sippi; no  continental  diplomat  ever  had  such  burdens  put  upon  him 
as  fell  to  the  lot  of  St  Ange.  But  the  intricacies  of  the  Indian  character 
were  to  him  as  an  open  book  and  there  was  no  serious  trouble  with  the 
natives  in  his  territory  in  all  the  period  of  his  command  at  Vincennes. 

It  was  during  this  time  that  the  British  Americans  were  crowding 
into  the  Ohio  valley  and  that  the  final  contest  for  its  ownership  took 
place.*  We  do  not  know  the  details  of  St.  Ange's  actions,  but  we  do 
know  that  he  was  actively  engaged  in  military  service  against  the 
British.  It  is  frequently  stated  that  he  was  at  Braddock's  defeat,  but 
there  is  no  evidence  that  such  was  the  case. 

When  the  war  was  over,  and  the  French  flag  had  gone  down  in  defeat, 
the  final  act  of  surrender  was  left  to  St  Ange.  Neyon  de  Villiers  who 
was  in  command  at  Fort  Chartres  was  ordered  to  New  Orleans  and  St 
Ange  was  put  in  his  place.  Neyon  de  Villiers  is  generally  spoken  of  as 
the  brother-in-law  of  St  Ange.  He  was  not  such.  He  was  not  even  of 
the  same  family  as  Fraugois  Coulon  de  Villiers  who  married  Elizabeth 
St  Ange.^ 

St  Ange's  incumbency  at  Fort  Chartres  was  full  of  difficulties.  The 
Indians  were  excited  and  aroused,  and  determined  that  the  British 
should  not  take  possession  of  the  country  which  they  consirlered  to  he 
theirs.  The  British  had  great  difficulty  in  getting  troops  to  Fort  Char- 
tres.    Finally  one  officer,  Lieutenant  Eoss.  reached  there.     A   council 

'Report  Concerning  Canadian  Archives  for  the  Year  1905,  Vol.  1,  pp.  457,  458. 
-Marary,  Decouvertes  et  Etablissements  des  Fravcais,  Vol.  6  p.  448  note. 
^Indiana  Historical  Society  Publications,  Vol.  2  p.  27. 
^See  Parlcman,  Montealm'and  Wolfe,  Vol.  1,  p.  87. 

= For  a  sktch  of  the  life  of  Neyon  de  Villers,  see  De  Villiers  du  Terrage,  Les  Dernieres  A  nnees  de  la  Louis- 
lane  Francaise,  p.  190. 


144 

was  held  made  up  mainly  of  Indians  from  the  West  side  of  the  Missis- 
sippi; Missouris  and  Osages.  One  of  the  chiefs  addressed  Ross  as 
follows : 

"Go !  and  leave  us  with  our  French  father.  It  is  he  who  opened  the 
eyes  of  our  ancestors  and  has  made  us  live.  Adieu!  Go  away,  and 
think  no  more  of  returning  hither,  because  our  warriors  who  are  giddy 
brained  might  throw  you  in  the  water  if  you  try  to  return.  Tell  your 
chief  to  remain  on  his  lands  as  we  will  on  ours."  ^ 

The  great  Pontiac  came,  raging  like  a  demon.  He  cajoled  and 
threatened.  He  appealed  to  St  Ange  on  the  basis  of  their  ancient 
friendshiiJ,  recalling  all  the  campaigns  that  they  had  made  together 
against  the  misguided  Indians  and  those  dogs  of  English,  and  offering 
to  himself  drive  back  the  English,  if  St  Ange  would  but  give  his 
consent. 

To  the  Illinois  Indians  he  said:  "If  you  hesitate  one  moment  I  wiii 
destroy  you  like  a  fire  which  passes  through  a  prairie."  ^ 

But  St  Ange  was  firm  and  faithfully  endeavored  to  obtain  for  the 
British  the  peaceful  possession  of  the  country.  He  remained  at  Fort 
Chartres  about  fifteen  months  before  he  was  relieved.  Finally  on  the 
ninth  day  of  October,  1765,  Captain  Thomas  Sterling  with  a  detach- 
ment of  the  famous  Black  Watch,  a  regiment  still  existing  and  having 
a  more  notable  career  than  any  military  organization  known  in  history, 
reached  Fort  Chartres,  and  on  the  next  day  the  French  flag  disappeared 
forever  from  Illinois.  Some  wrecks  later  St  Ange  with  his  handful  of 
soldiers  moved  across  the  river  to  St  Louis. ^ 

A  good  part  of  the  white  residents  of  Illinois  went  with  him  or  had 
preceded  him.  The  secret  treaty  which  had  transferred  the  west  bank 
of  the  river,  known  until  1796  as  the  western  part  of  the  Illinois,  from 
France  to  Spain  had  been  made  known  in  October  1764,  but  it  was  the 
duty  of  France,  and  so  recognized  by  the  French  government,  to  govern 
the  country  in  the  customary  way,  until  Spain  came  to  take  possession.* 
And  the  jurisdiction  which  St  Ange  had  possessed  over  that  territory 
was  unimpaired  by  the  transfer  of  the  east  bank  to  the  British.  A 
curious  fiction  set  on  foot  by  some  imaginative  writer  has  often  been 
repeated  and  accepted  as  true. 

•Renort  Coneenim°:  Canadian  Archives  for  the  Year  1905,  Vol.  1,  p.  473. 

=Colonel  Au<2:nste  Chouteau,  Narrative  of  the  Foiindin/i  of  St.  Louis,  x^.  8. 

^'Captain  Stirllnsr  wrote,  on  15  December,  1765,  to  General  Gae;e  as  follows — 

"Mons.  St.  Ana;e  withdrew  on  the  23d  with  all  the  French  troops  in  this  country  to  a  villaB:e  called 
St.  Louis  on  the  Spanish  side,  opposite  to  Caho  [Cahokial,  havin?;  orders  to  that  purpose  from  Monsr. 
Aubry,  he  had  nosoldiersinany  of  the  PostseKcept  this,  a  reduced  Officer  [de  Belestre]  acted  as  Comman- 
dant at  Cascaskias,  and  another  at  Caho  fde  Volsay],  they  both  left  this  side  likewise. "  12  Publications 
of  Illinois  State  Historical  Library,  p.  216. 

Aubry  wrote,  27  January,  1766,  of  the  surrender  of  Fort  Chartres,  and  said— 

"  Apres  avoir  proteste,  M.  de  Saint  .\n2e  est  passe  sur  I'autre  bord  avec  deux  officiers  et  ses  trente-cinq 
hommes.  II  s'est  etabli  a  Paincourt  f St.  Louis],  pres  de  Sainte  Genevieve,  et  m'a  renoye  quince  hommes 
par  suite  de  peu  de  farine  que  les  anglais  lui  ont  laisse. "  De  Villiers  du  Terrage,  Les  Demieres  Annees 
de  la  Louisianc  Franeaise,  p.  223. 

'"  With  resneet  to  the  cession  of  places  or  territories  by  a  treaty  of  peace,  thoua;h  the  treaty  operates 
from  the  making  of  it,  it  is  a  principle  of  public  law  that  the  national  character  of  the  place  aorreed  to  be 
surrendered  by  treaty  continues  as  it  was  under  the  character  of  the  ceding  country,  until  it  be  actually 
transferred.  Full  sovereignty  cannot  be  held  to  have  passed  by  the  mere  words  of  the  treaty  without 
actual  delivery.  To  complete  the  right  of  property,  the  right  to  the  thing  and  the  possession  of  the  thing 
must  be  united."    1  Kent's  Commentaries  p.  177. 


145 

The  people  of  St.  Louis,  it  is  said,  recognizing  St.  Ange's  great 
abilities  and  fitness  for  rule  voluntarily  chose  him  for  their  governor 
and  installed  him  in  office. 

Such  a  thing  was  of  course  impossible,  and  such  action  was  wholly 
foreign  to  the  ideas  of  those  people.  They  were  not  accustomed  to  be 
consulted  about  their  governors,  and  did  not  bother  their  heads  about 
such  matters. 

Another  story  equally  unfounded  is  told  by  Governor  Eeynolds  in  his 
History.^ 

He  says  that  when  Captain  Stirling  died  a  few  months  after  Fort 
Chartres  had  been  sun-endered  to  him  by  St  Ange,  leaving  the  fort  and 
the  country  without  a  ruler,  St  Ange  returned,  took  command,  and 
held  the  reins  of  government  until  a  British  officer  was  sent  to  relieve 
him. 

How  such  a  story  originated  'it  is  impossible  to  imagine.  Aside  from 
its  intrinsic  impossibility,  the  fact  is  that  Captain  Stirling  did  not  die 
a  few  months  after  taking  possession  of  Fort  Chartres.  He  subse- 
quently had  a  distinguished  military  career  in  Europe,  reached  the 
grade  of  General,  and  departed  this  life  in  the  year  1808. 

The  Spanish  were  in  no  hurry  to  take  possession  of  their  new  do- 
main. St.  Ange  was  continued  in  the  government,  and  when  the 
Spanish  Captain  Eui  was  sent  in  1767,  to  build  two  forts  on  the  Mis- 
souri river  near  its  mouth,  he  was  instructed  that,  "upon  the  arrival 
of  the  expedition  at  Illinois,  every  thing  that  had  been  outlined  will 
be  carried  out  and  the  French  commander  for  that  place,  Mr.  St.  Ange, 
will  arrange  for  ever^'thing  with  the  experience  he  has  had."  It  was 
not  until  1770,  that  Don  Pedro  Piernas  came  with  a  commission  as 
governor,  and  relieved  St.  Ange,  who  then  took  service  in  the  Spanish 
army  with  the  rank  of  captain,  but  with  the  inevitable  half  pay.  He 
was  then  about  sixty-eight  years  old,  he  .remained  at  St.  Louis  and 
was  depended  upon  by  Piernas  as  a  wise  counsellor,"  and  by  the  people 
as  their  friend  and  intercessor.  He  died  December  26,  1774,^  at 
the  house  of  Madame  Chouteau,  one  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the 
village.     He  made  his  will  on  the  day  of  his  death.*     He  provided 

'John  Reynolds,  The  Pioneer  History  of  Illinois,  Fergus  Edition,  p.  SO. 

'-"  The  lieutenant  governor  shall  preserve  the  best  of  relations  with  Monsieur  de  St.  Ange,  whose  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  the  Indians  will  be  very  useful  to  him.  He  shall  do  whatever  he  can  to  gain  his  friend- 
ship and  confidence,  and  shall  listen  to  his  opinion  attentively  on  all  matters,  and  shall  defer  to  him  so 
far  as  possible  without  prejudice  to  the  service."  O'Reilly's  Instructions  to  Piernas  17  Feby  1770,  1 
Houck's  Spanish  Regime  in  Missouri  p.  83. 

When  Piernas  was  at  St.  Louis  in  1769,  he  came  into  conflict  with  St.  Ange  regarding  some  debts  which 
has  been  contracted  by  the  Spanish  storekeeper  at  the  fort  on  the  Missouri  river,  to  enforce  the  payment 
of  which  it  was  proposed  by  the  French  offlcials  "  to  lay  an  embargo  on  the  effects  of  the  King. "  Piernas 
threatened  St.  Ange,  but  he  paid  the  debt.  In  his  report  to  O'Reilly,  Piernas  speaks  "of  the  good  for 
nothing  Monsieur  St.  Ange,"  and  "  the  good  intentions  of  his  respectable  old  age."  The  weight  placed 
by  O'Reilly  upon  Piernas'  statements  may  be  inferred  from  the  Instructions  above  quoted.  After  the 
return  of  Piernas  to  St.  Louis  he  and  St.  Ange  appear  to  have  been  the  best  of  friends.  The  report  of 
Piernas  to  O'Reilly  is  printed  in  1  Houck's  Spanish  Regime  in  Missoiu-i,  page  66. 

^In  the  Register  of  the  old  Cathedral  of  St.  Louis  is  the  following  entry^ 

"  L'an  1774,  le  27  xbre,  je  soussigne  ai  inhumee  dans  ce  cimetiere  de  cette  paroisse  le  corps  de  Messire 
louis  de  Ste  Ange,  Capitaine  a  la  Suitte  du  bataillon  de  la  louisiane,  administre  des  sacremens  de  I'eglise 

fr  Valentin." 

*A  translation  of  St  Ange's  will,  containing  some  inaccuracies,  however,  is  printed  in  Billon  Annals 
of  St.  Louis  1764-1804,  p.  125.  Three  introductory  lines  are  so  printed  as  to  appear  to  be  a  part  of  the  will . 
The  original  has  no  such  caption. 

—10  H  S 


146 

for  the  payment  of  his  debts  and  the  eollectiou  of  the  debts  due  to 
him,  for  the  freedom  of  his  slaves,  and  distributed  his  estate  among 
the  children  of  his  sister  Elizabeth.  In  liis  will,  he  declared  that  he 
had  never  contracted  any  marria^ue  up  to  that  time. 

He  was  buried  in  tlie  churchyard  of  the  village  on  what  is  now  Sec- 
ond street.  I  am  indebted  to  j\rr.  Pierre  Chouteau  for  an  interesting 
story  as  to  tlie  disposition  of  his  remains.  The  growth  of  the  town 
induced  the  abandonment  of  the  ancient  burv'ing  ground  and  the  re- 
moval of  the  bodies  to  a  new  cemetery  at  Franklin  and  Jefferson 
avenues.  After  a  few  years  the  town  crowded  upon  this  place  and 
another  change  was  made  to  the  present  Calvary  cemetery.  Mr.  Chou- 
teau says  that  when  this  second  change  was  made,  his  father  was  ab- 
sent from  home  and  the  duty  of  supervising  the  removal  of  the  bodies 
in  the  Chouteau  vault  was  cast  upon  his  mother.  She  identified  the 
remains  of  all  but  one  person;  there  was  one  coffin  in  excess  of  the 
number  called  for  in  the  family  records.  When  Madame  Chouteau 
returned  home  from  her  errand  to  the  cemetery,  she  told  her  father-in- 
law,  Pierre  Chouteau,  Jr.,  who  was  then  blind,  of  what  had  happened 
and  asked  him  whose  was  the  unidentified  coffin.  He  exclaimed  with 
surprise  that  it  was  a  remarkable  coincidence.  That  when  the  first 
removal  was  made  from  the  original  burying  ground,  his  father  was 
absent  and  his  mother  had  attended  to  the  removals;  that  she  had  been 
puzzled  at  the  unidentified  remains,  and  that  he  remembered  that  when 
his  father  came  home,  he  explained  that  the  unmarked  coffin  was  tliat 
of  Monsieur  St.  Ange  de  Bellerive. 

So  his  remains  now  rest,  it  is  to  be  hoped  forever,  upon  a  hill  over- 
looking the  turbid  stream  of  the  Mississippi  witli  which  he  was  so 
familiar  in  his  life  time,  and  than  which  no  jilace  could  be  more  fitting. 

One  street  in  St.  Louis  bears  the  nann'  of  St.  Anoe,  and  one  village 
m  Illmois,  that  of  Bellerive. 

He  has  no  other  monument.  But  in  time  to  come,  it  is  not  to  \)G 
doubted  but  that  in  the  City  of  St.  Louis  a  fitting  statute  will  be 
erected  to  preserve  the  memory  of  his  virtues. 

From  what  we  know  of  his  life  and  from  tradition,  we  are  justified  in 
believing  that  he  was  a  good  man,  kindly,  loyal,  faithful  to  his  duties, 
and  capable  in  their  performance;  that  he  was  wise  in  council  and 
brave  in  action. 

As  a  Missourian,  it  is  to  me  the  source  of  much  pleasure  to  be  able 
to  pay  to  the  memory  of  our  first  governor  who  lived  amongst  us,  and  to 
that  of  his  father  and  brother,  this  slight  tribute  of  respect. 


147 


THE   WOEK   OF    EDWABD    EVEEETT    OF    QITINCY    IN   THE 

QUAETEE-IilASTEE'S    DEPAETMENT    IN    ILLINOIS 

DITEING  THE  FIEST  YEAE  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAE. 

By  Cora  Agnes  Benneson. 

In  No.  10  of  the  publications  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society, 
pages  230-236,  may  be  found  Edward  Everett's  account  of  the  opera- 
tions of  the  QuaTter-master's  Department  of  the  State  of  Illinois  dur- 
ing 1861-'62,  but  since  no  man  can  speak  unreservedly  of  his  own 
work,  especially  one  of  Mr.  Everett's  modest  temperament,  a  supple- 
mentary account  gathered  from  materials  I  have  found  Avhile  settling  his 
estate  may  further  elucidate  the  subject  to  which  he  has  called  at- 
tention. 

In  the  confusion  incident  to  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  when 
more  volunteers  were  pouring  into  Springfield  than  were  needed  for 
the  six  regiments  President  Lincoln  called  upon  Illinois  to  furnish, 
the  Quarter-master  General,  John  Wood,  found  himself  in  great  per- 
plexity. No  provision  had  yet  been  made  for  the  food,  shelter  or  equip- 
ment of  the  soldiers  and  no  system  of  accounting  had  been  established 
for  the  supplies  voted  by  the  State  and  donated  by  individuals.  John 
Wood,  although  upright  and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings,  was  not 
systematic  and  the  fact  that  he  w'as  left-handed,  led  him  to  avoid  writ- 
ing. He  mentioned  his  difficulties  to  an  old  friend  in  Quincy,  my 
father,  Eobert  S.  Benneson,  who  said  to  him :  "Edward  Everett  is  the 
man  you  need."  Certainly  no  one  could  have  been  found  better  quali- 
fied to  assist  him.  Mr.  Everett  had  served  for  over  two  years  as  clerk 
in  the  Quarter-master's  Department  at  San  Antonio,  Texas,  during 
and  after  the  Mexican  War  and,  in  addition  to  this  experience,  had 
exceptional  ability  and   insight,  w'as   painstaking  and   accurate. 

A  brief  description  of  the  characteristics  and  circumstances  of  these 
two  men,  John  Wood  and  Edward  Everett,  may  help  to  a  correct  un- 
derstanding of  the  relations  that  arose  between  them. 

John  Wood,  born  in  Moravia,  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  Decem- 
ber 20,  1798,  the  son  of  a  surgeon,  who  was  also  a  captain  during  the 
Bevolutionary  war,  in  1822,  built  a  cabin  on  the  present  site  of  Quincv, 
where  he  lived  alone  for  some  months.  In  1824,  when  the  question 
was  to  be  determined  whether  Illinois  should  be  a  free  or  a  slave  state, 
he  canvassed  the  greater  part  of  the  military  district  from  Fulton  and 
Hancock  counties  south  and  was  rewarded  by  having  ninety-nine  votes 
for  the  freedom  ticket  out  of  one  hundred  three  cast,  at  a  meeting 
held  in  Pike  county  by  tlie  assembled  voters  of  the  Bounty  Lands.  He 
secured    amidst   considerable    opposition    a    separate    organization    for 


148 

Adams  county,  wliich  previously  had  been  a  part  of  Pike  county,  and 
had  Quincy  made  the  county  seat  while  it  numbered  only  six  residents. 
He  saw  the  town  grow  up  around  hira  and  felt  a  paternal  interest  in  all 
that  concerned  it.  When  the  children  in  one  of  its  mission  Sunday 
schools  were  asked,  "Who  was  the  first  man?"  they  replied,  without 
hesitation,  "John  Wood."  Although  he  was  very  dignified,  no  child 
was  ever  afraid  of  him.  His  cordial  face,  glowing  with  health  and 
framed  by  snowy  hair  and  flowing  beard,  forms  one  of  the  earliest 
pictures  in  my  memory.  He  was  a  town  trustee,  and,  after  Quincy 
l^ecame  a  city,  often  a  member  of  the  council  and  mayor.  In  1832  he 
volunteered  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  In  1852  he  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate  and  in  1856  was  made  Lieutenant-Governor.  When  pre- 
siding over  the  Senate,  he  was  "The  type  of  an  old  Eoman  senator," 
said  his  legislative  associates.  After  the  death  of  Governor  Bissell  in 
1860,  John  Wood  filled  the  chief  executive  office  for  the  remainder  of 
the  term  satisfactorily.  The  qualities  that  made  him  a  successful  and 
fearless  pioneer,  rendered  indoor  life  irksome  to  him  and  caused  him 
to  be  venturesome  in  business.  In  his  position  as  Quarter-master  it  was 
fortunate  that  he  had  for  his  assistant  one  whom  he  knew  he  could 
implicity  trust  to  keep  his  accounts,  whether  he  was  present  or  absent, 
with  the  exactness  essential  to  the  success  of  his  department. 

Edward  Everett  came  from  a  distinguished  family.  He  was  born 
of  American  parents  in  England,  March  31st,  1818.  When  an  infant 
he  was  baptized  in  London  by  his  father's  cousin,  the  statesman,  Hon. 
Edward  Everett,  then  on  his  way  to  Greece  and  Eome  in  preparation 
for  his  professorship  at  Harvard  college,  who  gave  him  his  o^^ti  name. 
In  1840,  Charles  Everett,  the  father  of  Edward,  left  London,  where 
for  twent}'-four  years  he  had  been  buying  and  shipping  goods  to  the 
United  States  and  China,  and  with  his  wife  and  six  children,  settled 
in  Quincy,  Illinois.  There  he  built  a  roomy  mansion,  which  became  a 
centre  of  hospitality.  The  three  sons,  Charles,  Edward,  and  Samuel, 
all  served  their  country  in  times  of  war.  They  were  among  the  Quincy 
Eiflemen  who  quelled  the  Mormon  troubles  in  Hancock  county  in  1811- 
'46.  Charles  went  to  the  Mexican  war  as  sergeant  major  of  the 
Fourth  Illinois,  later  was  appointed  Adjutant  and  virtually  commanded 
the  regiment  after  that  time,  being  with  it  throughout  its  term  of 
service  and  present  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  battle  of  Cerro 
Gordo.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war,  he  formed  a  com- 
pany in  the  District  of  Columbia  to  defend  the  Capitol  and,  later,  in 
command  of  a  battery  of  light  artillery,  joined  the  expedition  under 
General  Butler  for  the  attack  on  Xew  Orleans.  x\t  Port  Hudson. 
May  21,  1863,  he  was  severely  wounded  in  the  leg.  On  his  recoverv, 
he  accompanied  General  Banks  on  the  Eed  River  expedition  in  com- 
mand of  cavalry.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  honorably  discharged 
with  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General. 

Samuel  Everett,  the  youngest  of  the  three  brothers,  became  a  skill- 
ful surgeon.  During  the  Mexican  war  he  joined  his  brother,  Edward, 
in  Texas,  was  given  charge  of  the  medical  supplies  and  was  frequently 
called  upon  to  attend  the  sick  in  distant  Hanger  camps.      In  the  Civil 


149 

war  he  was  appointed  Surgeon  of  the  Tenth  Eeginient  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers, commanded  by  General  Prentiss,  and  was  later  promoted  to 
Brigade-Surgeon.  At  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  April  .  6,  1862,  he  saw 
a  body  of  soldiers  retreating,  rallied  them,  led  them  back  into  the  thick 
of  the  fipht  and  fell  from  his  horse  mortally  wounded.  His  loss  wns 
keenly  felt  throughout  the  West. 

Edward  continued  with  the  Quincy  Eiflemen  as  one  of  the  sergeants 
when  they  were  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  at 
Alton,  June  18,  1846,  for  the  Mexican  war,  as  Company  A,  First 
Illinois  Volunteers  under  Colonel  J.  J.  Hardin.  At  San  Antonio  de 
Bexar  in  Texas,  where  they  were  ordered  to  guard  the  stores  and  sup- 
press disturbances,  on  September  11,  1846,  Edward  Everett  was  shot 
by  a  desperado  whom  he  was  attempting  to  arrest,  and  received  a  wound 
just  above  the  knee  that  lamed  him  for  life.  After  being  thus  dis- 
abled for  active  service,  he  was  taken  in  his  cot  to  the  office  of  Captain 
J.  H.  Ealston,  a  newly  appointed  Assistant  Quarter-master,  where  his 
services  proved  so  valuable  that  after  recovery,  he  was  made  chief  clerk 
and  forwarded  supplies  from  San  Antonio  to  General  Wool's  army  in 
the  field  and  to  the  troops  guarding  the  northwestern  frontier  of  Texas. 
In  December,  1848,  he  accompanied  Captain  Ealston  to  Washington 
for  the  final  settlement  of  their  accounts.  The  knowledge  thus  gained 
in  Texas  and  Washington  proved  of  inestimable  value  to  him  in  his 
new  position  in  Springfield  thirteen  years  later. 

As  John  Wood  and  Edward  Everett,  beside  several  appointees  en- 
gaged bv  the  Qunrter-master  as  clerks,  agents,  etc.,  were  from  Quincv, 
it  was  deemed  advisable  to  avoid  sectional  jealousy  by  giving  the  posi- 
tion of  First  Assistant  to  a  Chicago  m^an  who  was  stationed  at  Cairo. 
He  proved,  however,  inefficient  and  the  entire  control  of  the  depart- 
ment under  John  Wood  fell  upon  Edward  Everett,  who  was  Second 
Assistant. 

While  the  Volunteers  were  arriving  rapidly  at  the  State  fair  grounds, 
about  two  miles  from  Springfield,  many  of  them  poorly  clad  and  all 
needing-  camp  outfits.  General  McClellan  telegraphed  to  the  office  of 
the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State  as  follows : 

Cincinnati,  May  31,  1861. 

Col.  J.  B.  Wyman:  I  would  suggest  that  the  State  Quarter-master  Gen- 
eral should  proceed  to  uniform  and  equip  the  Illinois  troops  with  the  least 
possible  delay. 

G.  B.  McCleixan, 
Major-General. 

Before  the  Legislature  could  be  called  together  to  appropriate  funds 
for  the  extraordinary  expenditures  demanded  by  the  occasion,  consid- 
erable money  was  voluntarily  loaned  the  State  by  banking  institutions 
for  the  immediate  purchase  of  supplies. 

Edward  Everett  at  once  ordered  blanks  printed  in  proper  form  for 
filling  out  as  vouchers  for  payment  for  purchases,  services,  etc.,  and  for 
requisitions  and  receipts  for  articles  to  be  issued.  He  rented  offices 
and  warehouses,  engaged  clerks  and  storekeepers,  and  gradually  intro- 
duced system  by  assigning  specific  duties  to  subordinates  and  instruct- 
ing them  therein. 


150 

The  duties  of  a  (Quarter-master's  Department  ordinarily  consist  in 
the  purchase  and  supply  of  tents,  camp  equippage,  tools,  means  of  trans- 
portation, clothing;  forage,  fuel,  etc.,  etc.,  in  short,  everything  needed 
by  an  army  except  subsistence,  medicines,  and  ordnance.  In  Spring- 
field there  was  no  -ordnance  officer,  hence  also  the  work  of  supplying 
arms  and  ammunition  fell  upon  the  Quarter-master. 

Mr.  Everett  printed  a  list  of  the  articles  the  soldiers  were  entitled 
to  draw  from  the  Quarter-master's  department  and  sent  copies  to  the 
diiTerent  companios.  whic'li  they  found  of  much  use.  That  their  value 
was  also  appreciated  in  other  states  appears  in  a  letter  written  to  Mr. 
Everett  from  Jefferson,  Indiana,  September  17,  1861,  by  Major  W.  H. 
SidcU,  then  in  a  Kentucky  regiment.      Ue  wrote  as  follows: 

"General  W.  T.  Sherman  (regular  army)  showed  me  an  excellent 
document,  signed  by  yourself,  for  the  convenience  of  Illinois  volunteers, 
exhibiting  the  necessary  outfit  and  equipment  of  companies  and  regi- 
ments of  the  several  arms,  with  some  instructions  of  a  general  nature, 
the  document  dated  Springfield,  23d  August,  1861.  General  Sher- 
man gave  me  permission  to  copy  the  paper,  but  I  would  like  to  get  "t 
least  a  dozen  of  the  printed  papers  and  I  will  take  it  as  a  great  favor 
if  you  will  send  them  to  me." 

Governor  Yates  was  freely  consulted  in  regard  to  the  quantities  and 
kind  of  clothing  purchased  and  with  his  approval  and  under  his  in- 
struction a  superior  quality  was  bought.  He  considered  the  best  not" 
too  good  for  the  volunteers.  Generals  McClellan,  Hunter  and  Sher- 
man, when  in  Springfield,  inspected  the  goods  in  store  and  expressed 
their  unqualified  approval  of  the  articles  and  of  the  way  in  which  they 
were  distributed.  Indeed,  many  of  the  things  thus  furnished  were 
superior  to  those  provided  l)y  the  United  States  Government  and  often 
regiments  in  distant  fields  of  service  sent  back  for  the  Illinois  supplies. 

The  Illinois  Legislature,  foreseeing  the  need  of  more  troops,  author- 
ized the  formation  of  ten  additional  regiments  of  infantry,  one  of 
cavalry  and  a  battalion  of  artillery  to  be  in  readiness  for  a  second  call. 
As  they  were  ordered  to  encamp  at  ten  different  points,  their  locations 
added  to  those  of  the  regiments  already  enlisted,  made  fourteen  places 
to  be  supplied  by  the  Quarter-master's  department.  Mr.  Everett  hired 
special  agents  to  distribute  these  supplies  and  he  testified  with  appre- 
ciation to  the  integrity  with  which  they  performed  their  duties. 

Agents  were  also  sent  out  to  collect  what  arms  could  be  found  be- 
longing to  the  State  that  had  been  issued  to  amateur  soldiers  and  to 
those  called  out  to  suppress  disturbances  in  past  times.  These  arms 
were  old  fashioned  muskets,  rifles,  pistols  with  flint  locks,  sabres  and 
some  pieces  of  field  artillery.  Workshops  had  to  be  established  to  put 
them  in  order  and  to  make  cartridges.  The  Quarter-master's  depart- 
ment also  had  to  take  charge  of  the  arms  received  from  the  United 
States  and  of  those  purchased  by  commissioners  appointed  by  the  State. 
In  volume  10  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  publications,  Mr.  Evereit 
has  given  a  graphic  account  of  the  way  in  which  Captain  James  H. 
Stokes  of  Chicago,  aided  by  a  few  others,  captured  twenty-one  thous- 
and  stand    of   new   Enfield    rifles   and    other   valuable    ammunition    at 


151 

Jefferson  Brracks,  Missouri,  just  wlieu  tlie  enemy  was  about  to  seize 
them,  and  conveyed  them  to  Alton  by  the  steamer  City  of  Alton  on  the 
Mississippi  river,  thence  by  train  to  Springfield,  in  time  to  arm  the 
Union  soldiers  for  the  defense  of  the  important  post  at  Cairo,  Illinois, 
commanding  the  Mississippi,  Ohio,  Tennessee  and  Cumberland  rivers. 
On  December  10th,  1861,  the  Adjutant-General  issued  a  report,  show- 
ing that  up  to  that  date  Illinois  had  furnished  for  the  Civil  war 
60,540  soldiers.  Of  these,  at  least  three-fourths  were  clothed  and 
equipped  by  the  Quarter-master's  department  at  Springfield.  Its  ag- 
gregate amount  of  purchases  was  $3,714,132.38,  spent  as  follows : 

Tents    $  141,247.10 

Camp  equipage   45,294.89 

Clothing 2,727,849.77 

Equipments 115,745.73 

Accoutrements     68,550.40 

Boolvs,  blanks  and  stationery : 11,678.08 

Horse  equipments    400,763.94 

Sundries  for  cavalry    15,518.12 

Medicines  and  hospital  stores 47,465.67 

Lumber  and  hardware   21,803.71 

Camp  and  office  furniture 7,257.45 

Ordnance  purchases,  etc    67,419.42 

Mules,  wagons  and  harness 2,371.00 

Fuel    14,658.62 

Bedding  5,058.54 

Forage   21,439.94 

These  statistics  are  taken  from  a  printed  report  signed  by  John  Wood 
and  Edward  Everett  in  reply  to  resolutions  of  enquiry  of  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  Illinois,  Feb.  10,  1862,  a  copy  of  which  I  have 
the  pleasure  of  placing  on  file  with  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society. 

In  transacting  this  immense  business  Edward  Everett  divided  the 
duties  and  made  each  employe  personally  responsible.  For  instance, 
when  goods  were  delivered  by  a  contractor  to  the  storekeeper  the  latter 
was  required  to  certify  on  the  bills  to  the  correctness  of  the  count  and 
that  the  articles  were  equal  in  quality  to  the  samples  provided  when 
the  contracts  were  made.  The  chief  clerk  then  made  out  the  bills 
in  proper  form,  comparing  them  with  the  contract  and  seeing  to  their 
correctness  in  all  particulars.  They  were  later  handed  to  Mr.  Everett 
for  supervision  and  signature  to  the  certificate.  A  similar  system  was 
used  with  regard  to  bills  for  services,  expenses,  etc.,  and  with  all  requisi- 
tions made  upon  the  department;  agents  placed  in  positions  of  trust 
were  made  rigidly  to  account  for  what  had  been  placed  in  their  hands. 
All  vouchers  were  prepared  in  accordance  with  army  regulations  with 
a  view  to  making  up  a  full  set  of  accounts,  both  financial  and  propei'ty 
returns,  the  latter  showing  whether  articles  were  received  by  purchase 
■  or  otherwise  and  whether  they  were  severally  issued,  disposed  of  or  lost. 

The  auditing  committee  of  three  appointed  by  the  Governor  to  audit 
all  state  bills  pertaining  to  the  war  annoyed  Mr.  Everett  by  consolidat- 
ing the  certified  bills  of  the  quarter-master's  department  with  other  bills 
due  to  the  same  parties  and  gave  warrants  on  the  treasurer  for  their 
payment,  a  process  that  destroyed  the  identity  of  his  vouchers  and  their 
correspondence  with  his  property  accounts. 


152 

In  the  spring  of  1862  when  the  quarter-master's  department  at  Spring- 
field was  relieved  of  its  duties  by  officers  commissioned  by  the  United 
States,  John  Wood  left  Edward  Everett  to  finish  the  work  of  the 
department.  As  the  task  was  likely  to  be  tedious  and  his  personal  pres- 
ence was  no  longer  required  in  Springfield  he  asked  permission  to  take 
the  work  to  Quincy  in  the  following  letter  to  ex-Governor  Wood  : 

"Feb.  21,  '62. 
Col.  John  Wood,  Q.  M.  Gen'l, 

Dear  Sir — Your  sudden  departure  without  any  notice  or  intimation  of  your 
intention  to  me,  has  prevented  me  from  consulting  with  you  as  I  had 
intended  with  respect  to  the  manner  in  which  the  business  of  our  Depart- 
ment is  to  be  closed  up  and  its  accounts  settled.    There  are  also  many  points 

which  require  your  decision  and  instructions. 

******* 

It  will  not  be  convenient  for  me,  in  respect  to  the  condition  of  my  private 
affairs,  to  remain  many  weeks  longer  in  Springfield.  And  as  the  greater  part 
of  the  business  yet  to  be  transacted  consists  in  making  up  the  property  re- 
turns for  presentation  to  the  State  and  General  Government,  it  can  be  done 
elsewhere  as  well  as  here.  I  therefore  propose  with  your  permission  to  re- 
turn to  Quincy  as  soon  as  matters  here  can  be  got  into  the  necessary  state 
of  preparation  and  (provided  my  services  for  completing  this  business  are 
considered  essential)  with  the  assistance  of  one  or  two  of  the  clerics,  to  pro- 
ceed to  make  up  the  property  returns,  etc.,  with  as  much  dispatch  as  possi- 
ble, together  with  a  full  and  comprehensive  report  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Department. 

It  may  be  necessary  that  some  one  should  remain  here  for  a  short  time 
longer  to  complete  the  outstanding  business,  but  this  need  not  interfere  with 
the  arrangement  spoken  of. 

Please  reply  at  your  earliest  convenience  unless  you  intend  to  return 
shortly. 

Yours  respectfully. 

Your  Obt.  Servt. 

Edward  Everett, 
Ass't.  Q.  M.  Gen'l." 

The  reply  to  this  letter  is  dated  at  Cairo,  March  4,  1862 : 
''Major  E.  Everett: 

Dear  Sir — Your  two  letters  of  February  21st  handed  me  today.  With  re- 
gard to  the  disposition  of  Q.  M.  Stores you  will  con- 
sult with  Gov.  Yates.  It  is  my  understanding,  however,  that  everything  we 
have  is  to  be  received  and  receipted  for  without  reserve  or  discrimination. 

You  will  take  such  action  as  if  you  were  in  my  place, 
which  in  fact  you  are  in  my  absence.  You  are  chief  in  the  office  and  all 
are  required  to  report  to  you.  This  is  to  you  authority  for  doing  so  if  you 
desire  anything  of  the  l^ind.        .... 

I  should  much  prefer  that  the  entire  work  of  closing  up  our  affairs  be 
carried  on  and  completed  at  Springfield,  and  I  hope  you  will  so  arrange 
your  own  matters  as  to  be  able  to  remain  there  and  give  it  your  superin- 
tendence to  the  end. 

If  with  this  you  cannot  get  along  without  me,  telegraph  me  and  I  will 
return  as  soon  as  possible.  I  have  an  invitation  from  Gen'l  Grant  to  accom- 
pany him  South  and  have  promised  to  go  some  way  yet  with  him.  I  desire 
much  to  go  to  Memphis  and  shall  do  so  unless  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to 
return. 

The  flag  of  the  Union  was  raised  over  all  that  remains  of  Columbus  today. 
I  was  the  first  to  set  foot  on  the  sacred  soil  of  Memphis  from  the  Federal 
Army,  hunted  up  our  wounded  and  found  74,  the  names  of  whom,  with  that 
of  the  regiments'  to  which  they  belonged,  I  have  forwarded  to  Gov.  Yates. 


153 

The  people  were  glad  to  see  us  In  Nashville,  not  from  any  love  for  us, 
but  because  their  own  soldiers  were  plundering  them.     The  talk  about  the 
strong  Union  feeling  is  all  bosh. 
Our  steamboat  burst  after  our  arrival. 

John  Wood, 

Q.  M.  Gen'l  III." 

Soon  after  this  letter  arrived  in  Springfield  and  when  Edward 
Everett  with  the  advice  of  Governor  Yates  was  about  telegraphing  the 
Quarter-master  General  to  return,  a  dispatch  was  received  announcing 
his  departure  for  Tennessee.  As  he  did  not  consent  to  the  removal  of 
the  papers  from  Springfield  and  remaining  from  home  longer  would 
subject  Mr.  Everett  to  much  inconvenience,  he  resigned  his  position  and 
returned  to  Quincy.  Still  retaining  his  position  as  Quarter-master 
General  of  the  State,  in  1864,  ex-Governor  Wood  took  command  as 
colonel  of  the  137th  Eegiment  of  Illinois  infantry  with  which  he  served 
until  the  period  of  enlistment  expired. 

It  was  a  disappointment  to  Mr.  Everett  that  the  final  settlement  with 
the  United  States  Government  was  made  by  others  when  he  was  so 
well  prepared  to  give  full  returns  for  the  vast  amount  of  property  that 
had  passed  through  his  hands.  The  success  of  the  Quarter-master^s 
Department  at  Springfield,  of  which  Illinois  has  just  reason  to  be  proud, 
was  undoubtedly  due  during  the  first  year  of  the  Civil  War  to  his 
vigilance,  wisdom  and  hard  work.^ 

^Based  upon  manuscript  papers  of  Edward  Everett. 


154 


DETROIT  THE  KEY  TO  THE  WEST  DURING  THE  AMERICAN 

REVOLUTION. 


By  James  Alton  James. 

From  the  opening  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  American  leaders  looked 
to  the  conquest  of  Detroit,  tlie  headquarters  of  the  Britisli  jiosts  and  key 
to  the  fur-trade  and  control  of  the  Indian  tribes  to  the  northwest  of  the 
Ohio  river.  Throughout  the  war  this  post  continued,  as  Washington 
wrote,  "to  be  a  source  of  trouble  to  the  whole  western  country."  ^ 

Three  hundred  miles  away  was  Fort  Pitt,  the  only  American  fortifica- 
tion (1775)  guarding  the  long  frontier  stretching  from  Greenbrier  in 
southwestern  Virginia  to  Kitanning  on  the  upper  Allegheny. - 

From  these  two  centers,  in  council  after  council,  were  to  be  exercised 
all  of  the  diplomatic  finesse  of  white  men  in  attempts  to  gain  control 
over  the  Indians  of  the  Northwest.  Assembled  at  some  of  these  confer- 
ences were  the  chiefs  and  other  representatives  of  the  Delawares  of  the 
Muskingum  and  the  Ohio,  the  Shawnee,  the  Wyandot,  Ottaw'a,  and 
Potawatomi  of  Lalce  ]\Iichigan,  the  Chippewa  of  all  the  lakes  and  besides 
the  Miami,  Seneca,  Sauk  and  numerous  other  tribes.^  All  told,  the 
Northwestern  tribes  numbered  some  8,000  w^arriors. 

Sept.  10,  1775,  commissioners  appointed  by  Congress  and  Virginia 
assembled  at  Pittsburgh  for  the  purpose  of  treating  with  the  Nortli- 
westem  tribes.  Delegates  from  the  Seneca,  Delawares,  Wyandot,  Mingo 
and  Shawnee  tribes,  in  response  to  the  urgent  invitation  extended  to 
them,  gathered  slowly  for  the  conference.  During  a  period  of  three 
weeks,  the  commissioners  strove  by  speech  and  through  presents  of 
clothing  and  strings  of  w^ampum  to  convince  the  Indians  that  tliey 
should  keep  the  hatchet  buried  and  use  all  endeavor  to  induce  the 
Six  Nations  and  other  tribes  to  remain  absolutely  neutral.  Terms  of 
]ieace,  which,  in  the  language  of  the  treaty,  were  "to  endure  forever," 
were  finally  agreed  upon.* 

Another  significant  problem  considered  by  the  commissioners  was 
the  means  of  capturing  Detroit.  A  plan  was  outlined  by  Arthur  St. 
Clair  which  they  readily  approved.  He  proposed  a  volunteer  expedition 
for  the  surprise  of  Detroit,  providing  it  should  not  be  opposed  by  the 
Indians.^ 


•Letter  to  Daniel  Brodhead,  Dee.  29, 1780. 

-  Ft.  Blair,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Kanawha,  had  been  evacuated  by  order  of  Oovemor  Diinmoreand  wa.s 
burned  by  some  of  the  Ohio  Indians.— American  Archives,  4th  ser.,  I\',  p.  201. 

^The  chief  events  connected  with  these  conferences  were  discussed  in  a  paper  read  before  the  Wisconsin 
Historical  Society.    See  Report  Wis.  Hist.  Soc'y  for  1909,  pp.  12i-142. 

'For  the  full  account  of  the  treaty  see  Thwaites  and  Kellogg,  Revolution  on  the  Upper  Ohio,  pp.  25- 
136. 

"■■St.  Clair  was  acting  as  secretary  for  the  commissioners.  He  supposed  it  was  due  to  this  plan  that 
he  received  his  first  appointment  a.s  Colonel  by  Congress.  St.  Clair  Papers  I,  p.  15.  St.  Clair,  Campaign 
against  the  Indians,  1791,  p.  2.33. 


155 

Because  of  the  approval  of  the  project  by  his  associates,  St.  Clair 
proceeded  to  raise  500  men  for  the  expedition.  They  were  to  furnish 
their  own  horses  and  provisions.  Ammunition,  which  could  not  be 
procured  in  that  section,  was  to  be  provided  at  the  expense  of  the 
government.  The  proposal  was  discussed  in  Congress  but  the  season  was 
thought  too  far  advanced  for  undertaking  such  an  expedition.^  Besides, 
there  was  a  feeling  generally  prevalent  that  Arnold  was  about  to  capture 
Quebec  and,  as  a  result,  that  Canada  and  the  West  would  come  into 
possession  of  the  Americans.  Washington  shared  this  view  and  it  is 
probable  his  attitude  led  to  the  disapproval  of  St.  Clair's  plan  by 
Congress.  "The  acquisition  of  Canada,''  he  says  to  General  Schuyler, 
"is  of  immeasurable  importance  to  the  cause  we  are  engaged  in.  If  you 
carry  your  arms  to  Montreal  should  not  the  garrisons  of  Niagara  and 
Detroit  be  called  on  to  surrender  or  threatened  with  the  consequences 
of  a  refusal  ?  They  may,  indeed,  destroy  their  stores,  and,  if  the  Indians 
are  aiding,  escape  to  Fort  Chartres,  but  it  is  not  very  probable."  ^ 

That  expedition  failing,  a  committee  of  Co;igress  was  instructed  to 
prepare  plans  for  an  expedition  against  Detroit  with  an  estimate  of 
the  expense.^  General  Charles  Lee  urged  the  absolute  necessity  of 
straining  every  nerve  to  possess  Niagara  if  not  Detroit.*  The  committee 
recommended  that  an  expedition  should  be  sent  immediately  against 
Detroit,^  for  it  was  understood  that  120  soldiers  in  that  garrison  were 
indifferent,  the  French  neutral  and  the  Indians  wavering.*'  Final  action 
was  postponed,  however,  until  the  arrival  of  Washington.  While  he 
sanctioned  the  project,  it  was  found  that  it  could  not  be  carried  on 
because  of  insufficient  means.  Besides,  the  Iroquois  were  averse  to  having 
an  army  march  through  territory  to  which  they  laid  claim.'' 

The  summer  months  were  full  of  anxiety  for  the  frontiersmen.  Six 
hundred  Cherokee  were  reported  as  being  ready  to  strike  the  Virginia 
frontier  with  the  determination  to  kill  or  make  prisoners  of  all  the 
people.  These  savages  had  also  accepted  the  war-belt  from  the  Shawnee 
and  Mingo  and  agreed  to  fall  on  the  Kentucky  settlements.*  A  general 
confederation  of  the  western  tribes  was  reported  having  for  its  aim  the 
destruction  of  all  the  frontier  settlements,  and  there  was  delay  only  imtil 
their  scattered  young  men  should  be  called  in  and  the  corn  necessary  for 
subsistence  should  ripen.  In  a  speech  to  the  Mingo,  the  most  desperate 
of  savage  tribes,  Hamilton  stirred  up  their  most  brutal  instincts  by 
declaring,  as  he  delivered  to  them  the  tomahawk,  bullets  and  powder, 
having  previously  taken  part,  as  usual,  with  his  officers,  in  the  war 
song,^  "that  he  wonder'd  to  see  them  so  foolish  as  not  to  see  that  the 
Big  Knife  was  come  up  very  near  to  them  and  claimed  one-half  the 
water  in  the  Ohio  and  that  if  any  of  the  Indians  cross'd  over  to  their 
side  of  the  River  they  immediately  took  him,  laid  his  head  on  a  big 
such  usage,  and  that  if  they  met  any  of  them,  they  should  strike  their 

'Am.  Archives,  4th  ser.,  Ill,  p.  717. 

-Nov.  5,  1775.    Am.  Archives,  4th  ser.,  Ill,  p.  1368.    Hamilton  and  his  associates  were  aware  of  the 
contemplated  expedition  from  Ft.  Pitt  and  set  about  putting  the  fort  at  Detroit  in  a  state  for  defense. 
=" Journals  of  the  Continental  Congress,  1776, 14,  pp.  301,  318. 
'Ibid. 

■'■Am.  Archives,  2nd  ser.,  VI,  p.  1677.    Journals  of  Continental  Congress,  IV,  p.  373. 
"Unsigned  letter.  Draper  Mss.  Coil's.  3  U,  p.  580. 
'Am.  Archives,  5th  ser.,  I,  pp.  35,  36,  37. 
"Am.  Archives,  5th  sen,  II,  p.  1236. 
"Mich.  Pioneer  and  Hist.  Coil's.,  IX,  p.  482. 


156 

block  and  chopp'd  it  off,  that  he  had  now  put  them  in  a  way  to  prevent 
tomahawks  into  their  heads,  cut  oil'  some  of  the  hair  and  bring  it  to 
him."  ^  It  was  suspected  that  1,500  Chippewa  and  Ottawa  were 
rendezvousing  with  the  intention  of  attacking  Fort  Pitt.^  Driven  to 
desperation,  backwoodsmen  forsook  their  clearings,  evacuating  the 
country  for  200  miles,  except  at  certain  places  where  some  of  them 
forted.^ 

At  the  time,  the  frontier  defense  was  entrusted  to  100  men  at  Fort 
Pitt,  100  at  Big  Kanawha,  and  25  at  Wheeling,  all  in  the  pay  of 
Virginia.  These  numbers  were  far  too  meagre  for  the  purpose  and  much 
less  were  they  capable  of  any  offensive  warfare.  Messengers  were  dis- 
patched to  Congress  and  to  Williamsburg  imploring  an  augmentation 
of  the  numbers  in  the  garrisons  and  the  formation  of  new  posts  having 
proper  supplies  of  ammunition  and  provisions.*  The  militia  of  West- 
moreland and  West  Augaista  counties  were  called  out.^ 

The  county  lieutenants  of  Hampshire,  Dunmore,  Frederick  and 
Berkeley  were  directed  to  collect  provisions  and  hold  their  militia  in 
readiness  to  march  to  Fort  Pitt  for  immediate  service.  A  company  of 
militia  was  ordered  out  as  "rangers"  for  Fincastle  county.  But  notwith- 
standing the  defenseless  condition  of  the  frontier,  apprehension  was  so 
widespread  lest  the  savages  should  destroy  their  homes  during  their 
absence  that  the  militia  was  gotten  together  only  after  great  delay,*' 
many  absolutely  refusing  the  draft. '^ 

The  assembly  at  Pittsburgh,  by  George  Morgan,  Indian  Agent  for 
the  Middle  Department,  of  -644  warriors  and  chiefs  representing  the 
Six  Nations,  Delawares,  Munsee  and  Shawnee,  served  to  dissipate  the 
widespread  gloom.  These  Indian  envoys  promised  "inviolable  peace 
with  the  United  States  and  neutrality  during  the  war  with  Great 
Britain.^  Twelve  chiefs  were  induced  to  visit  Philadelphia,  where  they 
were  introduced  to  Congress.  For  a  few  months  after  the  treaty,  all 
the  other  western  tribes,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  of  the  Mingo,  known 
as  Pluggy's  Band,  seemed  desirous  of  preserving  peaceful  relations.^ 

With  difficulty,  the  Virginia  authorities  were  persuaded  that  an  expe- 
dition^" against  these  banditti  would  tend  to  bring  on  general  hostilities 
with  the  other  tribes  of  the  Northwest,  already  jealous  of  the  slightest 
encroachment  by  Americans.  At  the  time,  they  were  agitated  because 
of  the  settlement  of  lands  on  the  Ohio  below  the  Kanawha  and  in 
Kentucky.  The  traces  to  Detroit  were  well  worn  by  the  tribes  which 
assembled  to  meet  Hamilton,  who  was  striving  in  every  way  to  excite 
the  Indians  to  take  up  the  hatchet. 

*  Morgan  Letter  Book,  II,  Aug.  18, 1776.    To  the  Committee  of  Congress  for  Indian  Affairs. 
-  Rev.  On  Upper  Ohio,  p.  200. 

^  Morgan  Letter  Book,  I,  Nov.  8, 1776;  George  Morgan  to  John  Hancock,  President  of  Congress. 

*  Congress  directed  that  a  ton  of  gunpowder  should  immediately  be  sent.  Journal  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  IV,  p.  396. 

•"  Rev.  On  Upper  Ohio,  p.  200. 

"  Am.  Archives,  .5th  ser.,  II,  p.  513. 

■^  Rev.  On  Upper  Ohio,  pp.  174,  240. 

*  Morgan  Letter  Book,  I.  Morgan  to  John  Hancock,  Nov.  8,  1776.  Am.  Archives,  5th  Ser.,  Ill,  pp. 
599,  600. 

"  It  was  estimated  that  there  were  some  seventy  families  included  in  this  band.  They  were  joined 
by  twenty  young  men  of  the  Shawnee  tribe.    Morgan  Letter  Book,  I,  Mar.  9, 1777. 

'"  Morgan  Letter  Book,  I,  Mar.  12, 1777.  "  You  are  to  take  command,"  WTote  Governor  Patrick  Henry 
to  Col.  David  Shepherd,' '  of  300  men  drawn  from  the  militia  of  Monongalia,  Tohogania  and  Ohio  counties 
or  either  of  them  and  to  march  with  utmost  secrecy  an  expedition  to  punish  the  Indians  of  Pluggy's 
Town  for  their  late  cruelties  committed  upon  the  people  of  this  state. ' ' 


157 

The  year  1777  was  long  memorable  as  the  'Taloody  year"  in  the  annals 
of  border  history.  Early  in  the  year,  British  authorities  began  to 
employ  more  aggressive  measures  with  the  yiew  of  distressing  the 
frontiers  of  Virginia  as  much  as  possible  and  with  the  hope  that  the 
main  American  army  would  be  weakened  through  the  withdrawal  of 
forces  to  meet  this  attack.  Sept.  2,  1776,  Hamilton  proposed  the 
employment  of  Indians  for  this  purpose.  The  British  government 
received  the  recommendation  with  favor  and  orders  were  sent  General 
Carleton  directing  him  to  employ  every  means  "that  Providence  has 
put  into  His  Majesty's  hands  for  crushing  the  Rebellion  and  restoring 
the  Constitution."  ^  Orders  were  sent  also  to  Hamilton  to  assemble  as 
many  Indians  as  convenient,  under  "suitable  leaders,"  in  the  spring,  to 
carry  out'  this  decree  or  march  elsewhere  as  they  might  be  most  needed.- 
Similar  orders  were  sent  to  Lt.  Col.  St.  Leger  with  regard  to  the  Six 
Nations.^  From  the  friendly  disposition  manifested  by  the  representa- 
tives of  many  leading  tribes  of  the  Northwest,  in  a  council  held  at 
Detroit  (June  17,  1777),  Hamilton  felt  assured  that  1,000  warriors 
were  ready  to  overrun  the  frontiers.*  Although  war-bands  were  exhorted 
to  act  vigorously  they  were  urged  to  act  with  humanity.  But  resolutions 
voiced  by  tke  chiefs  to  pay  strict  attention  to  the  injunction  that  they 
should  spare  the  blood  of  the  aged  and  of  women  and  children  were  idle. 
Special  presents  for  proofs  of  obedience  signified  little.'"' 

The  conduct  of  affairs  at  Detroit  was  left  almost  entirely  to  the  judg- 
ment of  Lt.  Gov.  Hamilton  and  he  was  informed  that  the  power  of  the 
sword  was  alone  to  be  trusted."  By  September,  1777,  his  power  was 
absolute.  He  reported  in  July  that  fifteen  bands  of  savages  had  been 
sent  by  him  to  raid  the  frontiers.  In  isolated  localities,  too  remote  for 
warning,  men  were  killed  or  captured  while  at  work  in  the  fields  or  out 
hunting.  Women  and  children  were  burned  in  the  houses  or,  as  in  other 
cases,  the  entire  family,  together  with  plunder,  were  carried  away  as 
prisoners.''  Hard  pressed  by  their  pursuers,  the  Indians  killed  such 
prisoners  as  hindered  their  rapid  retreat.  Thus  the  tomahawk  saved 
them  from  sharing  in  the  fate  of  their  companions,  which  was  frequently 
more  cruel.  Upon  arrival  at  an  Indian  village  men  prisoners  were  forced 
at  times  to  satisfy  the  cruel  instincts  of  their  captors  by  running  the 
gauntlet  or,  as  in  other  instances,  were  burned  at  the  stake.  Some 
were  sold  to  British  and  French  traders  and  later  affected  their  escape 
or  were  ransomed.  Women  were  compelled  to  become  the  wives  or  slaves 
of  the  warriors,  and  children  were  adopted  into  the  tribe. 

That  Lt.  Gov.  Hamilton  offered  rewards  for  scalps  cannot  be  abso- 
lutely proved.     But  Americans  generally  believed  him   guilty   of  this 


'  Letter  of  Lord  George  Germaine,  Mar.  26, 1777.    Mich.  Pioneer  Coil's.,  IX,  p.  347. 

On  July  24, 1776,  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  Secretary  of  State,  wrote  Col. Guy  Johnson  "that  in  suppres- 
sing the  uimatural  rebellion  he  should  lose  no  time  in  taking  such  steps  as  may  induce  the  Six  Nations  to 
take  up  the  hatchet  against  His  Majesty's  rebellious  subjects  in  America."  N.  Y.  Col.  Doe's,  VIII,  p. 
596. 

■  Mich.  Pioneer  Coil's.,  IX,  p.  344. 

^  Mich.  Pioneer  Coil's.,  IX,  p.  346. 

^  A  complete  report  of  this  celebrated  council  is  given  in  the  Draper  Mss.  Coil's.,  49  J.  13. 

■•'  Mich.   Pioneer  Coil's.,  IX,  p.  465. 

'•  Mich.   Pioneer  Coil's.,  IX,  p.  345. 

'  Revolution  Upper  Ohio,  pp.  249-251;  253-255. 


crime  and  he  was,  while  a  prisoner,  accused  of  it  by  the  council  of 
Virginia.^  That  scalps  were  paid  for  seems  well  established  through 
the  testimony  of  spies,  disguised  as  traders,  who  visited  Detroit,  and 
of  American  prisoners.^  Among  the  goods  listed  at  Detroit,  which 
included  blankets,  kettles,  knives,  razors  and  rum,  were  150  dozen  scalping 
knives.^  Hamilton's  own  dispatches  indicate  that  the  taking  of  scalps 
was  by  no  means  exceptional.  January,  1778,  he  wrote  General  Carleton 
Ihat  the  Indians  had  brought  in  73  prisoners  and  129  scalps,*  and  in 
a  letter  of  Seiitcmber  he  says:  "Since  last  May,  the  Indians  of  this 
district  have  taken  34  prisoners  and  81  scalps."^  At  the  same  time,  he 
asserted  that  it  was  customary  to  present  a  gift  on  "every  proof  of 
obedience  they  show  in  sparing  the  lives  of  such  as  are  incapable  of 
defending  themselves."  " 

But  charges  of  inhumanity  cannot  be  brought  against  all  British 
officials.  Lt.  Gov.  Abbott  in  his  appeal  to  General  Carleton  (June  8, 
1778)  to  prevent  the  continuance  of  savage  barbarities  declared  "that  it 
was  not  people  in  arms  that  Indians  will  ever  daringly  attack;  but  the 
poor  inoffensive  families  who  fly  to  the  deserts  to  be  out  of  trouble,  and 
who  are  inhumanely  butchered,  sparing  neither  women  or  children.^ 
Major  De  Peyster,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  at  Detroit,  was 
accustomed  to  pay  more  for  prisoners  than  for  scalps.  Lord  Chatham 
opposed  the  enlistment  of  Indians.  "But  who  is  the  man,"  he  said 
(November,  1777),  "who  has  dared  to  authorize  and  associate  to  our 
arms  the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife  of  the  savage  ?"  ^  *  *  * 
What !  to  attribute  the  sanction  of  God  and  ISTature  to  the  massacres 
of  the  Indian  scalping-knife.  *  *  *  They  shock  every  sentiment  of 
honor.  They  shock  me  as  a  lover  of  honorable  war  and  a  detester  of 
murderous  barbarity.  These  abominable  principles,  and  this  more 
abominable  avowal  of  them,  demand  a  most  decisive  indignation." 

Preparations  against  a  possible  attack  on  the  Virginia  frontier  settle- 
ments in  the  early  spring  of  1777  were  hastened  by  order  of  Gov. 
Patrick  Henry.     County  lieutenants  were  warned  to  have  the  militia  in 


'  Draper  Mss.  Coil's.,  49  J.  54.  The  finding  of  the  Council,  June  Ifi,  1779,  was  based  on  letters  of 
George  Rogers  Clark  and  other  papers.  This  report  says:  "  They  find  that  Governour  Hamilton  has 
executed  the  task  of  inciting  the  Indians  to  perpetrate  their  accustomed  cruelties  on  the  citizens  of 
these  States,  without  distinction  of  age,  sex,  or  condition,  with  an  eagerness  and  activity  which 
evince  that  the  general  natiu'e  of  his  charge  harmonized  with  his  particular  disposition:  they  should 
have  been  satisfied  from  the  other  testimony  adduced  that  these  enormities  were  committed  by  Savages 
acting  under  his  commission,  but  the  number  of  proclamations  which  at  different  times  were  left  in  houses, 
the  inhabitants  of  which  were  killed  or  carried  away  by  the  Indians,  one  of  which  i)roclamation  under 
the  hand  and  seal  of  Governour  Hamilton,  is  in  possession  of  the  Board,  puts  this  fact  beyond  doubt. 
*  *  *  that  Governour  Hamilton  gave  standing  rewaids  for  scalps,  but  offered  none  for  jjrisoners.which 
induced  the  Indians,  after  making  their  captives  carry  their  baggage  into  the  neighborhood  of  the  fort, 
there  to  put  them  to  death,  and  caiTy  in  their  scalps  to  the  Governom',  who  welcomed  their  return  and 
successes  by  a  discharge  of  Cannon;    *    *    *" 

=  Morgan  Letter  Book,  III,  Mar.  20, 1778.  Daniel  Sullivan,  in  a  letter  to  Col.  John  Cannon,  wrote  of 
a  visit  to  Detroit  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  condition  of  that  post.  While  there  he  learned  that 
Hamilton,  in  his  determination  to  destroy  the  frontier  settlements  was  wont  to  pay  "  very  high  prices  in 
goods  for  scalps  the  Indians  brought  in.*  That  he  likewise  pays  for  Prisoners  but  does  not  redeem  them 
from  the  savages  and  says  he  will  not  do  it  until  the  expiration  of  the  present  war." 

"  Mich.  Pioneer  Coil's.,  IX,  p.  471. 

*  Ibid.,  p.  431. 

■■  Ibid.,  TX,  p.  477. 

"  Ibid.,  IX,  p.  4G5. 

'  Ibid.,  IX,  pp.  488,  489. 

*  This  speech,  in  Parliament,  was  made  In  reply  to  Lord  Suffolk  who  had  declared  that  "there  were 
no  means  which  God  and  Natiu'e  might  have  placed  at  the  dispo.sal  of  the  governing  powers,to  whicli  they 
would  not  be  justified  in  having  recourse." 


159 

readiness/  Magazines  were  directed  to  be  erected  in  Ohio,  Yoliogania 
and  Monongalia  counties  and  ammunition  was  forwarded  to  them.  With 
the  coming  of  spring,  200  warriors  entered  Kentucky  with  the  design  of 
cutting  off  the  settlers  gathered  in  the  forts  at  Harrodsburg,  Boones- 
.  bo  rough,  and  at  Logan's  Station.  Such  a  stroke,  it  was  hoped  by 
Hamilton,  would  put  an  end  to  American  control  in  Kentucky.  The 
fury  of  the  attack  upon  each  in  turn  was  met  with  such  desperate 
resistance  that  the  savages  withdrew  from  "Harrod's  and  Boone's."  The 
timely  arrival  of  Col.  John  Bowman  with  two  companies  of  troops  from 
Virginia,  numbering  100  men,  saved  the  besieged  inhabitants  at  Logan's 
Fort  from  death  by  starvation  or  final  surrender. 

The  situation  for  the  Kentucky  people  was  still  desperate  during  the 
succeeding  winter.  For  twelve  months  they  had  scarcely  ventured  to 
go  beyond  the  protection  of  the  three  forts.  The  greater  part  of  their 
stock  of  corn  had  been  burned.  Their  horses  had  been  driven  off  and 
the  200  women  and  children,  many  of  them  destitute  of  the  necessary 
clothing,  could  not  be  sent  to  the  older  settlements.-  Before  the  expi- 
ration of  the  time  of  enlistment  of  Bowman's  men,  the  fields  were 
cultivated  and  a  stock  of  provisions  and  of  ammunition  was  collected. 
Meantime,  numbers  of  emigrants  entered  Kentucky  and  the  feeling  of 
security  increased. 

During  April  and  May  small  bands  of  Indians  caused  the  utmost 
consternation  on  the  Ohio  frontier  by  committing  a  number  of  murders. 
Forts  and  blockhouses  were  liastily  constructed  in  some  localities,  while 
in  others  the  inhabitants  sought  safety  by  flight.^  It  was  learned  at 
Fort  Henry,*  through  Cornstalk,  distinguished  chief  of  the  Shawnee, 
that  a  general  confederacy  of  the  Northwestern  tribes  was  well  nigh 
complete,  lacking  only  the  addition  of  his  tribe,  and  that  hostilities  were 
about  to  begin. 

Informed  of  these  hostile  demonstrations.  Congress  resolved  to  send 
an  experienced  officer  to  take  command  at  Fort  Pitt,  who  was  to  embody 
the  militia  and  plan  for  the  general  defense.  This  difficult  undertaking 
was  entrusted  to  Brig.  Gen.  Edward  Hand,  who  proceeded  at  once  to 
Pittsburgh,  arriving  there  June  1.  To  assist  him  on  this  mission. 
Congress  voted  arms  and  ammunition  for  the  use  of  troops  at  Pittsburgh 
and  elsewhere  on  the  frontier  and  $4,000  for  strengthening  the  works 
at  that  post  and  for  contingent  expenses.  Discretionary  power  was 
granted,  to  him  to  embody  one  thousand  or  more  militia  for  the  defense 
of  the  frontier.^ 

It  was  anticipated  that  the  high  opinion  in  which  Gen.  Hand  was 
held  on  the  frontier  would  cause  the  militia,  when  summoned,  to  respond 
at  once.     Five  companies  assembled  at  Point  Pleasant  with  the  object 


•  Revolution  Upper  Ohio,  p.  223. 

-  The  men  numbered  65  at  Harrodsburg:  22  at  Boonesborough  and  15  at  Logan's  Fort.  Withers' 
Chi-onieles  of  Border  Warfare,  "p.  208.  Letter  of  Col.  Bowman  to  General  Hand,  Dec.  12, 1 777.  Draper 
Mss.  Cols.,  Haldimand  Papers,  pp.  192,  193. 

^  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  255. 

■*  Point  Pleasant. 

'■■  .Journals  Cont.  Cong.,  VII,  pp.  247,  25fi. 

Fourteen  boat  carpenters  and  sawyers  had  been  sent  in  February  from  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburgh. 
Thirty  batteaux,  40  feet  long,  9  feet  wide,  and  32  inches  deep  were  built  by  them  for  the  purpose  of  tra  ns- 
porting  troops  and  provisions  in  case  an  invasion  of  the  Indian  country  was  determined  upon. 


160 

of  invading  the  Indian  country,  and  there  awaited  Gen.  Hand's  coming 
from  Fort  Pitt.^  Upon  his  arrival,  with  but  few  troops  and  without 
provisions,  the  expedition  was  reluctantly  abandoned  and  the  militia 
returned  to  their  homes. 

Messengers  were  sent  to  the  various  isolated  settlements  recommending 
that  they  should  be  immediately  abandoned  and  the  settlers  take  shelter 
within  the  fortresses  or  retire  east  of  the  mountains.  Notwithstanding 
the  vigilance  of  scouting  parties  constantly  traversing  the  woods,  deeds 
of  savage  violence  were  continuous. 

Gen.  Hand  learned  through  messages,  brought  by  runners  from  the 
Moravian  towns,  that  the  Ohio  settlements  were  soon  to  be  attacked  by 
an  army  of  Indians  under  the  leadership  of  Simon  Girty.^  Settlers 
hastened  to  retire  to  the  security  of  the  forts.  The  first  blow  fell  on 
Fort  Henry,  garrisoned  at  the  time  by  two  companies  of  militia,  forty 
men  in  all,  under  Col.  David  Shepherd.  Warned  by  Gen.  Hand  of 
the  approaching  danger.  Col.  Shepherd  had  early  in  August  assembled 
the  militia  for  the  defense  of  the  fort,  but  as  the  enemy  did  not  appear 
vigilance  was  relaxed  and  nine  companies  of  militia  returned  to  their 
homes.  This  fort,  which  stood  upon  the  bank  of  the  Ohio  near  the 
mouth  of  Wheeling  creek,  was  next  in  importance  to  Fort  Pitt.^ 
Between  the  fort  and  the  base  of  a  steep  hill  was  an  open  level  space 
partly  occupied  by  log  cabins.  The  settlers  were  assured  by  scouts  who 
had  been  watching  the  approaches  that  there  was  no  immediate  danger. 
On  that  night,  August  31,  between  two  and  three  hundred  warriors 
ambushed  themselves  within  a  short  distance  of  the  village.  Early  next 
morning  Andrew  Zane,  with  three  companions,  while  searching  for 
some  horses  were  surprised  by  six  Indians.  One  of  the  wdiites  was  killed. 
The  others  escaped,  Zane,  it  is  said,  having  leaped  from  a  cliff  seventy 
feet  high.  With  the  belief  that  the  enemy  was  few  in  numbers,  fourteen 
men  marched  out  to  the  attack.  Discovering  the  main  body  of  the 
Indians,  the}^  attempted  to  escape  but  were  all  killed  with  the  exception 
of  two  who  were  badly  wounded  but  finally  reached  the  fort.  Another 
party  of  twelve,  advancing  to  the  relief  of  their  comrades,  were  in  like 
manner  shot  down  or  butchered,  one  only  escaping.  The  defense  of 
the  terror-stricken  settlers,  who  meantime  had  fled  for  refuge  to  the 
fort,  was  dependent  on  thirty-three  men.  To  their  surprise,  the  Indians 
did  not  make  an  attack.  After  throwing  up  rude  earthworks,  they  killed 
all  of  the  live-stock  within  their  reach,  set  fire  to  the  cabins  and  retreated 
across  the  Ohio.* 

On  September  26,  a  scouting  party  consisting  of  forty-three  men  set 
out  from  Fort  Henr}-.     Eeturning  the  next  day,  they  were  attacked 


'  While  awaiting  the  coming  of  General  Hand,  some  mutinous  soldiers  murdered  Chief  Cornstalk,  who 
had  been  held  as  a  hostage,  together  with  his  son  and  two  companions.  Rewards  were  offered  by  the 
Governor  and  Council  of  Virginia  for  the  apprehension  and  conviction  of  the  murderers  but  without  avail 
owing  to  the  excited  state  of  public  feeling.  Cornstalk  was  noted  for  his  commanding  appearanc^and  or- 
atorical ability.  The  ShawTiee  were  thereafter  the  inveterate  foes  of  the  whites  and  as  a  result  the  Indian 
jvar  was  renewed  with  greater  vigor  the  following  year.    Draper,  Trip  1860,  V,  102, 144. 

^  Moravians  from  the  Muskingum.    Girty  was  not  the  leader  of  this  expedition. 

'  Fort  Henry,  formerly  called  Fort  Fincastle  was  built  in  1774.  It  was  an  oblong  stockade  of  pickets 
pointed  at  the  top  and  with  bastions  and  sentry-boxes  at  the  angles.  About  half  an  acre  of  ground 
was  enclosed.    Within  the  enclosure  were  log  barracks,  a  storehouse,  a  well  and  cabins. 

^  Many  stories  of  the  heroism  of  both  men  and  women  have  been  related  in  connection  with  this  event 
Most  of  them  are  mythical.    Some  of  them  had  their  foundation  in  the  siege  of  Wheeling,  Sept.  11 ,  1782 


161 

by  Half  Kiug,  chief  of  the  Wyaudot;,  who^  with  forty  of  his  braves,  was 
lyiug  in  ambush.  Twenty-one  of  tlie  whites  were  killed.  Contrary  to 
their  usage;,  the  savages  continued  their  depredations  after  the  setting  in 
of  winter  when  the  borderers  were  off  their  guard. 

Fearful  lest  these  forays  carried  on  at  the  instigation  of  British 
agents  would  lead  to  the  depopulation  of  the  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania 
frontiers,  Congress,  late  in  the  year,  appointed  three  commissioners  who 
were  to  cooperate  with  Gen.  Hand  in  carrying  the  war  into  the  enemy's 
country.^  They  were  empowered  to  extend  such  operations  so  as  to 
include  an  immediate  advance  on  Detroit  and  its  dependencies  provided 
it  was  thought  feasible  at  that  season  of  the  year  and  could  be  accom- 
plished with  a  force  not  to  exceed  2,000  men  exclusive  of  Indian 
auxiliaries. 

Throughout  the  winter  preparations  were  carried  on  for  protection 
against  the  recurrence  of  the  outrages  of  the  preceding  year.  New  forts 
were  built  and  old  ones  strengthened.  Gen.  Hand  now  determined  upon 
an  aggressive  policy.  During  February,  1778,  with  a  force  of  500,  chiefly 
militia,  he  set  out  for  the  Indian  strongholds  beyond  the  Ohio.  Because 
of  the  heavy  rains,  the  advance  was  slow.  After  taking  possession  of 
some  Indian  towns,  almost  deserted  by  their  inhabitants,  the  expedition 
was  abandoned.  This,  the  first  movement  by  Americans  against  the 
Indians  during  the  Eevolution,  was  deemed  a  failure.  It  resulted  only 
in  the  capture  of  a  number  of  non-combatants  and  was  commonly  known 
as  "the  squaw  campaign."  Disappointed  at  the  outcome,  which  was 
not  due  to  lack  of  ability  on  his  part  and  "much  pestered  with  the 
machinations"  of  the  tories  who  were  numerous  on  the  frontier,  Gen. 
Hand,  upon  his  own  request,  was  recalled  from  the  command  at  Pitts- 
burgh. He  was  succeeded  by  Lachlan  Mcintosh,  who  had  entered  the 
army  at  the  opening  of  the  war  and  had  been  advanced  to  the  rank  of 
brigadier-general. 

The  incursions  of  the  savages,  assisted  by  the  tories,  upon  the  frontiers 
of  jSTew  York,  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  were  almost  continuous  during 
the  spring  and  summer  of  1778.  While  these  attacks  were  incited  by 
the  authorities  at  Detroit  many  of  the  settlers  themselves  were  not 
blameless.  The  borderers  were  characterized  in  a  report  of  the  Board 
as  "a  wild,  ungovernable  race,  little  less  savage  than  their  tawny  neigh- 
bors; and  by  similar  barbarities  have  in  fact  provoked  them  to  revenge.^ 
But  the  suffering  of  the  innocent  with  the  guilty  made  immediate 
relief  necessary.  Moreover,  it  appeared  certain  that  these  forays  were 
but  the  preliminaries  to  a  general  Indian  war  which  threatened  with 
devastation  the  whole  frontier  region^.  It  was  reported  that  1,600 
warriors  from  the  Seneca,  Cayuga,  Onondaga,  Mingo,  Wyandot,  and  a 
few  of  the  Ottawa,  Chippewa  and  Shawnee  tribes  together,  with  a  num- 


»  Nov.  20, 1777.  Journals  of  the  Cont.  Cong.,  new  ed.,  IX,  pp.  942-944.  The  commissioners  appointed 
were  Col.  Samuel  W^ashington,  Col.  Joseph  Reed  and  Gabriel  Jones. 

General  Washington  was  also  directed  to  send  Col.  William  Crawford  to  Pittsbuigh  to  take  command 
under  General  Hand   of  the  Continental  troops  and  militia  in  the  Western  Department. 

-  TheBoardof  War  to  Washington  May  19, 1778.  Washington  Mss.,  Box  35,  No.  5.  Library  of  Con- 
gress. 

'■>  Extracts  from  the  Minutes  of  Congress,  June  11,1778.  Letters  to  Washington,  1778,  Vol.  XXV, 
folios  86,  87.    Library  of  Congress. 

—11  H  S 


liS2 

ber  of  British  emissaries,  were  collecting  lor  tins  purpose.'  All  attempts 
to  conciliate  these  tribes  and  tlie  threatenings  of  counnissioners  no  longer 
availed,  for  the  Indians  were  lirni  in  the  dpinion.  which  had  been 
assiduously  inculcated  among  them,  that  the  forbearance  of  the  states 
proceeded  from  their  inability  to  revenge  the  outrages  committed  against 
them.  Iiilhu'nccd  by  these  considerations  and  aware  that  Detroit  was 
still  in  a  defenseless  condition,-  Congress  dctcnnined  to  al)and(>n  the 
policy  of  a  defensive  war  and  to  undertake  immediately  two  expeditions. 
One  of  them  was  to  have  as  its  object  the  ca])ture  of  Detroit  and  the 
subjugation  of  such  Indian  tribes  on  the  way  tliither  as  were  enemies 
of  the  states.  The  other  expedition  was  to  be  organized  for  the  purpose 
of  carrying  the  war  into  the  Seneca  country  and  the  conquest  of  such 
tribes  of  the  Six  Nations  as  were  hostile.  Another  object  of  this  expedi- 
tion was  to  gain  possession  of  Oswego. 

The  expedition  against  Detroit  was  projected  on  so  large  a  scale  that 
its  success  seemed  assured.  An  army  of  3,000  men,  the  majority  of 
them  to  be  furiiished  by  Virginia,  was  to  advance  in  two  equal  divi- 
sions; one  hy  the  way  of  the  Big  Kanawha  to  Fort  Eandolph,  where  it 
was  to  be  joined  by  the  other  division  coming  from  Fort  Pitt  down  the 
Ohio.  Nine  hundred  thirty  thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  towards 
defraying  the  expenses.' 

That  the  French  at  Detroit  would  render  no  assistance  to  the  English 
upon  the  approach  of  the  enemy  seemed  certain.*  Hamilton  himself 
had  knowledge  of  this  disaffection.  Writing  (leu.  Carleton  he  said : 
"When  it  is  considered  how  many  people  in  this  settlement  have  con- 
nections with  the  Americans,  it  will  not  be  surprising  if  the  Virginians 
should  have  notice  of  anything  projected  against  them  from  this  quarter, 
and  tho'  a  great  deal  if  not  everything  depends  upon  secrecy  I  must  not 
flatter  myself  'twill  be  concealed  (as  it  should)  since  an  Indian  for  a 
gallon  of  rum  may  be  engaged  to  carry  letters  of  intelligence."^ 

Witli  500  men,  including  the  Eighth  Pennsylvania  regiment  under 
Col.  Daniel  Brodhead  and  the  Thirteenth  Virginia  regiment  under 
Col.  John  Gibson,  Gen.  Mcintosh  set  out,  in  June,  for  Fort  Pitt. 
Commissioners  sent  by  Congress,  through  the  judicious  distribution  of 
presents  among  the  Delawares,  assembled  at  Pittsburgh,  $10,000  having 
l)een  appropriated  for  that  purpose,  obtained  ])ermission  to  traverse  their 
territory.     In  the  meantime  Congress  determined  to  defer  the  expedition 


•  Hamilton  reported  the  Lake  Indians  in  readiness  to  go  to  war  in  the  spring.  He  hoped  to  have  150 
militia  and  30  to  40  men  of  the  garr'son  join  them  in  ths  enterprise.  He  was  possessed  of  a  plan  of  Ft. 
Pitt  and  was  convinced  that  it  might  at  the  time  be  captured  by  a  small  force.  Mich.  Pioneer  Coil's., 
IX,  p.  431. 

-  Journals  Continental  Congress,  new  ed.,  XI,  p.  588. 

^  Journals  of  the  Continental  Congress,  XI,  p.  590. 

This  meant  an  e.xpenditure  of  $261,000  more  than  would  be  required  for  the  maintenance  of  the  de- 
fensive policy.  Should  Detroit  be  captured  however  it  was  shown  that  an  amount  larger  than  this  ad- 
ditional sum  would  be  saved  in  a  single  year  for  the  defense  of  the  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  frontiers 
would  no  longer  be  neces.sary. 

*  Letterof  John  Leath  to  George  Morgan,  Aug.  19, 1778.  Morgan  Letter  Book  III.  French  merchants 
were  suspected  of  being  inclined  to  the  cause  of  the  States.  Trade  for  a  number  of  years  had  been  re- 
stricted in  such  a  way  that  the  people  were  willing  to  pay  even  higher  prices  for  the  goods  brought  from 
New  Orleans  and  other  Spanish  posts  for  trade  at  Kaskaskia  and  IJetroit  than  for  the  goods  furnished  bv 
the  English  themselves.     Wis.  Hist.  Col's.,  XVIII,  pp.  290,  291. 

The  total  population  of  Detroit  (1778)  exclusiveof  the  British  soldiers  was  2,144. — Mich.  Pioneer  Coil's., 
IX,p.  469. 

"  Ibid.,  IX,  p.  432. 


163 

against  Detroit.  This  change  of  plan  was  due  chiefl}'  to  the  report  that 
it  was  impracticable  to  secure  the  necessary  men,  horses,  flour  and 
cattle  within  the  time  stipulated/ 

Gen.  Mcintosh  was  directed  to  assemble  1,500  troops  at  Fort  Pitt 
with  which  he  was  to  proceed  against  tlie  hostile  tribes  and  destroy  their 
towns.  As  a  step  in  fulfillment  of  this  plan  he  built  a  fort  (Fort 
Mcintosh)  at  the  mouth  of  Big  Beaver  creek,  thirty  miles  below  Pitts- 
burgh. This  was  the  first  fort  built  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Ohio 
and,  although  primarily  intended  as  a  refuge  in  case  of  defeat,  it  was 
well  located  to  furnish  assistance  to  the  settlements  which  had  reached 
the  Muskingum  and  extended  a  few  miles  up  that  river. 

With  a  force  of  1,000  men  Gen.  Mcintosh,  towards  the  last  of 
October,  advanced  westward.  Peaching  an  elevated  plain  on  the  Tus- 
carawas river,^  seventy  miles  from  Fort  Mcintosh,  and  while  waiting 
for  his  main  supplies  to  come  up,  he  began  the  erection  of  a  stockaded 
fort.^  The  construction  of  Fort  Laurens  completed,  the  season  was 
then  so  far  advanced  and  the  difficulty  of  procuring  provisions  was  so 
great*  that  the  forward  movement  was  aliandoned.  Leaving  Col. 
Gibson  in  charge,  with  a  garrison  of  150  men,  Mcintosh  conducted  his 
remaining  force  to  Fort  Pitt,  where  the  militia  were  disbanded. 

During  the  course  of  these  events  a  plan  was  evolved  which,  like  many 
another  paper  proposal,  met  with  almost  unanimous  support  in  Congress. 
This  included  the  capture  of  Detroit  and  Niagara  and  also  an  attack 
on  Quebec  in  which  American  troops  were  to  be  supported  by  a  French 
fleet  and  army  under  LaFayette.  Once  more  the  far-sightedness  of 
Washington  prevented  the  enormous  expenditure  of  money  necessary  for 
the  equipment  of  these  expeditions  which  must,  at  the  time,  have 
resulted  only  in  failure  and  the  possible  destruction  of  American  hopes 
for  ultimate  victorv.^ 


'  Resolutions  of  Congress,  July  25, 1778.  Based  on  letters  from  Patrick  Lockhart.  Commissary  of  the 
expedition  and  from  Patrick  Hem-y.  Letters  to  Washington,  1778.  Folio  88,  89  Congressional  Library, 
Journal  of  Va.,  House  of  Delegates.    July  7,  1778,  p.  287. 

~  A  branch  of  Muskingum  river. 

^  Near  this  spot  Bouquet  had  built  a  stockade,  1764. 

*  Draper  Mss.  Coil's.,  58  J.  32.    Clinton  to  Haldimand,  Feb.  1,  1779. 

'-  Oct.  22,  1778.    Journals  Cont.  Congress,  XII.,  1042-1048. 

(Sub  heads  under  note  5.) 

1.  For  the  captui'e  of  Detroit,  3,000  men  were  to  be  called  for  from  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  and  of 
these  1,500  of  the  most  effective  were  to  be  selected  for  the  expedition.  Together  with  100  light  cavalry, 
they  were  to  be  prepared  for  marching  orders  by  June  1. 

2.  For  the  protection  of  the  frontiers  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  500  men  were  to  be  stationed 
near  W^yoming — and  this  number  was  to  be  increased  by  1,000  in  the  spring. 

3.  Fifteen  hundred  men  were  to  be  stationed  along  the  Mohawk.  In  the  spring,  2,500  more  men  were 
to  be  used  for  the  same  purpose. 

4.  Two  thousand  five  hundred  men  were  to  march  from  Ft.  Schuyleraboutthe  middle  of  May  for 
an  attack  on  Oswego. 

5.  Five  thousand  regular  troops  were  to  be  recruited  during  the  winter  with  the  aim  of  marching 
againi  t  Montreal. 

These  plans  proving  successful  the  combined  French  and  American  attack  against  Quebec  was  to  fol- 
low. It  was  urged  as  a  tempting  offer  to  France  to  join  in  the  undertaking;  1.  A  share  in  the  fisheries 
of  New  Foundland  and  in  the  fur-trade  at  that  time  monopolized  by  Great  Britain;  and  2.  An  exten- 
sion of  French  commerce. 

Washington  regarded  the  whole  plan  as  visionary  requiring  as  it  would  more  troops  and  money  than 
were  available.  He  argued  that  the  American  government  would  in  attempting  its  fulfillment  become 
involved  in  engagements  to  France  which  could  not  be  met.  He  felt  also  that  it  would  be  but  natural, 
in  case  Canada  was  taken,  for  France  to  demand  that  province  as  the  price  of  her  assistance.  His  opinions 
were  of  such  weight  that  when  stated  to  a  Committee  of  Congress  that  this  part  of  the  scheme  was  aban- 
doned. 

Sparks,  Life  and  Writings  of  Washington,  I,  pp.  311,  seq. 


164 

The  winter  proved  a  trying  one  for  the  garrison  at  Fort  Laurens. 
Late  in  January^,  a  party  of  fifteen  men  which  had  carried  provisions 
to  them  was  waylaid  three  miles  from  the  fort,  while  returning  to  Fort 
Pitt,  by  a  band  of  Mingo  and  Wyandotte  led  by  Simon  Girty.^  Other 
convoys  of  provisions  failed  to  reach  the  fort  because  of  attacks  by 
Indians  and  the  garrison  was  on  the  verge  of  starvation.  In  February 
Capt.  Henry  Bird  of  the  King's  regiment,  accompanied  by  Simon  Girty 
and  a  few  soldiers,  led  130  savages  against  the  fort  itself.  Col.  Gibson, 
aware  of  the  presence  of  the  enemy,  although  they  were  in  hiding, 
persisted  in  sending  out  eighteen  men  to  bring  in  the  horses  belonging 
to  the  fort.  Sixteen  of  the  party  were  killed  and  the  two  others  were 
made  prisoners.  For  a  month  the  fort  was  invested,  the  besiegers  finally 
retiring  for  want  of  supplies.  A  few  days  later  Gen.  Mcintosh  reached 
the  fort  with  500  regulars  and  militia.  He  learned  of  the  critical 
situation  through  an  Indian  who  succeeded  in  stealing  through  the  lines 
with  a  message  from  Col.  Gibson.  The  relief  was  timely  for  the  garrison 
had  subsisted  chiefly  on  roots  for  nearly  a  week. 

On  his  return  to  Fort  Pitt,  Gen.  Mcintosh  learned  that  his  request 
to  be  relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Western  army  had  been  granted 
and  that  Col.  Brodhead,  a  man  well  acquainted  with  the  conditions  in 
the  back  country,  had,  on  the  recommendation  of  Washington,  been 
appointed  as  his  successor.^  While  little  had  seemingly  been  accom- 
plished by  these  movements,  nevertheless  the  British  plans  to  gain 
possession  of  the  West  and  lend  assistance  to  their  Eastern  forces  had 
been  foiled.  The  rumor  that  another  expedition  was  to  be  sent  from 
Pittsburgh  in  April  together  with  the  activities  of  George  Rogers  Clark 
not  only  frightened  the  officials  at  Detroit  but  "greatly  damped  the 
spirits"  of  their  Indian  allies.^ 


'  Two  whites  were  killed,  foiir  were  wounded  and  one  was  made  prisoner. 

-  Draper  Mss.  Coil's.,  Brodhead  Papers,  I,  H  33. 

Preceding  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  Daniel  Brodhead  was  a  deputy  surveyor  in  Reading,  Penn- 
sylvania. Oct.  25, 1776,  he  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  within  six  months  was  promoted 
to  the  office  of  Colonel  in  the  Eighth  Pennsylvania  regiment.  In  this  capacity  he  accompanied  General 
Mcintosh  on  the  expedition  described.  After  the  war,  he  became  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Assem- 
bly and  was  subsequently  made  Surveyor-general  in  that  stat«. 

3  Draper  Mss.  Coil's.,  49  J.  20,  25;  58  J.  9-12;  58  J.  32,  33. 


PART  III. 


Contributions  to  State 

History. 


I 


Alfred    Cowles. 
(Taken  at  the  age  of  ninety-eight  years.) 


1G7 


ALFEED  COWLES. 


By  Dr.  J.  P.  Snyder. 

History  is  usually  defined  as  little  more  than  aggregation  of  individual 
biographies — in  the  main,  of  noted  persons  who  have  gained  civic  or 
military  honors.  The  multitude  who  have  not  sought  fame,  but  obscurely 
labored  for  progress  and  improvement,  are  conspicuous  in  history  only 
as  "the  common  people."  That  class,  however,  is  entitled  to  more 
consideration  from  the  historian  than  it  ordinarily  receives,  for  upon 
it  is  grounded  the  power  and  prestige  of  the  State. 

Xo  great  achievement  linked  the  name  of  Alfred  Cowles  (pronounced 
Coles)  with  the  history  of  Illinois.  He  was  not  a  statesman,  warrior, 
or  writer,  but  only  one  of  the  people,  a  pioneer  lawyer  and  private  citi- 
zen, who  well  and  conscientiously  did  his  modest  part  in  the  building  of 
this  State,  and  passed  away — as  did  many  other  worthy  pioneers — 
leaving  scarcely  a  trace  of  his  existence  upon  the  pages  of  its  history. 
The  apology  offered  for  recording  his  uneventful  career  and  perpetuat- 
ing his  memory,  is  the  fact  that  he  was  one  of  the  very  few  pioneers 
of  education  and  ability  who  came  to  Illinois  at  its  formative  stage 
without  aspirations  for  official  preferment,  or  fame,  but  content  to 
quietly  attend  to  his  own  business  and  the  duties  incumbent  upon  him 
as  a  citizen. 

He  was  of  sturdy  New  England  stock,  descended  from  Eound  Head 
ancestry,  and  was  born  in  F'armington,  Hartford  county,  Connecticut, 
on  July  1,  1787.  Longevity  was  characteristic  of  the  Cowles  family. 
His  brother,  William,  born  in  the  same  house  at  Farmington,  died  there 
at  the  age  of  99  years,  having  in  all  that  time  never  been  outside  of 
that  county.  Their  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  patriot  army  of  the 
Eevolutionary  Avar,  and  later  a  prosperous  fanner,  Alfred  Cowles 
received  the  best  education  attainable  at  that  period  in  Hartford  county, 
and  began  the  study  of  law  Ijcfore  he  was  old  enough  to  vote.  Shortly 
after  his  admission  to  the  bar  occurred  the  next  most  memorable  event 
of  his  life,  that  of  his  marriage  to  a  girl  having  his  own  family  name, 
Miss  Charlotte  Gleason  Cowles.  Her  father  was  Gen.  Solomon  Cowles, 
then  a  merchant  in  Farmington,  and  also  formerly  a  Eevolutionary 
soldier.  No  blood  relationship  could  be  traced  between  the  two  families, 
l)ut  thev  were   probably   from   the   same  remote   ancestors.      For   some 


.168 

years  Mr.  Cowles  practiced  law  in  Connecticut  courts,  thereby  gaining 
in  legal  knowledge  and  experience,  and  also  gaining  slowly  in  the  field 
of  professional  business  securely  held  by  older  lawyers. 

He  was  past  30  years  of  age  when  Illinois  was  admitted  as  a  State 
into  the  Union,  in  1818.  By  that  event  the  tide  of  western  emigration, 
feebly  commencing  after  Colonel  Clark's  conquest  of  the  Northwest  in 
1778-79,  received  large  accessions  from  all  sections  of  the  South  and 
East.  The  magic  development  of  the  far  West  presented  to  Mr.  Cowles 
so  many  flattering  prospects  for  bettering  his  circumstances  that  he 
could  not  resist  the  inducements  to  join  the  moving  throng,  and  to  try 
his  fortunes  in  the  new  prairie  State.  His  marriage  had  been  blessed 
by  the  birth  of  a  son,  whose  brief  span  of  life  was,  however,  termi- 
nated at  the  age  of  15  months.  That  sad  occurrence  increased  the  desire 
to  get  away  from  the  scene  of  their  bereavement  and  its  shadow  of  gloom 
they  could  not  dispel.  Having  at  length  perfected  all  necessary  prepa- 
rations, the  young  lawyer,  with  his  wife,  left  Connecticut  in  the  early 
spring  of  1821,  and  started  on  the  long  journey  in  a  covered  wagon, 
fitted  up  with  a  stove  and  other  domestic  conveniences,  drawn  by  a  pair 
of  strong  horses.  Passing,  at  a  leisurely  gait,  through  the  states  of 
New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and  Indiana,  and  across  Illinois,  their 
pilgrimage  ended,  in  midsummer,  at  Belleville,  in  the  latter  state,  four- 
teen miles  from  the  Mississippi.  Mr.  Cowles'  first  transaction  there  was 
to  trade  his  team  and  wagon  for  about  an  acre  of  land  in  the  dense 
woods  on  the  southeastern  outskirts  of  the  village,  on  which  was  a  log 
cabin  in  fair  condition  wherein  he  commenced  housekeeping. 

The  population  of  Belleville  at  that  time  did  not  exceed  300.  Three 
lawyers  constituted  its  local  bar,  William  Mears,  David  Blackwell,  and 
Eobert  K.  McLaughlin.  At  the  September  term  of  circuit  court.  Judge 
John  Eeynolds  presiding,  Alfred  Cowles  was  duly  examined,  admitted, 
and  enrolled  as  a  practicing  attorney.  He  was  then  quite  prepossessing 
in  personal  appearance.  In  figure  erect,  well-formed,  5  feet  7  inches  in 
height,  and  average  weight  of  160  pounds.  His  eyes  were  blue,  his 
hair  light  brown  in  color,  and  complexion  florid.  Of  sanguine  tempera- 
ment, he  was  pleasant  and  jovial  in  disposition,  fluent  and  interesting 
in  conversation ;  hi?  voice  strong  and  distinct,  and  his  cultured  language 
free  from  slang  and  vulgarity.  In  character  he  was  strictly  moral, 
reliable,  honorable,  and  temperate  in  all  things.  ISTever  having  used 
tobacco  in  any  manner,  or  liquor,  his  personal  habits  were  exceptional 
in  the  free  social  conditions  of  the  frontier.  As  a  lawyer,  he  was  an 
excellent  conveyancer,  and  thoroughly  understood  the  science  of  plead- 
ing, but,  devoid  of  the  gift  of  oratory,  he  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker, 
and,  consequently,  but  an  indifferent  advocate.  However,  his  close  and 
faithful  application  to  business,  his  sound  judgment  and  broad  legal 
knowledge,  placed  him  in  the  front  ranks  among  his  contemporaries  of 
the  profession. 

Three  years  before  Mr.  Cowles  located  in  Belleville  (1819)  Attorney 
A.  C.  Stuart  was  killed  in  a  duel  by  Timothy  Bennett,  but  his  vacancy 
at  the  bar  was  soon  supplied  by  the  arrival  there  of  another  lawyer, 
David  Blackwell.    McLaughlin,  who  did  not  devote  his  time  or  attention 


169 

exclusively  to  the  law,  but  was  more  inclined  to  politics  and  office- 
holding,  shortly  thereafter  left  Belleville,  moving  to  the  new  State 
capital,  Vandalia,  where  he  became  quite  prominent  and  wealthy,  and 
died  there  in  1856.  Against  the  strong  local  competition  of  Mears 
and  Blackwell- — both  able  lawyers — Cowles  not  only  held  his  own,  but 
prospered.  He  was  energetic,  industrious,  and  a  very  active  business 
man.  With  the  other  members  of  the  bar  he  attended  the  spring  and 
fall  terms  of  circuit  court  in  each  county  of  the  second  judicial  district, 
which  then  comprised  a  fourth  of  the  inhabited  portion  of  the  State, 
including  Madison,  Randolph,  Fayette,  Marion,  and  all  intermediate 
counties.  He  sought  neither  popularity  or  distinction,  except  in  the 
line  of  his  profession.  At  the  time  when  almost  every  man  in  Illinois 
who  could  read  and  write,  was  a  politician,  and  two-thirds  of  them  were 
office-seekers,  he  avoided  any  reference  to  political  questions,  and  man- 
aged to  maintain  friendly  relations  with  all  parties  without  committing 
himself  to  the  support  of  either.  This  course  may  have  been  owing  to 
his  natural  distaste  for  politics  and  public  life,  and  somewhat  to  the 
fact  that  the  political  principles  he  entertained  allied  him  with  the  hope- 
less minority.  A  stanch  Adams  man  and  radically  opposed  to  slavery 
on  coming  to  Illinois,  he  found  the  Jackson  party  here  supreme,  and 
many  of  its  ablest  leaders  decidedly  in  favor  of  adopting  the  institution 
of  slavery  in  this  State.  At  the  second  election  for  Governor,  in  1822, 
though  political  parties  had  not  yet  been  defined,  no  concerted  lines  of 
public  policy  presented,  and  candidates  were  not  selected  by  convention 
or  caucus,  the  real  issue  was  the  slavery  question.  Not  the  national 
abolition  of  slavery — for  no  prominent  politician  in  Illinois  until  1861 
had  the  moral  courage  to  publicly  declare  he  was  an  Abolitionist^ — but 
it  was  whether  or  not  slavery  should  be  perpetuated  in  this  State  by 
constitutional  authority.  Edward  Coles  had  come  to  Madison  county 
in  1819  with  twenty-three  slaves  he  had  emancipated. on  the  way  from 
Virginia,  and  despite  the  earnest  protests  of  almost  all  the  citizens  of 
Madison  county,  he  entered  160  acres  of  land  for  each  head  of  a  family 
of  those  freed  negroes,  and  settled  them  in  that  county.  At  that  elec- 
tion Edward  Coles,  then  Eeceiver  of  the  Land  Office  at  Edwardsville, 
was  a  candidate  for  Governor,  committed  to  the  exclusion  of  slaverv 
from  the  State.  He  was  opposed  by  two  very  popular  pro-slavery  can- 
didates. Judge  Phillips  and  Judge  Browne,  and  by  General  Moore, 
whose  views  were  not  generally  known. 

Coles  was  elected,  but  not  by  a  majority  of  the  voters.  He  received 
2,810  votes;  for  the  two  Judges  5,303  were  cast,  and  for  General  Moore, 
522.  The  plurality  of  Coles  over  Phillips,  the  next  highest  candidate, 
was  barely  50,  and  the  combined  majority  against  him  was  3,015.  Alfred 
Cowles  took  no  active  part  in  the  campaign,  but  voted  for  Coles,  and 
was  thenceforth  a  quiet,  steadfast,  supporter  of  his  administration,  and 
a  personal  friend  very  highly  esteemed  by  the  new  Governor.  In  the 
tumultuous  convention  contest  that  followed  the  disgraceful  pro-slavery 


'See  Ml".  Lincoln's  inaugural  address,  March  4, 1861. 


no 

legislatiou  oi'  the  Third  General  Assembly,  ciihuinatiii^-  in  the  election 
of  Aug.  2,  1824,  Alfred  Cowles  was — with  Governor  Coles,  Dr.  John 
M.  Peek,  Eev.  James  Lcmen,  and  all  tliat  valiant  l)aud — nnfiineliing  in 
his  elforts  to  defeat  the  infamous  convention  resolution,  and  voted 
against  its  adoption.  At  the  Presidential  election  three  months  later, 
of  the  four  candidates  presented,  Jackson,  Adams,  Clay  and  Crawford, 
he  cast  his  vote  for  John  Quincy  Adams,  who  was  subsequently  made 
President  by  the  House  of  Representatives. 

In  1825,  Mr.  Cowles  was  appointed,  by  Governor  Coles,  State's  At- 
torney for  the  2d  Judicial  district,  and  i-e-appointed  by  Governor  Ed- 
wards in  182T.  He  was  again  commissioned  for  the  same  position  1)y 
Governor  Keynolds  in  1831,  and  also  in  1832.  By  act  of  Feb.  7,  1835, 
the  Legislature  assumed  the  power  of  electing  State's  Attorneys  for  the 
several  Judicial  districts,  excepting  that  in  wliieh  tlie  capital  of  the 
State  was  situated,  and  in  that  one  the  Attorney  General  was  required  to 
act  as  Prosecuting  Attorney.  Yandalia,  tlie  State  capital,  was  at  that 
time  in  the  2d  Judicial  circuit;  consequently  Jesse  B.  Thomas  Jr.,  the 
iVttomey  General,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  superseded  Mr.  Cowles  in  that 
district. 

In  those  days  the  office  of  State's  Attorney,  was  by  no  means  a  sine- 
cure. His  duty  was  to  represent  the  people  and  State  at  every  term  of 
the  Circuit  Court  held  in  his  district ;  to  explain  to  grand  juries  in  detail 
their  obligations  and  powers  as  instructed  by  the  Judge,  and  to  prosecute 
all  persons  brought  into  court  for  trial  charged  with  crimes  and  mis- 
demeanors. When  Mr.  Cowles  was  first  appointed  to  the  office,  the  only 
compensation  he  received  for  his  services,  was  five  dollars  for  each  con- 
viction he  secured;  but  by  Act  of  the  Legislature  in  1827,  the  State's 
Attorneys  were  paid  a  salary  of  $250.00  per  annum — a  very  liberal 
allowance,  considering  that  the  annual  salary  of  the  Attorney  General 
was  but  $350.00..  and  that  of  the  Governor  $1,000.00.  In  some  of  the 
counties  much  time  of  each  term  of  the  court  was  occupied  by  prosecu- 
tions for  rioting,  horse  stealing,  cutting  timber  on  pul^lic  land,  etc.  For 
the  latter  offense,  however,  it  was  commonly  said,  conviction  was  impos- 
sible, as  sometimes  the  Judge  himself  was  guilty  of  that  infraction  of 
the  law. 

The  case,  on  indictment,  entitled  "The  County  of  ^Madison  vs.  Edward 
Coles,"  for  violation  of  the  law  of  1819,  in  settling  his  freed  slaves  in 
Hlinois  without  having  given  bond  in  the  sum  of  $200.00  for  each  to 
guarantee  they  would  not  become  public  charges,  was  tried  in  the  Madi- 
son county  Circuit  Court,  before  Judge  John  l^eynolds  and  a  jury,  in 
September,  1824,  and  a  verdict  rendered  against  the  Governor  for 
$2,000.00 — which  the  Legislature  promptly  released  the  following  winter. 
The  next  move  of  the  Governor's  enemies,  was  to  cause  him  to  be  in- 
dicted by  the  grand  jury  for  libeling  Judge  Sam  McEoberts,  in  a  news- 
paper article  he  wrote  criticising  the  Court's  rulings.  McEoberts  also 
entered  civil  suit  against  him  for  $5,000.00  damages.  These  suits  were 
])ending  when  Alfred  Cowles  became  Prosecuting  Attorney  in  1825.  He 
found  the  indictment  for  libel  to  be  so  plainly  a  matter  of  personal  spite 
and  malicious  persecution  that,  without  hesitation,  he  dismissed  it  with 


171 

a  nolle  prosequi.  That  procedure  did  not  meet  the  approval  of  the 
Governor,  who  wrote  Cowlcs  a  sharp  letter  of  reproof  for  having  thus 
deprived  him  of  the  opportunity  of  heing  vindicated  in  McRobert's  own 
court.^     The  suit  for  damages  was  never  tried. 

One  of  the  most  celebrated  cases  ever  tried  in  the  Madison  county 
Circuit  Court  was  that  of  Palemon  H.  Winchester,  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Ijar,  indicted  at  the  March,  1835  term,  for  killing  one  Daniel  D. 
Smith,  for  defaming  the  character  of  Mrs.  Col.  Stephenson,  the  mother- 
in-law  of  Winchester.  It  was  the  second  case  of  murder  tried  in  that 
county,  and  because  of  the  social  prominence  of  the  parties,  and  the 
array  of  great  legal  talent  employed,  attracted  wide-spread  attention 
and  intense  public  interest.  Mr.  Cowles  was  aided  in  the  prosecution 
by  Benjamin  Mills,  of  Jo  Daviess  county,  a  lawyer  of  profound  ability, 
and  the  most  polished  orator  in  the  State.  The  defense  was  conducted 
by  Henry  Starr,  the  leading  lawyer  of  the  Madison  county  bar,  and 
Felix  Grundy,  of  JSTashville,  Tennessee,  famous  as  the  former  Chief 
Justice  of  Kentucky,  and  sulisequently  U.  S.  Senator  and  Attorney 
General.  It  was  veritably  a  liattle  of  intellectual  giants — well  matched 
forensic  gladiators  grappled  in  desperate  strife  for  the  destiny  of  a 
human  life.  Public  sentiment  was  decidedly  favorable  to  Winchester, 
and  the  forceful,  stirring,  appeal  of  Grundy  to  the  prevalent  spirit  of 
chivalry  in  defense  of  women  finally  swa3^ed  the  jury  to  render  a  verdict 
of  acquittal. 

As  the  years  passed  the  industry  and  vigilant  application  to  business 
of  Mr.  Cowles  were  rewarded  with  financial  success.  The  primitive  log 
cabin  in  the  woods  was  replaced  by  a  large  two-story  dwelling  house, 
liuilt  of  stone,  in  the  (then)  modern  style  of  architecture.  The  fine  old 
forest  trees  thinned  out  and  trimmed,  the  brush  cleared  away,  and  vines 
and  flowers  planted,  imparted  to  the  premises  an  elegant,  home-like, 
appearance.  Further  evidence  of  Mr.  Cowles'  thrift  and  prosperity  is 
iudieated  in  a  letter  written,  in  1829,  by  George  Forquer,  the  Attorney 
General,  to  Governor  Edwards,  in  which  he  says,  'T  should  like  to  raise 
the  sum  of  $300.00,  by  giving  my  draft  upon  the  State  for  my  next 
years'  salary,  $350.00,  to  any  person  who  would  let  money  at  that 
interest,  which  is  nearly  18  per  cent.  Mr.  Cowles  has  loaned  money  at 
a  less  interest  than  I  offer;  it  may  be  he  would  take  the  draft  upon  the 
State."^  For  it  must  be  remembered  that  in  those  "good  old  times"  few 
indeed  were  the  persons  so  well  off  as  to  have  surplus  money  to  loan, 
and  not-  very  many  of  the  settlers  could  boast  of  being  entirely  out  of 
debt. 

Called  to  Kaskaskia  by  professional  business  in  April,  1825,  Mr. 
Cowles  joined  the  throng  of  distinguished  citizens  assembled  there  to 
greet  their  illustrious  visitor.  General  LaFayette,  and  by  their  royal 
welcome  and  homage,  testify  to  him  the  gratitude  of  the  people  of  Illi- 
nois for  his  eminent  services  in  securing  the  nation's  independence. 

In  August,  1826,  Ninian  Edwards  was  elected  Governor  to  succeed 
Edward  Coles.     In  the  early  spring  of  that  year,  he  removed  from  Ed- 


'Sketch  of  Edward  Coles,  by  E.  B.  Washbume,  Chicago,  1882,  p.  223. 

-Journal  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society,  Springfield,  111  ,  1909,  No.  2,  Vol.  2,  pp.  2.3-24. 


172 

wardsville  to  Belleville,  having  previou.?ly  purchased  all  the  unsold  lots 
in  that  village  from  its  second  proprietor,  Etienne  Pensoneau.  He  at 
once  infused  new  life,  and  a  spirit  of  progress  in  the  place.  On  the 
main  street  ho  built,  of  brick,  a  spacious  two-story  store  house,  soon 
filled  with  an  extensive  stock  of  general  merchandise,  and  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street  a  fine  private  residence  which  he  occupied  until  his 
death,  by  Asiatic  cholera,  on  July  20,  1833.  Governor  Edwards  and  Mr. 
Cowles  entertained  for  each  other  the  most  cordial  and  intimate  friend- 
ship, the  Governor  often  consulting  him  in  business  alt'airs,  and  though 
himself  a  profound  lawyer,  employing  him  as  his  legal  representative  in 
the  courts.^  In  no  sense  a  politician,  and  not  directly  interested  in  the 
schemes  and  aspirations  of  the  many  public  men  with  whom  he  was 
brought  in  contact,  he  seems  to  have  retained  the  esteem  and  confidence 
of  them  all.  During  the  long  and  strenuous  campaign  for  Governor,  in 
1829-30,  when  asking  for  aid  or  advice  regarding  his  plans  and  pros- 
pects, Reynolds  often  addressed  his  letters  jointly  to  Governor  Edwards 
and  Alfred  Cowles.  Or  when  writing  to  Governor  Edwards  alone,  he 
sent  him  the  communications,  when  convenient,  by  Cowles,  or  added  to 
them  the  postscript,  '"Show  this  to  Cowles." 

Mr.  Cowles  and  wife  had  joined  the  Presbyterian  church  long  before 
leaving  Connecticut,  but  at  their  new  home  in  the  West  found  no 
church,  and  few,  if  any,  inhabitants,  of  that  denomination.  In  1832 
Eev.  John  F.  Brooks  established  in  Belleville  a  subscription  school  of 
a  much  higher  order  than  had  before  been  conducted  there.  Mr.  Brooks, 
a  Presbyterian  minister,  was  one  of  the  "Yale  band"  of  seven  3'oung 
theological  students  who  came  out  west  in  1827  under  agreement  to 
devote  their  lives  in  this  distant  field  to  missionary  and  educational 
work,  commencing  their  self-allotted  task  by  founding  Illinois  College, 
at  Jacksonville,  in  1828.  In  his  Belleville  school  Mr.  Brooks  was  assisted 
by  his  newly  married  wife  and  her  sister,  and  sister's  husband,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bradley.  On  the  6th  of  January,  1833,  Mr.  Brooks  organized  the 
first  Presbyterian  church  established  in  that  village.  It  numbered  six 
members,  namel}^  Alfred  Cowles,  Charlotte  Cowles,  Thomas  Scott,  Jane 
S.  Brooks,  Simon  Van  Arsdale,  and  Harriet  C.  Alexander.  Thomas 
Scott  and  Alfred  Cowles  were  elected  ruling  elders,  acting  in  that 
capacity  as  long  as  they  resided  there.  Mr.  Brooks  officiated  as  the 
minister  until  his  removal  in  1839. 

The  disgraceful  riot  at  Alton  on  the  evening  of  Nov.  7,  1837,  in 
which  Lyman  Bishop  and  Eev.  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy  were  killed,  was  duly 
investigated  by  the  grand  jury  composed  of  reputable  citizens  of  Madison 
county.  Conscientious  and  impartial  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty, 
bills  of  indictment  were  found  both  against  the  armed  defenders  of  the 
Abolition  press  in  the  warehouse,  who  shot  Bishop,  and  the  armed  mob 
that  shot  Lovejoy,  then  seized  the  press  and  destroyed  it.  The  mayor 
of  Alton  at  that  time  was  Hon.  John  M.  Krum,  a  lawyer  of  distinction, 
who  subsequently  moved  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  became  very  popular 
and  wealthy,  and  was  elected  mayor  of  that  city.    When  the  indictments 


'Beaird  versus  the  Governor,  Mandamus.    Edwards  Papers,  pp.  .'?G4-70. 


173    . 

were  called  for  trial,  iii  the  municipal  court  of  Alton,  in  January,  1838, 
the  intensity  of  popular  feeling  and  excitement  had  materially  subsided 
in  the  community,  and  all  parties  seemed  desirous  to  get  rid  of  the 
lamentable  affair  as  speedily  as  possible.  Hon.  William  Martin  was  the 
presiding  judge  of  that  court,  and  Francis  B.  Murdock,  the  prosecuting 
attorney.  On  Wednesday,  January  17th,  the  Lovejoy  adherents,  who 
guarded  the  press  on  that  fatal  night,  and  shot  Bishop,  were  arrainged 
for  trial,  defended  by  Alfred  Cowles,  Samuel  G.  Bailey,  and  G.  T.  M. 
Davis.  Usher  F.  Linder  was  then  Attorney  General  and  ex-officio 
prosecuting  attorney  in  the  circuit  courts  of  the  second  district.  In 
sympathy  with  the  mob  element,  and  in  response  to  a  petition  signed  by 
about  sixty  citizens,  he  assisted  Mr.  Murdock  in  the  prosecution.  The 
defense  asked  for,  and  secured,  a  separate  trial  for  Winthrop  S.  Gilman, 
one  of  the  owners  of  the  warehouse,  who  was  there  that  night  with 
Lovejoy.  A  jury  was  soon  impaneled,  and  the  trial  proceeded,  with  the 
examination  of  many  witnesses,  from  early  morning  until  late  at  night, 
when  "after  a  very  able  argument  by  Mr.  Davis  and  his  associate  coun- 
sel, Hon.  Alfred  Cowles,  Mr.  Gilman  was  pronounced  not  guilty."  ^ 
Thereupon  the  city  attorney  dismissed  the  indictments  against  the  other 
defendants. 

On  Friday,  January- 19th,  the  leaders  of  the  mob  were  arraigned  for 
trial  in  the  same  court,  but  with  position  of  the  principal  attorneys 
reversed,  Mr.  Cowles  appearing,  with  Mr.  Murdock,  for  the  State,  and 
General  Linder,  assisted  by  S.  T.  Sawyer  and  Junius  Hall,  Esq.,  defend- 
ing the  rioters.  The  defendants  pleaded  "not  guilty,"  and  had  plenty 
of  witnesses  to  verify  their  innocence.  As  the  Abolitionists  in  that 
community  constituted  but  an  insignificant  minority,  the  jury  was  neces- 
sarily drawn  from  the  majority  that  openly  sympathized  with  the  mob. 
Many  witnesses  were  examined,  but  few  of  whom  seemed  to  know  any- 
thing of  the  essential  facts  in  the  case,  and  then  for  a  few  hours  the 
lawyers  held  the  jury  entranced.  In  his  opening  address,  for  the  people, 
Mr.  Murdock  strongly  appealed  for  enforcement  of  the  law,  and  convic- 
tion of  the  defendants  who  riotously  entered  the  Gilman  and  Godfrey 
warehouse,  murdered  Lovejoy,  and  throwing  his  press  out  of  the  window 
smashed  it  in  pieces,  and  threw  the  pieces  into  the  river.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Mr.  Sawyer  in  a  brief  speech  for  the  defense,  preliminary  to 
the  irresistible  oratory  of  General  Linder,  upon  which  the  defendants 
relied  for  a  verdict  in  their  favor. 

In  commencing  his  address  to  the  jury,  General  Linder  thus  alluded 
to  Mr.  Cowles,  who  was  to  make  the  closing  speech  for  the  prosecution: 
"This  occasion  will  be  seized  by  the  venerable  gentleman  who  is  to  follow 
me,  as  a  favorable  opportunity  to  pour  out  some  portion  of  that  invective 
for  which  he  is  so  admirably  quaiined.  My  remarks  will  undergo  a 
severe  scrutiny.  You  will  be  addressed  in  the  cold  and  chilling  expres- 
sion of  puritanical  feeling,  and  the  severe  language  of  the  law;  and 
while  I  was  anticipating  the  remarks  to  which  you  will  be  called  to 
listen,  as  I  came  down  to  this  court  room  from  dinner,  and  looking 


'The  Martyrdom  of  Lovejoy,  Henry  Tanner,  Chicago,  1881,  p.  190. 


174 

upon  Uk'  broinl  eiirrcjit  i;!  tJic  luiglity  river  wliii-h  iluw.s  by  these  walls, 
I  could  not  help  drawing  a  comparison  between  the  fate  of  his  address 
in  the  hands  of  this  jury'  and  that  of  the  ice  which  is  borne  upon  the 
bosom  of  the  water;  and  1  could  not  help  feolin<r  that  his  address  would 
meet  with  the  same  fate  in  the  warm  hearts  of  tiiis  honest  jury  that  the 
ice  finds  when  it  is  borne  by  tlie  current  within  the  influence  of  a 
warmer  atmosphere."  ^ 

For  more  than  an  hour  General  Linder's  eloquence  bold  tlie  earnest 
attention  of  the  court  and  the  crowd  of  people  that  filled  the  room. 
Then  Mr.  Cowles  bouan  his  argument  to  the  jury,  as  follows:  "I  am 
no  Abolitionist.  I  have  no  sympathy  for  the  party;  no  communion 
with  their  creed.  IJut  1  am  a  friend  to  law ;  an  enemy  to  mobs,  and 
and  advocate  for  good  order.  I  am  opposed  to  the  lawless  acts  of 
an  unprincipled,  an  infuriated,  licentious  mob.  1  am  opposed  to  any 
resort  to  brute  force,  much  more  when  it  is  resorted  to  to  break  down 
the  barriers  which  the  Constitution  has  thrown  around  us  all.  Put 
down  the  freedom  of  thought !  Suppress  the  freedom  of  s])eecb  I  lic- 
strain  the  freedom  of  the  press !  Lawless  force  cannot  do  it.  'I'he 
effort  will  be  useless;  the  attempt  to  do  so  will  be  as  idle  as  was  th'-it 
of  Canute,  the  Dane,  when  he  planted  his  chair  upon  the  sea  shore  and 
commanded  tb.e  waxes  to  roll  back  from  their  appointed  place.  That 
effort  was  idle,  but  not  more  so  than  this  one.  The  press  still  speaks 
out  in  tones  of  thunder,  and  it  will  continue  to  speak  out  in  tones  that 
cannot  be  resisted,  and  in  language  that  cannot  be  misunderstood  or 
disregarded.  You  cannot  put  down  the  press  by  force.  I  warn  you, 
I  warn  you  all,  against  such  inconsiderate  acts.  Let  Abolitionists  think 
if  they  please;  let  them  speak  if  they  cliooso ;  let  them  ])rint  if  they 
will.  Freedom  of  thought  is  our  birthright,  and  freedom  of  speedi 
the  charter  of  every  American  citizen.  Let  him  use  his  privileges;  let 
him  exercise  his  rights  responsible  to  his.  peers  and  the  law  of  the  land. 

"This  verdict  Avill  determine,  for  weal  or  for  woe,  the  fate  of  this 
community.  If  lawless  violence  can  be  restrained;  if  it  is  ascertained 
that  mobs  shall  not  rule  over  us;  if  it  is  determined  that  licentiousness 
shall  not  prevail;  that  crime  shall  not  be  legalized  among  us,  then  all 
will  be  well.  But  if  the  verdict  of  this  jury  is  to  sanction  the  deeds 
of  violence  and  murder  which  have  disgraced  this  citv,  then  who  will 
stay,  or  who  come  among  us? 

"Eemember,  that  the  eyes  of  this  community,  of  the  whole  country, 
are  upon  you ;  that  the  record  of  this  trial  will  go  to  the  world,  and 
that  upon  yourselves  it  depends  whether  you  are  honored  through  com- 
ing ages  as  men  who,  in  an  hour  not  without  its  danger,  fearlessly  as- 
serted the  prerogatives  of  law;  or  whether  your  names  shall  go  down 
to  all  aftertime  as  fixed  figures  for  the  hand  of  scorn  to  ])oint  its  un- 
erring finger  at!  1  have  an  unyielding  hope,  an  unshaken  confidence, 
that  this  jury  will  apply  the  law  and  the  evidence  as  it  should  be  ap- 
plied. I  have  a  firm  belief  that  you  will  act  well  your  duty  to  your- 
selves, your  country,  and  your  God  ;  and  tliat  you  will,  so  far  as  in  you 
lies,  remove  the  stain  which  now  rests  upon  this  community." 


•Alton  Trials,  by  Wm.  S.  Lincoln,  New  York,  1S3S,  pp.  1.32-133. 


175 

The  trial  occupied  the  entire  day  until  a  late  hour  at  night.  It 
was  obviously  impossible — and  no  doubt  impolitic— to  identify  the 
persons  who  fired  the  fatal  shots  on  either  side,  and  as  one  of  each 
party  had  been  killed,  there  seemed  a  general  disposition  to  regard  the 
casualties  a  "stand  off."  The  jury,  evidently  entertaining  that  vievv, 
late  at  night,  returned  a  sealed  verdict  of  acquittal,  "making  it  a  mat- 
ter of  record,"  Governor  Ford  says  (History  of  Illinois,  p.  245),  "that 
in  fact  the  Abolitionists  had  not  provoked  an  assault;  that  there  had 
been  no  mob;  and  that  no  one  had  been  killed  or  wounded." 

The  violent  suppression  of  Lovejoy  and  his  paper  had  no  immediate 
adverse  effect  upon  the  business  prosperitv  of  Alton.  Its  far-reaching 
later  effects  are  too  well  known  to  be  now  retold.  It  occurred  when 
the  internal  improvement  craze  was  at  its  height.  Times  were  flush ; 
active  work  on  several  projected  railroads  and  on  the  Illinois  and 
Michigan  canal  was  progressing;  money,  borrowed  by  the  State,  was 
abundant,  and  the  outlook  for  Alton's  successful  rivalry  of  St.  Louis 
seemingly  very  promising. 

At  the  bar  and  in  finances,  Mr.  Cowles  had  thrived  in  Belleville; 
but  he'  now  saw  in  the  vigorous  growth  of  Alton  advantages  for  larger 
and  more  remunerative  professional  business,  and  for  the  better  em- 
ployment of  his  capital  in  profitable  speculation.  Early  in  1839  he 
closed  up  his  connection  with  Belleville,  sold  his  stone  mansion  there  to 
Governor  Wm.  Kinney,  and  moved  his  family  to  Upper  Alton.  By 
previous  agreement,  he  there  entered  into  partnership,  in  the  practice 
of  law,  with  Hon.  John  M.  Krum,  the  mayor,  a  lawyer  of  high  standing. 

In  the  period  of  Mr.  Cowles'  residence  at  Belleville,  his  household 
was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  six  children,  named,  in  order  of  their 
birth,  Frederick,  Louise,  Caroline,  Cornelia,  Elizabeth,  and  Alfred  E. 
Caroline  died  there  when  ten  years  of  age.  In  the  same  year  that  the 
Cowles  family  left  Belleville,  Eev.  John  F.  Brooks  closed  his  school 
there  and  moved  to  Springfield,  continuing  in  that  town  his  educational 
and  religious  work  until  his  death,  at  an  advanced  age  in  1880. 

When  Mr.  Cowles  established  himself  in  Alton,  he  ranked  among  the 
rich  men  of  that  place,  his  wealth,  mostly  invented  in  land  and  ol'i..r 
real  estate,  being  estimated  at  $50,000,  a  colossal  fortune  in  those  days. 
He  was  there,  however,  but  a  short  time,  when  the  great  internal  im- 
provement scheme  collapsed.  The  banks  had  suspended  specie  pay- 
ment the  year  before.  In  1839  further  work  on  all  the  railroads  i.ut 
the  Noi-thern  Cross,  was  stopped,  and  hundreds  of  men  were  thrown 
out  of  employment.  Gold  and  silver,  as  money,  disappeared,  bank 
notes  and  State  bonds  depreciated  fifty  per  cent,  and  values  of  all 
property  shrunk  well-nigh  to  the  vanishing  point.  This  disastrous 
condition,  together  with  the  Lovejoy  riots  aftermath,  punctured  Alton's 
brilliant  bubble  of  prosperity,  prostrated  its  business,  and  dissipated 
its  last  hope  for  commercial  supremacy  on  the  Mississippi.  The  law 
firm  of  Cowles  and  Krum  maintained  its  professional  prominence  at 
the  Alton  bar  for  five  years,  and  then  dissolved.  Mr.  Krum  moved  iv) 
St.  Louis,  and  early  in  1844  Mr.  Cowles  sought  a  more  genial  social 
atmosphere  for  himself  and  family  in  Chicago.     In  that  thriving  city 


176 

he  invested  the  little  capital  he  had  realized  from  the  wreck  of  his 
former  possession,  and  formed  a  new  professional  partnership  with 
Wm.  Henry  Rrown,  wliich  continued  for  nine  years. 

In  General  Palmer's  Bench  and  Bar  of  Illinois,  Vol.  11,  page  624,  it 
is  stated  that  "Mr.  Brown  was  in  business  for  many  years  in  Chicago 
with  Alfred  Cowles,  an  old  pioneer  lawyer.  The  firm  of  Cowles  and 
Brown  appeal's  in  the  City  Directory  of  18-lG,  under  the  name  of  Cowles 
&  Brown,  with  an  office  over  the  old  State  Bank  at  the  southwest  corner 
of  LaSalle  and  South  Water  streets."  The  bond  of  fellowship  uniting 
that  firm  was  something  more  than  their  mutual  interest  in  the  practice 
of  law.  They  were  both  natives  of  Connecticut,  both  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  of  the  Whig  party,  and  both  early  pioneers  of 
Illinois.  Morever,  Louise,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  Cowles,  a  beautiful 
and  accomplished  girl,  scarcely  twenty  years  of  age,  was  engaged  to  be 
married  to  Brown's  son.  but  contracted  a  severe  cold  which,  developing 
into  quick  consumption,  speedily  consigned  her  to  the  grave  instead  of 
to  the  bridal  altar. 

Wm.  H.  Brown  had  studied  and  practiced  law  with  his  father  in  New 
York  City,  but  left  the  East,  in  1818,  coming  to  Illinois  in  company 
with  Samuel  D.  Lockwood.  Landing  from  a  flatboat  at  Shawneetown, 
they  walked  to  Kaskaskia,  140  miles,  then  the  State  capital.  On  the  way 
they  were  overtaken  by  two  young  men  from  New  York,  about  of  their 
asres,  named  Sidnev  Breese  and  Thomas  Mather,  who  were  traveling  in 
a  hired  conveyance,  but  too  small  to  take  them  in.  The  next  year,  (1819) 
Brown  was  appointed  Clerk  of  the  U.  S.  District  court,  and  held  that 
office  for  sixteen  years.  In  1835,  he  was  appointed  Cashier  of  a  branch 
of  the  State  Bank  at  Chicago,  to  which  place  he  moved  and  there  in  time 
attained  wealth  and  high  prominence.  '  On  a  tour  of  Europe,  with  his 
wife,  he  was  taken  down  with  small  pox,  at  the  Bible  Hotel,  in  Amster- 
dam, and  died  there  on  June  17,  1867,  aged  72  years. 

Mr.  Brown's  enthusiasm  in  politics  was  probalily  contagious,  as  in  the 
years  of  intimate  association  with  him,  Mr.  Cowles  became  much  more 
interested  in  public  questions  and  party  matters,  than  he  had  before  been 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Manifesting  unusual  concern  and  activity  for  the 
election  of  General  Taylor  to  the  Presidency,  and  for  the  success  of  the 
entire  Whig  ticket,  in  1848,  Cowles  was  rewarded  for  his  new-born  zeal, 
in  1849,  with  the  appointment  of  Eegister  of  the  U.  S.  Land  Ofilce  in 
.  Chicago  district.  In  that  year,  1849,  his  eldest  son,  Frederick,  went  with 
the  first  mad  rush  of  gold  seekers,  across  the  plains,  to  California.  Then, 
a  sprightly  young  man  of  27  years,  he  experienced  in  the  mines  of  the 
new  El  Dorado,  the  same  vicissitudes  of  thousands  of  others,  finally 
settling  down  as  a  rancher  in  San  Diego,  county,  where  he  died,  un- 
married, in  1905,  at  the  age  of  83  years.  Until  Mr.  Cowles  was  super- 
seded by  a  Democrat  in  1853,  his  partnership  with  Mr.  Brown  continued 
uninterrupted.  He  was  at  that  time  not  far  from  66  years  old,  the  age 
at  which  most  men  who  have  been  busily  engaged  from  their  youth  in 
the  same  vocation  feel  the  desire,  or  necessity,  of  retirement  and  rest. 


177 

And  so  it  was  with  him.  He  was  weary  of  the  incessant  drudgery  of  his 
profession,  of  the  constant  mental  strain  it  imposed,  and  desirous  for 
an  opportunity  to  abandon  it. 

Influenced  also,  no  doubt,  by  the  favorable  representations,  received 
from  his  son  Frederick,  of  the  perfect  climate  of  California,  and  extra- 
ordinary advantages  found  there  in  every  branch  of  business  or  industry, 
Mr.  Cowles  decided  to  move  there,  and  escape  for  the  rest  of  his  days 
the  rigors  of  Illinois  winters.  Dissolving  partnership  with  Mr.  Brown, 
he  settled  up  his  affairs,  including  the  sale  of  his  home,  comprising 
two  acres  on  Chicago  Avenue,  for  the  sum  of  $3,500,  and  with  his  family 
left  Illinois,  in  April,  1853,  for  the  far  West.  Five  months  on  the  way 
across  the  plains,  traveling  as  passengers  in  a  train  of  wagons  drawn 
by  mules,  they  finally  reached  Sacramento  about  the  middle  of  Septem- 
ber. Halting  there  long  enough  to  sell  his  library  for  several  hundred 
dollars,  he  proceeded  by  boat  to  San  Francisco,  there  purchasing  a  dwel- 
ling house  in  which  the  family  passed  the  winter.  Not  satisfied  with 
the  prospects  presented  to  him  on  the  Bay,  he  went  down  to  the  San 
Jose  Valley,  fifty  miles  south,  and  bought  25  acres  of  raw  land  covered 
with  sycamore  trees.  Selling  his  San  Francisco  propert}'',  he  moved,  in 
the  spring  of  1854,  to  his  new  real  estate  in  the  valley  where  he  set  in 
resolutely  to  clear  off  the  timber,  put  the  land  in  cultivation,  and  estab- 
lish a  permanent  home.  Fifteen  years  of  his  life  were  passed  there  as 
an  agriculturist  and  horticulturist,  with  the  result  of  converting  the  wild 
sycamore  plat  into  a  charming  residence  and  highly  improved  fruit  farm, 
named  by  his  daughters.  Rose  Lawn.  In  the  meantime,  the  two  girls 
married,  Cornelia  becoming  the  wife  of  Dr.  French,  and  Elizabeth  the 
wife  of  Chas.  C.  Leavitt.  Both  long  since  died,  Cornelia  leaving  two 
children,  and  Elizabeth  four. 

By  his  venerable,  dignified,  maimer  and  half  century  of  devotion  to 
the  legal  profession,  Mr.  Cowles,  while  a  resident  of  San  Jose,  acquired 
the  honorary  title  of  "Judge,"  by  which  he  was  henceforth  always 
addressed.  Eose  Lawn  having  with  its  development  marvelously 
enhanced  in  value,  he  finally  accepted  one  of  the  many  tempting  offers 
for  it,  selling  it  in  1869  for  a  handsome  sum.  •  Removing  that  year  to 
San  Diego  county  he  invested  his  means  there  in  real  estate  that  at 
his  death  was  estimated  to  be  worth  $50,000. 

When  cast  adrift  from  the  wreck  of  the  old  Whig  party  in  1856, 
Judge  Cowles  very  uaturaRy  landed  in  the  new  Republican  organiza- 
tion ;  but  he  manifested  no  more  active  interest  in  politics  in  California 
than  he  did  in  Illinois.  Only  once  did  he  publicly  appear  in  a  political 
demonstration,  when  at  the  age  of  93  years  he  was  complimented  by  a 
unanimous  call  to  preside  as  chairman  of  a  Republican  county  conven- 
tion. Had  his  aspirations  been  in  the  direction  of  official  distinction, 
he  undoubtedly  would  have  attained  high  prominence.  A  constant 
reader  and  student,  he  was  a  cultured  scholar — a  walking  encyclopedia 
of  useful  knowledge,  especially  well  versed  in  legal  learning  and  English 
literature.  In  conversation  he  was  always  entertaining  and  instructive. 
When  extreme  old  age  had  retired  him  from  all  business  activities  of 

—12  H  S 


178 

life,  he  would  ol'ten  sii  apaj-t  and  alone  for  lumva  iu  ruminating  mood 
"in  the  pleasant  companionship  of  his  richly  stored  mind  and  varied 
memories.'-  In  liS85,  when  US  years  old — re])resented  hy  his  portrait 
aeeom])anying  this  sketch,  taken  that  year— he  greatly  enjoyed  tlie  visit 
of  two  ohl  Illinois  frien(l>,  Udii.  FJilui  11  Wash burnc^ and  Gov.  William 
Hross,  who  called  on  liim  in  their  tour  of  recreation  on  the  Pacific  coast. 
His  attachment  to  rural  life  contracted  at  Kose  Lawn,  led  the  Judge, 
on  removal  to  San  Diego  county,  to  choose  for  his  new  liome  a  farm 
in  Poway  vallc}-,  twenty  miles  northeast  of  San  Diego  Bay,  where  he 
resided  until  the  death  of  his  wife,  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  86*^ years.  His 
last  change  of  residence  was  to  the  city  of  San  Diego,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  days  with  his  youngest  son,  Alfred  E.,  the  only 
member  of  his  family  now  living,  quietly  breathing  his  last  on  the  16th 
of  Xoveml)er,  1887,  at  the  age  of  loo  years,  2  months^  and  16  days. 


Edward   L.    Merrltt. 


179 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  THE  PART   SPRINGFIELD  BORE   I>^ 
THE  OBSEQUIES  OF  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


By  Edward  L.  Merritt. 

President  Abraham  Lincoln  was  shot  to  death  by  the  assassin,  John 
Wilkes  Booth,  during  a  play  at  Ford's  theatre  in  Washington  City,  D.  C, 
on  the  night  of  Friday,  April  14,  1865,  dying  at  twenty-two  minutes 
past  7  o'clock,  Saturday  morning,  April  15,  1865.  The  news  of  the 
assassination  of  Mr.  Lincoln  came  during  the  night  of  April  14th,  and 
the  announcement  of  his  death  reached  Springfield  about  9  :00  o'clock 
in  the  forenoon  of  April  15,  1865. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  describe  the  terrible  condition  of  the  public 
mind  on  the  day  when  it  was  known  that  Abraham  Lincoln  was 
no  more.  To  the  last  moment,  a  despairing  hope  had  existed  that 
our  beloved  citizen  and  president  would  not  die.  Strong  men  were 
stunned;  others  were  overcome  with  grief;  while  others  became  wild 
with  frenzy.  This  paralyzing  shock  came  at  a  time  when  all  were  happy 
in  the  belief  that  the  dreadful  war  was  over,  and  many  believed  that 
without  the  guiding  hand  of  Mr.  Lincoln  the  fruits  of  our  victorious 
armies  were  lost  and  chaos  would  follow.  All  conditions  were  desperate 
on  that  fateful  15th  of  April,  1865.  Every  kind  of  business  was  sus- 
pended, all  the  bells  in  the  city  were  constantly  tolled  for  several  days 
and  Springfield  "put  on  sack  cloth  and  ashes"  and  went  into  mourning, 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  her  beloved  citizen,  was  dead. 

At  12  :00  o'clock,  noon,  of  that  dreadful  Saturday,  only  a  few  hours 
after  President  Lincoln  had  breathed  for  the  last  time,  a  large  public 
meeting  spontaneously  assembled  in  the  open,  at  the  south  front  of  the 
State  house  (now  the  Sangamon  county  court  house)  from  which  went 
forth  the  first  sob  of  heartbreaking  anguish  to  the  world  because  of 
the  horrible  crime  of  this  assassin.  Since  that  awful  day,  forty-four 
great  years  of  national  glory  and  prosperity  have  intervened.  Thousands 
of  patriotic,  loving  hearts  which  would  not  be  comforted,  who  saw  only 
calamity  to  the  nation  in  this  cruel  and  heartless  murder  of  the  great 
and  good  Lincoln,  are  now  with  the  endless  throng.  Let  us  hope  they, 
too,  will  celebrate  Abraham  Lincoln's  centennial  in  the  realms  beyond. 

At  this  gathering,  his  neighbors  and  associates,  his  professional 
brethren,  his  political  friends  and  foes,  came  together  with  grief  bur- 


180 

dened  hearts  and  tear  dimmed  eyes  to  humbly  manifest  their  great  love 
for  their  dead  friend  and  neighbor.  In  this  assemblage  were  lifelong 
and  close  friends  of  Abraham  Lincoln;  notable  men  in  all  walks  of 
life  and  of  national  reputations  who  have  contributed  so  much  to  blazen 
the  fair  name  of  Illinois  high  up  on  the  escutcheon  of  the  republic. 

With  the  liability  of  being  considered  tedious,  I  give  below  many  of 
the  names  of  these  eminent  citizens;  also,  the  proceedings,  including  the 
resolutions  adopted  at  this,  the  first  assemblage  of  condolence  held  in 
the  United  States. 

The  Hon.  Shelby  M.  CuUom,  with  many  evidences  of  bereavement, 
called  the  meeting  to  order  and  suggested  that  the  Hon.  Jesse  K.  Dubois, 
then  State  Auditor,  being  one  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  intimate  friends,  should 
preside.  Mr.  Dubois  was  unanimously  chosen  chairman,  when  the  fol- 
lowing vice  chairmen  were  elected :  The  Hon.  Stephen  T.  Logan,  Col. 
John  Williams,  W.  F.  Elkin,  Elijah  lies,  X.  H.  Eidgely,  E.  B.  Hawley, 
Thomas  Condell,  James  L.  Lamb,  Gersham  Jayne,  Eichard  Latham, 
A.  G.  Herndon,  Eev.  Albert  Hale,  and  Eev.  John  G.  Bergen.  The 
Hon.  James  C.  Conkling,  Edward  L.  Baker,  editor  of  The  State  Journal, 
and  Edward  L.  Merritt,  editor  of  The  State  Eegister,  were  selected  as 
secretaries.  The  writer  of  this  sketch  is  the  only  survivor  of  all  the 
above  named  oflBcers  of  this  meeting  except  Senator  Cullom,  who  called 
the  meeting  to  order. 

The  Hon.  John  T.  Stuart,  with  whom  Mr.  Lincoln  read  law  and  who 
was  afterwards  the  senior  member  of  his  firm,  with  much  emotion, 
briefly  addressed  the  audience,  condoling  with  the  friends  and  former 
neighbors  of  the  dead  president,  pathetically  referring  to  the  deep  grief 
that  had  come  to  the  American  people  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  taking  off,  re- 
lating interesting  incidents  connected  with  his  last  interview  with  the 
President.  On  his  motion,  the  chair  appointed  the  following  named 
gentlemen  as  a  committee  on  resolutions :  The  Honorables  John  T . 
Stuart,  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  Samuel  H.  Treat,  Milton  Hay,  Lawrence 
Weldon.  William  Jayne,  Ozias  M.  Hatch,  Benjamin  S.  Edwards  and 
Alexander  Starne. 

The  Hon.  John  T.  Stuart,  from  the  committee,  reported  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  of  condolence,  which  were  unanimously  adopted : 

"Whereas ;  We  have  learned  by  telegraph  from  the  city  of  Washing- 
ton, of  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln,  and — 

"Whereas;  We,  his  neighbors  and  friends,  regard  his  death  as  a  great 
and  irreparable  national  calamity,  and — 

"Whereas;  It  is  fitting  that  those  who  knew  him  best  in  life,  should 
express  their  deep  distress  at  his  untimely  death;  be  it — 

"Eesolved,  Therefore;  That  we,  his  neighbors  and  friends,  without 
distinction  of  party,  forgetting  all  past  differences  of  opinion,  unite  in 
solemn  accord  in  the  expression  of  our  deep  sympathy  for  his  family, 
his  friends,  our  country  and  the  peace  of  mankind  for  this,  his  untimely 
death,  in  that  hour  of  our  country's  struggle,  when  was  to  be  called 
into  service  those  high  qualities  of  head  and  heart,  which  endeared  him 
as  a  man  and  made  him  distinguished  as  a  President.  - 


181 

"Eesolved;  That  since  the  unexampled  success  of  our  arms,  we  have 
with  patriotic  pride,  beheld  indications  upon  the  part  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
of  a  policy  of  restoration  and  union,  in  the  consummation  of  which  the 
peace  of  the  country  and  the  wonted  national  integrity  would  again  be 
restored  to  our  stricken  union. 

"Eesolved ;  That  in  this  sad  national  bereavement,  it  is  the  duty  of  all 
good  citizens  to  rely  with  confidence  and  hope  on  the  over-ruling  Provi- 
dence of  God,  preserve  calmness  and  faithfully  submit  and  adhere  to 
the  sovereign  laws  of  the  land. 

"Eesolved;  That  in  the  assassination  of  the  Hon.  William  H.  Sew- 
ard, the  country  has  lost  an  able,  efficient  and  upright  officer,  and  one 
whose  services  as  a  diplomat  will  be  remembered  by  a  grateful  people 
through  every  period  of  coming  history.  [Secretary  of  State  Seward, 
although  severely  wounded  by  an  assassin  and  reported  dead,  happily 
recovered.] 

"Eesolved;  That  inasmuch  as  this  city  has  for  a  long  time  been  the 
home  of  the  President,  in  which  he  has  graced  with  his  kindness  of 
heart  and  honesty  of  purpose,  all  the  relations  of  life,  it  is  appropriate 
that  its  "City  of  the  Dead"  should  be  the  final  resting  place  of  all  that 
on  earth  remains  of  him  that  is  mortal,  and  to  this  end  we  respect- 
fully request  the  appointment  of  a  committee  on  the  part  of  the  city 
council  to  act  in  conjunction  with  the  Governor  of  the  State,  with  a 
view  of  bringing  hither  his  remains  for  interment." 

The  only  survivors  of  the  committee  on  resolutions  are  the  Hon. 
Shelby  M.  Cullom,  United  States  Senator  of  Illinois,  and  Dr.  William 
Jayne  of  this  city. 

The  remains  of  the  dead  president  reached  Springfield  on  the  3d  cf 
May,  accompanied  by  members  of  the  Cabinet,  members  of  the  United 
States  Senate  and  House  of  Eepresentatives;  distinguished  military 
officers  and  distinguished  citizens  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States, 
including  officers  of  the  various  states.  From  Washington  to  his 
former  home,  the  whole  people  were  in  a  state  of  lamentations.  At 
Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New  York  and  at  all  the  cities  through  whicli 
the  funeral  train  passed,  marked  demonstrations  of  genuine  sorrow, 
love  and  respect  were  paid  to  the  memory  of  the  great  Lincoln  by  the 
people.  The  remains  rested  upon  a  beautiful  and  somberly  decorated 
catafalque  in  the  old  representative  chamber,  of  the  State  House,  where 
they  were  viewed  by  over  an  hundred  tliousand  sorrowing  people  dur- 
ing the  two  days  they  lay  in  state. 

The  Capital  of  Hlinois  had  made  elaborate  preparations  for  the  last 
offices  of  the  dead.  To  consummate  a  becoming  tribute  of  an  affec- 
tionate people,  money,  skill,  patience,  labor,  nothing  was  spared  that 
Springfield's  love  offering  should  be  worthy  of  her  great  dead.  The 
funeral  obsequies  of  the  mortal  remains  of  Mr.  Lincoln  occurred  on  the 
4th  day  of  May,  1865,  and  no  American  ever,  up  to  this  time,  was  laid 
to  rest  with  more  genuine  love  and  distinguished  and  beautiful  honors. 


]82 

The  |i;illl)(';iri'rs  were  the  Hoiiorables  Jesse  K .  Diiljois,  Stc|)hen  'l\ 
Logan,  John  T.  Stuart,  James  N.  Brown,  Governor  Gustavus  Koerner, 
Jii(l,ue  Samuel  II.  Treat.  Col.  John  AVilliams,  James  L.  I.aiiili.  l'>rastus 
Wright,  Jacob  Bunn  and  Charles  W.  Malheny.  Kverv  one  of  whoju 
lia?  since  been  aifectionately  laid  to  rest  by  other  pallbearers. 

Tlie  funeral  pageant  was  the  largest  and  most  imposing  ever  witnessed 
in  the  United  States.  It  Avas  made  np  of  military,  professional  and  about 
everv  known  fraternal  and  civic  orsranization,  embracins  ei^ht  divisions. 
All  were  afoot,  except  the  marshals,  their  aids,  and  distinguished  guests. 
The  columns  of  marchers  reached  from  curb  to  curb  and  in  close  order. 
Gen.  Joseph  E.  Hooker  was  marshal  in  chief  with  Gen.  John  Cook  of 
this  city  a-?  chief  of  staff.  (General  Cook  now  is  a  resident  of  Michigan.) 
The  late  Gen.  John  A.  IMcClernand  of  this  city,  was  grand  marshal,  and 
rode  at  the  head  of  the  second  division  followed  by  the  hearse,  supported 
by  the  following  aides:  Lieutenant  Colonel  Schwartz,  Captains  Henry 
Jayne,  1\.  Randolph,  B.  ¥.  Ferguson,  Thomas  Owen,  the  Hon.  Charles 
A.  Keves.  Dr.  J.  L.  Million,  the  Hon.  William  l\r.  Springer.  Col.  E.  E. 
Myers;  Judge  A.  X.  J.  Crook.  Edward  L.  :\l<Ti'itl  and  ibe  Hon.  T.  X. 
Higgins.  The  cortege  was  of  such  great  numbers  and  of  so  great  a  length 
that  the  head  of  the  procession  had  reached  Oak  "Ridge  where  the  remains 
of  Mr.  Ijincoln  were  temporarily  deposited  in  the  receiving  vault  of  the 
cemetery,  before  more  than  one-half  of  it  was  in  line.  In  this  march  to 
the  "City  of  the  Dead,''  scores  upon  scores  of  the  best  musical  organiza- 
tions, of  the  nation  were  in  line,  whose  funeral  dirges  cadenced  the 
great  wail  of  a  bereft  people. 

The  survivors  of  the  twelve  aids  to  General  McClernand  today  are 
Capt.  Henry  Jayne  of  Taylorville,  HI.,  the  Hon.  Charles  A.  Keyes, 
Judge  A.  N.  J.  Crook  and  Edward  L.  Merritt  of  this  citv. 

The  closing  ceremonies  at  Oak  Eidge  were  quite  simple  and  in  ac- 
cord with  the  plain  life  of  him  whose  mortal  remains  were  laid  to  rest, 
Praver  was  offered  1)v  tlu'  Eev.  Albert  Hale  of  this  citv,  followed  with 
appropriate  music,  in  which  a  choir  of  hundreds  of  voices  joined. 
Bishop  .Simpson  of  the  Methodist  church  delivered  a  lengthy  and  stronsr 
funeral  oration,  tierce  in  its  revengeful  and  invective  denunciation  of 
the  southern  rehellion  leaders.  Probably  it  was  more  so  than  would 
have  met  the  approval  of  the  dead,  generous  President,  but  this  the 
times  seemed  to  excvisc.  After  the  benediction  was  pronounced  by  the 
Eev.  P.  D.  Gurley  of  Xew  York  city,  the  vast  assemblage  of  mourners 
dispersed,  sorrowing. 

On  the  day  of  the  funeral.  The  Lincoln  National  Monument  Asso- 
ciation was  organized  with  the  Hon.  Eichard  J.  Oglesby,  Governor  ol 
Illinois,  as  its  president.  On  this  day  the  first  subscriptions  of  money 
were  made  for  the  erection  of  the  magnificent  monument  which  now 
adorns,  in  beautiful  Oak  Eidge,  the  last  resting  place  of  the  wise,  the 
good,  the  generous  hearted  and  great  Abraham  Lincoln. 

In  its  afternoon  issue  of  the  15th  of  April,  1865,  the  following  para- 
graphs of  an  editorial  appeared  in  The  State  Eegister  on  the  death  of 
President  Lincoln: 


183 

"Just  in  the  hour  w^heii  tlie  erowniug  triumph  of  his  life  awaited 
him;  when  the  result  which  he  had  labored  and  prayed  for  for  years 
with  incessant  toil,  stood  almost  accomplished;  when  he  could  begin 
clearly  to  see  the  promised  land  of  his  longings — the  restored  union- 
even  as  Moses,  from  the  top  of  Pisgah,  looked  forth  upon  Canaan  he 
had  for  forty  years  been  striving  to  attain,  the  assassin's  hand  at  once 
puts  a  rude  period  to  his  life  and  to  his  hopes.  As  Moses  of  old,  Avho 
had  led  God's  people  through  the  danger  and  gloom  of  the  wilderness, 
died  when  on  the  eve  of  realizing  all  that  his  hopes  had  pictured,  ':o 
Lincoln  is  cut  off  just  as  the  white  wing  of  peace  begins  to  reflect  its 
silvery  radiance  over  the  red  billows  of  war.  It  is  hard  for  a  great 
man  to  die,  but  doubly  cruel  that  he  should  be  cut  off  after  such  a 
career  as  that  of  him  we  mourn  today. 

"But  tears  and  regrets  are  alike  unavailing,  and  the  crushing  sense 
of  this  great  sorrow  is  all  that  we  can  now  distinctly  feel.  We  realize 
that  the  great  Douglas  has  now  a  companion  in  immortality,  and  that 
when  the  roll  of  statesmen  whose  genius  has  left  its  impress  upon  the 
destiny  of  the  country  shall  be  complete,  no  names  will  stand  higher 
or  shine  with  purer  luster  than  the  two  wliicli  blaze  upon  the  escutcheon 
of  Illinois." 

Also,  in  the  same  paper  of  April  ISth,  the  following  editorial  para- 
graph  appeared : 

"History  has  recorded  no  such  scene  of  bloody  terror.  The  murdsr 
of  monarchs  has  been  written.  Cwsar  was  slain  in  the  senate  chamber: 
Gustavus  was  butchered  in  the  ball  room;  but  these  were  usurpers  and 
tyrants,  not  the  chosen  lieads  of  a  people,  empowered  to  select  their 
rulers.  And,  0,  horrible,  that  he  should  have  been  assassinated  when 
his  best  efforts  to  tranquilize  the  fears  and  fury  of  his  people  were  ro 
nearlv  realized.      We  are  dumb  with  sorrow." 


184 


THE  HAYES-TILDEN  CONTEST. 


By  John  T.  Campbell. 
Mr.  Campbell  is  now  an  inmate  of  the  Soldiers'  Home  near  Lafayette,  Ind. 

The  campaign  of  1876  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  who  partici- 
pated in  it.  It  is  now  twenty-nine  years  since  our  people  were  on  the 
verge  of  a  French  Eevolution.  A  gap  unclosed  left  a  place  for  trouble 
to  break  in — that  of  not  providing  by  law  more  minutely  for  the  presi- 
dential succession.  Three-fourths  of  the  voters  of  today  were  school  boys 
then,  or  then  unborn.  William  J.  Bryan  was  only  17  years  old.  Yet  he 
now  has  the  greatest  personal  following  of  any  American.  The  history 
of  that  most  exciting  contest,  especially  the  formation  of  the  Electoral 
Commission  has  not  yet  all  been  told.  Two  men  who  were  active  partici- 
pants in  that  contest  have  given  a  history  of  it,  including  the  count, 
each  from  his  own  partisan  standpoint,  and  they  differ  materially  in 
what  each  leaves  out.  They  were  Hon.  James  G.  Blaine,  in  his  "Twenty- 
Years  of  Congress,"  and  Samuel  S.  (Sunset)  Cox,  in  his  "Three  Decades 
of  Federal  Legislation."  The  writer  was  surveying  a  railroad  in 
Southern  Illinois  while  the  great  contest  was  pending,  and  became 
acquainted  with  a  member  of  the  Illinois  State  Senate,  who  told  him 
that  the  greenback  members,  six  senators,  and  three  members  of  the 
House — then  locally  called  "Texas  Steers," — held  the  balance  of  power 
in  the  Legislature,  and  had  a  scheme  to  elect  Judge  David  Davis  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  which  would  disqualify  him  as  a  member  of  the 
Electoral  Commission,  and  after  the  election  was  accomplished  this 
senator  told  the  writer  how  it  v/as  brought  about.  It  is  to  bring  out  this 
hitherto  unpublished  history  that  this  article  is  written;  but  to  make  it 
intelligible  to  present  day  readers,  it  is  necessary  to  restate  briefly  the 
issues  in  the  contest,  and  the  official  action  taken  thereon.  Neither 
Blaine  nor  Cox  gives  the  correct  statement  of  how  Judge  Davis  came  to 
be  elected  senator  over  General  John  A.  Logan.  Evidently  they  did 
not  know. 

Late  in  the  night  following  the  election  of  1876,  United  States  Sena- 
tor Zachariah  Chandler  of  Detroit,  then  chairman  of  the  National 
Republican  Executive  Committee,  telegraphed  the  associated  press  that 
E.  B.  Hayes  had  one  hundred  eighty-five  electoral  votes  and  was  elected. 
The  general  impresuon  at  sundown  was  that  Tilden  was  ahead.  The 
contest  turned  largely  on  the  vote  of  South  Carolina,  Florida  and  Louisi- 


185 

ana,  but  at  the  very  last — when  a  small  stone  dropped  into  one  side  or 
the  other  of  the  balance  would  tip  it, — one  electoral  vote  from  Oregon 
settled  it. 

The  campaign  was  hot  from  the  start,  and  a  vote  so  close  was  bound 
to  be  vigorously  contested,  and  was  also  bound  to  carry  the  suspicion  of 
fraud  and  bribery — more — it  was  bound  to  be  a  great  temptation  to  use 
bribery  and  fraud  to  change  the  apparent  result.  The  three  southern 
states  mentioned  sent  two  sets  of  returns  of  the  election  to  Washington. 
No  intelligent  person  believed  there  had  been  a  clean,  fair,  honest  vote 
in  those  states  since  and  including  the  vote  that  carried  them  into  rebel- 
lion. Both  republicans  and  democrats  set  up  a  vigorous  claim  to  have 
carried  the  election,  and  each  charged  fraud  against  the  other.  The 
feeling  grew  hotter  from  the  election  in  November,  to  the  meeting  of 
Congress  in  December,  when  the  heat  was  transferred  to  and  centered  in 
Congress.  There  it  soon  took  the  serious  form  that  all  excitements  do 
when  rumors  become  rife  and  all  are  believed,  especially  the  more  unrea- 
sonable and  improbable  which  cannot  be  traced  to  any  reliable  source ; 
such  as  Henry  Watterson  preparing  to  march  one  hundred  thousand 
democrats  to  Washington  to  inaugurate  Tilden;  the  House  of  Eepre- 
sentatives  to  declare  itself  to  he  the  really  and  only  representative  body 
of  the  people,  and  recognize  only  Tilden  as  President;  that  President 
Grant  intended  to  use  the  army  to  perpetuate  himself  as  President,  and 
many  other  rumors  and  surmises.  President  Grant  did  place  troops  in 
the  disputed  southern  states,  and  quietly  in  Washington  in  anticipation  of 
an  outbreak,  riot,  insurrection  and  anarchy,  and  showed  his  good  sense 
and  patriotism  as  time  proved ;  but  was  vehemently  denounced  then  as 
suppressing  the  freedom  of  the  people.  Only  democrats  were  people  in 
the  opinion  of  the  democrats.  If  this  strife  had  not  occurred  with  a 
generation  that  had  just  been  through  the  scourge  of  the  greatest  civil 
war  of  historic  time,  it  is  yet  doubtful  if  the  excitement  could  have  been 
held  back  from  a  bloody  conflict;  so  sure  did  each  side  feel  that  it  had 
the  right,  legal  and  moral. 

Sometime  during  the  session  of  Congress,  J.  Proctor  Knott,  a  demo- 
cratic member  of  the  House  from  Kentucky  ("who  immortalized  the  city 
of  Duluth")  submitted  a  proposition  for  determining  and  settling  the 
great  dispute,  which,  after  many  changes — swelling  at  first,  then  shrink- 
ing— then  changing  in  form,  finally  ended  in  the  famous  Electoral  Com- 
mission, composed  of  five  senators,  five  representatives  and  five  members 
of  the  Supreme  Court.  McCrary  of  Iowa  had  first  suggested  the  idea  of 
such  a  commission,  but  Knott  gave  it  political  life  by  a  resolution.  It 
was  easy  to  select  the  five  senators  and  five  representatives  to  sit  on  this 
commission.  The  Senate  selected  three  republicans  and  two  democrats, 
and  the  House  being  democratic  selected  three  democrats  and  two  repub- 
licans; the  party  caucas  designating  the  members  desired.  Senators 
selected  were  George  F.  Edmunds,  Vermont ;  Oliver  P.  Morton,  Indiana ; 
Fred  T.  Frelinghuysen,  New  Jersey,  republicans;  and  Thomas  F.  Bay- 
ard, Delaware,  and  Allen  G.  Thurman,  Ohio,  democrats.  The  House 
selected   Henry   B.   Payne,   Ohio;   Eppa  Hunton,  Virginia;   Josiah   G. 


18() 

Abbott,  Massachusetts,  deiuoeiats,  and  Jaiuus  A.  Gartield,  Ohio,  and 
George  F.  Hoar,  Massachusetts,  republicans.  Let  the  reader  bear  in 
mind  that  each  party  was  insistent  on  having  an  equal  party  representa- 
tion on  tlie  commission.  But  when  it  came  to  selecting  the  members  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  one  member  had  to  be  cut  into  halves  to  maintain 
the  partisan  balance.  Jt  had  been  agreed  to  begin  at  Chief  Justice  Waite, 
and  take  the  associate  justices  in  the  order  of  their  respective  conmiis- 
sions;  but  Chief  Justice  Waite  was  promptly  objected  off  of  the  commis- 
sion because  he  had  during  the  previous  summer  expressed  a  personal 
hostility  to  Mr.  Tilden.  Then  the  five  associate  justices  were  taken  in 
the  order  of  their  commission  dates,  l)ut  later  in  the  order  of  their  poli- 
tics and  their  geographical  location.  This  Avould  still  include  Justice 
David  Davis  of  Illinois,  who  was  the  justice  to  be  cut  in  halves.  As  at 
last  agreed,  the  associated  justices  were  to  be  Clifford  and  Field,  demo- 
crats, and  Strong  and  ^liller,  republicans.  The  partisan  balance  is 
maintained  up  to  this  point.  Now  comes  the  tug  of  war.  Judge  Davis 
was  originally  a  republican,  but  for  the  past  five  to  ten  years  had  been 
coquetting  witli  democrats  to  get  their  nomiuation  for  the  presidency. 
In  February,  1872,  he  was  nominated  by  the  Labor  Eeform  party  at  the 
Columbus,  Ohio,  convention  for  President,  with  Joel  Parker,  their  Gover- 
nor of-Xew  Jersey,  as  Vice-president.  (The  writer  was  a  delegate  to 
that  convention).  Davis  lield  that  nomination  by  the  halter,  neither 
putting  it  in  the  stable  nor  turning  it  loose — holding  it  as  a  pull  to  get 
the  democratic  nomination  till  it  went  to  Horace  Greele}',  when  he 
turned  the  Labor  nomination  loose.  In  18TG,  he  had  been  quiet  for  the 
then  last  few  years,  and  his  politics,  so  far  as  the  public  knew,  were  zero. 
Blaine  says  Davis  voted  for  Tilden  at  the  election  of  1810,  and  demo- 
cratic Congressman  Springer  of  Illinois  (according  to  Cox)  says  Davis 
did  not  vote  at  that  election. 

As  both  parties  were  so  strenuous  in  contending  for  a  due  partisan 
representation  on  the  commission,  they  certainly  expected  each  member 
of  the  commission  to  vote  his  political  bias  in  the  case.  That  left  the 
whole  decision  to  Judge  Davis.  The  democrats  believed  he  would  vote 
to  seat  Tilden,  and  doubtless  rightly  so.  The  republicans  believed  so 
too,  and  they  were  at  first  strongly  opposed  to  leaving  the  decision  to  any 
commission  whatever.  They  had,  as  they  believed — the  prima  facie 
case — why  should  they  give  their  case  away?  But  the  populnr  vote  Avas 
some  two  hundred  thousand  in  favor  of  Tilden,  and  the  electoral  vote 
only  one  in  favor  of  Hayes,  and  that  strongly  disputed. 

The  Electoral  Commission  was  really  a  democratic  measure.  It 
originated  with  thoin  and  the  Senate  democrats  voted  twenty-six  for  and 
one  against  it.  The  House  democrats  voted  1(50  for,  and  17  against  it. 
The  republican  senators  voted  21  for  and  IG  against  it;  the  House  repub- 
lican:*  voted  31  for  and  85  against  it.  Taking  lioth  houses  the  democrats 
stood  186  for,  and  18  against.     The  republicans  52  for.  and  101  against. 

Judge  Davis'  name  was  bandied  back  and  forth  in  Congress,  in  a  way 
not  pleasing  or  complimentary  to  him.  Democrats  denied  that  he  was 
a  democrat.     Republicans  declared  he  was.    He  could  see  that  while  the 


187 

democrats  declared  him  to  be  a  political  nobody,  they  certainly  expected 
him  to  be  a  very  important  political  somebody.  One  democrat  said, 
"Why,  only  yesterday  he  was  a  candidate  for  United  States  Senator  in 
the  Illinois  Legislature  against  the  democrats."  Everybodv  expected 
each  member  of  the  commission  to  vote  to  seat  the  candidate  of  his  party. 
Senator  Morton  of  Indiana,  though  a  member  of  the  commission, 
'strongly  objected  to  its  existence.  "Why  not  leave  the  matter  to  the 
whole  Supreme  Court?"  he  said  repeatedly.  But  at  last  the  commission 
and  its  members  were  agreed  upon,  and  it  included  Judge  Davis  as  the 
neutral,  doubtful,  or  uncertain  member  who  M^as  to  make  the  real  de- 
cision. Why  not  at  once  discard  the  other  fourteen  members?  Both 
houses  agreed  that  the  decision  of  this  commission  should  be  Innding 
unless  both  houses  concurred  in  rejecting  it.  At  first  the  democrats 
wanted  its  decisions  to  be  binding  only  when  concurred  in  by  both  houses 
of  Congress,  to  which  the  republicans  would  not  agree. 

Now,  we  are  up  to  the  surprise  that  knocked  all  previous  calculations 
into  splinters.  Everybody  expected  Judge  Davis  to  vote  to  seat  Tilden, 
though  for  effect  the  democrats  denied  that  he  was  a  democrat.  Eepulili- 
cans  expected  Tilden  to  be  counted  in  and  had  made  up  their  minds  to 
slide  down  as  easily  as  possible  on  this  greased  board — the  electoral 
commission.  Sunset  Cox,  in  his  "Three  Decades"  in  regard  to  Judge 
Davis  being  taken  away  from  the  electoral  commission,  page  650,  says 
as  follows: 

"When  the  proceedings  had  reached  this  harmonious  stage,  a  cloud 
no  larger  than  a  man's  hand  was  discerned  in  the  western  sky.  An 
Illinois  "independent,"  not  having  the  fear  of  Gen.  John  A.  Logan 
before  his  eyes,  cast  his  vote  for  Judge  Davis  for  senator.  That  "inde- 
pendent" little  dreamed  that  his  craft  bore  Caesar  and  his  fortunes ;  or 
that  he  was  ])laying  the  role  of  Gen.  Monk.  The  Illinois  democrats 
in  the  Legislature,  gifted  with  a  fatuity  beyond  their  age  and  genera- 
tion, with  a  vision  hardly  extended  beyond  their  physical  orsjans,  swung 
into  line,  and  the  news  was  flashed  over  the  wires  that  Judge  David 
Davis  had  been  elected  to  fill  the  seat  of  John  A.  Logan  in  the  Senate 
of  the  United  States.  That  dispatch  was  pregnant  with  stupendous 
significance  to  the  American  people,  for  it  meant  as  the  fifth  judge  on 
the  commission,  Joseph  P.  Bradley.  The  electoral  liill  was  still  pending 
in  Cono-ress,  but  had  either  side  been  inclined  to  defeat  it  they  could 
hardly  have  done  so.  Both  parties  were  fully  committed  to  it.  It  is 
not  certain  that  either  party  wished  to  recede.  It  was  plain,  however, 
from  that  moment  democratic  hopes  went  down,  and  that  republican 
apprehension  was  succeeded  by  confidence.  Judge  Davis'  acceptance  of 
the  senatorial  seat  removed  him  from  the  prolial)ilities  for  the  fifth  judge- 
shin  of  the  commission." 

Blaine,  in  his  "Twenty  Years  of  Congress,"  Vol.  II,  page  585,  speak- 
ing of  Judge  Davis'  position  in  the  matter,  says:  "Originally  a  repub- 
lican. Judge  Davis  had  for  some  years  affiliated  with,  the  democratic 
partv,  and  had  in  the  late  election  preferred  Mr.  Tilden  to  Mr.  Hayes. 
Without  any  imputation   of  improper  motives,  there  can  hardly  be   a 


188 

doubt  that  the  democrats,  in  their  almost  unanimous  support  of  the 
electoral  bill,  believed  that  Judge  Davis  would  be  selected,  and  by  a 
parity  of  reasoning  the  large  republican  majority  against  the  bill  might 
be  attributed  to  the  same  cause.  But  an  unlookedfor  event  disturbed 
all  calculations  and  expectations.  On  the  26th  of  January  the  House 
was  to  vote  on  the  electoral  bill,  and  a  large  majority  of  the  members 
were  committed  to  its  support.  To  the  complete  surprise  of  both  parties 
it  happened  that  Judge  Davis  was  elected  senator  from  Illinois  the  pre- 
ceding afternoon,  January  25th.  Chosen  by  the  democratic  members 
of  the  Legislature,  reckoned  as  a  democratic  senator  elect,  there  was  an 
obvious  impropriety,  which  Judge  Davis  saw  as  quickly  as  others,  in  his 
being  selected;  and  the  four  judges  agreed  unanimously  upon  Joseph 
P.  Bradley  (republican)  as  the  fifth  judicial  member  of  the  commission." 

This  made  eight  republicans  to  seven  democrats  on  the  commission, 
where  everybody  a  few  hours  before  expected  the  reverse. 

The  following  account  of  how  Judge  Davis  came  to  be  elected  United 
States  Senator,  as  before  stated,  was  given  the  writer  at  the  time  by  a 
greenback,  or  "independent,"  State  senator,  and  confirmed  lately  by 
letters  in  answer  to  enquiries  concerning  it.  The  substance  of  the  letters 
is  here  given  to  avoid  extraneous  matter. 

General  Logan  was  a  candidate  to  succeed  himself  in  the  United  States 
senate.  He  had  voted  for  the  measure  denounced  as  the  "salary  grab." 
He  received  the  republican  caucus  nomination  unanimously,  but  one 
republican,  jMarshall  of  Will  county,  deserted  him  after  a  few  ballots, 
and  could  not  be  coaxed  back. 

The  democrats  nominated  Gen.  John  M.  Palmer  for  senator,  and  the 
independents  (greenbacks  or  "steers")  nominated  Gen.  William  B. 
Anderson,  who  was  still  serving  in  Congress.  The  "steers"  in  the  Legis- 
lature could  not  be  voted  as  a  unit  for  anybody.  One,  Haines  of  Chicago, 
persisted  in  voting  for  Capt.  William  H.  Parish  of  Saline  county,  who 
was  a  "steer."  One  democrat  from  Jefferson  county  could  not  be  induced 
to  come  to  the  support  of  the  "steer,"  Anderson,  and  he  influenced  other 
democrats  not  to  compromise  on  him.  When  the  balloting  for  senator 
had  become  irksome.  General  Palmer  invited  Captain  Parish  to  his 
room  in  the  Leland  hotel,  and  there  confided  to  him  that  he  (Palmer) 
was  going  to  withdraw  from  the  contest.  This  information  was  soon 
distributed  through  the  members  of  the  Legislature.  The  three  "steers" 
in  the  House  had  been  for  several  ballots,  voting  for  Judge  Davis  instead 
of  their  own  Anderson,  as  supported  by  the  six  "steers"  in  the  senate. 
As  soon  as  the  word  that  Palmer  would  withdraw  had  passed  around, 
the  "steers"  and  democrats  began  a  free  and  easy  talk  among  themselves, 
speculating  about  what  would  turn  up  next.  In  these  informal  discus- 
sions, the  democrats  proposed  that  they  would  write  five  names  and  the 
"steers"  might  accept  or  select  one  of  the  five  and  the  democrats  would 
join  in  his  election.  "ISTo,"  said  the  "steers,"  'Hbut  we  Avill  write  five 
names  and  you  democrats  may  select  one  and  we  will  join  in  his  elec- 
tion." These  propositions  seemed  near  accomplishment,  l3ut  finally  ended 
in  talk.     There  was  a  strong  effort  made  the  next  day  to  stampede  the 


189 

joint  session,  first  to  one  dark  horse  then  to  another,  but  without  suc- 
cess. Much  confusion  and  excitement  prevailed,  and  in  the  forenoon  of 
the  day  preceding  the  election,  Captain  Parish  (a  "steer")  made  a  bold 
guess  and  uttered  it  in  a  bold  remark  to  a  group  of  democratic  senators : 
"There  will  be  no  election  today,  but  tomorrow  a  senator  will  be  elected, 
and  on  the  first  ballot."  This  remark  soon  permeated  the  whole  demo- 
cratic membership  of  the  Legislature.  The  next  morning  (January 
25th)  three  democratic  senators  came  to  Captain  Parish  and  asked  if  it 
was  still  his  opinion  that  a  senator  would  be  elected  that  day.  On  his 
affirmative  answer,  they  asked  him  whom  they  (the  "steers")  had  to 
offer  them  (the  democrats).  He  answered  in  a  confident  manner,  "Judge 
Davis."  The  group  of  democratic  senators  received  the  proposition  with 
favor,  and  sent  word  to  the  House  democrats  to  line  up  at  once  for  Judge 
Davis  and  he  would  be  elected.  It  was  at  once  agreed  that  the  democrats 
and  greenbackers  ("steers")  should  march  in  pairs  from  the  Senate  to 
the  House  chamber  for  the  joint  ballot.  Parish  and  Mr.  Archer  from 
Pike  county  led  the  procession.  Their  serene,  confident  manner  showed 
that  something  had  been  decided  on.  Archer's  name  was  called  first,  and 
at  the  end  of  the  call  Judge  Davis  was  elected. 

That  day  at  the  dinner  table  a  democratic  member,  Mr.  Washburn, 
said  to  Captain  Parish,  "Well,  we  have  saved  our  son."  "Yes,"  said 
Captain  Parish,  "but  you  have  lost  Eome."  "What? — what  do  you  mean 
by  that  expression?"  asked  Mr.  Washburn.  "I  mean,"  said  Captain 
Parish,  "that  Davis  will  not  serve  on  the  commission  and  Hayes  will 
win." 

Captain  Parish  had  been  a  republican,  and  though  at  the  time  a 
"greenback" — "independent" — "steer,"  he  did  not  believe  the  time  had 
come  to  turn  this  government  over  to  the  democratic  party,  with  the 
elements  then  dominating  it.  While  the  move  to  elect  Davis  was  on  he 
feared  to  trust  his  lips  to  speak  until  the  danger  was  past  lest  the  demo- 
crats should  bethink  themselves  as  to  what  they  were  doing. 


190 


DESCRIPTION  OF  SPRINGFIELD. 


By    Zimri    Enos. 

The  first  settlements  in  the  territory  now  included  within  the  city 
of  Sprino-field  were  made  in  1819  and  '20  hy  John  and  William  Kelh.'V, 
Andrew  Elliott,  Jacob  and  Levi  Ellis,  Abraham  Lanterman,  John 
Lindsey,  Samuel  Little  and  Mr.  Daggett.  Their  nine  cabins  were 
'scattered  along  on  both  sides  of  a  line  over  two  miles  in  length  north 
and  south.  Its  being  the  thickest  settlement  in  the  new  county  of 
Sangamon  created  by  an  Act  of  Legislation  in  1821,  was  one  of  the  in- 
ducements, as  well  as  it?  beautiful  locUion  and  its  surroundings,  for 
the  commissioners,  Zachariah  Peter,  William  Drennan  and  Rivers  Cor- 
raack,  appointed  to  locate  the  temporary  county  seat,  selecting  Spring- 
field as  the  place.  The  stake  they  drove  in  the  prairie  near  John 
Ivelley's  cornfield  and  near  what  is  now  the  northwest  corner  of  Seeond 
and  Jefferson  streets,  was  the  site  of  the  temporary  county  sent  and  the 
place  where  the  log  cabin  court  house  was  built.  I  remember  this  log 
cabin.  It  remained  there  some  time  after  the  frame  court  house  was 
built  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Sixth  and  Adams  streets.  This  loca- 
tion was  in  the  middle  of  a  handsome  undulating  prairie  nook,  a  mile 
in  length  east  and  west  and  a  half  mile  north  and  south,  thoroughly 
drained  by  never  failing  s'})ring  branches  and  bordered  on  the  north 
and  west  by  he:avy  timber  and  on  the  south  by  a  number  of  beautiful 
groves  of  young  forest  trees,  of  pin  oak,  elm,  cherry  and  hackberry, 
which  were  festooned  with  grape  vines  and  frimred  with  ]ilum  and 
haw  bushes,  crab-apples,  hazel  nuts,  alders  and  blackberries,  and  en- 
circled by  millions  of  strawberry  vines. 

At  that  earlv  day  and  for  a  number  of  ycirs  after,  the  timber  line 
on  the  north  along  both  sides  of  the  Kelley  branch  extended  from  what 
is  now  Sixth  and  Elms  streets  on  the  north  side  of  the  branch  nearly 
with  the  lines  of  Elm  and  Pine  streets  and  Calhoun  avenue  to  the  east 
side  of  Bond  street,  then  a  little  east  of  north  a  fourth  of  a  mile  and 
then  east  along  the  south  side  of  the  Watson  branch,  now  called  the 
Converse  branch,  to  Arthur  Watson's  house,  now  Mr.  William  Con- 
verse's I'e-'idence.  In  the  we^t  side  of  this  little  prairie  nook  were  lo- 
cated William  Kelley  and  Andrew  Elliott.  On  the  south  side  of  the 
Kelley  branch  the  timber  line  extended  from  Sixth  and  Elm  streets 
southwest  to  Fifth  and  Fnion  streets,  then  west  with  Union  and  Miller 


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191 

streets  to  Rutledge  street  and  west  of  Eutledge  street  to  the  town  branch. 
The  forest  along  the  Kelley  branch  and  Avest  of  Kutledge  and  Bond 
streets  was  heavy  timber.  Very  few  of  the  old  trees  are  now  left,  but 
many  of  the  original  young  growth  that'  are  now  good  sized  trees  are 
to  be  found,  such  as  the  pin  oaks  between  Fifth  and  Sixth  streets,  south 
of  El'm,  the  w-alnuts  and  other  native  trees  in  the  Edwards,  Fox,  Gehr- 
man,  Logan,  Eeisch,  JMendenhall  premises  and  the  old  Kuhn  and 
Ackerman  brewery  grounds.  The  timber  line  from  Lewis  street  for 
at  least  a  block  south  of  Washington  street  extended  for  as  much  as  a 
half  mile  west  to  Avhere  it  curved  south  to  the  north  side  of  the  Lind- 
sey  branch,  now  known  as  the  Williams  branch.  This  branch  forked 
west  of  West  Grand  avenne,  one  fork  running  from  the  northeast  and 
the  other  from  the  southeast.  On  the  south  side  of  the  north  fork  wis 
Mr.  Lanterman's  house,  about  where  Mr.  Carroll's  residence  now  is, 
and  some  300  yards  south  on  the  other  fork  was  Efequire  Lindsay's 
house.  The  two  Ellises,  from  tlie  best  information  1  can  get,  were 
located  in  the  edge  of  the  timber  south  of  Washington  street  and  be- 
tween West  Grand  avenue  and  Lincoln  avenue.  And  Mr.  Daggett, 
south  of  Washington  and  west  of  Pasfield  street.  Along  the  Town 
branch  to  the  east  there  was  no  heavy  timber.  Some  fine  old  large 
trees  were  thinly  scattered  along  the  bottom  and  bluff  slopes,  especially 
on  the  north  side,  which  w^as  a  longer  and  gentler  grade  from  the  branch, 
than  the  south. 

The  branch  running  close  to  the  foot  of  the  bluffs  on  the  south  made 
a  number  of  prominent  bluffs  or  knolls  between  the  ravines  from  the 
south  that  w^ere  thickly  covered  wdth  a  young  gTowth  of  timber,  brush 
and  grape  vines.  The  first  of  these  groves  was  the  old  grave  yard,  now 
the  high  school  grounds.  The  second  was  the  John  B.  Watson  grove, 
settled  by  him  in  1829,  afterward  the  Mather  property  and  now  the 
State  House  grounds.  The  third  was  the  George  Forquer  grove  be- 
tween Second  and  Third  streets,  settled  in  1830,  now  the  Pricked t 
property  (Supreme  Court  building).  The  fourth  grove  and  the  largest  of 
all  was  between  Third  and  Sixth  streets  and  Jackson  and  Cook  streets,  its 
centre  being  the  present  ground  of  the  Governor's  Mansion.  These  groves, 
as  I  have  before  described,  were  composed  almost  entirely  of  young  timber 
and  surrounding  thicket.  Much  of  this  grove  east  of  Fifth  street  was  cut 
down  and  grubbed  out  by  Mr.  John  Dryer,  who  started  a  nursery  there 
in  182 — ,  the  first  in  Sangamon  county,  and  which  subsequently  be- 
came Knapp's  addition.  Some  few  of  the  young  growth  of  timbor 
was  left  on  Sixth  street,  south  of  Edwards,  on  what  is  known  as  the 
Eastman  property.  On  the  north  side  of  the  Town  branch,  the  scatter- 
ing timber  extended  north  to  Washington  and  east  to  Third  street. 
M^e'^t  of  Third  street  and  for  about  a  half  block  on  both  sides  of  Adams 
street  was  a  grove  of  young  timber,  the  center  being  the  high  ground  at 
the  southeast  corner  of  Second  and  Adams  streets.  In  this  grove  on 
the  west  '^ide  of  Third  s+rp^t.  n  little  l^sc  than  a  half  block  north  from 
Adams  street,  I  attended  the  first  out  of  door  religious  meeting  ever  held 
to  my  knowledge  in  Spring-field.  Who  the  preacher  was,  whether  Lor- 
enzo  Dow,   or  some  one  else,   I   don't  remember.      The  heavy  timber 


192 

yielded  an  abundant  supply  of  hickory  nuts  and  walnuts  and  the  best 
only  were  selected  for  the  winter  supply.  At  the  proper  season  aloag 
the  edge  of  the  timber  strawberries,  blackberries,  plums  and  hazelnuts 
were  plentiful  and  in  a  short  time  persons  could  gather  all  they  wanted. 
In  the  heavy  timber  on  the  south  side  of  Kelley  branch  between  wdiat  is 
now  First  and  Third  streets,  we  small  boys  used  to  go  to  gather  May 
apples  and  dig  ginseng  and  turkey  peas.  I  doubt  if  there  are 
many  now  living  that  have  ever  seen  turkey  peas,  or  know  what  they 
were.  They  were  a  small  bulbous  root,  about  a  half  inch  in  diameter,  in 
shape  of  an  onion,  very  pleasant  tasting  and  grew  not  over  an  inch  deep  in 
the  ground.  They,  with  the  artichoke,  were  abundant  along  the  prairie 
drains  and  bottom  lands,  but  vanished  as  the  hog  supplanted  the  deer. 

In  the  south  part  of  the  southeast  quarter'  of  section  28,  about  the 
tanyard,  was  a  pretty  little  sugar  camp  containing  quite  a  number  of 
fine  sugar  trees.  And  down  along  the  north  side  of  the  Town  branch, 
on  the  blue  grass  slope  in  the  open  timber  of  chinquapin  and  sugar 
trees  extending  north  from  the  branch  across  the  present  Madison 
street  and  including  lots  7,  8  and  9,  of  Pascal  P.  Enos'  first  sub-divi- 
sion, was  the  old  Indian  camping  ground,  w^here  they  camped  on  their 
annual  trading  and  begging  trip  to  Springfield.  On  such  occasions, 
they  w^ould  go  around  the  town  to  the  best  looking  houses  and  dance 
and  beg  for  something  to  eat.  They  were  given  bread,  bacon  and 
corned  beef,  which  they  regarded  as  rarities  and  luxuries.  This  place 
was  also  the  ball  ground  of  the  bigger  boys  and  occasionally  the  place 
for  public  meetings  and  speaking.  On  the  south  side  of  the  branch, 
from  the  Indian  camping  ground  in  lots  of  Erastus  Wright's  additioa, 
was  the  old  stone  quarry  from  which  all  the  stone  was  obtained  that  was 
used  in  the  town  for  walling  wells  and  cellars,  making  jambs  and  hearths 
and  backs  for  the  wooden  daubed  chimneys  and  door  steps. 

The  town  branch  at  that  date  and  for  some  time  after  the  deep  snow 
was  a  constantly  running  stream  of  pure  spring  water,  with  deep  pools 
and  gravelly  riffles  along  its  course  and  fed  from  innumerable  springs 
directly  or  from  small  branches  which  emptied  into  it.  One  of  these 
pools,  the  largest,  was  known  as  the  baptizing  hole  and  was  the  bathing 
place  for  men  and  boys.  It  was  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  grounds 
of  the  Governor's  mansion  and  Jackson  street.  I  have  seen  fish  a  foot 
long  caught  there  and  the  boys  used  to  catch  fish  in  the  deep  holes  along 
the  branch.  There  was  another  deep  hole  near  Seventh  street  Avhere 
the  combined  waters  of  several  prairie  swales  and  drains  had  been  able 
to  cut  through  the  tough  sod  and  form  a  channel  some  4  or  5  feet  deep. 
The  fall  of  the  water  at  this  place  from  off  the  sod  had  scooped  out  a 
deep  place,  so  deep  that  we  small  boys  were  afraid  to  go  in  it.  Of  the 
various  spring  branches  that  ran  into  the  town  branch,  going  from  the 
west  to  the  east,  the  first  entered  the  town  branch  about  100  feet  west 
of  Pasfield  street  and  had  its  beginning  in  a  prairie  drain  heading  in 
Second  street  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  Third  Ward  school  house 
lot  and  running  thence  to  the  southwest  corner  of  First  and  Mason 
streets,  thence  in  a  channel  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Madison  and 
Klein  streets,  thence  across  Madison  to  Mill  street  at  the  alley  on  the 


193 

east  side — thence  along  the  east  side  of  Mill  street  to  Jeiferson  street, 
tlience  southwest  and  west  about  150  feet  and  then  direct  to  its  junction 
with  the  town  branch.  Along  this  branch  were  located  two  of  the  first 
settlers,  John  Kelley  on  the  east  side,  at  the  top  of  the  hill,  in  a  double 
log  house  surrounded  with  big  sugar  trees  and  situated  near  the  southeast 
corner  of  Block  — ,  Mason's  Addition,  and  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
Jefferson  and  Klein,  his  brother. 

In  the  branch  on  the  west  side  of  the  block  and  adjoining  Jefferson 
street  on  the  north  side  Avas  the  Ox  Tread  wheel  grist  mill  for  grinding 
wheat  and  corn  built  by  Col.  Thomas  Cox  shortly  after  he  came  to 
Springfield  as  Register  of  the  Land  Office  in  1823.  I  think  it  perhaps 
was  the  first  tread  wheel  mill  in  the  county.  On  the  south  side  of  Jef- 
ferson street  and  a  little  west  of  the  mill  was  Cox's  distillery.  It  was 
buried  under  the  sidewalk  and  some  forty  years  ago  I  had  occasion  to 
use  it  in  a  survey  and  dug  down  "and  found  it;  the  logs  then  were  not 
all  decayed.  Further  down  the  branch  on  its  west  side,  at  its  junction 
with  the  town  branch  was  the  lanyard  started  by  Proctor  and  sold  by 
him  to  John  Wood.  The  vats  were  a]ong  the  north  side  of  the  town 
branch  in  a  little  bottom  flat  and  the  bark  shed  and  currying  house  was 
on  a  slight  elevation  adjoining  to  the  north.  The  large  dwelling  house 
was  on  the  east  side  of  the  tannery  and  branch.  Along  the  little  branch 
I  call  to  mind  two  incidents  that  were  important  in  their  day.  The 
first  was  a  barbecue  held  in  a  pretty  sugar  tree  grove,  extending  along 
both  sides  of  the  branch  in  the  block  bounded  by  First  and  Klein  and 
Mason  and  Madison  streets,  and  seeing  the  roasting  of  the  meat  over 
the  pits  filled  with  hot  coals;  of  what  was  the  date  or  occasion  for  this 
demonstration,  I  have  no  knowledge.  I  only  know  it  was  at  a  very 
early  date,  for  I  was  too  small  to  be  trusted  there  alone.  The  second 
was  the  mustering  the  volunteers  for  the  Winnebago  war  in  1838.  They 
formed  in  line  east  and  west  about  where  the  Third  Ward  school  house 
is,  for  the  mustering  in  and  while  I  was  hurrying  out  on  North  Second 
street  to  see  the  ceremony  and  had  gotten  half  a  block  north  of  Madison 
street.  Colonel  Thomas  Neale,  the  commander,  came  galloping  out  by 
me,  braided  and  striped,  brass  buttons,  epaulets,  cock  hat  and  plume, 
sword  belt  and  spurs.  I  was  so  dazzled  and  captivated  by  this  splendid 
display  and  my  military  enthusiasm  so  aroused,  that  for  a  good  while 
after  I  spent  my  time,  slaying  Indians,  galloping  around  our  lot 
a-straddle  of  my  stick  horse,  with  a  chick  feather  in  my  hat  and  a 
splinter  for  a  sword  tied  with  a  string  to  my  side. 

The  next  tributary  brook  entered  the  town  branch  at  Washington  and 
Pasfield  streets  and  extended  in  a  channel  south  through  what  was  early 
known  as  JSTewsomeville  (now  Thomas  Lewis'  Third  Addition)  as  far 
as  Monroe  street  and  by  swale  drainage  as  far  as  Edwards  street.  This 
brook  is  now  sewered  on  nearly  its  exact  course  or  line  all  the  way  to 
Edwards  street  and  known  as  the  Pasfield  sewer.  On  this  brook  was 
erected  a  smaller  tannery. 

The  third  brook,  the  largest  of  all  entered  the  town  branch  from  the 
north  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Adams  and  First  streets.  It  had  two 
forks,  one  had  its  source  in  a  prairie  swale  beginning  a  little  northeast 
—13  H  S 


194 

of  the  northwest  corner  of  Madison  and  Sixth  streets  and  flowed  soutli- 
west  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Jefl'erson  and  Fifth  streets,  thence  diag- 
onally to  the  south  side  of  the  alley  at  Foui-th  street,  thence  in  a  channel 
to  the  northwest  corner  oL'  Washington  and  Third  streets,  thence  along 
Washington  street  130  or  140  feet  to  its  junction  with  the  other  fork 
and  it  ran  over  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  Eeisch  building  at  the 
northwest  corner  of  Madison  <iud  Sixth  streets,  the  Illinois  Central 
passenger  depot,  the  Lauphier  block  on  Fifth  street,  the  hall  at  the 
northwest  corner  of  Jeiferson  and  Fifth,  the  St.  Nicholas  hotel,  the 
Silas  hotel  and  the  C.  &  A.  station.  The  other  fork  was  the  outlet  for 
three  prongs  or  drains.  One  started  in  Second  street  just  south  of  the 
alley  between  Eeynolds  and  Mason  streets,  and  drained  to  a  point  on 
the  west  side  of  Third  street,  a  block  nortli  of  Madison  street,  where  it 
was  joined  by  a  second  prong  which  headed  up  on  the  east  side  of  Fourth 
street,  a  block  further  north.  They  ran  south  along  the  west  side  of 
Third  street,  and  were  joined  by  the  third  prong  about  100  feet  south 
of  Madison  street,  which  headed  up  on  the  east  side  of  Fourth  street,  a 
little  north  of  Madison  street.  The  combined  waters  continued  south  to 
a  point  about  120  feet  north  of  Jejferson  street,  where  they  crossed  the 
west  line  of  Third  street,  and  formed  a  deep  wide  channel  that  was  full 
of  springs  and  where  I  spent  much  of  my  early  childhood  days.  The 
brook  ran  thence  almost  in  a  straight  line  to  its  connection  with  the 
other  fork  at  Washington  street,  the  combined  forks  continued  on  a 
curved  course  southwest  to  the  alley  at  Second  street  between  Wa"shing- 
ton  and  Adams  and  thence  in  nearly  a  direct  line  to  the  junction  with 
the  town  branch.  The  Western  hotel  and  the  Vredenburgh  lumber  office 
and  lumber  house  are  directly  on  the  last  described  fork. 

The  fourth  started  in  a  drain  heading  on  the  west  side  of  Spring 
street  south  of  Jackson  street,  and  running  northeasterly  entering  Second 
street,  very  near  Charles  street,  forming  a  channel  in  Second  street  and 
discharging  into  the  town  branch  a  little  south  of  Monroe  street.  It 
was  in  the  hollow  of  this  ravine  east  of  Spring  street  that  Van  N"oy  Avas 
hung. 

The  fifth  branch  commenced  with  a  prairie  drain  heading  a  little 
north  and  east  of  the  intersection  of  Washington  and  Seventh  streets 
and  running  thence  through  the  lot  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Washing- 
ton and  Sixth  streets,  where  the  First  Xational  bank  is  located,  thence 
through  the  southeast  part  of  the  public  square,  thence  across  Adams 
street  and  through  the  lots  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Adams  and  Fifth 
streets,  over  the  ground  now  occupied  by  five  or  six  big  stores,  thence 
across  Fifth  to  near  the  alley  on  the  west  side  where  it  commenced 
forming  a  channel,  thence  southwesterly  across  Monroe  street  and  the 
lots  of  the  Odd  Fellows  building  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Monroe  and 
Fourth  streets — thence  through  the  south  part  of  the  l)lock  west  of 
Fourth  street  and  emptied  into  the  town  branch  at  Capitol  avenue  and 
Third  street.  This  brook  or  drain  is  filled  up  and  built  over  its  entire 
length. 

The  sixth  ravine  commenced  in  a  prairie  sag  at  Fourth  street  and  ran 
northwesterly  across  Allen  and  Third  street,  then  curving  to  the  east  of 


195 

north  ran  in  nearly  a  straight  line  to  the  intersection  of  the  west  line 
of  Third  street  about  150  feet  south  of  Jackson  street  where  it  channeled 
and  crossed  Third  and  Jackson  streets  between  Fourth  and  the  Bettie 
Stuart  Institute  and  connected  with  the  town  branch.  This  ravine  has 
been  'entirely  filled. 

The  seventh  ravine  had  its  beginning  on  the  north  side  of  Adams 
street  between  Eighth  and  Ninth  streets,  and  running  southwesterly 
across  Adams,  Eighth  and  Monroe  streets,  through  the  engine  house  and 
city  hall  grounds,  across  Seventh  street  to  the  north  and  rear  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church,  across  Capitol  avenue  and  Sixth  streets  to 
the  south  side  of  Sangamon  alley  and  thence  to  the  town  branch  at  the 
east  side  of  Fifth  street  and  formed  a  channel  for  about  a  block  and  a 
half,  now  all  filled  up. 

The  eighth  ravine  started  in  a  prairie  drain  at  Fourth  street,  between 
Scarritt  and  Allen  streets,  and  ran  a  northeasterly  course  across  Fifth 
and  Scarritt  streets,  and  then  nearly  parallel  with  Fifth  street  to  the 
west  side  of  the  alley  on  the  north  side  of  Cook  street — thence  across 
the  alley  and  Edwards  street  to  the  town  branch  west  of  Sixth  street. 

The  ninth  ravine  started  on  the  east  side  of  Eighth  street  about  at 
Allen  street  and  ran  a  little  west  of  north  to  Eighth  street,  thence  along 
Eighth  street  to  the  town  branch  at  a  little  north  of  Cook  street.  That 
part  in  Eighth  street  has  been  sewered.  Of  the  two  big  ravines  that 
formed  the  town  branch,  the  north  or  main  fork  had  its  beginning  in  a 
prairie  pond  at  Fifteenth  street  between  Jackson  and  Edwards  streets 
and  ran  southwesterly  across  Edwards,  Fourteenth,  Thirteenth,  Twelfth, 
Eleventh  and  Tenth  streets  to  its  Junction  with  the  South  Fork  near  the 
east  side  of  Ninth  street  and  a  little  north  of  Cook  street.  The  South 
Fork  had  its  start  from  the  prairie  ponds  along  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth 
streets,  the  main  drain  heading  at  Thirteenth  and  Nebraska  streets  and 
running  northwesterly  to  its  junction  with  the  north  fork  at  Cook  and 
Ninth  streets. 

On  the  north  of  the  original  town  was  the  Kelley  branch,  which  had  its 
origin  in  a  prairie  drain  starting  a  little  east  of  Eighth  street  and  north 
'  of  Enterprise  street  and  running  a  little  south  of  west  across  Eightl) 
and  Enterprise  streets  and  north  of  Elm  street  across  Seventh  street 
to  the  southwest  corner  of  Sixth  and  Elm  streets,  thence  in  a  channel 
to  a  point  about  100  feet  east  of  Fifth  street,  at  Dodge  street.  At  this 
point,  it  was  Joined  by  another  branch  from  the  soutlieast  that  avms 
channeled  (in  a  curve,  bending  south),  as  far  as  Sixth  and  is  now 
sewered,  the  Second  ward  new  school  house  is  over  the  sewer,  then 
crossing  the  street  and  northeast  corner  of  Sixth  and  Enos  avenue  and 
heading  at  Seventh  and  Miller  streets.  There  was  another  little  ravine 
that  emptied  into  this,  that  started  between  Seventh  and  Eighth  streets 
and  ran  through  the  north  part  of  the  McClemard  school  lot,  that 
formed  a  channel  at  the  east  side  of  Sixth  street,  but  is  now  filled  its 
whole  length.  From  the  point  100  feet  east  of  Fifth  street,  the  branch 
ran  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Fifth  and  Dodge  streets,  then  circled 
a  little  north  of  Dodge  to  Fourth  street,  then  back  again  crossing  Dodge 
at  the  south  side  of  the  railroad  bridge,  then  southwest  across  Third 


196 

street  to  West  Dodge  street,  thence  along  Dodge  street  to  First  street, 
thence  along  the  north  side  of  Dodge  street  to  Kutledge  street,  thence 
southwesterly  across  Rutledge,  the  Rcisch  Brewery  lot  and  Herndon 
street,  to  about  a  half  block  south  of  Herndon  street,  then  a  little  south 
of  west  acrot^s  Bond,  Wnliuit  and  West  Miller  streets,  to  its  junction  with 
the  town  branch  at  Salome  avenue,  some  fifty  feet  south  of  Miller  street. 
The  Kelley  branch  is  now  sewered  nearly  on  its  original  course  from  its 
outlet  to  Sixth  and  Elm  streets.  The  third  drain  into  Kelley  branch 
on  the  south  side,  going  east,  started  on  the  south  side  of  Union  street, 
between  Fourth  and  Fifth  streets  and  ran  northwest  across  Union 
street,  the  southwest  part  of  the  Edwai'ds  lot.  Fourth  and  Third  streets, 
and  discharged  into  the  Kelley  branch  a  short  distance  west  of  Third 
street.  The  Fourth  ravine  started  from  the  south  side  of  Carpenter 
street  between  Klein  and  Rutledge  streets  and  ran  northwest  across 
Carpenter,  Eutledge  and  Miller  streets  to  the  Kelley  branch,  forming  a 
channel  through  the  last  block.  The  fifth  ravine  started  from  the  soutli 
side  of  Carpenter  street  at  the  west  line  of  ]\Iapon's  addition  and  ran 
north  across  Carpenter  and  Miller  streets  to  the  Kelley  branch,  forming 
a  channel  in  Herndon  and  Edwards  addition.  The  sixth  ravine  started 
at  the  alley  south  of  Carpenter  street,  just  east  of  the  west  side  of 
Kessler's  addition  and  ran  north  across  Carpenter  street  along  the  wo-t 
side  of  Taylor  street  and  across  west  Miller  street  into  the  Kelley 
branch. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  Kelley  branch,  the  first  drainage  into  it 
was  a  large  branch  which  started  in  a  prairie  drain  at  Fifth  and  Rafter 
streets  and  ran  southwest  across  Fourth  and  Third  streets  to  the  north 
side  of  Pine  street,  west  with  line  of  Pine  some  200  feet  in  a  channel 
(immediately  north  was  the  residence  of  William  Kelley,  one  of  the 
first  settlers,  and  j\Ir.  Gehrman's  brick  dwelling  is  on  nearly  the  same 
ground)  then  running  southwest  across  Pine,  Second  and  First  and 
connects  with  the  main  branch  at  the  alley  between  First  and  Klein 
streets  and  is  sewered  from  outlet  to  Pine  street.  The  second  drain 
started  west  of  First  street  and  north  of  Calhoun  avenue  and  ran  south- 
west across  the  avenue  and  Klein  streets  to  the  branch  midway  between 
Klein  and  Eutledge  streets.  The  third  was  a  two-pronged  ravine,  both 
Ijeginning  at  Calhoun  avenue,  one  at  Bond,  the  other  at  Walnut  street, 
and  running  across  Hay  and  Herndon  streets  to  the  Kelley  branch. 

The  original  town  with  its  two  additions,  the  County  Commissioners' 
addition  in  1825  and  John  Taylor's  west  addition  in  1S26,  the  only 
additions  previous  to  the  deep  snow  of  1831,  were  located  on  this  beau- 
tiful undulating,  well  drained  prairie  nook,  with  not  a  pond  or  marshy 
place  in  it,  but  one  small  one  in  Seventh  street,  on  the  north  side  of 
Adams  street,  which,  when  full,  drained  west  to  the  ravine  running 
tlirnugh  the  public  square.  And  had  the  hr'inches  been  kept  open  and 
ravines  channeled  to  their  heads,  Springfield  would  never  have  gotten 
the  reputation  of  being  a  mud  hole  and  become  a  subject  of  comment 
as  such  all  over  the  state.  But  a  mistaken  idea  of  beauty,  utility  and 
economy  got  hold  of  some  of  our  early  village  fathers,  that  the  streets. 


197 

to  be  beautiful  and  useful,  should  be  brought  to  as  near  a  level  as  pos- 
sible and  that  a  great  saving  of  expense  in  bridging  could  be  made  by- 
filling  up  the  branches  and  ravines   at  the   street  intersections. 

Of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town,  now  the  City  of  Springfield,  prior 
to  its  location  as  the  county  seat  in  1821,  I  personally  knew  Williim 
Kelle}^,  Andrew  Elliott,  Abraham  Lanterman,  esq.,  John  Lindsey.  John 
Kelley  died  and  Levi  and  Jacob  Ellis  moved  to  Fulton  county  in  1823, 
the  year  we  came  to  Springfield.  Of  Mr.  Daggett,  I  have  no  knowledge 
or  information.  Mr.  Samuel  Little,  grandfather  of  Gershom  J. 
Little,  who  settled  on  what  is  now  the  Leland  farm,  I  also  knew.  And 
of  those  who  were  here  before  or  at  the  time  of  the  location  of  the  coun- 
ty seat,  Dr.  Gershom  Jayne  came  in  1820.  I  knew  Charles  Matheny, 
James  Adams,  Erastus  Wright,  Elijah  lies  in  1821.  And  also,  those 
here  in  1822.  prior  to  the  plattino-  and  recording  the  town  plat.  John 
Taylor,  Elijah  Slater,  Thomas  Price,  Mrs.  Hawley. 

For  the  little  two-room  houses  of  that  date,  the  sills,  posts,  plates, 
joists  were  all  hewn,  squared  and  dressed  from  small  trees;  the  stud- 
ding and  rafters  from  straight  saplings,  the  weather  boarding  marie 
from  clapboards  dressed, wit^i  the  drawing  knife.  The  shingles  made 
and  shaved  in  the  woods — tbe  latb?  also  in  the  timber — the  flooring 
sawed  by  hand  with  the  whip  saw;  all  the  materials  were  home  made, 
except  the  brass  and  nails. 

Settlement  of  Springfield  and  Slavery  in  Springfield. 

The  first  settlement  in  Illinois  by  American  population  was  made  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  State  by  immigrants,  almost  exclusively  from  the 
slave  states,  and  extended  gradually  north  to  the  middle  of  the  State. 
Many  of  the  well-to-do  first  immigrants  brought  with  them  their  slaves, 
and  held  them  as  such,  and  the  relation  of  master  and  servant  was  by 
common  consent  recognized.  Some  of  the  first  settlers  of  Sangamon 
county  brought  with  them  one  or  more  slaves.  One  of  the  Kirkpatricks 
brought  with  him  his  colored  boy  Titus;  Col.  Thomas  Cox,  two  girls, 
Nance  and  Dice;  Daniel  Outright  his  boy  Major;  Dr.  Todd,  his  colored 
woman  Phoebe,  and  George  Forquer  his  boy  Smith.  These  colored 
persons  were  known  and  called  by  the  surnames  of  their  masters,  the 
same  as  in  the  slave  states.  That  this  condition  of  servitude  was  recog- 
nized in  the  community  is  evidenced  by  the  mortgages,  judgments,  levies, 
appraisement  and  final  public  sale  of  Nance  and  Dice  Cox.  They  were, 
after  the  sale,  called  Nance  and  Dice  Taylor,  the  name  of  their  new 
master.  This  sale  created  a  great  amount  of  talk  and  sympathy,  not  for 
the  two  girls,  but  for  Mrs.  Cox  and  her  two  children,  who  were  of  the 
best  and  most  intelligent  class  of  the  early  settlers.  They  were  turned 
out  of  house  and  home,  stripped  of  nearly  everything  and  compelled  to 
take  shelter  in  a  little  deserted  log  cabin  a  mile  and  a  half  from  town. 

Colonel  Cox,  when  he  first  came  to  Springfield  in  1823,  was  a  man  of 
recognized  ability  and  standing  in  the  State,  and  was  appointed -by  Presi- 
dent Monroe,  Eegister  of  the  Land  Office  at  this  place.  He  bought  out 
the  Kelley  improvements  and  entered  the  one-quarter  section  upon  which 


198 

they  were  located,  and  which  at  that  time  was  considered  th(»  choice  one- 
quarter  of  the  four  quarter  sections  that  embraced  the  town  plat,  the 
outlots  and  subdivisions  before  mentioned.  He  immediately  engaged  in 
some  expensive  improvements  for  that  day  of  limited  means,  such  as 
his  mill,  distillery,  his  hewn  log  dwelling  house  with  a  hall  and  brick 
chimneys,  one  of  the  finest  houses  in  the  county.  He  also  erected  a  two- 
story  building  adjoining  the  back  of  his  dwelling.  For  what  purpose 
it  was  constructed,  I  never  understood,  perhaps  for  his  Register  office. 
T  remember  going  up  an  outside  stairway  on  the  east  side  into  a  printing 
office  in  the  second  story,  most  likely  Hooper  Warren's  establishment. 
These  improvements  and  the  purchase  of  the  Kelley  building  involved 
him  in  considerable  indebtedness.  But  the  great  misfortune  that  hap-- 
pened  him  at  this  time  and,  that  finally  ruined  him.  was  that  he  became 
too  great  a  patron  of  his  own  distillery.  He  acquired  so  great  a  passion 
for,  and  indulged  to  such  an  extent  in  liquor,  that  he  became  totally 
incapacitated  and  indifferent  to  his  business  and  suffered  all  his  property 
to  be  covered  with  mortgages,  judgments,  liens,  and  executions,  and  it 
was  to  satisfy  two  of  these  judgments  and  executions  that  these  girls 
were  finally  put  up  at  public  auction  and  sold.  ]\rany  persons  would 
regard  this  as  but  the  dream  of  a  six  year  old  boy,  and  would  not  believe 
it,  but  the  facts  were  so  indelibly  impressed  upon  my  mind,  that  I  went 
to  the  Circuit  Clerk's  office,  and  giving  him  the  names  and  dates,  the  old 
records  were  soon  found.  Circuit  Clerk  Jones  kindly  furnished  me  with 
the  copies,  that  are  hereby  attached.^  Colonel  Cox  shortly  after  moved 
to  the  lead  mines,  and  then  across  into  Iowa,  where  he  reformed  and 
became  a  leading  citizen,  and  was  elected  presiding  officer  of  one  of  its 
legislative  bodies. 

The  name  of  one  of  these  judgment  creditors  mentioned  in  the  records; 
Nathan  Cromwell,  a  merchant  who  came  here  about  the  year  1825,  and 
had  a  store  in  a  little  frame  building  on  the  north  side  of  Jefferson  st., 
and  on  the  west  side  of  lot  8,  Block  G,  reminds  me  of  another  incident 
in  which  he  figured.  He  had  a  very  handsome  wife  of  whom  he  was 
quite  proud.  One  of  the  citizens  had  said  something  to  or  about  her 
that  excited  his  anger  so  much,  that  he  loaded  a  pistol  and  took  his  wife 
with  him  and  went  to  the  man's  house  and  pointing  the  pistol  at  the 
man's  breast  demanded  of  him  to  get  down  on  'his  knees  and  beg  his 
wife's  pardon,  or  he  would  shoot  him,  which  the  man  had  to  do  to  save 
his  life.  This  incident  caused  great  excitement  and  gossip  in  the  little 
town  and  was  for  a  long  time  the  topic  of  conversation. 

Town  of  Springfield. 

During  the  two  years  that  intervened  between  the  locating  of  the 
temporary  county  seat  in  1821  and  the  survey  and  platting  of  the  orig- 
inal town  of  Calhoun,  now  Springfield,  in  1823,  a  few  cabins  and  out- 
houses had  been  built  mi   n  lino  east  and  west  with  ]\rajor  Ties'  store, 


Sold  12th  of  July,   li<27. 

1.    Nance,  $151.  Dice,  $150. 

bought  by  John  Taylor, 

John  Howard  (I  think).  "  Commission  on  Sale.  $15.40. 


199 

at  the  southeast  corner  of  Second  and  Jefferson  streets,  and  John 
Kelley's  improvements  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Klein  and  Jefferson 
streets.  When  the  town  was  surveyed,  in  order  not  to  interfere  with 
these  cabins  and  improvements,  this  line  was  made  the  base  of  the  survey 
and  called  Jefferson  street  and  all  the  other  streets  and  alleys  were  parallel 
with  or  at  right  angles  to  it  without  any  regard  to  the  government  section 
lines.  And  for  the  same  reason,  the  north  and  south  streets  were  also 
located  to  suit  these  improvements,  thus  making  the  streets  and  blocks 
of  unequal  dimensions  in  the  west  part  of  the  town  in  which  all  these 
improvements  were  located,  and  all  varying  about  two  degrees  from  the 
section  lines.  The  town,  as  thus  surveyed,  was  located  on  four  quarter 
sections  of  the  four  different  sections — 27,  28,  33  and  34,  township  16, 
north  range  5  west,  3d  P.  M.  The  section  corner  common  to  the  four 
sections  being  about  twenty  feet  south  of  Washington  street  and  nearly 
half  way  between  First  and  Second  streets.  The  four  proprietors  of 
the  town  were  Elijah  Ties.  Thomas  Cox,  John  Taylor  and  Pascal  P. 
Enos.  Elijah  lies  entered  the  southwest  quarter  section  of  section  27 ; 
Thomas  Cox,  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  28 ;  John  Taylor,  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  33,  and  Pascal  P.  Enos,  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  34.  Three  of  these  entries  were  made  on  the  7th  of  ISTovember, 
1823,  and  were  the  first  that  were  made  at  the  opening  of  the  land 
office  in  Springfield. 

The  town  as  surveyed,  platted  and  recorded,  was  bounded  by  Madi- 
son street  on  the  north.  First  street  on  the  west,  Monroe  street  on  the 
south,  and  Seventh  street  on  the  east,  and  was  located,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  part  of  the  west  four  blocks,  all  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  27,  and  the  northwest  one-half  of  section  34,  and  nearly  equally 
on  these  two  quarter  sections.  The  remainder  of  these  quarter  sec- 
tions 27  and  34,  not  included  in  the  recorded  plat,  was  cut  up  into 
out  lots  of  block  and  a  street  in  width  and  extending  north  from  Madi- 
son street  and  south  from  ]\Ionroe  to  the  quarter  section  lines,  except- 
ing the  lots  adjoining  the  section  and  quarter  section  lines  on  the  east 
and  west,  which  varied  in  width.  Many  of  the  first  conveyances  des- 
ignate these  tracts  as  out  lots.  And  Major  lies  so  stated  that  they 
were  thus  laid  out  and  designated  in  his  testimony  in  the  suit  of  David 
Spear  vs.  John  Hay  as  to  the  line  between  lots  3  and  4,  block  8,  of  the 
original  town.  The  northeast  quarter  of  section  33  was  divided  into 
tracts  of  6%  chains  in  width,  east  and  west,  except  the  west  tract, 
which  was  7%  chains,  and  all  extending  north  and  south  the  whole 
length  of  the  quarter  section.  The  southeast  quarter  of  section  28, 
which  was  principally  timber,  was  cut  up  into  four  tracts.  The  three 
timber  tracts  were  bounded  by  the  line  of  Jefferson  afreet  on  tlie  north 
and  on  the  east  by  what  is  the  west  line  of  Mason's  addition.  The  prairie 
tract  being  the  balance  of  the  quarter  section,  included  Mason's  addi- 
tion, and  the  mill  and  distillery  lots,  now  known  as  Barrow's  addition. 

The  four  proprietors  then  conveyed  to  each  other  or  their  assigns, 
an  interest  in  their  several  entries,  so  that  each  had  an  interest  in  the 
whole  town,  out  lots  and  sub-division  of  the  four  quarter  sections. 


200 


Mills. 


Of  the  grist  mills  of  that  date,  the  earliest,  perhaps,  was  Kirkpat- 
riek's,  situated  on  the  rear  of  lot  5,  block  15,  0.  T.  P.  It  ceased  to 
be  iised  as  a  mill  before  I  was  old  enough  to  have  seen  it  in  operation. 
I  only  remember  it  in  connection  with  the  hitching  of  ^Mr.  Wright's 
elk  in  it,  as  I  will  later  relate.  The  shed  and  big  posts  remained  for 
many  years  after.  Cox's  tread  mill  for  grinding  both  wheat  and  corn 
was  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Jefferson  and  in  Mill  street,  as  previ- 
ously mentioned.  Besides  these,  there  were  two  other  horse  mills  for 
grinding  corn,  within  what  is  now  the  city  limits.  Esq.  Lindsay's  mill, 
located  about  100  yards  a  little  south  of  west  of  the  Col.  Williams  dwell- 
ing, on  the  forty  acres  in  the  southwest  corner  of  West  and  South  Grand 
avenues,  and  Andrew  Lasswell's  mill  on  Lincoln  avenue,  a  little  south  of 
the  Dubois  school  house.  I  remember  going  with  my  father  to  both 
of  these  mills. 

Besides  the  tanyard  before  mentioned,  there  was  a  smaller  one 
started  by  Mr.  Proctor  on  the  branch  in  Newsomeville  and  south  of 
Adams  street. 

In  connection  with  the  tanneries,  the  mechanics,  who  used  the  leather, 
would  be  suggested.  The  first  regular  shoe  maker  was  Jabez  Capps, 
whose  store  and  shop  was  on  the  north  side  of  Jefferson,  between  First 
and  Second  streets,  and  who  came  here  before  1836,  and  then  on  the 
south  side  of  Jefferson,  between  Second  and  Third  streets.  John 
Sherrill  resided  and  had  his  shop  on  the  south  side  of  Jefferson  street, 
eighty  feet  west  of  First  street.  Another  shoemaker  was  Jacob  Plank, 
who  came  in  1826. 

The  first  saddler  was  Thomas  Strawbridge,  who  came  in  1824,  and 
had  his  shop,  a  little  frame  building,  on  the  N".  E.  corner  of  Jefferson 
and  Fourth  streets.  The  next  was  Asbury  Saunders,  who  came  in  1828. 
The  first  hatter  was  William  Alvey,  who  came  in  1825.  The  first  black- 
smith was  Jacob  Ellis,  who  came  in  1819,  and  moved  away  in  1825. 

The  second  was  John  White,  who  came  in  .     The  third  Alex. 

Tompkins,  who  came  in  1827,  and  located  on  the  N.  E.  corner  of  Third 
and  Adams  streets.  The  fourth,  Owen  and  Eames,  who  came  in  the 
spring  of  1830. 

At  about  the  time  of  the  permanent  location  of  the  county  seat,  some 
four  or  five  two  room  one  story  buildings  were  erected,  with  gable  ends 
to  the  street,  on  the  north  side  of  Jefferson  and  west  of  Second  street, 
which  were  occupied  for  stores  and,  before  1830,  two  more  stores  were 
built  east  of  Second  street.  On  the  south  side  of  Jefferson  and  Second 
streets,  at  the  S.  E.  corner,  was  Major  lies'  store- — the  first  opened  in 
Springfield.  Some  100  feet  east  was  the  first  two  story  brick  store  where 
P.  C.  Canedy  opened  the  first  book  and  drug  store.  At  the  S.  W.  corner 
of  Jefferson  and  Second  was  Carpenter's  grocery  store,  and  some  90  feet 
or  more  distant  was  John  Taylor's  one  story  brick  store  and  land  office — 
the  first  brick  building  erected  in  the  place.  The  intersection  of  Jefferson 
and  Second  streets  was  the  business  center  of  the  town,  and  had  by  the 
order  of  the  county  court  of  date  of  March,  1822,  been  declared  public 


201 

ground  as  follows:  Ordered  by  the  Court  that  1-i  rods  east  and  west 
including  the  street  and  12  rods  north  and  south  including  the  street  in 
the  town  of  Springfield  on  which  the  Court  House  now  stands,  be  set  apart 
for  public  purposes  and  the  accommodation  of  Court  House  and  public 
buildings.  This  became  the  public  arena  where  the  fistic  champions  of 
the  county  met  on  Saturdays,  to  test  their  physical  manhood ;  and  where 
neighborhood  quarrels  were  adjourned  to  be  settled  by  the  wager  of 
battle.  Often  the  whole  fighting  element  of  one  neighborhood  would  be 
arrayed  against  another  neighborhood,  as  for  instance,  South  Fork  and 
Flat  Branch  against  Richland  and  Clay  Grove;  or  Spring  Creek  against 
Lake  Fork.  On  such  occasions  it  was  not  uncommon  for  a  dozen  battles 
to  be  going  on  at  the  same  time. 

During  the  intervening  time  between  the  temporary  location  of  the 
county  seat  and  the  survey  of  the  town,  there  were  erected  three  taverns, 
namely.  Slater's,  on  Lot  5,  Block  5,  at  the  'N.  E.  corner  of  Jefferson  and 
Second  streets.  Thomas  Price's  three  room  log  tavern  with  kitchen,  on 
Lot  3,  Block  7,  south  side  of  Jefferson,  between  First  and  Second  streets, 
and  Andrew  Elliot's  log  tavern  on  Lot  1,  Block  7.  In  addition  there 
were  three  hewn  log  houses,  viz :  the  house  bought  by  P.  P.  Enos,  when 
he  came  to  Springfield  in  1823,  located  on  Lot  7,  Block  5,  a  two  story 
double  cabin  with  a  porch  kitchen ;  Thos.  Cox's,  double  cabin  with  porch 
kitchen,  on  Lot  6.  Block  6 :  and  John  Taylor's,  on  Lot  2.  Block  7.  These 
were  the  fine  residences  of  the  town,  and  had  brick  chimneys  and  were 
chinked  and  daubed  with  lime  mortar. 

Early  School  Experience. 

incidents  in  my  earliest  recollections  of  springfield. 

I  remember  going  to  school  in  a  little  old  round-log  cabin,  situated 
on  the  top  of  the  hill  on  the  north  side  of  what  is  now  Washington  street 
and  between  Pasfield  and  Lewis  streets.  At  that  time  there  was  no 
recognized  street  west  of  First  street  but  Jefferson,  and  no  dwelling  house 
on  that  part  of  Jefferson  street  on  the  south  side  but  those  of  John  Sher- 
ril.  Thomas  ISJ'eale  and  Thomas  Vandagrif.  William  Fagan's  cabin  was 
a  little  southwest  about  on  the  line  of  Washington  street.  On  the  north 
side  of  Jefferson  there  was  but  one  house,  the  double  log  house  of  John 
Kelley,  then  occupied  by  Alexander  Cox.  The  road  to  the  school  house 
turned  off  from  Jefferson  street,  opposite  to  Klein  street,  and  ran  south- 
west to  the  crossing  of  the  town  branch  at  Washington  and  Pasfield 
streets.  There  was  no  bridge  over  the  branch,  and  only  some  small  logs 
laid  lengthwise  with  the  branch  for  the  use  of  wagons  in  crossing.  The 
road  continued  on  the  same  course  south  of  west,  and  the  path  from  the 
branch  to  the  school  house  turned  to  the  right  from  the  road,  and  went 
up  to  the  top  of  the  hill  to  the  school  house  in  the  center  of  a  thicket  of 
hazelnuts,  crabapples,  plumbushes  and  grapevines,  where  a  space  some 
40  or  50  feet  square  had  been  cleared  off  and  a  cabin  built.  Its  dimen- 
sions were  about  14  by  16  feet,  with  door  on  the  east  side,  a  stick  and 


202 

mud  chimney  at  the  north  end,  and  one  log  cut  out  some  6  or  8  feet  on 
both  the  south  and  west  sides  for  windows,  and  slabs  for  l^enches,  and 
rough  boards  for  desks. 

Andrew  Orr  was  said  to  have  taught  the  first  school  in  Springfield 
and  in  this  school  house.  Of  this  I  know  nothing  but  by  hearsay.  I  was 
so  young  when  I  went  to  this  school,  that  very  few  events  connected  with 
it  are  fixed  in  my  memory.  I  remember  the  teacher,  as  a  threat  to 
punish  a  scholar,  told  me  to  go  out  and  get  a  switch.  I  took  him  at  his 
word  and  went  out  and  hunted  around  and  finally  picked  up  a  hazel 
switch  some  4  or  5  feet  long,  and  over  one-half  inch  thick,  and  brought 
it  to  him,  which  created  such  a  laugh  among  the  scholars  at  my  expense, 
that  I  remember  the  circumstance.  I  also  remember  the  high  stake  and 
rider  fence,  not  more  than  a  hundred  feot  west  of  the  school  house, 
around  the  lot  in  which  Mr.  Erastus  Wright  kept  his  elk,  and  of  climb- 
ing up  on  that  fence  to  see  the  elk.  The  elk  was  trained  to  ride  or  work 
in  harness,  and  Mr.  Wright  at  one  time  hitched  it  to  Kirkpatrick's  horse 
mill,  (located  on  the  rear  of  Lot  5,  Block  15,  0.  T.  P.)  to  do  some  grind- 
ing. Quite  a  crowd  of  men  and  boys  had  gathered  to  see  the  elk  work, 
but  he  soon  broke  loose  and  started  at  hot  speed  for  his  pen,  with  the 
men,  bo^'s  and  dogs  after  him  shouting  and  barking.  I  saw  from  our 
house  the  start  of  the  race,  and  heard  the  noise.  If  the  date  1824,  given 
in  Mr.  Wright's  life  as  the  time  he  purchased  his  elk  (giving  for  it  80 
acres  of  land  in  the  Military  Tract)  is  correct,  these  incidents  could  not 
liave  happened  later  than  the  summer  or  fall  of  1825. 

There  is  but  one  other  incident  connected  with  that  school  that  I 
remember.  It  was  in  cold  weather,  when  the  children  were  crowding 
around  the  fire  to  warm,  that  a  cousin  of  mine,  three  years  older  than 
myself,  who  was  living  in  our  familv,  as  there  was  no  school  in  his 
neighborhood,  was  pushed  into  the  fire  and  his  wrist  was  very  badly 
burned.  This  must  have  occurred  in  the  winter  of  1825  and  26,  as  I 
find  among  my  father's  papers  a  receipt  from  Mr.  Wright,  for  the  tuition 
of  three  scholars  dated  April  6,  1826,  which  could  only  have  been  for  my 
brother,  my  cousin  and  myself.  I  do  not  recollect  the  teacher,  but  from 
what  my  mother  has  since  told  me,  know  he  was  Mr.  Wright,  and  that 
he  took  great  interest  in  teaching  me  on  account  of  my  being  so  young. 
He  taught  me  my  letters  and  to  spell  in  the  abs.  My  next  teacher  was 
^Ir.  Menall.  who  paid  no  attention  to  me  or  to  any  of  the  smaller 
children  and,  when  his  school  was  out,  I  not  only  could  not  spell  in  the 
abs,  but  did  not  even  know  my  letters.  I  have  no  certain  memory  as  to 
this  school,  and  but  a  dim  recollection  of  having  attended  a  school  in  a 
little  old  log  cabin  at  the  S.  W.  corner  of  Jefferson  and  First  streets, 
which  probably  was  this  school. 

My  next  school  experience  was  with  Mr.  How  in  the  summer  of  1826, 
who  had  his  school  in  the  old  Masonic  hall.  Avhich  was  the  upper  room 
of  a  two  storv  log  house,  with  an  outside  fliirht  of  stairs  on  the  west 
end  of  it.  This  building  was  on  Lot  2,  Block  8,  0.  T.  P.,  south  side 
of  Jefferson  street,  about  half  way  between  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Western  hotel  and  the  St.  Charles  hotel.  Our  house  was  on  the  north 
side  of  the  street  immediately  opposite.     There  was  a  branch  running 


203 

tlirougli  the  lot  on  the  east  side  of  our  house  that  was  full  of  springs, 
and  I  was  constantly  playing  in  it  and  my  mother  to  keep  me  out  of  the 
branch  sent  me  across  the  street  to  school.  I  think  my  attendance  at 
this  school  did  not  exceed  an  hour,  if  it  did  that,  for  I  immediately  got 
into  some  mischief  and  Mr.  How  to  punish  me  put  me  on  the  dunce 
block,  with  a  paper  dunce  cap  on  my  head.  When  he  turned  around  to 
say  something  to  the  other  scholars  I  threw  the  cap  off  and  started  down 
stairs.  He  seized  his  whip  and  went  to  the  head  of  the  stairs  and  pounded 
upon  them,  making  a  great  noise,  but  not  trying  to  hit  me  or  stop  me 
and  I  went  across  the  street  into  the  branch  at  my  usual  amusement, 
and  was  not  sent  to  school  any  more  until  the  winter  of  1826  and  1827 
when  Judge  Moffett  opened  a  school  in  the  double  log  house  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Fifth  streets. 

The  only  events  in  connection  with  this  school  that  are  impressed  upon 
my  memory  are  the  talk  and  wonder  expressed  by  the  scholars  at  the 
four  Arthur  Watson  children  coming  lo  school  regularly  a  mile  and  a 
half  across  the  open  prairie  from  their  home  (now  the  Converse  place) 
in  all  kinds  of  weather,  in  rain,  snow  and  the  severest  cold.  Mrs.  George 
Pasfield's  mother  was  one  of  the  four.  Near  the  end  of  the  school  term 
Mr.  Moffett  concluded  to  close  with  a  school  exhibition  and  assigned 
pieces  to  different  children  to  declaim  and  they  practiced  speaking  their 
pieces  before  the  school.     One  boy,  Nat  Boyd,  had  a  poem  beginning 

Ever  charming,   ever   new 

"When  the  landscape  tires  the  view. 

and  he  caused  great  amusement  and  laughter  whenever  he  attempted 
to  speak  his  piece.  He  would,  in  spite  of  all  Mr.  Moffett's  efforts,  rattle 
it  off  so  rapidly  and  in  such  a  sing-song  tone  that  a  roar  of  laughter 
would  be  created.    I  had  a  piece  to  speak,  which  I  learned,  beginning 

You'd  scarce  expect  one  of  my  age 

To  speak  in  public  on  the  stage. 

and  practiced  at  home.  In  the  evenings  after  supper  when  the  table  was 
set  back,  I  would  be  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  room  and  orated  for 
the  amusement  of  the  family.  The  exhibition  took  place  in  the  spring, 
in  the  old  frame  court  house  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Adams  and  Sixth 
streets,  and  was  considered  a  grand  affair,  but  neither  Nat  Boyd  nor 
myself  took  part  in  it. 

My  school  experiences  from  this  time  on  till  the  winter  of  the  deep 
snow  in  1830  and  1831  were  fragmentary,  as  I  spent  much  of  my  time 
in  Madison  county  with  my  grandfather  and  was  taught  by  my  aunts. 
I  do,  however,  remember  going  to  school  to  Mr.  John  B.  Watson  in 
the  old  frame  court  house,  but  there  are  only  three  things  connected  with 
it  that  are  impressed  upon  my  memory.  One  is, that  we  had  to  get  over 
the  prairie  slough  running  through  the  southeast  part  of  the  present 
court  house  square  on  a  few  rails  thrown  across  it;  another  was  the 
severe  whipping  Mr.  Watson  gave  one  of  the  boys  for  some  outrageous 
conduct,  which  made  a  great  talk  among  the  scholars;  and  the  third  was 
the  delight  and  fun  some  of  the  bigger  boys  had  in  teasing  and  pro- 
voking Eliza  Eobinson  until  she  would  become  so  angry  she  would  take 
after  them,  and  then  they  would  run  out  of  her  way.     The  date  of  this 


20i 

school  was  probably  the  summer  of  1829,  Mr,  Watson  having  moved 
here  in  the  spring.  He  was  subsequently  county  surveyor  and  the  first 
to  keep  any  records  of  surveys. 

1  also  went  to  school  to  Miss  Jane  Bergen,  who  taught  in  a  little  frame 
school  house  on  the  south  side  of  Washington  street  midway  between 
Fourth  and  Fifth  streets.  The  only  thing  impressed  on  my  memory  in 
connection  with  this  school  is  the  punishment  1  received  for  misconduct. 
The  last  school  1  attended,  previous  to  the  deep  snow,  was  in  the  log 
school  house  built  in  the  intersection  of  Adams  and  Second  streets.  Its 
greatest  length  was  from  east  to  west  and  the  door  was  in  the  middle 
of  the  south  side.  In  going  to  this  school  we  had  to  cross  the  deep 
channel  of  the  branch  at  the  alley  on  Second  street  between  Washington 
and  Adams  streets,  and  the  crossing  was  on  a  big  log  some  four  or  five 
feet  above  the  water,  and  the  log  was  only  roughly  leveled  off  a  little 
on  the  top.  There  are  two  things  connected  with  this  school  that  are 
vividly  impressed  on  my  memory.  One  was  that  the  teacher  would  for 
a  few  minutes  permit  the  children  to  study  aloud,  when  the  school  would 
become  a  perfect  Babel.  The  other  was,  that  in  addition  to  the  regular 
intermissions  he  would  permit  the  boys,  six  or  eight  at  a  time,  to  go 
out  ostensibly  to  study  their  lessons  under  the  clump  of  big  shade  trees 
that  stood  a  few  rods  northwest  of  the  school  house.  We  little  boys 
used  to  employ  the  time  playing  marbles  and  mumble  peg  under  a 
splendid  big  sugar  tree  until  we  were  called  in.  I  suppose  these  pecul- 
iarities were  intended  for  relaxation  and  relief  from  the  fatigue  of  the 
long  twelve-hour  school,  more  than  anything  else.  Our  teacher  was  no 
hard  disciplinarian  but  a  very  kind  hearted  and  intellectual  man.  One 
who,  if  his  ambition  and  energy  had  equalled  his  mental  qualifications, 
would  have  been  the  leading  man  in  Illinois  in  his  day.  This  closes  my 
school  experience  previous  to  the  deep  snow. 

The  Van  Noy  Hanging. 

I  remember  about  the  Van  Noy  hanging  in  1826  and  seeing  him  in  the 
old  log  jail  which  stood  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  present  court 
house  square,  with  the  whipping  post  about  80  feet  west.  The  jail  was 
a  square  hewn  log  building,  about  12  by  14  feet,  divided  into  two  apart- 
ments. The  north  or  criminal  cell  was  not  more  than  6  by  10  feet  and 
the  door  entering  it  was  through  the  debtor's  cell  on  the  south.  The 
entrance  to  the  latter  was  on  the  west  side.  The  window  of  the  criminal 
cell  was  less  than  a  foot  square,  with  upright  iron  rods  in  it  some  two 
or  three  inches  apart.  This  old  jail  was  afterwards  sold  and  removed 
to  the  alley  south  of  Washington  street  between  Seventh  and  Eighth 
streets,  and  used  as  a  stable,  as  perhaps  some  of  the  old  residents  will 
remember.  When  the  day  fox  the  hanging  arrived  there  was  a  large 
crowd  assembled  to  witness  it.  Men  came  with  their  families  from  20 
to  30  miles.  The  procession  formed  at  the  jail  and  consisted  of  wagons 
filled  with  men,  women  and  children,  men  on  horseback  and  men  and 
boys  on  foot.  It  passed  down  Jefferson  street  in  front  of  our  house.  I 
thought  it  was  a  big  muster  and  wanted  to  go  and  see  it  but  my  mother 


205 

would  not  let  me.  The  procession  turned  south  at  First  street  to  the 
gallows,  erected  in  the  hollow  south  of  the  present  State  house,  in  the 
rear  part  of  Bishop  Sejanour's  premises.  The  gallows  was  a  very  simple 
affair,  consisting  of  two  upright  posts,  10  feet  high,  set  firmly  in  the 
ground  about  10  feet  apart,  and  a  cross  piece  at  the  top  of  the  posts  to 
which  the  rope  was  attached.  This  gallows  stood  there  for  a  number  of 
years  and  was  a  sort  of  a  scare  crow  to  the  small  boys.  When  the  pro- 
cession arrived  at  the  gallows,  as  I  was  told  by  those  who  witnessed  the 
hanging,  the  wagon  containing  Van  Noy  drove  between  the  posts,  he 
stood  up  in  the  rear  end,  the  slip  noose  was  put  around  his  neck,  and 
when  all  was  ready  the  wagon  was  driven  forward  and  left  him  swinging 
until  he  was  choked  to  death.  The  remains  were  immediately  taken  to 
Dr.  Philleo's  office,  a  little  two  room  frame  building  on  the  north  side 
of  Jefferson  street,  midway  between  Second  and  Third  streets,  the  gable 
end  of  the  building  up  to  the  line  of  the  street.  There,  after  some 
little  effort  to  restore  life  to  the  body,  it  was  finally  dissected  in  the 
front  room.  The  door  and  window  were  wide  open  and  a  crowd  of  men 
and  boys  in  the  street  looking  on.  The  citizens  became  so  outraged  at 
this  disgusting  exhibition,  that  finally  the  dissection  was  removed  to 
the  back  room,  the  front  door  and  window  closed. and  the  back  door  and 
window  opened. 

This  office  was  immediately  adjoining  the  west  line  of  our  premises 
and  not  over  50  feet  from  our  house,  with  but  a  low  fence  separating 
the  premises.  I  was  in  the  office  nearly  every  day  and  one  of  the  doctors 
knowing  my  habit  of  playing  in  the  branch,  as  a  practical  joke,  gave 
me  the  upper  part  of  a  skull  to  use  in  mixing  mortar.  I  took  it  and 
went  to  my  springs  in  the  branch,  but  it  would  not  answer  my  purpose 
for  there  was  a  round  hole  in  the  top  and  it  would  not  hold  water.  I 
carried  it  up  to  the  house  and  the  women  folks,  catching  sight  of  my 
treasure,  hustled  me  back  with  it  in  a  hurry.  From  all  accounts  Dr. 
Philleo  was  a  skillful  surgeon  and  gained  a  great  reputation  in  the 
community  from  his  successful  treatment  of  the  case  of  James  Abrams, 
a  little  boy  that  was  kicked  by  a  horse,  breaking  his  skull  so  badly  that 
a  considerable  amount  of  his  brains  came  out.  No  other  doctor  or  person 
thought  he  could  possibly  live,  but  Dr.  Philleo  succeeded  in  bringing  him 
through  sound  in  body  and  mind. 

Deep  Snow. 

Of  the  deep  snow  of  1830  and  '31,  T  do  not  know  at  Avhat  time  it 
commenced,  or  when  it  ended,  except  as  the  dates  were  afterwards  told 
me,  but  do  remember  it  lasted  a  long  time  and  have  a  vivid  recollec- 
tion of  the  pleasure  we  boys  had  with  our  little  hand  sleds,  sliding 
down  the  hills  and  hitching  on  to  the  sleighs  and  sleds  going  along  the 
streets.  Sometimes  there  would  be  as  many  as  a  dozen  strung  after 
one  sleigh.  Our  little  sleds  were  not  the  fancy  affairs  that  boys  now  get 
from  the  stores,  but  were  made  of  two  boards  about  two  and  a  half  feet 
long  and  seven  or  eight  inches  wide  for  the  runners,  which  tapered  to 
an  angle  of  forty-five  or  fifty  degrees  in  front,  three  or  four  holes  were 


206 

bored  Ihrough  tlit'iii  lor  tlu'  ci'oss  piet-es  wliith  held  tliein  together  and 
a  board  on  top  to  sit  on.  A  rope  or  strap  was  fastened  to  the  front 
cross  piece  and  was  long  enougli  to  go  around  the  upright  or  standard 
of  a  sleigh  or  sled  with  one  end  in  the  boy's  hand  on  his  sled,  so  he 
could  detach  himself  at  pleasnre.  This  was  great  fun  for  us  boys,  but 
a  frreat  annoyance  to  the  young  men  and  women  in  tlieir  sleigh  ridincj 
and  to  lovers  of  fast  trotting  and  pacing  horses  in  their  speeding  up 
and  down  Jclferson  street. 

Dr.  Gershom  Jayne,  Peter  Van  Bergen  and  Gordon  Abrams,  the 
three  most  noted  horsemen  of  the  day,  who  were  annoyed  by  the  boys, 
played  off  on  the  boys  and  finally  broke  up  the  hitching  to  their  sleighs. 
There  were  frequent  snow  falls  that  winter  and  the  next  day  after  a 
six  or  eight  inch  fall  of  light  snow  in  the  night,  they  invited  the  boys 
to  fasten  onto  their  three  sleighs  for  a  ride.  We  were  delighted  at  the 
prospect  of  a  good  ride  and  so  at  the  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Secoml 
streets,  hitched  on  to  tlieir  three  sleighs  and  they  started  north  on 
Second  street  at  a  slow  jog  and  all  went  merry  as  a  marriage  bell 
until  we  got  to  Madison  street,  when  they  turned  east  on  it  and  put 
whips  to  their  horses.  There  having  been  no  travel  on  this  street,  our 
little  sleds  plowed  into  this  snow,  covering  us  completely  with  snov;, 
so  we  could  hardly  see  or  breathe.  All  the  boys  but  two  dropped  out 
by  the  time  they  got  to  Third  street.  Of-  the  two  that  remained,  one 
stuck  as  far  as  J^'ourth  street,  when  he  had  to  give  in.  William  Hern- 
don  was  the  only  one  that  went  through  to  the  starting  place.  After 
that,  if  the  boys  hitched  onto  their  sleighs,  they  would  haul  them  out 
on  the  beaten  track  a  half  mile  or  so  and  then  run  them  out  into  the 
deep  snow  until  the  boys  let  loose  and  leave  them  there  to  walk  back. 

The  long  winter  evenings  were  spent  by  the  kitchen  fires,  cracking 
and  eating  walnuts,  hickory  nuts  and  hazel  nuts,  of  which  every  family 
had  laid  in  an  ample  supply,  from  the  abundant  mart  of  the  adjacent 
woods.  In  our  family  we  added  the  parching  and  roasting  of  popcorn 
and  yellow  corn.  The  latter,  when  well  browned  and  ground  and 
served  in  a  bowl  with  rich,  sweet  milk,  is  a  dish  I  could  enjoy  even 
now.  These  were  the  days  before  the  introduction  of  the  cooking 
stove,  when  the  fireplaces,  as  compared  with  these  of  the  present  day, 
were  huge  affairs.  Our  kitchen  fire  place  was  at  least  six  feet  between 
the  jambs  and  over  two  feet  deep.  The  hearth  extended  past  the  brick 
oven  and  nearly  the  full  width  of  the  kitchen.  Attached  to  the  jarab 
in  the  fireplace  was  the  iron  crane  with  its  hooks  to  hnng  the  pofs  and 
kettles  over  the  fire.  In  this  big  fireplace  were  burned  backlogs  bigger 
than  two  men  could  carry.  They  were  rolled  from  the  wood  pile  to 
the  kitchen  door,  then  slid  and  rolled  to  the  hearth,  the  fire  and  ashis 
raked  forwards,  skids  laid  down  and  with  the  aid  of  hand  spikes,  the 
logs  were  rolled  onto  the  skids  and  fitted  into  their  place  in  the  chim- 
ney, the  ashes  shovelled  to  the  back  and  to  the  ends  of  the  log.  A  back 
stick  a  size  smaller  than  the  log  was  placed  on  top,  and  still  a  smaller 
one  on  top  of  that.  On  the  andirons  was  placed  a  big  fore  stick  and 
the  coals,  brands  and  chunks  piled  on  top  with  plenty  of  small  wood, 
making  such  a  hot  fire  that  we  children  did  not  realize  that  it  was 
more  than  20°  below  zero  out  of  doors.     As  the  fires  burned  down,  the 


207 

liaek  sticks  in  their  order  were  brought  forward  as  fore  stick  and  about 
the  third  day  the  back  stick  became  the  back  or  fore  stick  for  another 
big  backlog.  The  big  kitchen  shovel,  andirons,  crane  and  hook  were 
made  from  bar  iron  by  a  pioneer  blacksmith  for  my  parents  some  ninety 
years  ago  and  are  now  in  the  possession  of  one  of  my  sisters  and  kept 
as  relics  of-  those  early  days. 

M}^  father  was  a  great  lover  of  fine  oxen,  as  Messrs.  Jayne,  Van  Ber- 
gen and  Abrams  were  of  line  horses,  and,  in  ridug  around  the  country, 
whenever  he  saw  a  very  fine,  large  ox  or  steer,  that  for  size,  shape  and 
disposition  took  his  fancy,  he  would  buy  it  and  then  keep  a  sharp  look- 
out and  inquiry  until  he  could  find  a  match;  then  he  would  yoke  them 
together  and  train  them.  In  training  them,  he  never  used  or  would 
suffer  to  be  used  a  big  ox  goad,  nothing  heavier  than  a  light  carriage 
whip  or  a  hazel  switch,  and  they  were  trained  to  be  perfectly  obedient 
to  the  word  of  command.  That  winter  at  the  beginning  of  the  deep 
snow  there  would  hive  been  much  suffering  in  the  town  if  it  had 
not  been  for  my  father's  two  yoke  of  big  oxen.  Not  anticipating  such 
a  storm,  quite  a  number  were  in  a  few  days  out  of  wood.  They  had  no 
sleds  and  horses,  could  not  get  through  the  snow.  So  he  hitched  his 
two  yoke  of  big  oxen  to  his  wood  sled,  and  taking  with  him  Philip  Fow- 
ler, a  carpenter  who  lived  in  the  east  end  of  our  house,  they  plowed 
through  the  snow  to  his  timber,  (now  my  wood  pasture)  cut  and  hauled 
wood  to  those  that  were  out  of  it. 

Often  in  passing  through  the  timber  when  I  was  a  grown  man,  I  could 
not  help  noticing  the  stumps  of  the  trees  then  cut,  many  of  them  were 
higher  than  my  head.  The  wood  was  not  worked  up  into  cord  wood 
lengths  and  size  in  the  timber,  that  was  left  to  be  done  at  home;  but 
cut  in  10,  13  or  14  feet  lengths  as  was  most  convenient,  and  the  logs 
rolled  onto  the  sled  on  skids  by  the  oxen.  The  timber  through  which 
they  had  to  pass  with  the  load  had  been  nearly  all  cut  off,  and  the  stumps 
and  old  logs  were  so  covered  up  in  the  snow,  that  it  was  difficult  to  get 
out  without  running  against  them.  Frequently,  it  was  necessary  to 
hitch  the  oxen  to  the  hind  end  of  the  sled,  and  draw  it  back  from  a 
stump  or  log,  or  something  would  break  in  the  contest,  that  would  have 
to  be  repaired  before  they  could  go  on.  I  remember  once  being  present 
when  the  sled  got  wedged  in  a  patch  of  stumps  and  in  trying  to  get  out, 
one  of  the  oxen  broke  his  bow  and  got  loose  from  the  team.  He  did  not 
make  any  attempt  to  leave,  but  stood  around  quietly  until  ]\Ir.  Fowler 
went  home  and  returned  with  another  bow,  when  without  any  trouble 
he  permitted  the  bow  to  be  placed  around  his  neck  and  to  be  led  to  his 
place  on  the  off-side  of  the  tongue,  the  yoke  put  on  his  neck,  the  bow 
slipped  to  its  place  and  keyed.  These  two  yoke  of  oxen  were  so  large, 
strong  and  well  framed,  that  whenever  they  put  forth  their  united 
strength,  the  load  had  to  move,  or  something  give  way.  They  frequently, 
in  running  against  stumps  or  logs  that  were  hidden  under  the  snow, 
would  break  a  chain  or  a  yoke  or  some  part  of  the  sled,  that  stopped  all 
hauling  until  repairs  could  be  made. 

The  most  sensational  incident  of  that  winter  that  I  call  to  mind,  was 
the  freezing  to  death  on  the  prairie  of  a  man,  when  on  his  way  to  his 


208 

lionie  at  Lick  creek.  He  had  been  in  town  all  day  drinking  very  hard,  and 
at  night  started  to  go  home  along  the  old  St.  Louis  road.  When  he  got 
about  a  couple  of  rods  south  of  Mr.  Master's  cornfield,  (now  the  inter- 
section of  South  Grand  avenue  and  Second  streets)  he  fell  or  was  thrown 
from  his  horse  and  froze  to  death  that  night  in  the  snow.  The  next 
day,  some  people  coming  to  town  discovered  him  and  reported  the  fact^ 
which  created  quite  an  excitement  and  men  in  sleighs,  sleds  and  on  horse- 
back and  others  on  foot,  with  a  crowd  of  boys  hurried  to  the  place.  I 
run  myself  down  by  the  time  I  got  there,  having  run  over  a  mile  through 
the  snow.  Shortly  after.  Dr.  Merryman  arrived.  He  examined  the 
man  and  pronounced  him  dead  and  frozen  past  all  recovery.  In  his  ex- 
amination he  found  a  dirk  on  the  body  which  the  Doctor  pulled  from 
its  sheath  and  showed  to  the  crowd.  The  corpse  was  placed  upon  one  of 
the  sleds,  hauled  back  to  town,  and  that  dav  taken  by  some  of  his  neigh- 
bors to  his  home.  Who  the  man  was  or  what  was  his  name,  I  do  not 
know  now,  if  I  ever  did. 

In  the  first  settlement  of  the  county  there  was  brought  in  (it  is  said 

by  Judge  )  a  breed  of  dogs  called  the  English  bull  dog.     They 

were  not  like  the  little  pug  nosed,  bow-legged,  and  ill  dispositioned  bull 
dog  of  today,  but  large,  powerful,  good  looking,  courageous  and  intelli- 
gent animals,  that  became  very  extensively  used  by  the  farmers  of  this 
and  Madison  counties  as  a  protection  for  their  sheep,  young  animals 
and  poultry,  against  the  night  attacks  of  wolves,  wild  cats,  foxes  and 
other  wild  beasts.  They  were  also  used  in  catching  wild  hogs,  and  by 
hunters  when  after  bears,  panthers,  wild  cats  or  wild  boars.  We  had  one 
of  these  dogs,  we  called  him  TYirk,  and  my  brother  who  was  several 
years  older  than  myself,  rigged  up  a  harness  for  the  dog  and  hitched  him 
to  his  sled,  and  we  had  great  fun  hauling  in  wood  with  him  and  riding 
around  the  lot.  Our  experience  was  not  so  pleasant  when  we  went  with 
him  on  the  street,  for  Turk  was  a  great  fighting  dog,  and  if  he  caught 
sight  of  a  strange  dog,  he  was  apt  to  run  away  and  would  drop  the 
occupant  off  or  drag  him  into  a  dog  fight.  Turk  had  almost  human 
sense,  no  effort  was  ever  made  to  train  him,  but  if  a  stranger  came  upon 
the  premises,  Turk  would  follow  until  he  left,  without  any  display  of 
temper,  unless  the  party  took  hold  of  something,  when  Turk  would 
growl,  and  if  he  attempted  to  carry  it  away,  Turk  would  grab  him  until 
he  dropped  it.  Or  if  a  strange  person  came  to  the  house  and  knocked 
or  helloed,  the  dog  would  stand  peaceably  by  him  until  some  member 
of  the  family  came  to  the  door.  If  no  one  responded  to  tlie  alarm,  and 
the  stranger  turned  and  walked  away,  the  dog  would  not  trouble  him, 
but  if  he  attempted  to  open  the  door  and  go  in,  Turk  quicklv  gave  him 
to  understand  that  he  must  not.  As  the  country  settled  up,  the  use- 
fulness of  these  dogs  diminished,  and  no  care  being  taken  to  preserve  the 
breed,  they  finally  disappeared.  The  last  that  I  remember  seeing  was 
Dr.  Jayne's  dog  Nero. 


<RRr' 


Gustavus  Koerner. 


209 


THE  LATIN  IMMIGEATION   IN  ILLINOIS. 


By  B.  A.  Beinlich. 

German  influence  has  played  a  large  part  in  shaping  the  political, 
social  and  industrial  history  of  Illinois.  Only  within  recent  years  has 
the  importance  of  this  element  become  recognized.  The  historians  of 
the  past  have  either  disregarded  it  entirely,  or  incidentally  mentioned 
it.  I  shall  attempt  to  trace  this  element  which  formed  the  nucleus 
for  German  life  in  the  Mississippi  valley  and  became  a  vital  force  in  the 
development  of  our  State. 

The  coming  of  the  Germans  into  the  west  was  the  result  of  various 
causes,  both  in  America  and  on  the  continent.      I  wish  briefly  to  con-^ 
sider  these  so  as  to  point  out  the  motives  which  actuated  these  people 
to  leave  their  Fatherland  and  build  new  homes  in  a  strange  country. 

By  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  in  1803,  a  dangerous  rival  was  silenced. 
The  great  watercourse,  which  had  been  closed  to  commerce,  now  be- 
came the  chief  highway  for  trade.  To  the  west,  a  vast  stretch  of  virgin 
soil  was  thrown  open  to  settlement.  Illinois  having  been  seriously 
hampered  by  the  proximity  of  a  foreign  nation,  was  now  able  to  enter 
upon  a  new  era.  The  frontier  line  which  had  already  pushed  its  way 
into  Kentucky  and  Indiana  now  burst  forth  into  the  great  expanse, 
where  it  lost  itself.  The  tide  of  emigration  turned  westward.  The 
sturdy  Appalachian  farmer,  who  barely  eked  out  an  existence  upon  the 
rocky  hillsides,  began  life  anew  on  the  fertile  prairies  of  Illinois.  It 
was  not  long  until  accounts  of  this  new  and  wonderful  west  drifted 
across  the  Atlantic  to  inspire  thousands  with  new  hope  and  ambitions. 

In  Europe,  the  Napoleonic  wars  had  laid  waste  a,  large  proportion 
of  the  land,  resulting  in  a  deplorable  economic  condition.  The  tillable 
area  was  inadequate  to  supply  the  densely  populated  cities  with  food. 
Furthermore,  industrial  life  was  passing  through  a  period  of  transi- 
tion. The  laboring  classes,  unable  to  find  employment,  were  constantly 
growing  more  restless.  It  was  evident  to  all  that  the  situation  must 
be  met  soon,  or  war  was  inevitable. 

Every  crisis  calls  forth  men  who  can  lead  the  people  safely  through 
their  dangers.  Such  men  had  guided  the  German  people  in  the  past 
and  were  again  to  direct  their  destiny.  The  thinking  men  ascribed 
the  conditions  to  several  causes.  Some  believed  that  the  lack  of  food 
was  due  to  over-population,  and  maintained  that  the  problem  could  be 

—14  H  S 


210 

solved  only  by  emigration.  Others  traced  the  difficulty  to  the  bad 
method  of  taxation  and  demanded  reforms.  The  greater  number, 
however,  were  convinced  that  there  could  be  no  progress  except  by  a 
broader  national  unity  and  individual  freedom.  Schiller  and  Goethe 
had  installed  into  German  life  higher  ideals  and  a  new  conception  jf 
freedom.  These  had  taken  root  and  were  expressing  themselves  in  all 
classes  of  society.  But  the  greatest  activity  was  manifested  among 
the  student  body  of  the  universities. 

The  winter  of  1831  was  an  eventful  one  for  the  German  nation.  The 
July  revolution  of  183U  in  France  had  rekindled  the  smoldering  fires 
of  German  patriotism  and  freedom.  University  students  sang  the 
Marseillaise  and  wore  caps  bearing  the  colors  of  the  French  revolu- 
tionists. They  posted  bulletins  favorable  to  the  revolution,  and  organ- 
ized societies  in  the  various  provinces  to  promote  German  freedom  and 
a  liberal  constitution.  The  climax  vvas  reached  when  a  festival  was  held 
at  Xeustadt  in  May,  1832,^  to  discuss  plans  for  extending  national 
dignity  and  power.  The  idea  of  such  a  confederation  appealed  to  every 
one.  The  Bavarian  government  becoming  alarmed  issued  an  order  for- 
bidding it.  The  populace  disregarded  the  order  and  40,000  patriotic 
citizens  responded.  Political  speeches  were  delivered  pointing  out  the 
insignificance  of  Germany  in  councils  of  European  nations,  its  depres- 
sion in  trade  and  commerce,  all  owing  to  the  want  of  national  union. 
The  enthusiasm  was  unbounded.  Every  citizen  left  with  a  determina- 
tion to  hasten  reforms,  even  b)^  revolutionary  means,  if  necessary.  The 
government  retaliated  by  restricting  the  freedom  of  the  universities,  free 
speech  and  freedom  of  the  press.  The  more  dangerous  communities  were 
placed  under  strict  military  surveillance.  Here  and  there  the  revolu- 
tionists attempted  to  gain  their  purpose  by  force,  only  to  be  defeated 
and  forced  into  exile.  The  time  had  not  yet  come  when  the  rights  of 
the  people  should  be  vindicated.  Disappointed  in  their  attempt  for 
reform  at  home,  persecuted  by  despotic  power,  and  despairing  of  national 
unity,  they  were  ready  to  leave  their  fatherland  for  a  more  congenial 
environment.     Thus  began  the  Latin  immigration  of  1833. 

For  a  number  of  years  prior  to  the  revolutionary  movement,  there  had 
appeared  a  series  of  articles  in  the  German  papers,-  discussing  the  feasi- 
bility of  creating  a  German  state  either  in  Brazil  or  the  United  States. 
About  the  same  time  there  appeared  Gottfried  Duden's  ^'Kcport  Con- 
cerning a  Journey  to  the  Western  States  of  North  America."  These 
publications  exerted  a  strong  influence  among  all  classes^  of  people  and 
interested  many  who  had  not  thought  of  leaving  their  native  land. 
Duden's  book  became  popular  and  the  first  edition  soon  sold.  Although 
it  was  quite  accurate  in  its  description  of  the  country,  it  was  too  ideal- 
istic. Hilgard,  who  came  to  the  Mississippi  valley  in  1833  with  a  colony, 
states  that  it  was  the  best  account  of  the  West.* 


'Memoirs  Gustave  Komer,  I.,  187. 

'Memoirs  of  Gustave  Komer,  I.,  188.    The  Tribune,  Westland  and  Auslaud. 

^Gobel  Langer  als  ein  Menschenleben,  p.  2. 

'W'estland,  p.  258;  Duden,  p.  52. 


211 

The  Germans  studied  the  geograjahy  of  the  western  country  very  care- 
fully. They  placed  great  confidence  in  the  writings  of  Duden  who  had 
visited  the  country  in  1824,  remaining  three  years.  He  made  a  thorough 
study  of  the  climatic  conditions,  soils,  and  commercial  facilities.  In 
his  report  he  favored  Missouri  rather  than  Illinois.  To  him  the  prairies 
did  not  appear  productive  and  the  water  contained  too  large  a  percentage 
of  iron  and  sulphur.  'J^he  absence  of  trees  was  sufficient  proof  of  the 
infertility  of  the  soil.  The  merchants^  whom  he  met  intended  to  remain 
l)ut  temporarily.  He  also  heard  many  stories  concerning  the  malarial 
and  typhoid  diseases  that  prevailed  in  the  low-lying  river  bottoms.  The 
prairies  too  he  thought  were  unhealthful  from  the  presence  of  stagnant 
ponds.  He  notes  that  the  Hanover  Colony,  which  laid  the  foundation 
of  Vandalia  in  1820,-  was  considerably  reduced  on  account  of  its 
unhealthfulness.  These  facts  he  considered  as  conclusive  in  favor  of 
settlement  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  question  of  greatest  concern,  however,  to  the  German  was  the 
social  and  political  situation  in  America.  He  was  anxious  to  preserve 
the  educational  welfare  of  his  youth.  Those  who  had  opposed  emigra- 
tion pointed  out  that  on  the  frontier  there  were  no  schools  or  colleges. 
But  such  an  argument  had  no  weight  with  the  thoughtful.  If  there 
were  no  schools  or  newspapers  they  were  able  to  organize  them.^ 

American  politics  presented  a  new  problem  to  the  foreigners.  They 
looked  askance  at  the  existence  of  two  political  parties  and  doubted  the 
permanency  of  such  a  government.  What  appealed  to  them  most  was 
the  freedom  of  the  citizen.  For  such  a  principle  they  had  struggled. 
They  were  ready  to  affiliate  with  that  party  which  stood  for  the  highest 
ideals  of  democracy.  They  regi'etted  the  existence  of  slavery,  and  refused 
to  settle  upon  slave  soil.  Duden*  had  expressed  some  ideas  in  favor 
of  slavery,  but  very  few  accepted  them.  He  stated  that  since  white 
labor  was  scarce,  it  became  necessary  to  keep  slaves.  Koerner  on  the 
other  hand  urged  all  free  spirited  fellow  countrymen  to  settle  upon  free 
soil.  The  social  problem  had  to  be  solved  after  their  settlement  in  the 
West,  for  they  had  no  guide  to  American  frontier  life. 

From  1815  to  1831  several  organizations  were  promoted  in  Germany 
whose  object  was  to  encourage  immigration.  Among  them  the  Berlin 
Company^  and  the  Geisgener  Company**  were  the  most  prominent.  The 
original  notion  was  to  establish  German  states  in  Arkansas  and  Kansas. 
The  latter  company  had  resulted  from  the  newspaper  agitation  early  in 
the  ninete'enth  century.  It  proposed  to  purchase  a  large  tract  of  land 
and  parcel  it  out  in  fifty  acre  lots  to  each  member.  D^^ring  the  first 
year  a  communistic  form  of  government  was  to  exist.  The  houses  were 
to  be  built  by  the  organization  and  later  could  be  purchased  by  the  owner 
of  the  land.^     Such  a  plan  appealed  to  all  classes  and  many  applied  for 


'Duden,  p.  55. 

=Komer,  Des  Deutsche  Element,  p.  245. 

^Westland,  p.  125. 

'Duden,  p.  160. 

=Der  Deutsche  Pioneer,  V.  3,  p.  210  211. 

«Ibid,  p.  211. 

'Gobel,  p.  9. 


212 

membership.  There  were  men,  however,  farsighted  enough  to  protest 
against  such  idealism.  Previous  attempts  had  proved  that  no  Utopian 
S3'stem  could  liourish  upon  American  soil. 

In  1834  tlic  company  began  active  operations  for  departure.  They 
decided  to  go  in  two  divisions,  one  by  way  of  New  Orleans,  the  other  to 
Baltimore.  Of  the  first  group  a  considerable  number  died  of  small-pox, 
yellow  fever  and  cholera.  When  they  reached  St.  Louis  they  gave  up 
all  plans  for  going  farther  west.  A  few  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
city  and  the  remainder  settled  in  St,  Clair  county,  Illinois.  The  second 
group  had  withdrawn  from  the  organization  while  still  at  sea,  and  on 
their  arrival  decided  to  build  their  homes  in  Illinois.  The  Berlin  Com- 
pany^ had  arrived  in  1832,  and  most  of  its  members  came  to  St.  Clair 
county. 

When  the  Germans  began  to  settle  in  Illinois  in  1802,  they  foimd 
the  American  bottoms  occupied  by  the  French,  who  had  settlements  at 

Cahokia-  and  Kaskaskin.     Smaller  groups  were  found  at  creek 

and  Prairie  du  Pont.^  On  the  higher  areas  to  the  eastward  were  Vir- 
ginians. The  states  of  Georgia,  South  Carolina  and  Kentucky  were 
also  represented.  The  poorer  sections  were  taken  up  by  Tennesseans, 
and  North  Carolinans.  Here  and  there  were  a  few  well-to-do  Pennsyl- 
vania Germans. 

The  earlier  Germans  had  come  from  the  lower  social  class,  but  never- 
theless represented  a  higher  educational  standard  than  those  from  similar 
stations  of  life  in  England  or  France.  Many  of  them  had  been  driven 
from  their  native  land  because  of  religious  views.  Others  found  their 
country  unsafe  because  of  political  disorders.  There  were  those,  too,  who 
had  served  in  the  Hessian  army  during  the  American  revolution.  When 
their  term  of  enlistment  expired  they  refused  to  serve  any  longer  in 
a  cause  they  believed  was  wrong.  It  was  not  unusual  for  these  men  to 
take  the  risk  of  desertion  and  escape  to  the  West  to  enter  the  service 
of  trading  companies. 

Illinois  had  no  large  commercial  center  in  1833.  Kaskaskia,  which 
at  one  time  had  been  the  social,  political  and  commercial  center,  was 
now  decadent.  For  this  reason  we  find  the  earliest  German  settlements 
in  the  counties  adjoining  St.  Louis.  Not  until  Chicago  had  grown  to 
some  size  do  we  find  German  colonies  in  the  northern  counties.  By 
1831  the  following  settlements  had  been  made  in  Illinois:  Dutch 
Hollow,  1802;*  Dutch  Hill,^  1815;  Vandalia,  1820 ;«  Turkey  Hill  and 
Looking  Glass  Prairie,"  1831.'^ 

Most  of  the  "Latenier"  settled  in  Shiloh  valley  near  Belleville;  some 
joined  the  Swiss  colony  at  Turkey  Hill,  while  others  settled  upon  the 
bluffs  along  the  Mississippi.^ 


'Goebel,  p.  7. 

=Der  Deutsche  Pioneer,  V.  1,  p.  113. 

^Der  Deutsche  Pioneer,  V.  1,  p.  113. 

* Der  Deutsche  Pioneer,  V.  13,  p.  108. 

"Ibid,  p.  340. 

"K'^mer,  p.  371,  V.  1. 

■^Ibid,  V.  2,  p.  222. 

"Der  Deutsche  Pioneer,  V.  13,  p.,  20. 


213 

Here  they  began  a  life  far  different  from  their  environment  in 
European  cities.  Their  first  efforts  were  directed  to  make  their 
surroundings  resemble  their  former  home  life  as  far  as  possible.  The 
dog  house  of  the  pioneer  was  unattractive  to  them.  They  wanted  new 
houses  with  cellars  such  as  they  had  been  accustomed  to.  The  front 
yard  must  have  its  flower  bed,  while  the  vegetable  garden  was  a  secondary 
matter.     A  contemporary  described  them  thus:^ 

'■'These  men  who  paved  the  way  into  the  fruitful  valleys  of  the  West, 
who  seemingly  had  exchanged  a  poor  acre  for  a  better  one  were  not 
farmers — at  the  most,  beginners;  but  men  who  belonged  to  the  cultured 
and  scholarly  classes  of  Germany  now  desired  to  escape  the  narrow 
conventionalities  of  city  life,  to  wash  off  the  school  dust  in  the  fresh 
dew  of  the  virgin  forests,  and  to  drink  new  life  at  the  fountain  of 
nature.  There  were  women  who,  no  doubt,  had  served  at  the  tea  table 
but  never  thought  of  the  pains  of  strenuous  labor.  Youths  who  had 
guided  the  pen  and  swung  the  sword  but  never  the  ax." 

Such  culture  contrasted  sharply  with  the  simple  frontier  life  of  the 
Americans.  It  was  only  natviral  that  the  latter  looked  upon  the  new 
comers  with  curiosity.  However,  the  Germans  soon  became  accustomed 
to  their  new  environment  and  forgot  conventionality.  Born  amidst 
wealth  and  aristocracy  they  found  it  necessary  to  assume  a  new  social 
standard  in  harmony  with  the  new  conditions.  It  must  be  said  to  their 
credit  that  they  did  not  become  exclusive.  It  was  an  easier  process  for 
them  to  adopt  western  civilization  and  gradually  elevate  the  ideals  of 
western  life.  Although  they  were  a  product  of  the  revolutionary  spirit 
of  1830  and  often  had  gone  astray  in  their  demands,  the  larger  portion 
exerted  an  unconscious  influence  upon  the  community  and  strengthened 
the  democratic  spirit  of  the  West. 

These  "Latenier"  formed  the  basis  for  German  life  and  power.  This 
group  of  young,  energetic,  cultured  men  with  their  diverse  ambitions 
was  not  long  in  making  itself  felt  in  farming,  commerce,  journalism  and 
trade.  They  were  soon  mingling  with  their  American  neighbors  and 
emphasizing  every  phase  of  public  welfare. 

They  were  much  concerned  about  the  education  of  their  children. 
During  the  first  winter  a  school  house  was  erected  and  Koerner  appointed 
as  schoolmaster.  In  journalism  they  took  an  active  part.  By  1847, 
they  had  organized  several  prominent  newspapers.^  Koerner  wrote  a  legal 
treatise  in  German  "Auszug  aus  der  Gesetzen  des  Staats  Illinois."  It 
served  to  acquaint  the  new  citizens  with  the  laws  of  our  State.  Hilgard 
contributed  articles  to  the  "American  Journal  of  Science,"  on  geology 
and  chemistry.  Several  of  these  Germans  became  leaders  in  State  and 
national  affairs.  Gustav  Koerner  was  perhaps  the  most  prominent.  He 
was  chosen  lieutenant  governor  of  this  State  and  in  1860  was  one  of 
the  seven  who  drew  up  the  platforms  of  the  republican  party.     It  was 


^Auzeiger  des  Westens,  Jan.  26,  1836. 

=Des  Deutsche  Element,  p.  277;  Freiheitsbote  fur  Illinois,  1840;  Adler  Des  Westens,  Springfield,  1844; 
Stern  des  Westens,  1845;  Chicago  Volksfreund,  1845;  Illmois  Staatszeitung,  1847. 


214 

Koerner  who  labored  most  inteusel}'  for  the  candidacy  of  Lincoln  before 
the  convention.  A  few  years  later  he  served  as  American  diplomat  in 
Spain  and  France. 

Shiloh  valley  became  known  as  the  Latin  settlement  on  account  of 
the  educational  standard  of  its  people.  No  one  seems  to  know  how  the 
term  originated.  It  was  nothing  unusual  for  people  of  their  class  to 
liave  a  knowledge  of  Latin.  It  is  very  probable  that  this  term  came  to 
be  applied  by  those  who  visited  the  colony  and  were  impressed  by  the 
classical  training  of  the  people. 


PART  IV. 


Documents. 


217 


EXTRACTS   FEOM  THE   RECORDS   OF   THE  JACKSON" 
COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS'  COURT. 


Contributed  by  G.  J.  Koons. 

Most  of  the  early  records  of  Jackson  county  were  destroyed  when 
the  court  house  at  Brownsville^  was  burned,  January  10,  1843.  A  few 
books,  however,  are  known  to  have  escaped  the  flames.  Two  of  these 
books  are  the  record  books  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  and 
are  now  in  the  office  of  the  county  clerk  in  Murphysboro.  One  of  the 
books  begins  on  September  1,  1823,  and  records  the  proceedings  of  the 
court  to  December  2,  1834.  The  other  book  continues  the  record  from 
the  latter  date.  These  books  contain  a  considerable  amount  of  his- 
torical material  of  both  local  and  general  interest. 

The  earliest  entry  is  as  follows: 

"At  a  term  of  the  Jackson  County  Commissioners  Court  begun  and 
holden  in  and  for  said  County  at  Brownsville  on  the  first  Monday  of 
September  being  the  first  day  of  said  month  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-three. 

"Present — Hons.  J.  Byars,  J.  Harreld,  B.  P.  Conners,  Esqs." 

The  court  was  in  session  two  days,  September  1  and  2.  Constables 
were  appointed;  and  also  twenty-four  Traverse  jurors  and  twenty-four 
Grand  jurors  for  the  March  term  of  the  circuit  court.  Among  the 
names  of  the  Grand  jurors  appointed  are  found  those  of  Conrad  Will,^ 
Joseph  Duncan,^  Matthew  Duncan*  and  William  Boon.^  The  account 
of  Samuel  L.  Burton,  clerk  of  the  court,  for  $20.75  was  allowed. 
Supervisors  of  highways  were  appointed  at  this  session.  Taxes  on 
ferries  were  levied  as  follows : 

"Ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  tax  upon  ferries  in  said  County  for 
the  year  ending  Dec.  1,  1823,  be  as  follows:  John  Ankeny  seven  dol- 
lars, William  Gill  four  dollars,  James  Gill  five  dollars,  Matthew 
Duncan  five  dollars,  Singleton  H.  Kimmel  three  dollars." 

The  County  Commissioners  issued  licenses  for  keeping  taverns  and 
for  the  retailing  of  spiritous  liquors  as  is  shown  by  the  following: 

"J.oseph  Duncan  presents  his  petition  praying  for  license  to  keep  a 
house  of  public  entertainment  and  retail  spiritous  liquor?  at  his  resi- 
dence in  said  County — Ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  prayer  of  said 
petition  be  granted  upon  said  Duncan's  paying  six  dollars  for  the  use 
of  the  County  and  the  usual  fees  to  the  Clerk." 

The  Commissioners  allowed  themselves  five  dollars  for  two  days' 
services  as  "judges  of  the  Court."  On  March  1,  1824,  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing entry : 


218 


'H 


"Ordered  by  the  Court,  that  the  following  charges  be  allowed  to  be 
charged  at  the  ferry  over  the  Big  Muddy  at  Brownsville — for  a  Cart 
and  one  horse,  twenty-five  cents,  Cart  and  two  beasts  twenty-five  cents — 
for  a  led  beast  six  and  a  fourth  cents." 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  Governor  Coles,  in  a  letter  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  says  that  "Illinois  has  no  poor,"  we  find 
provision  made  for  this  class  by  the  commissioners  and  occasional  ap- 
propriations for  their  relief. 

"Ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  following  persons  be  and  hereby  are 
appointed  overseers  of  the  poor  for  the  following  townships  for  the 
year  ensuing,  for  Gognia  township  Daniel  Bilderback  and  I^aphua 
Brooks,  for  Saline  township  Conrad  Will  and  John  Ankeny — for  Boaii- 
coup  township  James  Hall  Jun.  J.  G.  Butcher,  for  Muddy  township 
Hezekiah  Davis  Senior  and  Edward.  Swartz." 

"Ordered  by  the  court  that  the  following  persons  be  and  hereby  are 
appointed  auditors  of  the  accounts  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor  for 
the  year  last  past — for  Gognia  township  Isaac  Glenn  and  Absalom 
Hinnison,  for  Saline  township  William  Boon  and  Thomas  Hadley — 
for  Beaucoup  township  Elijah  Wells  and  William  Throop,  for  Muddy 
township,  John  Glenn  and  Samuel  Smith.'" 

On  March  7,  1825,  we  find  : 

"Ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  following  articles  of  Property  be 
taxed  in  addition  to  what  is  taxed  by  the  State  for  the  year  1825,  tn- 
wit  Horses  cattle  distilleries  &  Pleasure  Carriages  to  be  taxed  at  one-half 
per  Centum." 

A  similar  entry  on  March  4,  1828,  reads: 

"It  appearing  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Court  that  the  taxes  on  Lands 
are  not  sufficient  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  county  therefore  it  is 
ordered  by  the  Court  that  a  tax  of  one  half  per  cent  be  Levied  on  the 
following  articles  of  Property  for  the  present  year  to- wit,  town  lots 
in  Brownsville  and  out  lots  within  the  bounds  of  the  Corporation  of  said 
town  on  Slaves  indentured  or  Eegistered  negro  or  mulatto  servants 
on  pleasure  carriages  on  Distilleries  on  Stock  in  trade  on  all  horses 
mares  mules  asses  and  neat  cattle  above  three  years  of  age  and  on 
watches  and  their  appendages  and  on  Clocks." 

March  8,  1825,  we  find : 

"Ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  following  be  the  rates  which  tavern 
keepers  are  alloM^ed  to  Charge  for  the  year  following  to-wit 

For  keeping  a  horse  one  night  on  grain  and  hay  or  grain  and  fodder.  .$0.37i4 

For  keeping  horse  day  and  night 0.50 

Horse  feed  per  gallon  Corn  or  Oats 0.12i^ 

Breakfast  dinner  or  Supper 0.25 

Lodging  0.1214 

French  Brandy  and  Wine  and  Rum  per  half  pint 0.25 

Apple  or  Peach  Brandy  or  Cherry  Bounce  (?)  per  half  pt 0.12^^ 

Whiskey  per  half  pint  0.l2i4 

Cider  per  quart    > 0.121/^ 

Cideir    (?)    Oil    per  quart 0.18% 

Conrad  Will  and  Joseph  Duncan  were  both  active  in  securing  the 
passage  of  the  free  school  law  of  1825.  At  the  session  of  the  County 
Commissioners'  Court  June  G,  1825,  the  Brn^vnsville  and  the  Big  Hill 


219 

school  districts  were  established.  Conrad  Will  was  a  resident  of  the 
Brownsville  district  and  Joseph  Duncan  of  the  Big  Hill  district.  The 
act  of  the  commis-sioners  establishing  the  Brownsville  district,  is  given 
here  : 

"Jesse  Griggs''  and  others  to  the  number  of  seventeen  legal  voters, 
residing  in  and  about  Brownsville  Presented  their  petition  to  the  Court 
praying  that  a  School  district  be  laid  off  agreeably  to  an  act  entitled, 
an  'Act  providing  for  the  Establishment  of  free  schools,'  to  be  called 
the  Brownsville  School  district  to  be  bounded  as  follows  to-wit  be- 
ginning at  the  mouth  of  Kinkade  Creek  thence  up  said  Creek  and  Little 
Kinkaid  Creek  to  the  South  West  Corner  of  Section  10  town  8  S. 
Eange  three  West,  thence  East  on  the  lines  dividing  section  three  and  15 
11  and  14  and  12  and  13  to  the  line  between  Eange  two  and  three  West 
thence  South  on  said  township  line  to  the  S.  E'.  Corner  of  said  township 
thence  South  to  Muddy  Eiver  thence  up  said  Eiver  to  the  line  dividing 
section  8  and  9  town  9  S  Eange  2  West  thence  south  between  sections 
17  and  16,  20  and  21  and  29  and  28  to  the  S.  E.  Corner  of  said  section 
29  in  said  township  thence  due  west  to  Muddy  river  thence  up  said 
Eiver  to  the  place  of  beginning.  And  it  appearing  to  the  satisfaction 
of  said  Court  that  the  said  petitioners  were  a  majority  of  legal  voters 
contained  within  the  said  Bonds  and  that  the  said  boundary  contained 
fifteen  families  and  up  were  (?)  as  (?)  therefore  ordered  by  the  Court 
that  the  said  petition  be  granted  and  the  said  District  is  established 
accordingly." 

Most  of  the  remaining  entries  are  of  only  local  interest.  Thay 
might,  however,  contain  material  of  considerable  interest  to  one  who 
is  investigating  the  early  County  Commissioners'   Courts  of  the  State. 


APPENDIX. 


All  these  notes  are  references  to  statements  made  on  page  217,  except  notes  6  and  7,  which  are 
references  to  pages  21 8  and  2  9. 

N.  1.  (p.  217).  Brownsville.  See  Transactions  of  111.  State  Hist.  Society,  190.5,  p.  .355.  Thereare,  how- 
ever several  inaccuracies  in  this  account.  Brownsville  was  located  on  Conrad  Will's  land  instead  of  Jesse 
Grigg's  as  stated  by  Dr.  Snyder.  In  book  D,  p.  543  of  the  restored  Jackson  County  records  in  the  Circuit 
Clerk's  office  is  recorded  a  deed  dated  June  11, 1816  by  which  Conrad  Will  and  Susamia  his  wife  convey 
twenty  acres  located  in  the  S.  E.  }of  Section  2,  Town  9  South,  Range  3  west  to  Jesse  Griggs,  Nathan  Davis, 
and  James  Hall,  Judges  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court.  It  thus  appears  that  Dr.  Snyder  is  in  eiTor 
as  to  who  constituted  the  first  County  Commissioners'  Court  of  Jackson  Comity.  See  also  Territorial 
Records,  p.  40. 

N.  2.  (p.  217).  Conrad  Will.  For  sketch  see  Trans.  111.  State  Hist.  Society,  1905,  pp.  351-377.  He 
leased  the  saline  lands  from  the  government,  and  bought  the  quarter  section  on  which  Brownsville  was 
located  from  James  Gilbreath  of  Kaskaskia.  This  quarter  section  on  which  Brownsville  was  located 
adjoined  on  the  west  the  one  in  which  the  salt  well  was  located.  According  to  the  original  entry  book  in 
the  Circuit  Clerk's  office  the  only  land  in  the  County  entered  by  him  was  the  S.  W.  \  of  Section  5,  Town 
9  South,  Range  1  west.    111.  Hist.  Collections,  Vol.  IV,  p.  38. 

N.  3.  (p.  217).  Joseph  Duncan,  fifth  Governor  of  Illinois.  Lived  at  Fountain  Bluff  while  in  Jackson 
County.  According  to  the  original  entry  book  J.  &  M.  Duncan  on  May  27, 1817  entered  the  fractional  W  J 
of  Sec.  36,  Town  9  south,  Range  4  west,  consisting  of  209.99  acres.  Several  other  entries  were  made  later. 
He  went  to  Jacksonville  to  live  in  1830.  111.  Hist.  Collections,  Vol.  IV,  p.  131.  Biographical  sketch  in 
Fergus  Historical  Series. 

N.  4.  (p.  217).  Matthew  Duncan.  See  Illinois  Historical  Collections,  Vol.  IV,  p.  61.  Life  of  Joseph 
Duncan  in  Fergus  Historical  Series  p.  8. 

N.  5.  (p.  217).  William  Boon.  Appointed  Capt.  in  First  Regiment  of  Militia,  Jime  30,  1810,  also  on 
same  date  given  commission  to  administer  oaths  to  persons  appointed  to  territorial  offices  in  Randolph 
County;  Capt.  May  6, 1813;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Jackson  County,  Mar.  25, 1816;  was  state  Senator  in  second 
General  Assembly. 

N.  6.  (p.  21S).  "James  Hall,  Jr.  One  of  fu-st  three  judges  of  Jackson  County  Commissioners'  Court. 
Delegate  to  First  Constitutional  Convention. 

Note  7,  on  p.  219.  Jesse  Griggs.  May  6,  1809  appointed  Lieut,  in  Randolph  County  Militia;  Jan.  2, 
1810,  Lieut,  in  Randolph  County  Militia;  Aug.  26,  1810,  Lieut,  in  Second  Battalion  of  1st  Regiment  of 
Militia:  Feb.  15,  1811,  Capt.  of  1st  Regiment  of  Militia:  Dec.  2,  1812,  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Johnson 
County;  Feb.  8, 1813,  Judge  of  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Johnson  Coimty ;  Dec.  24, 1814,  Judge  of  County 
Court  of  Johnson  County;  Jan.  17, 1816,  Judge  of  County  Court  of  Jackson  County:  Feb.  28, 1818  Justice 
for  Jackson  County;  Member  of  House  of  Representatives  of  first  General  Assembly  which  met  Oct. 
5, 1818. 


220 


THE  DIAKY  OF  EDWAKD  W.  CRIPPIN,  PRIVATE  27TH  ILLI- 
NOIS VOLUNTEERS,  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION,  AUGUST 
7,  1861,  TO  SEPTEMBER  19,  1863. 


Edited,  with  Introduction  and  Notes,  by  Robert  J.  Kerner. 


Introduction. 

The  27th  Illinois  Volunteers  of  the  Civil  War  have  a  contemporary 
historian  in  the  person  of  Edward  W,  Crippin,  a  member  of  Company 
C.^  The  book  in  which  he  wrote  is  a  large-sized  leather-covered  note 
book,  and  exhibits  the  handwriting  of  more  than  one  person,  but  there 
is  no  doubt  that  it  is  a  genuine  diary  of  this  regiment,  and  that  the 
greater  part  of  the  writing  was  done  by  Crippin.,^  It  is  a  simple  nara- 
tive  of  the  movements  of  the  regiment,  containing  such  observations  on 
the  daily  life  of  a  soldier  as  may  be  expected  from  a  country  youth,  who 
had  offered  to  serve  his  country.  The  27th  regiment  was  raised  for  the 
most  part  in  the  middle  western  counties  of  the  State,  and  was  mustered 
into  service  at  Camp  Butler,.  Sangamon  county,  in  the  month  of  August, 
1861.  Among  its  officers  were  N.  B.  Buford,  graduate  of  West  Point, 
Colonel  of  the  regiment  and  later  Brigadier  and  Major  General;  F.  A. 
Harrington,  Lieutenant  Colonel;  W.  A.  Schmitt,  Captain  of  Company 
A ;  and  J.  R.  Miles,  Captain  of  Company  F  and  later  Colonel  of  the 
regiment.^ 


'  The  following  certificate  secured  from  tlie  Adj  utant  General's  office  indicates  some  variation  in  spelling 
but  seems  to  confirm  the  authenticity  of  the  record: 

UxiTED  States  of  America, 
State  of  Illinois,  Adjutant  General's  Office, 

Springfield,  June  13,  1910. 
It  is  Hereby  Certified,  That  it  appears  from  the  Records  of  this  Office,  that  Edward  W.  Griffin,  Enlisted 
on  the  3rd  day  of  August,  1S61,  at  Perry,  Illinois,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States 
as  a  Corpora^  in  Company  C,  27th  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  the  period  of  Three  years, 
on  the  16th  day  of  August,  1S61. 

Age,  25:    Height,  5  ft.  10  in.:  Hair,  Black:  Eyes,  Black:  Complexion,  Dark:   Occupation,  Farmer: 
Native,  Zanesville,  Ohio. 
Promoted  Color  Sergeant,  May  5, 1S63. 

Died  in  Hospital  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  December  24, 1863  of  wounds  received  in  battle,  Mission 
Ridge  November  2.5,  1863. 
"  Name  appears  on  original  Muster  Out  Roll  C,  27th  Reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.  as  Edward  W.  Crippen." 
His  residence  at  date  of  enlistment  is  stated  as  Perry,  Pike  County,  Illinois. 
This  Certificate  is  issued  at  the  request  of  Robert  J.  Kerner,  Champaign,  Illinois. 

Frank  S.  Dickson, 

The  Adjutant  General  of  Illinois. 
Chief  of  Staff.    " S." 
-The  handwriting  in  the  diary  changes  in  all  seven  times.    The  footnotes  give  the  exact  place  of  the 
changes.    The  original  is  in  the  library'  of  the  University  of  Illinois. 
^See  the  Diary  passim.  Eddy,  Patriotism  of  Illinois,  II.,  p.  53. 


221 

Crippin  turned  to  the  keeping  of  a  diary  to  pass  away  the  dull  moments 
of  camp  life.  In  this  and  in  the  way  in  which  he  uses  his  unschooled 
English,  especially  in  the  description  of  a  battle,  he  shows  that  he  was 
more  than  an  ordinary  private.  Up  to  the  time  of  the  regiment's  arrival 
in  Cairo,  his  insertions  merely  record  the  routine  of  camp  construction 
and  guard,  camp  sickness,  and  the  arrival  of  various  companies  with 
their  officers.  The  regiment  reluctantly  obeyed  the  order  to  leave  camp 
for  Cairo,  which  Crippin  calls  "one  of  the  most  unhealthy  spots  in  the 
U.  S."  They  are  resigned  to  their  fate  with  the  observation  that  they 
will  undergo  "anything  to  save  our  Union  Our  beloved  country  let  it 
be  what  it  will."^  They  remain  at  Cairo  for  more  than  two  months, 
taking  care  of  the  camp,  dressparading,  and  gossiping  over  rumors  of  the 
defeats  and  successes  of  the  Northern  Armies.  The  desertions  of  com- 
rades and  the  behavior  of  some  under  the  influence  of  liquor  seem  to 
have  made  an  impression  upon  the  private.  There  is  some  talk  of  taking 
down  from  his  high  seat  "h.h  majesty,  the  Colonel."  But  this  the  adroit 
Colonel  brings  to  an  end  by  ordering  the  arrest  of  the  arch  conspirators 
and  petitioners,  and  then  exacting  peace  by  allowing  them  to  go  free.^ 

Finally,  on  Kovember  6,  the  scene  is  shifted.  The  27th  regiment, 
among  others,  embarked  for  a  demonstration  against  Columbus,  Ken- 
tucky. In  the  course  of  this  manoeuver,  the  battle  of  Belmont  took 
place.  The  27th  Illinois  played  a  conspicuous  part  in  this  engagement, 
and  Crippin's  description  of  it  is  particularly  forcible.  "All  over  the 
Battlefield  they  lay  in  close  proximity  to  each  other.  Some  torn  asunder 
by  cannon  balls,  some  with  frightful  wounds  here  and  there  in  different 
parts  of  the  body.  Some  were  killed  outright  with  musket  balls  through 
the  temples  or  forehead,  others  with  limbs  torn  off  suffering  the  most 
torturing  agonies  t'was  a  most  horrible  sight  to  contemplate."^  It  was 
here  that  the  27th,  led  by  Colonel  Buford,  made  a  clever  retreat  around 
a  bayou  and  outwitted  the  enemy.  The  regiment  then  returned  to  Cairo. 
It  did  not  leave  again  until  March  4,  when  it  embarked  for  nearly  two 
months  of  service  on  boat  and  in  field.  It  took  part  in  the  occupation  of 
Columbus,  Kentucky,  and  it  entered  Hickman,  "keeping  step  to  the  soul 
stirring  notes  of  Yankee  Doodle  &  l)ixies  land."*  The  regiment  was 
then  put  on  duty  on  the  Mississippi  river  where  it  took  part  in  the  oper- 
ations in  the  neighborhood  of  Island  ISTumber  10.  The  regiment  finally 
entered  field  duty  near  Corinth,  Mississippi,  about  the  last  of  April, 
1862.  The  Battle  of  Farmington,  in  which  our  diarist  took  part  is  like- 
wise vividly  described.  In  part  he  writes :  "Our  line  [of]  Battle  is 
perfect  and  lying  low  to  escape  the  fire  on  our  right — [we]  cooly  await 
the  approaching  foe.  But  have  not  long  to  wait,  their  banners  &  then 
their  head  finally  they  can  all  be  seen  advancing  to  the  brow  of  the 
hill  opposite — distant  about  250  j^ards.  Our  men  are  eager  now  &  im- 
patient for  the  order  fire.  A  new  feature  is  now  added  to  the  scene 
before  us.  Galloping  rapidly  to  the  front  and  unlimbering  a  battery  of 
six  pieces  of  artillery  turn  their  mouths  full  upon  us,  this  all  done  before 


'Diary,  Aug.  28, 1861. 

=Diary,  OctoberSl,  November  2, 3,  5, 1861,  and  footnote. 

'Diary,Nov.  7, 1861. 

-Diary,  Mar.  14, 1862. 


222 

our  eyes  without  a  single  order  to  fire — by  which  we  might  have  pre- 
vented such  a  movement — was  too  puch  for  human  nature  to  bear  .... 
A  few  men  in  Co.B  and  private  Knip  in  our  comp.  impelled  by  the  idea 
that  they  can  see  just  as  well  a  little  farther  back — attempt  to  tly  but 
are  prevented  by  the  officers  and  file  closers.  But  Joel  Knip  is  so  de- 
termined in  his  resolution  that  he  does  not  alter  it — Capt.  Allen  jumps 
before  him  witli  drawn  sword  threatens  to  run  liim  through  unless  he 
returns  to  his  post."^ 

The  regiment  spent  the  summer  of  1862  guarding,  picking  berries, 
foraging,  and  lolling  around  Camp  Big  Springs  and  luka,  Mississippi. 
A  curious  episode  happened  while  they  were  foraging.  The  diarist  can 
tell  the  story  best.  "Wednesday  we  went  up  into  the  mountains  after 
a  team  it  belonged  to  a  widow  woman  it  was  all  the  team  she  had  the 
lieutenant  put  it  to  vote  whether  we  should  take  it  or  not  we  voted  not 
to  take  it  she  came  out  and  thanked  us."^  Early  in  September,  the  27th 
marched  north  after  General  Bragg.  160  miles  in  seven  and  one-half 
days,  in  the  direction  of  Nashville.  In  this  neighborhood  it  was  quar- 
tered on  guard  duty  on  half  rations  for  two  months  until  released  by  the 
arrival  of  General  Rosecrans  early  in  N^ovember.  Immediately  after- 
ward, the  regiment  was  sent  out  on  the  march  and  encountered  chiefly 
southern  guerrila  east  of  Nashville.  The  27th  Illinois  particularly  dis- 
tinguished itself  in  the  Stone  Eiver  Campaign."  The  description  in  the 
diary  is  ver\^  good.  Xo  enemy  could  be  seen  "till  about  4  0  CloCk  in 
the  Eavning  when  tha  Come  out  of  the  timber  Making  a  Charge  on  the 
left  causing  our  Men  to  fall  baCk  and  Meny  of  them  run  into  Stones 
Eiver  that  tha  had  Cresed  during  that  afternoon  thoe  General  rusan 
reCeived  them  with  rather  a  warm  reCeption  for  he  porde  a  districtive 
fire  of  grape  and  Canistor  a  moung  ther  ranks  piling  Sevral  hundred  of 
them  a  pon  the  field  the  balanCe  fled  in  Confusion  Our  Men  Making  a 
bayonet  Charge  a  pon  them  taking  Sevral  hundred  prisoners  and  the 
Shades  of  night  closed  over  a  Sean  that  will  long  bee  rembered  by  evry 
loyal  person."* 

Here,  also,  on  the  22nd  of  Februarv,  Washincrfon's  Birthday,  wn- 
celebrated.  "A  Salute  is  fired  by  one  battery  of  each  Division  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  in  honor  of  that  Cfreat,  truely  man.  An  order, 
relative  to  this  gallant  Soldier,  and  true  Patriot  and  glorious  deeds 
during  the  Eevolutionary  war,  is  read  on  dress  parade  this  evening 
and  it  not  without  efl^er-t.  Eosecrans  Stands  nearly  as  high  in  the  e— 
timation  of  Army  of  the  Cumberland  as  Washington  of  his  army."  ^ 
'J'he  winter  was  sj^ent  in  the  vicinity  of  Stone  river. 

Late  in  spring,  1863,  the  27th  Illinois  regiment  moved  eastward 
with  the  whole  army  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  Chickamausra  Cam- 
paign.     After  a  lively  description  of  several  engagements  in  this  cam- 


'Diary,  May9, 1862. 

-Diary,  Sept.  3, 1862. 

'See  War  Records,  Series  I,  Vol.  XX,  pp.  176, 209, 227, 269-271  and  especially  p.  256. 

*  Diary,  Jan.  2, 1863. 

'^^Diarv,  Feh.  22, 1863. 


223 

paigii,  the  dairy  comes  to  an  end  September  19,  1863.  The  regiment 
further  took  part  in  the  l)att]es  of  the  Atlanta  Campaign  and  was  mus- 
tered out  of  service  in  August,  1865." 

The   records    in   the   Adjutant    General's   office   at   Springfield    show 
that  Crippin   (Crippin?    Criffin?)    died  December  24,  1863,  of  wounds 
received  in  battle.  Mission   Ridge,  November  25,   1863. 
1861  Camp  Butler  Sagamon  County  Ills. 

August  7th  Capt.  Parkes  Comp  arrived  at  this  place.  Rec'd  Tents  Camp 
Equippage  &c.     Tents  erected  today. 

Friday  the  9th.  Quarters  Cleaned  up.  Nothing  of  importance  today.  Capt 
Parkes  left  for  home  to  day  tor  new  recruits. 

Tenth  Saturday..  Nothing  doing  to  day  of  importance.  Capt.  Browns  Co. 
from  Winchester  this  afternoon. 

Sunday   11th    Col.   Hicks   Independent   Regiment   left   this   morning   for    St. 
Louis     Preaching  in  the  afternoon  at  4  O'clock. 
Slight  rain  during  the  night. 

Monday  the  12th.  Capt.  Waters  Co.  arrived  this  morning  accompanied  by  a 
fine  band  of  music  from  Macomb  McDonough  County  Ills.  Capt.  Hitts  Co. 
arrived  this  afternoon  from  Exeter  Scott  County  Ills 

Tuesday  13th.  Three  Go's,  from  Egypt  arrived  to  day.  No  drilling  to  day. 
Wednesday  14th.  Capt.  Parkes  arrived  about  2  O'clock  this  morning  with 
18  men. 

1861  Camp  Buter  Sagamon  co.  Ills 

Thursday,  August  15th  Officers  drill  this  morning  at  seven  O'clock.  Squad 
drill  from  half  past  8  till  10  O'clock.  Officers  drill  at  4  Oc'lock  in  the  after- 
noon. 

Friday,  16th  The  same  routine  of  Yesterday.  Comps.  arriving  all  the  time. 
Saturday,  17th.  Officers  and  Squad  drill  in  the  forenoon.  In  the  afternoon 
no  drill.     Co.  sv>'orn  into  service  at  12  M. 

Sunday,  18th.  Nothing  of  importance  occurred  today.  Meeting  at  4  O'clock 
P.  M.     Comp  rec'd  their  uniform  to  day. 

Boys  all  well  pleased  Articles  of  war  read  at  Rool  call  Monday,  19th.  Roll 
call  at  5  and  V>  O'clock  Officers  at  7  A.  M.  Squad  drill  as  usual.  Lieut.  L. 
F.  Williams  with  a  grant  of  5  days  absence  left  for  Pike  Co.  on  business 
concerning  the  Co. 

Thursday,  22d.     Four  men  from  Coffeys  Co.  joined  ours  this  evening. 
Friday,    23rd.     The  4    men   that   joined   our   Comp    yesterday   evening   were 
sworn  in  this  morning 

1861  Camp  Butler,  Sagamon  co  Ills. 

August,  Saturday,  24th.  Morning  quite  cool.  Williams  returned  last  night 
with  3  recruits.  Co.  now  consists  of  82  men  rank  and  file.  Capt.  Killpat- 
rick's  Comp.  arrived  from  Milton  Pike  County  Ills,  last  evening.  Capt 
Hunts  Comp.  from  Barry  arrived  today.  A  Comp.  from  Bellville  St.  Clair 
County  also  arrived  to  day,  accompanied  by  a  brass  band  Brown  County 
Cavalry  Comp.  Came  this  morning. 

Sunday,  25th.  Roll  call  as  usual  51/.  A.  M.  Meeting  at  10  A.  M.  Rather  dull 
in  capm.  drissling  rain  in  the  afternoon  An  order  to  leave  to-morrow.  Quite 
a  No.  of  men  have  the  ague.  It  is  getting  to  be  quite  sickly  here  Hospital 
is  pretty  near  full  of  sick.  Thirteen  men  from  Smiths  Comp.  from  Galena 
came  this  evening  and  joined  our  Comp. 

1861  Camp  at  Jacksonville  Morgan  co.  Ills. 

August,  26th.  Monday  morning.  Roll  call  at  5  Breakfast  at  SV,  O'clock.  Im- 
mediately after  breakfast  the  13  men  who  joined  last  evening  were  exam- 
ined and  sworn  into  the  service. 

Left  Camp  Butler  with  6  other  Companies  at  ^2  past  10  O'clock  marched 
to  Jim  Town  left  on  the  train  at  1/.  past  11,  arrived  at  Jacksonville  at  3  P.  M. 
marched  from  the  depot  to  our  present  encampment  nearly  I14  miles  very 


'See  Adjutant  General's  certificate,  above,  p.  228. 


224 

hot  and  dusty.  Had  rations  enough  left  of  the  amt.  drawn  of  the  commis- 
sary at  Camp  Butler  for  our  supper  Would  not  issue  rations  to  us  this  even- 
ing, for  tomorrow  through  some  mistake  or  other  Have  a  nice  pleasant  place 
for  our  Camp  high  dry  and  healthy. 

August  27th  Tuesday.  Had  no  breakfast  this  morning  except  some  we  bor- 
rowed of  Capt.  Hitt.  The  Quarter  Master  is  a  d — d  mean  man  In  the  opinion 
of  our  Comp.  he  issued  no  rations  to  us  yesterday  evening,  nor  came  from 
town  this  morning  until  after  9  O'clock  Capt  Parke  is  Officer  of  the  day  to 
day  Furlough  granted  to  F.  T.  Clark  Joel  Knipp  and  Robt.  Chapman  run- 
ning from  this  date  till  Saturday  31st  August. 

August  28th.     Drill  this  morning  from  6  till  7  O'clock     Orders  to  march  to- 
morrow at  12  M.  to  Cairo.     Some  disappointment  among  the  men  but 
1861  Camp  at  Jacksonville  Morgan   Co.   Ills. 

August  28th  generally  resigned  to  go  where  they  are  ordered.  It  was  hoped 
that  we  would  be  ordered  to  Mo.  but  those  hopes  are  now  blighted  and  we 
will  now  go  to  one  of  the  most  unhealthy  spots  in  the  U.  S.  to  stay  we  know 
not  how  long  Well  anything  to  save  our  Union  Our  beloved  country  let  it 
be  what  it  will. 

August  29. 
Reveille  early  this  morning  preparations  for  leaving  Camp  McClernand, 
Tents  struck  at  a  few  minutes  after  10  A.  M.  Baggage  packed  &  loaded  by 
1/.  past  11  A.  M.  Companies  on  parade  %  past  12  M.  Marched  into  Jackson- 
ville at  1  O'clock  P.  M.  in  court  yard  till  4  O'clock  P.  M.  Marched  to  the  cars, 
nothing  but  open  cars  for  the  men.  Large  crowd  at  the  depot  to  witness  our 
departure.  Had  some  trouble  while  at  the  depot  with  private  Sullivan,  he 
was  drunk  had  to  tie  him  for  refusing  to  be  still,  Left  Springfield  at  10 
minutes  past  5  P.  M.  amid  the  firing  of  cannon  and  immense  cheering  of  the 
citisens  1st  Sergent  Browning  left  behind  to  recruit  his  health,  to  follow  up 
as  soon  as  that  will  permit.  Arrived  at  Decatur  without  anything  of  moment 
transpiring.  At  1  O'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  30th  issued  some  rations  of 
hard  crackers  &  cheese  to  the  men  Changed  cars;  better  accommodations  from 
there,  to  Cairo,  in  passenger  coaches  but  nothing  better  to  eat.  Arrived  at 
Cairo  at  4  O'clock  P.  M.  marched  to  quarters  on  the  open  plain  above  the 
city. 

1861  Camp  Defiance  Cairo  Ills. 

August  31st  Roll  call.  Squad  drill  this  morning,  after  breakfast  men  set  to 
work — cleaning  up  the  groun  Repeated  firing  of  cannon  in  the  artillery  frill 
at  Birds  Point — One  man  nearly  killed  by  the  discharge  of  a  cannon  Morn- 
ing report  made  out  and  handed  in  at  Head  Quarters  2  men  in  addition  to 
last  report— Aggregate  No.  of  men  in  Parkes  comp  now  98.  both  sworn  into 
the  service  by  the  Col.  Rations  of  bread  short  this  morning  through  the  ras- 
cality or  neglect  of  the  Quartermaster — great  dissatisfaction  throughout  the 
camp  on  account  of  it.  Col.  saw  to  the  matter  and  bread  here  bv  half  after 
8  O'clock  tonight. 

September  the  1st. 
Sunday  morning,  roll  call  as  usual  at  5l^  O'clock    Inspection  of  men  &  tents 
at  9  o'clock  by  the  Col.  &  Lt.  Col  Pass  granted  to  8  men  to  visit  Birds  Point 
Also  1  large  Squad  to  attend  Church. 

Nothing  doing  to  day.  John  Brown  &  Elijah  Hickman  went  into  Town  to  day 
without  a  pass — came  back  drunk  Compelled  to  tie  Hickman — will  be  put  on 
extra  duty  to-morrow  Weather  pleasant — continues  dry. 

September  2nd  Monday  morning  clear  and  fine. 
Roll  call  at  5*/^  A.  M.  as  usual — Breakfast  at  6i^  Squad  drill  &c.  more  ac- 
tivity will  be  observed  this  week  in  drilling  than  heretofore.  Lt.  L.  F.  Wil- 
liams appointed  junior  Officer  of  the  Guard  to  day.  One  of  our  men  who 
came  from  town  yesterday  in  a  state  of  intoxication — by  name  John  Brown 
is  very  sick  to  day — great  suffering  &  pain  in  his  stomach  and  lower  extrem- 
ities— supposed  to  emanate  from  poison  in  the  liquor  drank  yesterday.  The- 
2  gun  boats  stationed  here  left  this  afternoon  &  1  Regt.  of  In  from  Birds 


Point, — their  destination  &  the  No.  of  the  Regt.  we  are  not  informed.  Heavy 
firing  heard  at  8  O'clock  this  evening  in  the  direction  of  New-Madrid  Mo. 
supposed  that  our  Gun  Boats  have  engaged  the  enemy  at  that  point 

Sep.  3rd  Tuesday  Morning. 
Weather  fine  &  pleasant, — with  indications  of  rain  Duties  of  the  morning 
as  usual — much  rejoicing  through  out  the  camp — though  no  open  demonstra- 
tion— at  the  news  of  the  success  of  Gen.  Butler  in  his  operations  on  the  coast 
of  N.  C.  Received  this  morning.  Conflicting  reports  concerning  the  result  or 
doings  of  the  expidition  sent  down  the  Miss.  River  yesterday.  More  troops 
sent  down  from  Birds  Point  to  day  across  the  country  to  the  scene  of  action. 
Where  it  is  not  yet  known  in  camp,  some  say  it  is  Columbus,  Some  New 
Madrid,  no  person  knows  anything  definite  about  the  movements  going  on  at 
Head  Quarters — here  all  military  movements  are  kept  secret  by  the  Senior 
Officers  of  the  different  commands  at  both  Posts  Cairo  &  Birds  Point.  Com- 
menced raining  about  4  O'clock  this  afternoon  which  put  an  end  to  squad 
drill  &  set  the  men  to  work  putting  their  tents  to  rights  &  preparing  for  a 
spell  of  weather.  Firing  heard  this  evening  again  in  the  same  direction  as 
that  of  last  evening  Still  raining  at  10  O'clock. 

Sept.  4th  Wednesday  morning  cloudy  drissling 
rain,  very  unpleasant  underfoot — quite  a  No.  not  out  at  Roll  Call — ^placed  on 
Extra  Duty  in  consequence.  Our  Co.  placed  on  Police  Duty  to  day — by 
order  of  the  Col. 

1861  Camp  McClernand  Cairo  Ills. 

it  is  therefore  exempt  from  drill  to  day  no  news  of  consequences,  has  rained 
at  intervals  all  day  The  Two  Gun  Boats  have  returned,  reported  to  have  had 
a  brush  with  a  Gun  Boat  of  the  Enemy's — called  Yankee — near  a  place  called 
Hickman  in  which  the  latter  was  worsted  Also  bombarded  the  place.  News 
of  Jefferson  Davis'  death  this  evening  generally  not  credited 

Sept.  5th  morning  duties  performed  as  usual 
Lt  Allen  Officer  of  the  Guard  to  day.  Weather  pleasant  but  showery. — noth- 
ing of  importance  but  drilling.  Water  scarce  on  account  of  negligence  of 
water  master.  Death  of  Jeff  Davis  confirmed  today — that  is  still  believed. 
Report  this  evening  that  Pillow  is  within  one  days  march  of  Birds  Point — 4 
Comp  from  th  9th  Regt.  And  the  Chicago  light  Artillery  left  to  night  tis  said 
for  Columbus  Ky. 

Sept.  6th  Friday  weather  pleasant.  Drilling 
and  other  duties  performed  as  usual.  60  muskets  drawn  by  our  Company 
this  afternoon  Other  Comps.  in  our  Regt.  also  have  drawn  in  proportion  to 
the  number  of  men.  No  news  of  consequence  to  day  Great  activity  through 
out  the  camp,  however  in  our  vicinity 

Sept.  7th  Saturday. 
No  variation  in  the  daily  routine  of  duties  to  day  One  of  our  men  Thomas 
Onwhistle  severely  reprinanded  for  disrespect  towards  the  Col.  At  Dress 
Parade  this  evening  48  of  our  men  were  ordered  on  patrol  dutty  for  the 
night  in  the  City  of  Cairo.  2  Regts.  left  for  Paducah  Ky.  which  place  is  now 
occupied  by  Gen.  Grant  Commandant  of  this 

1861.  Camp  McClernand   Cairo   Ills. 

Post.     Successor  to  Gen.  Prentiss. 

Sept  Sth  Sunday  morning  The  48  of  our  camp,  detailed 
as  patrol  last  night  returned  this  morning  at  Bi/o  O'clock  Roll  call  as  usual. 
Heavy  and  incessant  firing  heard  this  morning  from  7  till  9  O'clock  down  the 
river  in  the  direction  of  Columbus.  Two  boat  loads  of  Troops  arrived  this 
morning  from  St.  Louis.  Inspection  on  Co.  parade  ground  by  the  Field  Of- 
ficers at  9  O'clock  Dress  Parade  this  evening  at  the  usual  hour 

Sept.  9th  Monday  morning 
Duties  as  usual  performed,  no  Officers  drill  this  morning  as  was  given  out  last 
evening  on  Dress  Parade  Abut  10  O'clock  to  day  one  of  the  Gun  Boats  ar- 
rived to  Port  with  .3  Prizes  in  tow.     One  said  to  be  laden  vxith  tobacco — tis 
not  known   here   yet  the  substance   of   the   prizes   Reported   this   Afternoon 


-15  H  S 


226 

that  1  of  the  Gun  Boats  was  taken  this  morning  by  the  enemy.  Col.  Oglesbys 
Regt.  &  the  other  Gun  Boat  have  gone  down  Col.  Watters  Regt.  arrived  at 
Birds  Point  this  evening 

Sept.  10th  Tuesday  Morning 
Reported  capture  of  our  Gun  Boat  proves  to  be  false  L.  W.  Williams  detailed 
as  Officer  of  the  Guard  to  day  Officers  Drill  this  morning.     Nothing  of  im- 
portance to  day. 

Sept.  11.     Stormy  Night. 

Indications  this  morning  good  for  a  rainy  day  A  marvelous  assault  was  com- 
mitted at  the  St.  Charles  Hotel  yesterday  by  the  Reporter  of  the  St.  Louis 
Democrat  on  the  person  of  the  surgeon  on  the  8th  Mo  Regt.    The  surgeon 
was  shot  in  the  small  of  the  back  by  a  pistol  ball  wound  not  mortal 
1861.  Camp  McCleruand  Cairo  Ills. 

September  11th  The  reporter  gave  himself  up  and  is  now  in  custody.  Dress 
Parade  omitted  this  evening  on  account  of  the  inclemency  of  the  weather. 

Sept.  12th — Thursday  Morning 
Duties  of  the  morning  gone  through  with  as  usual  Our  Company  on  Police 
Duty  to  day  cleaning  up  the  Parade  ground  &  digging  sinks,  nothing  of  im- 
portance transpired  to  day.     Dress  Parade  this  evening  as  usual. 

Sept.  13th  Friday  Everything  quiet  about 
camp  today  Lt  Allen  on  guard  to  day,— Officer  of  the  Guard — .  No  news  of 
importance  to  day. 

Sept.  14th  Saturday 
Duties  as  usual  this  morning.     The  Regt  on  Police  duty  today,  cleaning  up 
the  regimental  Parade  ground.     News  encouraging  from  the  seat  of  war  to 
day.  reported  fight  going  on  down  the  river  near  Norfolk  on  the  Mo.  side 
this  evening. 

Sept.  1.5th  Sunday  Morning 
bright  and  beautiful.     Three  Comps.  arrived  this  morning  making  out  Regt. 
•complete  Each  Cap.  drew  co.  letter  this  morning  by  lotery  out  Capt.  drew 
letter  C.    Situation  of  each  Co.  has  been  changed  a  little  to  conform  with  the 
lettering  Dress  Parade  this  evening  Our  new  Chaplain  introduced' 

Sept.  16th  Monday. 
Police  Duty  as  usual,  respective  Companies  fixing  up  their  camp  ground. 
Nothing  of  importance  to  day  except  the  arrival  of  a  Comp.  of  50  men  from 
Crittenden  County  Ky.  for  camp  Butler,  also  Col.  Jurchins  (Turchin)  19th 
Ills.  Regt.  came  up  the  river  from  their  camp  on  the  KB.  Side  opposite 
Norfolktheir  destination  is  not  yet  known.  The  court  martial  of  Capt.  Hitts 
man  for  insubordination  set  to  day,  tis  known  what  the  sentence  is 

Sept.  17th — Tuesday. 
Officers  Drill  as  usual  this  morning  Drilling  as  heretofore  Nothing  to  day  of 
importance. 

Sept.  18th  Wednesday. 
Officers  Drill  omitted  this  morning,     weather  fine  Duties  as  usual. 

Sept.  19th  Thursday. 
Capt.   Parke  too  unwell  for  duty  to   day     No    news    everything    going    on 
smoothly  as  usual. 

Sept.  20th  Friday. 
Nothing  of  importance  to  day.     Capt.  Parke  went  to  the  Hospital  this  morn- 
ing.    Daily  routine  as  usual  prospect  for  a  rain  to  night. 

Sept.  21st  Saturday. 
Dull  as  the  Devil  to  day— nothing  but  Drill  Drill  through  this  afternoon  we 
have  nothing  to  do  but  clean  up  quarters  &  go  on  Dress  Parade  this  evening. 


iSee  Eddy,  The  Patriotism  of  Illinois,  II.,  pp.  5.3-54.  The  27th  Illinois  was  raised  for  the  most  part  in 
the  counties  of  Adams,  Scott,  Pike,  Madison,  Jersey,  Mason,  Macoupin,  Mercer,  Jackson,  Henry  and  Mor- 
gan Eddv  states  that  it  was  mustered  into  service  at  Camp  Butler  on  the  10th  of  August,  isei.  Some 
of  the  officers  who  will  be  mentioned  in  this  diary  are:  Colonel,  N.  B.  Buford:  Lieutenant-Colonel,  F.  A. 
Harrintrton-  Adjutant,  Henrv  A.  Rust;  Quartermaster,  David  B.  Sears:  Chaplain,  S.  Young  McMasters: 
Captain  W  A  Schmitt  of  Company  A:  Captain  Jonathan  R.  Miles  of  Company  F,  who  later  becomes 
Colonel  of  the  regiment.  The  officers  of  Company  C,  of  which  our  diarist  was  a  member,  at  this  time 
were-    Captain,  Lemuel  Parke;  1st  Lieutenant,  Ljonan  G.  Allen;  2nd  Lieutenant ,  Laommi  F.  Williams. 


227 

Sept.  22n(i  Sunday. 
Inspection  of  arms  as  usual  by  the  Field  Officers     L.  F.  Williams  Officer  of 
the  Guard  to  day.     Preaching  in  the  camp  to  day  by  Chaplain  of  our  Regt.  at 
11  o'clock     Our  Chaplain  is  a  Catholic. 

Sept.  23rd  Monday 
Our  Comp.  is  on  Police  Duty  again  to  day —     Battalion  Drill  this  afternoon 
without  arms  the  comp.  all  went  through  the  drill  very  for  the  first  time 
1861  Camp  McClernand.     Cairo  Ills. 

Sept.  24th.  Tuesday.  Ten  men  on  Police  Duty  again  to  day  Nighswonger 
refused  to  act  having  been  detailed— in  consequence  was  put  in  the  Guard 
House  on  Bread  &  water  time  indefinite.  Private  in  the  Guard  House  Also 
for  drunkeness. 

Sept.  25th.  Wednesday. 
Morning  Drill,  near  20  on  the  sick  list  this  morning  Bad  news  from  Mo. 
Lexington  has  been  taken  by  Gen  Price.  Private  Hobbs  in  Guard  House  at 
Cairo  for  sleeping  on  his  Post,  last  night  while  guarding  prisoners.  4  pris- 
oners brought  in  this  evening — from  near  Norfolk  Mo.  taken  after  a  pretty 
hard  fight — in  which  12  of  the  Enemy  were  killed — and  a  lot  of  arms  taken. 
One  of  the  prisoners  has  a  pretty  severe  cut  across  the  shoulder. 

Sept.  26th  Thursday. 
Observance  is  paid  to  "Fast  Day.,     Services  at  10  O'clock  by  our  Chaplain-r- 
toward  10  O'clock  the  weather  cleared  off  «&:  became  very  pleasant. 
Dress  Parade-  in  the  evening    As  usual  nothing  of  importance  has  passed  of 
in  our  vicinity  to  day 

Sept.  27th  Friday  cold  &  blustry 
Drilling  exercises  as  usual  in  the  forenoon  with  Battalion  Drill  in  the  after- 
noon &  Dress  Parade  in  the  evening     Our  Capt.  ranks  higher  than  any  other 
Capt.  in  the  Regt.  as  his  commission  is  the  oldest  Lt.  Allen  Officer  of  the 
Guard  to  day  at  Cairo. 

Sept.  28th     Saturday. 
Men  slow  about  turning  out  into  ranks  for  Drill  Comp.     Drill  from  9%  till 
11%  men  paid  attention  &  performed  well  today.     Dress  Parade  this  evening 
&  short  Battalion  Drill  this  afternoon 

1861  Camp  McClernand,  Cairo,  Ills. 

Sept.  29th  Sunday  morning  clear  &  cool  Roll  call  as  usual, — Inspection  of 
the  arms  &  quarters — a  portion  of  the  Comp.  went  to  town  to  church  Services 
as  usual  by  the  Chaplain,  tis  reported  this  morning  that  Capt.  Ritters  Comp. 
at  Birds  Point  while  guarding  a  bridge  on  the  R.  R.  10  miles  from  camp 
were  surrounded  and  taken  prisoners. 

Sept.  30th.  Monday. 
Cool  &  bracing.  Drilling  at  usual  hours  Capt.  Parke  Officer  of  the  Day 
Weather  quite  warm  and  pleasant  after  9  O'clock  Report  of  the  capture  of 
Ritters  Comp.  remain  unchanged.  Battalion  Drill  this  afternoon.  Dress 
Parade  at  the  proper  hour — Volleys  of  musketry  were  heard  at  Birds  Point 
this  afternoon — but  suppose  it  occurred  in  the  practice  of  loading  and  firing 

October  1st  Tuesday. 
Cooks  were  discharged  this  morning  their  time  having  expired  The  reported 
capture  of  Capt.  Ritters  comp  proves  to  be  false  comp  Drills  in  the  forenoon 
to  day  And  Battalion  Drill  as  usual.  Another  report  is  comon  this  evening 
that  our  troops  have  been  driven  from  Norfolk  and  falling  back  on  Birds 
Point  the  Enemy  advancing  Fifteen  Thousand  strong. 

Oct  2nd  Wednesday  morning  dark 
&  gloomy  Drissling  rain  Roll  call  as  usual  but  Drill  omitted,  no  drilling 
to  day  whatever  An  order  was  issued  by  the  Gen.  about  11  O'clock  to  day 
for  10  men  and  one  Lieut,  with  arms  and  10  rounds  of  ammunition  each 
Dress  Parade  as  usual  this  evening. 

1861  Camp  McClernand,  Cairo  Ills. 

Oct  3rd  Thursday  Sun  rose  clear  and  bright  Duties  as  usual  performed, 
unusually  quiet  and  dull  about  camp  Nothing  of  importance  transpiring. 
Duties  of  the  day  closed  as  usual  with  Dress  Parade 


£2S 

Oct.  4th  Friday 
Battalion   Drill   as   usual   this  afternoon.     Lt.   William   taken   sick   with   the 
measles  to  clay  nothing  of  importance  transpiring  to  day. 

Oct.  5th  Saturday  morning  clear  & 
nice  Health  of  camp  improving  onl>  .3  of  our  Comp.  now  in  the  Hospital. 
Capt.  Parke  making  arrangements  for  going  home — has  drawn  his  pay  from 
the  Pay  Master.     Drilling  as  usual  both  forenoon  and  afternoon 

Oct  6th  Sunday 
Rained  last  night  nearly  all  night,  this  morning  it  is  cold  gloomy  and  dis- 
agreeable No  inspection  this  morning  on  account  of  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather  towards  evening  it  fared  off  and  tis  now  pleasant  weather  Capt. 
Parke  has  succeeded  in  getting  a  furlough  to  day  for  7  days  absence — he  will 
for  home  to-morrow  morning  at  4  O'clock.     Williams  quite  sick  to  day 

"Oct.  7th  Monday  morning  clear  and  pleas- 
ant.    Duties  as  usual.     Battalion  Drill  as  usual 
Nothing  of  importance  to  day. 

Oct  8th  clear  &  pleasant  looks  like 
Indian  Summer.  Health  of  camp  decidedly  improving.  Our  comp  numbers 
increasing  on  Dress  Parade 

1861  Camp  McClernand  Cairo  Ills. 

October,  9th  Morning  clear  and  pleasant.  Every  thing  passing  off  nicely  and 
smoothly  in  camp. 

Oct  10th  inursday  pleasant: — Nothing  of 
importance  transpiring  to  day  Col.  Harrington  returned  to  day. 

Oct  11th.  Friday — very  pleasant — no 
news  unusually  quiet  in  camp.  Distressingly  dull  nothing  but  Drill  Drill  all 
the  time. 

Oct  12th  Saturday.  Morning  clear  and 
pleasant — Drill  in  the  forenoon  Battalion  Drill  in  the  afternoon  all  the  Regt. 
out  also  the  Bloody  ISth  Col  Lawler  was  up  on  parade  with  us  tis  said  his 
Regt.  has  joined  our  Brigade 

Oct  13th  Sunday  morning  clear  as  a  bell 
and  as  pleasant  almost  as  a  summers  morning — Inspection  of  the  Company 
by  the  Col.  at  9  O'clock,  church  as  usual.  Passes  were  granted  to  quite  a 
number  to  Birds  Point. 

Oct.  14th  Monday  morning  clear  air  and 
bracing.  Drilling  from  6  to  7  O'clock,  to  day  is  Pay  Day  Comps.  A.  &  E. 
are  paid  first — as  they  are  going  off  on  a  scouting  expidition — To-moi-row  we 
get  paid,  the  boys  are  over  joyed  at  getting  their  pay,  liave  been  disappointed 
so  often  that  they  had  no  confidence  any  more  as  to  the  promised  pay  day. 
Have  no  Battalion  Drill  to  day.  A  stern  wheel  Boat  came  up  the  River  this 
afternoon  with  a  flag  of  Truce  flying  The  purport  of  her  visit  is  no  known 
This  Brigade  was  ordered  down  town  on  Double  Quick  this  evening  and 
paraded  about  an  hour  on  the  levy 

Oct  15th     Tuesday  usual  routine  of 
camp  duties     Our  Regt.  has  rec'd  marching  orders  this  evening  a  6  O'clock  it 
marched  to  the  landing  the  men  armed  and  equipped  and  supplied  with  2 
Days  rations  Shipped  on  the  Alec  Scott  and 
1861  Camp  McClernand  Cairo 

company  with  the  Iron  Gun  Boat  went  up  the  Mississippi  destination  un- 
known but  generally  believed  to  be  Cape  Girardeau  Two  of  our  Co.  slipped 
through  the  guard  to  day — Wm  Sullivan  and  Robt.  Felan.  Three  more  rec'd 
passes  all  of  whom  were  not  here  when  the  Regt.  started.  The  2nd  Lieut  of 
each  CO.  have  been  to  take  care  of  the  camp  &  those  that  are  on  the  sick  list. 
Lieut  Allen  the  only  com.  Officer  who  accompanied  our  Co,  Capt.  Parke  has 
not  yet  returned.  One  of  the  men  .Joel  Knip  who  was  granted  a  pass  to  town 
to  day — was  found  on  the  levy  at  one  of  the  Groggerys  pretty  well  set  up 
about  9  O'clock  this  evening  and  brought  into  camp  no  tidings  of  the  others. 


229 

Oct.  16th  Wednesday,  Rather  gloomy 
morning  Not  enough  men  in  camp  to  make  any  stir  as  those  who  were  on 
the  side  list  only  were  left  behind.  Robt.  Felan  was  found  to  day  and 
brought  into  camp.  William  Sullivan  could  not  be  found,  the  day  has  been 
spent  in  a  fruitless  search  for  them  tis  supposed  they  fell  in  with  the  Co.  as 
the  Regt.  marched  to  the  landing. 

Oct.  17th  Thursday  Still  cloudy  no  news 
of  importance  Nothing  to  do  in  camp  since  our  Regt.  left.  All  quiet  about 
the  Brigade  camp.  The  other  Regts.  are  constantly  drilling.  No  Capt.  Parke 
yet.  He  ought  to  be  made  work  on  the  fortifications  ten  days  with  a  Ball  & 
Chain  to  his  leg  No  tidings  of  Sullivan  Hickman  &  Brown  to  day  have  kept 
up  a  constant  search  for  them.  The  day  has  closed  without  anything  worthy 
of  note. 

Oct.  18th  Friday  morning  Still 
dark  and  gloomy  with  a  drissling  rain.  Our  Regt.  returned  about  8I/2  O'clock 
had  no  brush  with  the  Enemy  took  GOO  or  700  bushels  wheat  &  4  secesh  pris- 
oners.    Battalion  Drill  this  afternoon 

1861  Camp  McClernand  Cairo  Ills. 

Nothing  of  an  exciting  character  has  transpired  to  day  0&  Co.  of  Light  Artil- 
lery left  camp  cairo  this  afternoon  where  bound  tis  not  known  with  us.  Hick- 
man &  Brown  were  with  the  Regt.  found  Wm  Sullivan  today. 

Oct.  19th  Saturday  the  appearance 
for  rain  still  very  good  co.  Drill  as  usual,  no  Guards  called  for  from  our 
Regt.  to  day.  Nothing  to  note  down  to  day.  Battalion  Drill  till  a  very  late 
hour — exempting  us  from  Dress  Parade 

Oct.  20th  Sunday  Inspection  as  usual. 
Services  at  11  O'clock  by  our  Chaplain,  weather  very  pleasant  has  the  ap- 
pearance of  Indian  summer  No  news  of  importance  today  Dress  Parade  as 
usual  this  evening. 

Oct.  21st  Monday,  Roll  call  as  usual 
Quite  cool  rather  unpleasant  sleeping  last  night  under  One  blanket  Lt.  P. 
Williams  Officer  of  the  Guard  to  day  Lt  Allen  is  still  unwell  and  unable  for 
Duty  Neglected  to  mention  the  arrest  of  private  Josiah  Lise[nbee]  yesterday 
for  stealing  Private  Henry  Vamers  money  $(800)  sometime  during  Saturday 
night.  Said  Lisenbee  is  now  under  arrest  in  Guard  House — awaiting  his  trial 
by  Court  Martial. 

Oct.  22nd  Tuesday  morning  weather  cool 
though  during  the  day  tis  very  pleasant 

The  news  of  Jeff  Thompson's  defeat  at  Fredrictown  by  our  forces  causes 
much  rejoicing  in  camp  the  news  came  this  evening  by  telegraph  Lt.  Allen 
has  succeeded  in  getting  his  pay  to  day — due  for  the  Mo.  of  September  &  a 
furlough  home  for  seven  days  he  leaves  to-morrow  morning  on  the  4  O'clock 
train,  prospects  for  a  storm 

1861  Camp  McClernand  Cairo  Illinois. 

Oct.  23rd  Wednesday  morning  very  cool — quite  a  change  since  yesterday. 
No  rain  last,  night  Sad  news  this  morning  another  good  matv  gone  the  way 
of  all  the  Earth — Col.  Ed.  D.  Barker  (Baker)  One  of  the  best  of  Orators  and 
the  boast  of  our  nation  fell  while  gallantly  leading  his  Regt.  at  the  Battle 
near  Leesburg  Virginia  Another  sacrifice  to  the  glorius  cause  of  liberty. 
Ten  men  detailed  out  of  each  comp.  armed  with  brooms  &  shovels  for  the 
purpose  of  cleaning  up  the  barracks,  and  preparing  quarters  for  our  Regt. 
down  in  Camp  Cairo. 

Oct.  24th  Thursday,  quite  cool  but  not  so 
unpleasant  as  yesterday. — A  very  heavy  frost  during  the  night  the  first  we 
have  had  here  this  season.  Capt.  Parke  is  on  duty  at  Cairo  to  day  Officer 
of  the  day^ — Orders  from  the  Col.  to  move  into  the  Bari'acks  to-morrow. 

Oct.  2oth  Friday  As  soon  as  breakfast 
is  finished — preparations  for  moving  to  the  barracks  Co.s  A.  B.  C.  and  so  on 
respectively. — struck  their  tents  and  went  into  the  barrack  Dress  Parade 
in  the  evening. 


230 

Camp  Cairo,  Illinois 
Oct,  26th  Saturday  morning  fogy  and  damp  Drill  as  usual  before  break- 
fast no  Drill  this  forenoon.  Regt.  was  called  out  this  forenoon  for  inspection 
that  is  the  inspecting  of  men,  The  no.  of  men  out  on  drill — the  sick  list — 
&  those  absent  from  Camp  not  agreeing  with  the  morning  report,  conse- 
quently there  is  a  number  that  undoubtedly  shirk  from  duty.  This  afternoon 
the  review  before  Gen.  McClernand  came  off.— tomorrow  we  have  a  Grand 
Review. 

Oct  27th  Sunday.  Regimental  inspec- 
tion this  morning. — Religious  services  by  our  Chaplain  Grand  Review  com- 
menced this  evening  at  2iA  O'clock  continued  till  5,  before  Gen.  McClernand 
and  Staff.     The  forces  which  passed 

Camp  Cairo,  Illinois, 
under  review  were  Five  Regts.  of  Infantry  One  of  cavalry  and  one  Battery  of 
flying  Artillery.     The  review  has  been  pronounced  a  splendid  affair     Every 
thing  passed  off  in  fine  style 

Oct.  28th  Monday  morning  Drill  as 
usual  Forenoon  Drill — Battalion  this  evening — Day  has  closed  as  usual  (by 
the  sun's  going  down) 

Oct.  29th  Tuesday  morning  cool 
Routine  of  Drilling  as  usual — Battalion  Drill  superintended  by  the  Lieut.  Col. 
Nothing  new  as  usual— The  same  dull  monotony  seems  to  pervade  the  camp 
as  usual. 

Oct.  30th  Wednesday  morning  still  clear  &  cold 
Routine  of  Drill  gone  through  with.  Battalion  Drill  this  forenoon  and  after- 
noon. One  of  the  Orders  published  on  Dress  Parade  this  evening — was  the 
acceptance  of  the  resignation  of  Lieut.  Buchanan  of  Comp  B.  this  Regt. 

Oct.  31st  Thursday  morning  still  cool 
Regimental  muster  for  Pay.  The  forces  now  stationed  here  are  all  mustered 
to  day — on  the  Brigade  parade  ground — An  Order  placing  Capt.  Hart  under 
arrest  by  Col.  Buford' — was  read  this  evening  on  Dress  Parade. 

November,  the  1st  Friday  morning 
Comp.  Drill  from  9,  to  11,  weather  does  not  seem  to  moderate  much  A  Slight 
drizzling  rain  commenced  falling  about  Two  O'clock  prevented  Drilling  in  the 
afternoon  undress  Parade.  Capt  R.  S.  More  ordered  under  arrest  by  Col. 
Buford,  published  on  Dress  Parade 

Nov.  2nd    Saturday  colder  than  ever 
morning  Drill  as  usual.     Our  Co.  is  on  Police  Duty  to  day  L.  F.  Williams  Cap- 
tain of  the  Guard  to  day  by  order  of  H.  A.  Rust 
1861  Camp  Cairo,  Illinois  November,  1861 

Nov.  2nd  Capt.  Parke  Capt.  Merrill  &  Liut  Stout  are  to  day  placed  under 
arrest — by  order  of  that  Benevolent  Old  Creature, — Col.  Buford.  'The  nature 
of  the  charges  to  be  preferred  against  them  is  still  a  mystery  to  all.  but 
some  of  the  more  knowing  ones  are  slyly  hinting  around  that  a  petition  has 
been  gotten  up  here  in  camp,  setting  forth  the  objections  to  Col.  Buford  as  a 
Col.  &  respectfully  soliciting  him  to  resign  his  Office,  &  that  said  petition  has 
been  signed  by  said  Officers^ — for  which  offense  his  majesty  has  seen  fit  to 
place  them  under  arrest:   how  true  this  is  remains  to  be  seen. 

Nov.  3rd  Sunday  morning. 
Inspection  of  arms  and  quarters  at  9  O'clock.  Religious  services  at  the  reg- 
ular hour,  by  the  Chaplain  Rev.  McMasters  It  has  claered  off  and  the  day  is 
quite  pleasant.  During  this  afternoon  Those  Officers  who  were  placed  under 
arrest  have  affected  a  compromise  the  full  particulars  of  which  I  am  not  now 
able  to  state  but  the  substance  of  which  is  that  the  Petition  shall  be  destroyed 


'Napoleon  B.  Buford  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  law  student,  assistant  professor  at  West  Point, 
1&33  to  1835,  civil  engineer,  Illinois  merchant,  banker  and  railroad  builder.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War,  his  banking  business  was  ruined  due  to  large  investments  in  Southern  State  bonds.  He  gave  up 
all  his  property  to  satisfy  his  obligations  and  was  commissioned  Colonel  of  the  27th  Illinois  Volunteers 
by  Governor  Yates.  For  his  gallant  conduct  at  the  battles  of  Belmont,  Island  No.  10,  and  Union  City 
he  was  commissioned  Brigadier-General  by  the  President.  When  he  left  the  service,  he  held  the  com- 
mission of  Major-General.    Eddy,  Patriotism  of  Illinois,  II.,  pp.  56-57. 


231 

by  them  and  he  withdraws  all  charges.  Lieut.  Allen  returned  from  home  to 
day  The  18th  Regt.  and  the  29th  Col.  Reardon  have  both  been  ordered  away 
this  afternoon  Destination  not  known  yet  Dress  Parade  this  evening  as 
usual. 

Nov.  the  4th  Monday  morning  comfort 
-ably  cool  Routine  of  Duties  as  usual.  Capt.  Parke  Officer  of  the  day  at  camp 
Cairo  Every  thing  quiet  in  camp  Weather  very  pleasant  Battalion  Drill 
this  afternoon  General  Paine  from  Paducah  and  Ajt.  Gen.  M.  Breyman  of 
this  place  present.  We  drew  36  Overcoats  to  day  for  our  Co.  and  the  full 
complment  of  Haversacks. 

1861  Camp  Cairo  Illinois. 

Nov.  4th  8  men  detailed  from  our  Regt.  as  Extra  Duty  men  to  work  on  Forti- 
fications. Joel  Knip  detailed  from  our  Comp.  for  Ten  Days  commencing  to- 
morrow    Dress  Parade  at  the  usual  hour. 

Nov.  5th  Tuesday  morning  quite  pleasant. 
Usual  Duties  performed.  Lt.  Allen  Officer  of  the  Guard  Joseph  Lisenbee  who 
now  is  at  liberty  is  ordered  by  the  Col.  to  clean  up  and  keep  in  order  every- 
thing about  the  Co.  Quarters  Lieut  Allen  Officer  of  the  Guard  to  day  Bat- 
talion Drill  as  usual  this  afternoon.  Ordered  for  dispensing  with  all  Drill 
before  10  O'clock  A.  M.  as  recommended  by  the  Medical  Board  was  read  this 
afternoon  on  Dress  Parade. 

Nov.  6th  Wednesday 
No  Drill  this  morning.  We  have  rec'd  marching  Orders,  also  the  30th  31st 
&  7th  Iowa  22  Ills,  and  2  Go's  Cavalry  and  one  Battery  of  Artillery.  At  10 
O'clock  we  had  Gen.  Inspection  by  the  Field  Officers  for  ascertaining  the  con- 
dition of  the  men  their  accoutrements  Guns  &c.  The  balance  of  the  day  until 
4  O'clock  was  occupied  in  preparing  for  a  march.  At  3  O'clock  the  30th,  31st 
&  one  Co.  of  Cavalry,  (Capt.  Noleman)  embarked  on  board  the  Steamer  Key 
Stone.  Alec  Scott  &  Chancelor,  at  4  O'clock  our  Regt.  27th  embarked  on 
Board  the  Steamer  Montgomery^  The  Memphis  at  the  same  time  was  laying 
at  Birds  Point  taking  on  on  the  22nd  Ills,  at  about  6  O'clock  Alec  Scott  with 
the  30th  and  31st  Regis  and  Gen.  McClernand  on  board  the  Balance  following 
suit.  Stopping  at  Birds  Point  and  Fort  Holt  for  the  Iowa  7th  &  Capt  De- 
lano's cavalry  Co.  The  fleet  then  dropped  down  the  river  a  few  miles  to 
Island  No.  1  Where  we  lay  till  the  next  morning. 
1861  Camp  Cairo  Illinois 

Nov.  7th  Thursday  Morning  no  Drill  this  morning.  At  day  light  the  fleet 
once  more  get  under  way  and  in  Co.  with  the  2  Gun  Boats  Lexington  and 
Tyler  Proceede  down  the  River  to  a  point  3  miles  above  Columbus;  landed 
on  the  Mo.  side.  Disembarked  all  of  our  forces  the  27th  taking  the  lead 
we  marched  around  to  a  point  about  3  miles  distant  from  our  landing  place 
and  about  opposite  the  enemys  encampment  at  Belmont  opposite  Columbus  & 
on  this  side  of  the  River.  By  throv/ing  out  skirmishers  from  our  right  flank 
the  position  of  the  enemy  was  ascertained.  The  30th  &  31st  Regts  were  then 
sent  forward  to  engage  him,  the  30th  to  attack  the  center  &  31st  his  left 
flank  while  the  22nd  Ills.  7th  Iowa  &  Taylors  Battery  supported  the  center 
The  31st  were  the  first  to  engage  the  enemy  and  soon  the  action  became  gen- 
eral, from  left  to  center.  The  27th  which  in  the  mean  time  had  been  lying 
at  the  point  from  which  skirmishers  had  been  sent  out  was  now  ordered 
around  to  attack  him  on  his  right  flank  which  we  did  though  at  a  great  dis- 
advantage having  to  fight  him  in  his  own  position  among  fallen  timbers,  after 
one  hour's  hard  fighting  we  had  the  satisfaction  of  driving  him  from  his 


'Compare  with  the  report  of  General  U.  S.  Grant, Nov.  17,1861.  Warof  the  Rebellion,  Official  Records 
Series  I.,  vol.  III.,  p.  269.  In  all  3,114  men  were  sent  "  to  make  a  demonstration  against  Columbus.  I 
proceeded  down  the  river  to  a  point  about  9  miles  below  here  [Cairo],  where  we  lay  until  next  morning, 
on  the  Kentucky  shore,  which  served  to  distract  the  enemy  and  led  him  to  suppose  that  he  was  to  be  at- 
tacked in  his  strongly  fortified  position  at  Columbus." 


232 

encampment  tearing  down  their  '"cursed  Rag"  and  planting  the  stars  and 
stripes  where  it  had  lately  waved. i  Here  was  scene  presented  to  the  Eye 
which  can  be  easier  imagined  than  than  described. 

All  over  the  Battle  field  they  scattered  and  in  heaps  The  dead  and  the 
dying  Friend  and  Foe  lay  in  close  proximity  to  each  other.  Some  torn 
asunder  by  cannon  balls  some  with  frightful  wounds  here  and  there  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  body  Some  were  killed  out  right  with  musket  balls  through 
the  temples  or  forehead  others  with  limbs  torn  completely  off  suffering  the 
most  torturing  agonies  'twas  a  most  horrible  sight  to  contemplate  But  we 
were  not  allowed  but  a  very  short  time  to  contemplate  for  the  enemy  by  this 
time  had  reinforced  by  Cheatham's  Brigade  of  Five  Thousand  men  again  ad- 
vanced upon  us  evidently  with  the  intention  of  cutting  off  our  retreat.  And 
just  at  this  moment  they  commenced  shelling  us  from  Columbus  from  their 
Batteries  of  60  Guns,  The  shells  fell  among  us  thick  and  fast.  However 
previous  to  this  we  had  the  satisfaction  setting  fire  to  their  Camp  &  destroy- 
ing it.  Now  the  command  in  order  to  work  its  way  back  to  boats — had  to 
its  way  through  the  enemy — resulting  in  the  loss  of  many  brave  fellows 
Ivilled  and  wounded  the  enemy  pursuing  until  we  reached  the  boats.  Our 
forces  having  embarked  safely  before  they  came  up  Except  the  27th  which  in 
order  to  evade  the  enemy, — our  Sagacious  Col.  as  he  has  proved  himself  to 
be  in  this  day's  fight  marched  around  the  Bayou  some  Three  miles  above 
where  the  boats  lay,  Thereby  escaping  the  terrible  fire  to  which  the  balance 
of  our  forces  were  exposed. 
Our  Regt.  was  brought  up  by  the  Gun  Boat  Lexington. - 

Nov.  23rd     Morris  deserted  to  day 
has  not  been  heard  from  since  very  early  this  morning. 

Nov.  31st  Fifty  Seven  or  Eight  men  with  Capt.  Parke  and  Lt.  Williams 
were  detailed  this  evening  as  Extra  Duty  men  to  go  to  Cave  in  Rock  Ills., 
100  miles  up  the  Ohio  for  the  purpose  of  loading  stone.  Went  aboard  the 
Key  Stone  at  8  O'clock. 

Dec.  5th     Daniel  Vanvoltenberg  died  to  day  from 
the  effects  of  Typhoid  fever 

Dec  11th     Extra  Duty  portion  of  the  Company  returned  from  Cave  In  Rock 
to  day  with  numbers  undiminished. 
1862  Camp  Cairo  Ills. 

Jan.  1st  Wednesday  morning  clear  and  pleasant.  Routine  of  the  morning 
as  usual.  No  drilling  to  day.  The  Col.  for  the  diversion  of  his  Officers — 
obtained  the  use  of  one  of  the  Steam  Tugs  which  are  daily  running  to  &  fro 
in  the  harbor — for  a  pleasure  excursion  A  portion  of  the  command  for  the 
morning  voyage — another  portion  for  the  evening.  Capt.  Parke  &  Lieut. 
Williams  were  among  the  passengers  in  the  forenoon  Lieut  Allen  remained 
in  camp  intending  to  go  in  the  afternoon  but  did  not  We  had  a  very  pleas- 
ant trip  of  it  first  visiting  Birds  Point  paying  our  compliments  to  Gen  Paine 
— the  new  commander  The  performances  of  the  day  ended  with  Dress  Par- 
ade. 

January  2nd  Thursday  morning- 
Cloudy  air  heavy  and  damp.     Drill  by  Cos.  in  the  forenoon  Set  in  raining  in 
the  afternoon — preventing  Battalion  Drill.     Raining  ceased  towards  evening 
Dress  Parade — finis — 


■Colonel  Buford  of  the  27th  Illinois  in  his  official  report  of  Nov.  9, 1861,  praises  the  work  of  his  men  in  the 
following  words:  "  It  was  our  first  action.  We  encountered  great  odds;  the  enemy  in  his  fortified  posi- 
tion, the  thunder  of  the  heavy  artillery  from  Columbus,  the  whizzing  of  rified  cannon:  we  had  no  guides, 
liow  could  soldier.s  who  had  only  volunteered  a  few  days  ago  be  expected  to  brave  such  odds?  But  they 
did  brave  them."    War  of  the  'Rebellion,  Official  Records,  Series  I.,  vol.  III.,  p.  2S5. 

=  .'^ee  the  report  of  General  Grant  for  the  verificat  ion  of  this  episode.  Nov.  17,  1861.  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, Official  Records,  Series  I.,  vol.  III.,  pp.  269-271.  See  especially  p.  271:  ''At  this  point,  to  avoid  the 
effect  of  the  shells  from  the  gunboats  that  were  beginning  to  fall  among  his  men,  he  [Colonel  Buford]  took 
a  blind  path  direct  to  the  river,  and  followed  a  wood  road  up  its  bank,  and  thereby  avoided  meeting  the 
enemy,  who  were  retiring  by  the  main  road.  On  his  appearance  on  the  river  bank  a  steamer  was  dropped 
down',  and  took  his  command  on  board,  without  his  having  participated  or  lost  a  man  in  the  enemy's 
attempt  to  cut  us  off  from  our  transports."  For  further  light  on  thisengagement  see  Ibid.  pp.  275,277- 
280,  2S2-28.'),  2SS,  2S9,  291. 


233 

Jan.  3rd  Friday  morning  cloudy  & 
misting  rain.  Weatlier  prohibiting  tiie  usual  duties.  Our  pleasant  weather 
which  has  continued  ever  since  the  first  of  September  has  now  taken  its  final 
leave  we  all  think  Dress  Parade  again  this  evening — Notwithstanding 
the  mud 

January  4th    Saturday  morning 
Cold  &  gloomy  as  usual  misting  rain  Co.  on  police  Duty  to  day  the  inclem- 
ency of  the  weather  prohibits  Drilling 

Dress  Parade  as  usual. 

Jan  5th  Sunday  morning  Still  cloudy  &  cool 
Inspection  of  Barracks  at  9  O'clock,  Call  for  church  at  11  am.  where  the 
men  are  permitted  to  go  to  which  church  they  please 

Lieut.  Allen  OSicer  of  the  Guard.  No  Dress  Parade  this  evening  but  Roll 
Call  or  Co.  Report 

1862  Camp  Cairo,  Illinois. 

Jan.  6th  Monday  morning  cool.  Lt.  Williams  with  7  men  were  ordered  in  to 
the  Fort  to  Drill  on  the  artillery.  Battalion  Drill  at  3  O'clock  P.  M.  Very 
short  Dress  Parade.  The  Col.  &  lady  gave  a  party  to  a  few  selected  friends 
this  evening 

Jan  7th    Tuesday  morning  cloudy  & 
misting  rain,  too  mudy  to  drill  nothing  doing  to  day. 

Jan.  8th  Wednesday  morning  cloudy  and  damp 
Raining  the  most  of  the  day.  Rec'd  marching  orders  this  evening  Have 
orders  to  march  on  board  the  Boat  at  12  u'clock  to-morrow  No  Dress  Par- 
ade this  evening  on  a/c  of  the  inclemency  of  the  Weather,  The  Col.  gave 
a  dinner  to  the  Officers  to  day 

January  9th  Thursday  morning  cloudy 
Preparations  making  early  this  morning  for  our  march  Marched  to  the 
landing  at  2  O'clock.  The  Brigade  is  all  ready  for  embarkation  but  there  is 
such  a  fog  on  the  river  that  the  expedition  is  postponed  until  the  fog  clears 
away  The  troops  are  marched  back  to  their  quarters  with  the  expectation 
of  leaving  to-morrow  morning  any  how.  Too  muddy  for  Dress  Parade  this 
evening. 

Jan.  10th  Friday  morning  still 
cloudy  But  the  fog  has  cleared  off  somewhat, — and  we  have  marching  Orders 
for  Ten  O'clock, — At  10  O'clock  we  marched  aboard  the  Memphis  to  gether 
with  the  18th  Regt.  at  about  One  O'clock  we  pushed  out  into  the  stream. 
The  boat  headed  towards  Secessia.  After  3  hours  ride  we  landed  at  Camp 
Jefferson  Six  miles  below  this  place  &  there  went  into  camp  By  night 
Seven  Regts  of  Infantry — about  10  Cos.  of  Cavalry  and  Two  Batteries  of 
artillery  had  landed  and  encamped 

Tl^e  embarkation  and  debarkation  was  accomplished  without  much'  difficulty 
1862  Camp  Cairo,  Ills. 

Jan.  11th  Saturday  morning  cloudy.  From  present  appearances  on^ 
would  think  our  stay  here  would  be  for  several  days — as  there  is  no  stir  in 
camp, — probably  waiting  for  the  other  forces  to  come  up  before  we  take 
up  our  line  of  march  Our  present  camp  is  near  the  ruins  of  Fort  Jefferson. 
A  Fort  erected  in  Jeffersons  time — during  the  Indian  war  upon  the  frontier 
&  was  at  one  time  a  stronghold  of  Daniel  Boone     Dress  Parade  this  evening. 

Jan.  12th  Sunday  morning 
pleasant  but  cloudy,  George  W.  Clarks  24th  Birth  Day  he  is  Corporal  of  the 
Guard  to  day.  Lt.  Allen  has  gone  up  to  Cairo  to  day  for  Provisions.  About 
2  O'clock  our  Regt.  moved  from  our  original  position  to  the  foot  of  the  hill 
for  better  protection  from  the  cold  north  wind  Allen  returned  late  this  even- 
ing   Provisions  for  the  Regt.  for  Five  days. 


^Report  of  GeneralJ.  A.  McClemand,  Jan.  24,  1S62.    War  Records,  Series  I.,  vol.  VII.,  p.  6S. 


234 

Jan.  13lh  Monday  morning.  It  snowed 
a  little  during  last  night,  tis  very  cold  this  morning  Lt  Williams  Officer  of 
the  Guard,  nothing  has  occurred  since  our  arrival  to  disturb  the  quiet  of 
our  camp. 

Jan  14th  Weather  still  very  cold,  march- 
ing orders  have  been  issued  and  at  10  O'clock  we  leave  this  place  for  a  dif- 
ferent locality.  The  10th  &  18th  Regts.  and  one  Battery  of  artillery  in  front 
—our  Regt.  next  the  29th  30th  31st  &  48th  the  train  of  wagons  &c.  Bal 
of  artillery  &  cavalry  bringing  up  the  rear  Near  sundown  we  encamped  near 
a  place  called  Blamville  having  marched  a  distance  of  9  miles  for  the  first 
day. 

Firing  has  been  heard  all  this  afternoon  in  the  direction  of  Columbus  One 
or  Two  of  our  Gun  Boats  have  dropped  down  and  are  answering  them  by 
throwing  a  few  shot  and  shell  into  their  intrenchments 
18G2  Camp  Cairo,  Illinois.     January 

January  15th  still  cloudy  but  warmer.  We  march  at  8  O'clock — 
our  route  is  in  the  direction  of  Columbus,  at  3  O'clock  we  come  to  a  halt  and 
prepare  for  encamping  for  the  night,  on  the  farm  of  an  old  secessionist,  to 
night  we  hear  that  forces  from  Birds  Point  &  Fort  Holt  have  encamped  on 
our  old  Ground  Camp  Jefferson. 

Jan.  16th  Our  march  is  resumed  again 
this  morning — but  not  in  the  direction  of  Columbus.  Our  course  is  now 
towards  Milburn  a  little  town  7  miles  distant  from  our  last  encampment, 
Which  we  reached  about  3  O'clock  P.  M.  On  the  account  of  water  we  had  to 
march  4  or  5  miles  farther  taking  the  direction  of  Paducah  after  leaving 
Milburn  we  encamped  for  the  night  about  9  O'clock.  Lieut  Allen  was  left 
behind  at  Milburn  not  being  able  to  proceed  any  farther,  Lt,  Brock  also 
staid  with  him. 

Jan.  17th  Saturday  morning  rained  like  the 
mischief  last  night.  Our  camp  flooded  with'  water,  ihe  10th  Ills,  have  no 
tents  and  they  are  in  an  awful  fix.  Our  men  have  not  a  full  ration  this 
morning — a  little  grumbling  consequently — traveling  is  awful — roads  are 
very  mudy  Branches  are  high  and  it  rains  almost  continually  The  coat 
tail  of  the  writer  get  very  mudy  and  is  consequently  very  heavy.  WE  travel 
to  within  one  mile  of  Blanville  and  encamp  for  the  night.  The  boys  have 
one  dram  of  whisky  to  night  issued  by  the  Qr.  Master  Lieut  Allen  has  been 
with  the  teams  to  day  not  able  to  walk,  He  caught  up  with  us  at  Love- 
laceville. 

Jan.    ISth    Sunday    morning    Roll    Call    absentees    Privates    John    Hannant, 
Isaac  Lawson  who  fell  behind  yesterday — we  will  lay  here  to  day  as  it  is  the 
Sabbath,  the  boys  are  all  tired  and  are  glad  to  get  a  rest. 
1862  Camp  Cairo  Illinois  January 

January  19th  Monday  morning  Rail  Call  as  usual  And  preparations  for 
an  early  march  to  the  river  from  where  we  started  last  Tuesday  a  distance 
of  about  9  miles.  It  is  our  desire  when  we  get  to  the  river  to  embark  and 
get  to  our  old  qrs  to  night.  But  after  a  hard  days  march  Gen.  McClernand 
sees  proper  to  send  other  Regts  in  advance  of  ours  consequently  we  are  left 
to  encamp  on  the  same  old  ground  Lt.  Allen  has  permission  to  go  to  Cairo 
to  night  as  he  is  unwell. 

January  20th  Tuesday  weather 
still  cloudy  and  cold — ^Well  we  do  not  get  off  till  12  O'clock  and  we  are  de- 
layed at  the  landing  sometime  Arrive  at  Cairo  about  4  O'clock  where  our 
Col.  gives  his  "beloved  Regt."  a  salute  from  the  Fort  and  has  the  portion  of 
the  Regt.  left  behind  drawn  up  in  line  on  the  levee  to  receive  us  which  is 
done  with  all  the  usual  formalities  of  the  military  school.  Then  marched 
to  our  qrs.  where  after  being  drawn  up  previous  to  dismissal  the  Col.  made 
a  few  remarks — expressing  himself  a  being  highly  honored  by  commanding 
such  a  Regt.  for  their  good  morals. 


235 

February  1st  Saturday  morning.  Our 
Regt.  on  Guard  to  day.  Rec'd  our  Pay  yesterday.  Sixteenth  Ills,  arrived 
here  last  night.  To  day  they  have  gone  over  to  Birds  Point.  This  evening 
we  i-ec'd.  marching  orders,  were  countermanded  however  about  8  O'clock. 
Feb.  2nd  Troops  are  embarking  all  day  from  10  O'clock  &  during  the  night 
all  has  gone  on  smoothly,  the  expedition  is  bound  up  the  Ohio  Tennessee  & 
Cumberland  Rivers,  Col.  Buford  is  left  in  command  of  this  Post 
1862.  Camp  Cairo,  Illinois,  February. 

Feb.  3rd  Monday.  Storm  has  abated.  The  troops  that  were  enbarking 
yesterday  will  all  leave  to  day.  One  soldier  was  drowned  yesterday  evening 
by  being  shoved  overboard  Gens.  McClernand  &  Grant  &  Staffs  respectively 
leave  to  day.  Col.  Buford  is  in  command  until  noon  to  day.  Gen.  Paine  will 
then  assume  command  of  the  Three  Posts  with  Head  Quarters  here.  To 
Inclement  for  Dress  Parade. 

Feb.  4th  Tuesday,  weather  moderate,  snow  which 
had  fallen  to  the  depth  of  2  Inches  is  fast  disappearing  mud  mud  everlasting 
oh  how  awful  mudy  it  is.  Very  dull  to  day.  No  news  of  any  consequence. 
We  are  all  hopeful  however  that  the  expedition  which  left  here  will  be  suc- 
cessful.    Roll  Call  now  at  the  usual  hour  of  Dress  Parade. 

Feb.  5th  Wednesday.  No  news  of  the 
expidition  yet.Too  mudy  to  do  any  thing  j^et  but  stand  Guard.  It  rains  about 
half  the  time.  Both  Rivers  are  still  raising,  &  threaten  to  inundate  &  over- 
flow our  camp  The  camp  at  Ft.  Holt  is  nearly  all  under  water  now.  The 
members  of  our  Regt  express  great  chagrine  because  they  were  not  permitted 
to  accompany  the  expedition  and  share  with  it  in  its  perils  &  honors  Capt. 
Parke  Ofiicer  of  the  Day. 

Feb  6th  Thursday  weather 
quite  pleasant,  clouds  cleared  av/ay  to  day  The  sun  shines  bright  &  warm 
&  it  looks  like  spring.  Favorable  hews  from  the  expedition  this  morning 
had  no  Battle  up  to  yesterday — but  guess  they  are  hard  at  it  to  day  at  Ft. 

Henry 

1862.  Camp  Cairo  Illinois. 

Feb  7th  Friday  weather  cold.  Glorious  News,  Two  of  our  Gun  Boats  re- 
turned this  morning  bearing  the  Rebel  Flags  captured  at  Fort  Henry.  The 
respective  loss  is  not  yet  ascertained.  One  of  our  Boats  in  the  parts  not 
ironed  got  pretty  badly  splintered  up.  One  of  the  Rebel  Gens,  was  also 
captured. 

Feb.  8th  Saturday  Weather  cool  &  cloudy 
much  rejoicing  over  the  victory  gained  at  Ft.  Henry  Our  success  in  that 
section  we  think  decides  the  fate  of  Columbus  Rumors  are  current  that 
fighting  is  going  on  in  the  region  of  Ft.  Henry  and  Donelson.  Nothing 
definite. 

Feb.  9th  Sunday  clear  but  cold. 
Guard  mounting  at  the  usual  hour  Lt  Allen  Officer  of  the  Guard.  Inspection 
of  Battalion  by  the  Staff  at  the  usual  hour  10  O'clock  48th  Ind.  arrived  here 
last  night  2  Regts  also  came  down  from  St.  Louis  this  evening  It  is  re- 
ported that  Fort  Donelson  is  taken  by  our  troops. 

Feb.  10th    Monday    weather  cold  cloudy  and 
disagreeable.     No  truth  in  the  reported  capture  of  Ft  Donelson 

Feb  11th  Tuesday  weather  still  cold  no 
news  from  Fort  Donelson  to  day  of  any  consequence  Troops  still  going 
by  way  of  this  place  for  that  point. 

Feb  12th    Wednesday    News  of  the  capture 
of  Roanoke  Island  rec'd  with  rejoicing  weather  moderating.  Clear  &  pleasant. 

Camp  Cairo,  Illinois. 
Feb.  loth  Thursday  morning  Lt.  Williams  Officer  of  the  Guard  to  day  weather 
clear  and   pleasant  in  the  morning  but  changed  towards  night  commenced 
storming  sleeting  and  snowing  with  the  wind  in  the  north. 


•230 

Feb.  14tli  Friday,  morning  weather  extremely 
cold  clear  with  snow  about  i._.  inch  deep.  Report  of  Burnsides  capture  of 
Roanoke  confirmed  this  moi-ning.  The  seige  of  Ft.  Donelson  is  said  to  have 
commenced  both  by  land  and  water. 

Feb  15th  Saturday  weather  still  cold  No 
duty  can  be  performed  except  to  stand  guard  &  perform  fatigue  duty  an  un- 
common amount  of  which  has  fallen  to  our  share  of  late. 

Feb.  IGtli     Sunday,    Our  Regt.  on  Guard  to  day  Lt.  Williams  detailed  with 
40  men  on  fatigue  duty  to  Mound  City  to  day,  more  news  from  Fort  Donelson 
to  day  rather  unfavorable  although  the  reports  are  conflicting. 
1862  Camp  Cairo  Illinois. 

Feb.  17th  Monday  morning  Glorious  news  this  morning.  Ft.  Donelson  is 
taken,  Fifteen  Thousand  prisoners  and  an  immense  quantity  of  arms  and 
ammunition.  A  salute  of  34  Guns  fired  by  order  of  Col.  Buford  in  com- 
memoration of  the  event. 

Feb.  18th  Prisoner  taken  at  Donelson 
are  continually  arriving  Lt.  Williams  detailed  with  a  squad  of  50  men  on 
fatigue  duty  in  town  A  salute  of  10  Guns  was  fired  at  10  O'clock  in  honor 
of  Gov.  Yates  and  Suit  who  arrived  to  day  also  Gov.  Morton.    Weather  fair. 

March  4th  Tuesday  morning.  Left  Cairo  on  the 
Steamer  Illinois.  The  Gun  Boats  5  in  number  and  4  mortars  taking  the  lead 
for  Columbus,  at  which  place  we  arrived  at  about  11  O'clock.  The  Ills.  2nd 
cavalry  had  occupied  the  place  &  the  Stars  and  Stripes  were  floating  from 
the  fortifications.  After  disembarking,  the  27th  headed  by  our  noble  Col. 
marched  to  the  stirring  notes  of  Yankee  Doodle  &  Dixie,  up  the  levee  &  the 
hill  to  the  fortifications  on  the  Bluffs.  This  place  where  nature  &  art  had 
made  the  Gibraltar  of  America  would  have  cost  the  Government  an  immense 
number  of  lives  &  treasure  before  succumbing  to  the  american  arms,  after 
viewing  the  stupendous  works  and  the  different  modes  of  destruction  which 
the  Rebels  had  invented  to  destroy  the  Northern  Barbarian  and  Yankees  as 
they  term  them,  Such  as  torpedoes  &  infernal  machines  which  they  had 
hurried  in  the  earth  promiscously  as  far  back  in  the  country  and  as  far  up 
&  down  the  river  as  the  fortifications  extend  Each  one  connecting  by  wire 
with  a  magnetic  Battery  by  which  they  were  to  be  exploded. i  After  seeing 
all  there  was  to  be  seen  we  marched  back  down  to  town  where  we  went  into 
quarters  Col.  Buford  taking  his  qrs.  in  town  at  the  Columbus  Bank  a  nice 
Brick  Building.  Our  Col.  commanding  is  Lieut  Col.  Harrington  he  has 
taken  his  qrs.  near  the  Regt.  in  a  large  2  story  house  formerly  the  Head 
Qrs  of  the  Rebel  Gen.  Pope.  There  is  quite  a  change  with  weather  this 
afternoon  turned  colder  Col.  Buford  has  assumed  command  of  the  Post.  A 
portion  of  our  Regt  have  taken  up  their  qrs.  in  the  rebels  barracks — built  of 
logs  and  a  portion  are  encamped  in  tents. 

March  the  5th  Wednesday  morning 
cloudy  &  cold  nothing  of  importance  to  day.  Lt.  Lytle  of  Co.  B  has  been 
selected  by  Col.  Harrington  as  acting  adjt.  a  adjt  Rust  is  acting  Brigade  adjt 
for  Col.  Buford  com'dg  the  Post.  The  42d  Regt.  Ills.  Vol.  are  encamped 
upon  the  bluffs.     No  Dress  Parade  this  evening. 

March  6th  Thursday  morning  still 
cloudy  &  cool  Capt.  Parke  Officer  of  the  day.  Lt.  W^illiams  Comp.  C  has 
been  detailed  by  the  Col.  to  act  as  Qr.  M.  until  Qr.  M.  Sears  arrives  from 
Cairo.  A  regular  mail  &  passenger  packet  runs  the  line  between  this  & 
Cairo 


>See  the  report  of  Flag  officer,  A.  H.  Foote,  Mar.  4, 1S62.  War  Reoord.s,  Series  I.,  vol.  VII.,  p.  436. 
In  part  he  reports  as  follows:  "  Columbus  is  in  our  possession.  My  armed  reconnaissance  on  the  2nd 
caused  a  hasty  evacuation,  the  rebels  leaving  quite  a  numlier  of  gun.s  and  paiTiages,amunit  ion  and  a  large 
quanity  of  shot  and  shell,  a  considerable  number  of  anchors,  and  the  remnant  of  chain  lately  stretched 
across  the  river,  with  a  large  number  of  torpedoes.  Most  of  the  huts,  tents,  and  quarters  destroyed.  The 
works  are  of  very  great  strength,  consisting  of  formidable  teers  of  batteries  on  the  water  side  and  on  the 
land  side,  surrounded  by  a  ditch  and  abatis." 


237 

March  7th  Friday  morning  weather  more 
pleasant.  Our  Sutler  arrived  this  morning  from  Cairo.  Dress  Parade  this 
evening. 

March  .5th  Saturday  morning  clear  &  pleasant 
The  absentees  are  those  left  behind  at  Cairo  arrived  this  evening  Dress 
Parade  at  the  customary  hour. 

,1862.  Head  Quarters,  Camp  Columbus  Ky. 

March  the  9th  Sunday  morning.  Weather  pleasant  with  some  indications 
of  rain.  Co.  inspection  on  the  Co.  Parade  ground  at  9.30  A.  M.  Boats  are 
running  quite  freely  between  this  point  &  Cairo.     Dress  Parade  this  evening. 

March  10th  Monday  morning,  had  quite  a 
rain  storm  last  night — but  has  the  appearance  of  clearing  off  this  morning' 
Qr.  Master  Sears  arrived  last  evening.  Every  thing  quite  in  town,  Lt.  Wil- 
liams relieved  from  Duties  as  Qr.  M. 

March  11th  Tuesday  morning  clear  and 
pleasant.  Lt.  Williams  officer  of  the  Guard  to  day.  To  news  of  the  evacua- 
tion of  Manasses  reached  us  to  day  much  rejoicing  over  it  &  the  forward 
advance  of  the  armies  of  the  Potomac. 

March  12th  Wednesday  weather  still 
pleasant.  Lt.  Allen  &  a  squad  of  men  from  our  Co.  after  great  exertions 
have  succeeded  in  drawing  from  the  river  a  Sixty  Four  Pdr.  which  the  rebels 
had  dismounted  &  rolled  into  the  river,  which  he  has  mounted  and  now  every 
morning  and  evening  at  the  rising  and  setting  of  the  sun  he  and  his  squad 
cause  it  to  thunder  forth  the  announcement  of  arrival  or  departure  of  that 
glorious  Orb  of  Day. 

March  13th  Thursday  weather  very  pleasant 
Very  dull  more  so  than  at  Cairo  as  there  is  no  business  going  on  and  very 
few  citizens  are  living  here     Dress  Parade  as  usual. 

March  14th  Friday,  it  rained  very  hard 
last  night,  &  is  still  raining  this  morning.  We  are  under  marching  orders, 
Tis  said  we  are  to  accompany  the  fleet  down  the  river  True  enough  abotit 
11  O'clock  A.  M.  the  flotilla  of  Gun  Boats  hove  in  sight  followed  by  the 
transports  &  mortars. 

We  embarked  on  board  the  Steamer  Silver  Wave.  By  and  by  they  began  to 
shove  out  the  Gun  Boats  taking  the  lead. 

18(52  Head  Quarters  Silver  Wave     Nothing  of  interest 

transpired  until  we  arrived  at  Hickman, — where  we  all  landed,  a  Battalion 
of  the  27th  only  disembarking  headed  by  our  Col.  and  Lt.  Col.  displaying 
our  glorious  old  Banner  &  keeping  step  to  the  soul  stirring  notes  Yankee 
Doodle  &  Dixies  land.  Col.  Buford  flrst  proceeded  to  the  telegraph  office 
where  he  destroyed  their  means  of  communication  &  also  tearing  up  their 
Rail  Road  track  for  a  short  distance.  The  locomotive  having  skeddadled  as 
soon  as  our  Boats  hove  in  sight.    We  lay  here  until  Saturday  morning 

March  loth  Sattirday  morning  cold 
drissling  rain.  The  fleet  gently  get  under  way  this  morning  at  day  break, 
we  proceeded  on  our  way  to  Island  No.  10.  Our  Col.  this  morning  imparted 
to  us  the  glad  tidings  of  the  evacuation  of  New  Madrid  &  the  possession  of 
it  by  Gen.  Pope  with  a  number  of  peices  of  heavy  cannon  About  9  A.  M. 
we  came  very  unexpectedly  upon  a  Rebel  Gun  Boat  the  Grampies  which  was 
wooding  about  a  9  miles  above  the  Island.  She  very  hastily  left  her  moor- 
ings, not  giving  some  of  her  hands  time  to  get  aboard.  The  Benton  which 
was  in  advance  sent  a  few  shots  after  her— but  without  reaching  her.  She 
set  up  a  scream  with  her  whistle — which  she  did  not  abate  until  she  reached 
the  Island.  Arriving  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Island — the  Gun  Boats 
dropped  very  cautiously  down  to  within  3%  miles  of  their  upper  Battery  on 
the  main  shore  &  near  the  same  distance  from  the  Island.  Two  of  the 
mortars  were  towed  into  position.  The  Gun  Boats  then  opened  upon  the 
Island — firing  several  rounds  during  the  afternoon  The  two  mortars  also 
fired  several  rounds  each — but  no  response  was  elicited  from  either  Battery 
Nothing  of  importance  has  transpired  to  day. 


238 

1862  Head  Quarters  Silver  Wave. 

March  16th  Sunday  morning  Still  cloudy.  A  10  A.  M.  Capt  Mores  Co.  to 
which  was  added  Lt.  Williams  by  order  Lt.  Col.  Harrington  to  go  over  on  the 
Mo.  shore  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitering  &  supporting  if  necessary  a 
fatigue  party  under  the  command  of  capt  southward  'which  was  detailed  to 
build  a  bridge  over  a  slough  for  crossing  artillery,  we  were  landed  about 
11  A.  M.  the  fatigue  set  to  v.'ork  bridging  the  slough  while  we  went  down  the 
river  about  one  mile  took  possession  of  a  deserted  farmers  house  had  a  first 
rate  dinner  &  marched  back  to  our  Boat  about  5  O'clock  P.  M.  The  mortars 
4  in  number  kept  up  a  constant  fire  from  10  A.  M.  till  night.  Col.  Buford 
landed  one  Battery  of  artillery, — about  5  P.  M.  &  the  27th  Regt.  to  support  it. 
4  rounds  from  one  Gun  were  fired  at  a  battery  on  the  Island  before  the 
enemy  deigned  to  reply — when  they  did  the  first  shot  passed  within  about 
Fve  feet  of  Lt.  Allen  &  Williams  who  were  standing  on  the  fence  at  the 
time.  They  did  not  stand  for  another  shot — but  got  down  out  of  view  from 
the  enemy.  The  Third  or  Fourth  shot  from  the  enemy  took  off  a  leg  from 
one  of  our  artillerist. — finding  our  Guns  ineffective  we  ordered  back  to  the 
Boats  and  steamed  back  to  our  landing  place. 

March  17th  Monday  morning  clear  &  pleas- 
ant. Nothing  doing  until  1  P.  M.  when  Three  Gun  Boats  the  Benton  in  the 
center  lashed  together  dropped  down  to  within  long  range  of  the  upper  Bat- 
tery— Two  others  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  A  tremendous  heavy 
fire  was  now  opened  from  the  5  Gun  Boats  and  8  mortars  Which  was  re- 
sponded to  with  considerable  spirit — but  without  any  effect.  A  cannon  on 
board  the  St.  Louis  exploded  during  the  heat  of  the  action  killing  2  and 
wounding  6,  was  all  the  men  we  lost  during  the  action.  The  effect  of  our 
firing  on  their  Battery  can  not  now  be  ascertained,  but  we  know  of  several 
Guns  being  dismounted.i 

1862  Head  Quarters  Steamer  Silver  Wave 

March  the  18th  Tuesday  morning,  heard  heavy  firing  at  New  Madrid.  Our 
Boat  moved  up  the  river.  The  Gun  Boats  and  mortars  opened  fire  in  the 
evening.  At  dlii  A.  M.  Our  Boat  went  up  the  river  to  Mr.  Phillips  and  killed 
4  beeves,  After  that  we  dropped  down  the  river  to  our  camping  place.  Our 
mortars  and  &  Gun  Boats  keep  up  a  fire  on  the  enemy  all  night  at  intervals  of 
^2  hour. 

March  19th  Wednesday.  William  H.  Ashley 
died  this  day  at  Cairo.  The  firing  still  continues.  Lt.  Allen  left  the  Boat, 
on  board  the  Steamer  Rob  Roy  in  a  skiff  with  3  citizens  for  the  upper  Ft. 
They  approached  within  200  y'ds  of  it  could  see  One  Gun  Two  empty  car- 
riages, and  about  15  or  20  men  apparently.  Not  doing  any  thing  to  them 
returned  to  the  flag  Boat  Benton  &  reported  to  the  Commodore. 

March  20th  Thursday  Lt.  Allen  aboard  the  Rob 
Roy  in  company  with  Col.  Buford  on  a  recounoissance  but  nothing  of  note 
occurred  this  A.  M.  But  at  dark  Allen  with  Three  men  H.  C.  Foote  Alma 
Jaques  and  Orastus  Bently  approached  within  10  yards  of  the  enemys  Guns, 
in  the  upper  Ft.  and  discovered  the  enemy  mounting  Guns. 
Allen  remained  there  about  an  hour  and  then  returned  to  Com.  Foote.  As 
soon  as  he  had  reported  the  Com.  opened  fire  on  them.  They  then  took  Tug 
Boat  &  returned  to  the  Steamer  Silver  Wave. 

March  21st  Friday  cloudy  &  smokj' 
The  27th  Regt.  of  His.  Vol.  was  transferred  from  the  Steamer  Silver  Wave 
to  the  Steamer  T.  L.  McGill  One  Steamer  with  One  Regt.  left  here  for  Hick- 
man  Ky.   to   protect   the  citizens.     Our   Gun   Boats   continue   to   fire  on   the 
enemy. 

March  22nd  Saturday  morning  little  cannonading  to  day.  Col.  Bissels  En- 
gineering Regt.  commenced  cutting  a  canal  evading  Island  No.  10  through 
to  N  Madrid 


'For  these  movements  see  War  Records,  Series  I.,  vol.  VIII.,  pp.  115-117. 


239 

« 
1862  Head  Qrs,  27th  Steamer  T.  L.  McGill. 

March  23rd  Lt.  Allen  Officer  of  the  Guard  weather  clear  The  Steamer  W.  B. 
Terry  commenced  dropping  through  the  Canal  (which  takes  it  source  at 
Philips  Plantation  and  empties  into  the  Miss  River  again  at  New  Madrid). 

March  24th  Monday  weather  clear  Col. 
Buford  left  the  McGill  went  down  the  River  in  a  tug  to  make  a  Balloon 
reconnoissance.     A  tree  fell  across  one  of  the  Gun  Boats  to  Day  and  killed 

1  man  and  wounding  7 

March  25th  Tuesday,  weather  clear. 
Lt.  Allen  is  detailed  with  30  men  as  an  escort  to  the  Steamers  W.  B.  Terry, 
Trio  Emma,  and  Hettie  Gilmore  under  the  command  of  Col.  Bissel. 

March  26th  Wednesday  morning  clear 
Col  Bissels  command  cut  stumps  all  day. 

March  27th  Thursday  weather  clear 
Col  Bissels  command  penetrate  slowly  to  day  into  the  forest. 

March  28  Friday,     clear.     Heard 
heavy  firing  all  last  night.     Made  slow  progress  to  day. 

March  29th     Saturday    Weather 
cloudy.     Heavy  firing  in  the  afternoon. 
We  made  about  One  mile  to  day.     Received  mail  to  Day. 

March  30th  Weather  clear, 
&  fine  The  Engineer  Regt.  keep  working.  Two  flat  Boats  came  down  with 
4  large  Guns     The  27th  went  to  Hickman. i 

March  31st  Monday  Havy  weather 
The  Eng.  Regt.  began  mounting  the  Guns  on  the  flat  Boats 
1862  Head  Qrs.  Steamer  McGill 

April  the  1st  Tuesday  Weather  clear  The  Gun  Boats  &  mortars  keep  a 
constant  fire.     At  11  P.  M.  we  had  a.  heavy  thunder  Shower  but  short. 

April  2nd  Wednesday.  Weather  cloudy 
Maj  Miles  visited  the  expedition  of  Bissel.     Little  firing  to  day 

April  3rd  Thursday  weather  clear 
This  is  the  10th  day  of  Bissels  expedition  towards  Madrid  Worked  all  night 
last  night  and  arrived  at  St  John's  Bayou    Water  falling 

April  4th    Friday    cloudy 
&  raining.    Rec'd  the  news  that  Buford  was  promoted  to  a  Brig.  Generalship 

April  5th    Saturday    Clear 
The  Gun  Boat  Carondolette  run  the  Blockade  last  night. 

April  6th  Sunday.  Weather 
fine  &  clear  but  cold  at  nights  arrived  at  New  Madrid  The  Gun  Boat  Pitts- 
burgh run  the  Blockade  at  Island  No.  10  last  night  or  this  morning.  Lt. 
Williams  on  board  the  T  L  McGill  had  permission  to  go  ashore  to  day  to  stay 
at  a  farm  house  until  he  regains  his  health  being  quite  unwell. 

April  the  7th     Monday     Cloudy 
&  raining.     Gen  Pope  crossed  the  River  to  day  with  4  Boat  loads  of  troops. 

2  Gun  Boats  silenced  a  Battery  opposite  Madrid.  Lt.  Allen  took  possession 
of  a  commodious  house  for  his  30  men 

a  rebel  floating  Battery  came  floating  down  this  evening  mounting  14  Guns 

we  caught  her  and  brought  her  ashore. 

1862.     Head  Quarters     T  L  McGill. 

April  Sth    Tuesday   Weather  cloudy.    The  Steamer  Emma  went  up  to  Island 

No.  10  last  night.     The  rebels  sunk  4  transports  before  evacuating.    Rained 

all  last  night 

April  9th  Wednesday  Weather  cloudy  Lt.  Allen 
took  his  command  on  board  the  steamer  Emma  at  9  O'clock  and  started  for 
Island  No.  10.  At  12  M.  the  Hettie  Gilmore  and  2  other  transports  brought 
prisoners  from  the  opposite  shore — about  3  thousand  and  and  went  back 
after  more.     Joined  the  Regt.  to  Day. 


'Report  of  Colonel  Buford,  Mar.  31, 1862.-  War  Records,  Series  I. ,  vol.  VIII.,  p.  116. 


240 

April  lltli  Friday  Weather  cloudy  Rec'd  our 
mail.  Our  Regt.  left  Island  No.  10  at  2  O'clock  P.  M.  in  Comp.  with  the 
Silver  Wave  &  towed  a  wharf  Boat  to  New  Madrid. 

April  12th  Saturday  cloudy  &  raining 
Rained  all  last  night.  Still  on  board  the  McGill  waiting  for  orders  from 
■Gen  Pope.  At  1  O'clock  we  went  down  the  River  and  went  ashore  at  Rid- 
dles Point. 

April  loth    Sunday  clear 
Left  Riddles  Point  at  7  O'clock.     At  2  P.  M.  we  were  opposite  Osceola  30  or 
40  Boats  8  miles  above  Ft.  Wright 

April   14th  Monday.     Weather  clear  no- 
thing of  note  happened  up  to  12.     The  first  shell  from  our  Boats  at  Ft  Wright 
at  2-20  P.  M.   At  1  P.  M.  Gen.  Bufords  took  fire  and  burned  to  the  hull.    The 
Gun  Boats  &  Mortars  kept  up  considerable  firing  to  day. 
18(52.  Head  Quarters  T.  L.  McGill. 

April  15th    Weather  clear,  nothing  of  importance  to  day 
April  16th     Wednesday    Weather  clear  and  warm 

The  Barkeeper  on  board  this  Boat  was  sent  ashore  to  day  for  disobedience. 
No  Guns  fired  to  day.  Rec'd  mail  to  day  Capt.  Lemuel  Parke  resigned  to 
day. 

April  the  17th,  Raining  &  smoky. 
The  Fleet  of  transports  started  for  the  Tennessee  River  to  day     We  landed 
at  Upton's  farm  and  wooded       Lt.  Allen  took  command  of  the  Co.  at  dark. 
We  lay  at  the  Wharf  Boat  20  miles  below  New  Madrid  taking  on  provisions 
4  hours. 

April  18th  Friday  raining.  Landed  at  New 
Madrid  at  2  P.  M.  Stopped  at  Island  No.  10  and  Philips  Plantation  for  Lt. 
Williams. 

April  19th  A  Bently  and 
H.  F.  James  get  furloughed  home.  Arrived  at  Cairo  2  P.  M.  Stay  there  8 
hours.     Capt.  Parke  went  home. 

April  20th  Sunday  Weather  cloudy 
and  rainy.  Arrived  at  Paducah  at  Day  light,  at  4  opposite  Karri's  landing 
Tennessee  River. 

April  21st    Monday    Weather  cloudy 
Arrived  at  Savannah  Tenn.  at  9  P.  M.    Col.  Harrington  was  elected  Col.  of 
the  27th    A.  J.  Lides  appointed  2nd  Lt  of  comp.  C.  vice  L.  F.  Williams  pro- 
moted to  1st  Lieutenancy,  arrived  at  Pittsburgh  landing  10  P.  M. 
1862  Head  Qrs  27th  Regt.  Hamburgh  Tenn. 

April  22nd  Tuesday,  at  6  A.  M.  Steam  up  the  River  landed  8  miles  above 
Pittsburg  Landing.     At  6  P.  M.  marched  up  to  the  town  of  Hamburg. 

April  23rd  Wednesday  clear  & 
fine  Sets  our  tents  in  Hamburgh.  One  of  the  finest  camps  in  Tenn.  Richard 
Emery  joined  the  Regt.  again 

April  24th    Thursday,    Beautiful   weather 
Rec'd  marching  Orders.     Lt.  Williams  returned   to  his  Company. 

April  25th  Friday  raining.  Marching 
Orders  with  2  Days  rations.  Marching  Orders  Countermanded.  Our  Co. 
Detailed  as  Grand  Guard  and  it  rained  all  day     No  rain  on  the  night. 

April  26th  Saturday  weather  clear  & 
fine  Returned  to  Comp.  Our  Regt.  marched  forward  2  miles  &  camped  on 
good  ground. 

April  the  27th  Sunday.  Clear  marching  orders 
Left  Thirteen  men  &  all  our  tents  behind.  Advanced  2  miles  and  a  half 
camped  in  the  timber  and  slept  on  our  arms.  Skirmish  between  pickets 
to  day. 

April  28th  Monday  Cloudy  but  cleared  off  fine  about 
noon.  Long  Roll  beat — fall  into  line  of  Battle  Our  Pickets  had  a  skirmish 
with  the  Rebels — killing  one  Major  and  4  men  wounded  several  and  took 
Twenty  Four  prisoners.     Day  ended  clear  but  rained  nearly  all  night. 


241 

April  29th    Tuesday  cloudy  and  raining  on  the  morning. 
Rec'd  orders  for  marching  to-morrow  at  7  A.  M.  with  1  Days  rations. 
1862  Head  Qrs.  27th    In  the  Field  near  Corinth  Miss. 

April   30th    Rec'd   marching  orders   to   day   for  to-morrow   morning   instead 
of  the  29th  a  mistake  in  the  printer. 

May  the  1st  Thursday  clear  and  pleasant.  Preparations  for 
marching.  As  the  companies  have  but  one  team  allotted  to  each  one  of 
them  we  are  compelled  to  leave  our  tents  behind  At  7  A.  M.  The  10th  and 
16th  take  up  their  line  of  march  towards  Corinth.  Capt.  Allen  Officer  of  the 
Day  to  day.  We  march  about  S  O'clock.  The  22nd  is  in  advance. 
Our  Brigade  commanded  by  Gen.  Parmer  [Palmer] — is  composed  of  the  22nd 
Ills,  on  the  right  the  27th  next  then  the  Battery  the  51st  and  the  42nd  Ills. 
4  Regts  and  one  Battery.  The  sappers  and  miners  Col  Bissel  have  been  in 
our  advance  for  several  days  preparing  the  roads — our  route  is  in  a  southerly 
direction  through  a  broken  country — occasionally  a  farm.  We  halted  about 
4  P.  M.  after  marching  about  6  miles  Gen.  Morgans  Brigade — with  Hottel- 
lings  (Houghtaling)  Battery  are  formed  in  the  line  of  Battle  in  our  front 
Our  Brigade  is  next  in  the  same  order.  Roll  call  this  evening  at  the  usual 
hour. 

May  the  2nd  Friday  morning  clear  and  pleasant. 
An  order  has  been  issued  prohibiting  the  firing  of  guns  or  even  the  snapping 
of  caps — within  the  lines  or  without  the  lines  of  any  Regt.  Except  it  be  our 
pickets  or  sentinels  in  the  performance  of  duty.  At  10.30  A.  M.  we  reed 
orders  to  fall  back  about  one  mile  across  a  creek  Gen.  Paine  having  advanced 
his  division  too  far — in  his  eagerness  to  encounter  the  enemy.  After  a  short 
march  we  reach  our  camping  place  a  position  on  the  opposite  side  %  of  a 
mile  to  the  right  and  ly^  mile  to  the  rear.  Forces  in  our  rear  are  rapidly 
advancing 
1862.  Head  Quarters     In  the  Field  near  Corinth  Miss. 

May  the  3rd  Saturday  morning  very  pleasant  but  some  indications 
of. rain.  About  9  O'clock  firing  is  heard  on  our  right  constant  and  seemingly 
heavy  volleys  of  musketry  accompanied  by  discharges  of  artillery.  Gens. 
Paine  Palmer  and  staff  pass  our  Regt.  in  the  meantime.  Gen.  Palmer  told 
the  Guard  that  in  less  that  24  hours  they  will  have  a  chance  to  distinguish 
themselves.  At  10  A.  M.  we  receive  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  in  40  min- 
utes with  one  days  rations  the  team  and  5  men  are  left  behind  knapsacks 
and  the  remainder  of  the  provision  The  men  are  in  good  fighting  order.  At 
11  A.  M.  v/e  move  forward  each  Brigade  holding  their  relative  position.  We 
advance  in  the  direction  of  Corinth  about  6  miles  then  halted.  The  22nd 
moves  off  to  the  right  in  an  open  field  throwing  out  a  comp.  as  skirmishers 
on  the  extreme  right — also  Co.  A  of  the  27th  on  our  left  for  the  same  purpose 
firing  is  heard  in  our  front  at  considerable  distance  In  about  an  hour  our 
skirmishers  return  not  having  encountered  the  enemy.  The  line  of  march 
is  again  resumed — from  what  we  can  gather  the  Enemy  is  about  3  miles  in 
our  front  with  quite  a  large  force  awaiting  an  attack.  Two  miles  farther  we 
pass  a  small  body  of  Cavlry  9  of  the  Enemy  were  killed  in  that  little  Skir- 
mish One  of  our  Men  wounded  in  the  foot  a  little  farther  on  &  we  Came 
to  where  Several  large  trees  had  bin  failed  a  Cross  the  road  near  by  is  quite 
a  large  the  bridge  op  which  has  also  bin  distroyed  the  Sapers  &  Miners 
however  have  bin  at  worke  SinCe  the  Enjine  have  bin  Compeled  to  fall  baCk 
&  a  bridge  is  alredy  Constructed  Sufisent  to  pass  all  of  our  forCes  over 
Sharp  firing  is  nov.^  heard  in  front  we  advanCe  on  open  field  is  Soon  reached 
where  the  10th  &  16th  have  bin  encampt  to  the  right  Cap  the  27  &  22  move 
to  the  left  Hotlings  Batry  Moves  forward  also  to  the  right,  supported  by 
Gen  Morgans  Brigade.  We  move  onward  stopping  for  no  obstacles  whatever, 
the  musket  balls  whistling  uncomfortably  clos — occasionally.  Hotellings 
Battery  now  opens  causing  the  enemy  to  skedaddle  in  a  hurry  taking  position 
again  behind  their  Battery  which  had  not  yet  opened  upon  us.  The  Battery 
belonging  to  otir  Brigade  now  advanced  on  the  extreme  left  with  2,  10  pdr 
Turrat  Guns  &  2  brass  12  pdr  not  being  very  well  manned,  the  firing  now 
from   both   sides   was   tolerably   warm     The   shot   and    shell   from   the   rebel 

—10  H  S 


242 

battery  falling  in  every  direction  but  our  men  all  proved  themselves  heroes — 
not  withstanding  the  heavy  fire  to  which  they  were  exposed  not  a  man 
flinched  but  stood  firmly  at  his  post. 

The  heavy  cross  fire  from  our  battery  &  the  constant  and  well  directed  aim  or 
fire  rather  from  Hotillings  battery  proved  too  much  for  the  southern  chivilry 
and  after  about  one  hours  fight  fled.  The  Battery  taking  one  load  the  Infan- 
try another.  The  enemy  proved  to  be  about  4,500  including  one  Regt.  of 
cavalry  and  one  Battery.  Our  forces  engaged  were  the  22nd  &  27th  Ills,  one 
Battalion  of  sharpshooters — 2  Batteries  of  artillery  the  10th  &  IGth  Ills.  &  a 
squadron  of  Cavalry — A  total  of  about  3.500  men.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was 
considerable  carrying  off  quite  a  number — besides  leaving  12  or  15  of  their 
dead  on  the  field  &  about  25  prisoners.  Our  loss  during  the  day  was  one 
man  killed  &  20  wounded.  We  occupied  the  ground  about  one  hour  during 
the  time  our  cavalry  was  scouring  the  country.  About  6  O'clock  orders  came 
from  Gen.  Pope  to  fall  back  about  3  miles  and  take  up  our  position — -which 
we  did  in  an  open  field  about  9  P.  M.  the  men  tired  and  nearly  worn  out 
rested  on  the  ground  without  tents  or  blankets.  Gens  Pope  &  Palmer  were 
in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  displaying  great  coolness  and  courage. 
May  4th  Sunday  morning  cloudy  with  some  indications  of  rain.  Some 
firing  heard  on  our  left,  about  9  O'clock  we  take  a  new  position  \2  mile  in 
the  rear  of  the  present  one. 

1862  Head  Qr.s.  27th  Regt.     In  the  field  near  Corinth  Miss.     May  4th 

Sen.  Luns  Brigade  consisting  of  the  10th  &  14th  Michigan  &  Yates  sharp- 
shooters now  occupy  the  advance.  Gen.  Morgan's  Brigade  on  the  right 
&  a  little  to  the  rear.  Gen  Palmer's  in  the  rear  of  the  two  Brigades.  It 
commenced  raining  about  11  A.  M.  and  has  kept  it  up  all  day  without 
intermission.  Our  team  arrived  to  night  with  the  knapsacks  and  re- 
mainder of  provisions  &  the  officers  tents.  We  are  nearly  starved  the  men 
have  no  hard  bread  make  out  to  borrow  enough  for  supper.  The  Qr. 
Master  has  not  brought  any  bread  with  him  thinking  the  men  had  enough 
till  to-morrow.  "Curses"  not  very  loud  but  deep  are  "vented"  upon  the  Qr. 
Master  by  the  men,  many  of  whom  after  starving  all  day  have  nothing 
for  supper. 

May  5th.  Monday  morning  raining  hard  has  rained  very  hard  most 
of  last  night  No  reveille  or  roll  call  this  morning.  The  men  have  no  bread 
for  breakfast.  Efforts  are  made  to  borrow  from  other  Regts.  in  the  Divi- 
sion but  they  are  nearly  in  the  same  condition,  consequently  we  have  no 
bread  for  breakfast,  the  men  are  very  much  dissatisfied  &  the  curses  are 
louder  than  last  evening  against  the  Old  Qr  Master.  The  rain  ceases 
about  9  A.  M.  and  at  1  P.  M.  it  is  clear  and  pleasant.  The  Qr.  Master  did 
not  start  back  after  provision  till  late  this  morning — not  having  gone  last 
night  as  he  should  have  done,  the  roads  are  in  a  dreadful  condition.  There 
is  a  camp  report  this  evening  that  Gen  Buell  has  taken  possession  of  the 
Rail  road  on  the  right  running  to  Memphis  &  that  he  also  bagged  a  Brigade 
of  rebels  that  were  on  the  train.  It  is  also  reported  that  our  forces  on 
the  left  have  taken  possession  of  the  road  running  east,  there  is  also 
another  report  that  Com.  Porter  &  his  fleet  are  coming  up  the  Mississippi. 
1862         Head  Qr.s.   27th  Regt.  of  Ills.  Vol.   in  the  Field  near  Corint  Miss. 

Cannonading  is  heard   on  the  right  of  our  position  this 

evening  are  not  certain  whether  it  is  on  the  right  or  at  the  River.  The 
Qr.  Master  has  not  returned  yet  and  curses  are  louder  than  ever.  And  the 
cry  of  "crackers"  crackers"  resounds  from  one  end  of  the  camp  to  the 
other.     Lt.  Sides  Officer  of  the  Guard  . 

May  6th  Tuesday  morning,  quite  cool,  but  clear  as  a  morning  bell. 
No  Qr  Master  yet,  and  the  cry  of  crackers  is  again  heard  through  camp,  this 
time  it  brings  the  Col.  around  and  he  threatens  to  place  every  Capt.  under 
arrest  if  it  is  not  stopped. 

Sergt.  Martin  manages  to  borrow  one  cracker  for  each  man  for 
breakfast — from  the  22nd  Ills.  At  8  P.  M.  our  team  returned  with  pro- 
vision.    Our   teamster — Robt.    Mayo   had   the   misfortune   to   loose   one   span 


243 

of  his  mules  in  crossing  the  bridge  missing  their  footing  they  fell  into  the 
stream  and  v/ere  drowned.  The  cannonading  on  our  right  is  said  to  have 
been  a  fight  between  some  of  our  forces  &  the  rebels — resulting  in  the 
capture  of  a  battery  &  900  of  the  Enemy.  The  Tennessee  River  is  2  feet 
higher  than  ever  known  before.  An  Order  from  Gen.  Pope  was  read  at 
roll  call  complimenting  the  troops  for  their  courage  in  the  little  engage- 
ment at  Farmington  on  Saturday  last  the  3rd  inst.  About  2000  men  are 
at  work  endeavoring  to  make  the  road  passable  btween  here  and  the  River. 
A  light  mail  to  day — 

May  7th  Wednesday.  Camp.  B.  was  out  on  picket  yesterday  and 
relieved  to  day.  The  Qr.  Master  arrives  this  afternoon  with  plenty  of 
provision.  The  16th  are  nearly  suffering  to  day  for  something  to  eat,  as 
their  teams  have  not  arrived  yet  from  the  River.  After  Tattoo  this  even- 
ing we  rec'd  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  in  the  morning  by  7  A.  M.  with 
one  day's  rations  in  haversacks.  The  whole  Army  will  probably  move 
on  Corinth  to  morrow. 

1862  Head  Qr.s.  27th  Regt.  Ills.  Vol.  In  the  Field  near  Corinth  Miss. 
May  the  8th  Thursday  morning  cool.  Assembly  beat  at  7.20  A.  M.  The 
Brigade  in  our  front  in  command  of  Gen  Morgan  took  -  the  lead, — our 
Brigade  following  the  other  Brigades  follov/ing  after  Gen.  Stanley's  Divi- 
sion is  on  our  left — &  2  Regts  of  Cavalry.  .  Our  route  is  over  the  same 
ground  passed  over  by  us  last  Saturday  to  Farmington.  On  reaching  the 
open  ground  or  fields  where  our  skirmishing  began  on  Saturday,  we  found 
Gen.  Morgan's  Brigade  formed  in  close  column  by  division.  Our  Brigade 
formed  in  the  same  manner.  A  messenger  comes  in  from  our  advance  for 
Gen.  Baine  &  staff  to  proceed  forward  as  a  flag  of  truce  from  the  enemy  is 
in  waiting  A  consultation  is  held  &  a  purport  of  the  visit  forwarded  by 
telegraph  to  Gen.  Pope — an  answer  is  soon  rec'd  by  those  holding  the  con- 
sultation the  usual  formalities  having  been  gone  through  with — the  depu- 
tation return  to  their  entrenchments.  The  Sharp  shooters  composing  the 
Yates  Phalanx  are  ordered  forward  as  sitirmishers.  The  Divisions  about 
Fifteen  Thousand  strong  move  forward  into  the  open  Field  on  the  high 
ground.  Here  an  open  scope  of  country  about  %  of  a  mile  wide  stretches 
away  towards  Corinth  for  Two  miles  this  is  a  solid  block  of  farms.  Firing 
now  commences  in  front — tis  our  sharpshooters  driving  back  the  enemy — • 
the  enemy's  pickets.  A  line  of  Battle  is  rapidly  formed — the  line  extending 
diagonally  across  the  field  with  our  left  resting  on  Farmington  &  right 
extending  into  the  timber  skirting  the  North  Side  of  the  open  country 
before  us.  Our  scouting  parties  and  skirmishers  retun  the  way  is  clear 
in  the  direction  of  Corinth  for  some  distance.  We  again  move  forward — 
the  artillery  in  front — we  halt  very  frequently  as  the  skirmishers  progress 
is  very  slow  and  firing  is  occasionally  heard  on  our  left.  After  we  have 
marched  one  mile  our  Regt.  Is  ordered  to  deploy  from  the  open  ground  to 
the  right  into  the  timber,  as  we  advance  frequent  firing  is  heard  on  our 
left,  but  we  are  not  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  any  of  the  Butternut  Gentry. 
The  artillery  stop  occasionally  unlimber  and  shell  the  woods  in  the  front. 
We  are  marching  now  by  the  head  of  column  &  again  by  the  right  flank 
and  sometimes  in  line  of  Battle.  And  notwithstanding  the  thick  under- 
growth hills  &  hallows  ditches  Sloughs  and  creeks — our  Regt  marched  in 
good  order  &  regularity.  Tis  now  5  P.  M.  We  have  reached  a  spot  distant 
about  2  miles  from  Corinth.  Have  halted  and  drawn  up  in  line  of  Battle. 
Heavy  cannonading  has  been  in  progress  on  our  left  for  some  time.  Our 
sharpshooters  are  cracking  away  at  them  in  lively  style — and  the  enemy 
are  replying  as  earnestly.  We  rest  here  near  an  hour  word  is  brought  in 
that  the  enemy  have  rec'd  heavy  reinforcements  &  are  advancing — and 
firing  of  our  sharpshooters  became  more  &  more  distinct  as  they  slowly 
fall  back  orders  are  now  rec'd  to  retrace  our  steps  which  we  do  in  good 
order  reaching  the  open  ground  about  sun  set.  The  line  of  march  is  re- 
sumed again  in  the  direction  of  our  old  camp,  which  is  reached  in  safety 
about    8    P.    M.     The    casualties    of   to    day's    reconnoissance    is    one    Major 


244 

of  the  7th  Ills,  cavalry  killed  &  Three  privates  and  several  of  the  Infantry 
wounded,  all  of  which  was  done  at  or  near  the  Battery  on  our  extreme 
left,  'tis  said  the  enemy's  outerfortifications  are  where  our  forces  came  so 
unexpectedly  this  Battery — &  which  would  have  resulted  in  great  destruc- 
tion to  our  forces  had  the  enemy  been  aware  of  our  approach.  Our  Rgt. 
was  so  unlucky  as  not  to  have  the  opportunity  of  firing  a  single  during  the 
day. 

May  9th  Friday  Morning.  The  men  are  quite  hard  rouse  from  their  slum- 
ber this  morning,  having  marched  very  late  last  evening.  At  9  A.  M.  our 
Brigade  is  ordered  forward  &  encamp  on  the  ground  near  Farmington.  At 
10  A.  M.  the  assembly  beats — v/e  fall  in  on  the  color  line.  We  march  for- 
ward— about  half  the  distance  is  accomplished  when  we  hear  cannonading  in 
the  front.  A  messenger  comes  dashing  on  from  there  asking  for  reinforce- 
ments—stating that  the  enemy  had  advanced  during  the  night  and  was  about 
to  overpower  the  force  left  there  as  pickets.  We  hasten  up  tlainking  it  is 
nothing  but  a  reconnoitering  party.  After  arriving  at  the  open  fields  just 
across  the  creek  and  swamp  &  =;4  of  a  mile  this  side  of  Farmington  our 
Artillery  which  is  but  4  pieces  advance  and  take  position  and  are  firing  at  a 
Battery  which  the  enemy  have  planted  west  of  us — behind  a  skirt  of  under- 
brush, by  this  time  it  is  ascertained  that  another  rebel  Battery  is  stationed 
to  the  left  of  the  former  across  a  deep  hollow  whicli  is  also  obscured  from  our 
view  by  a  strip  of  timber  intervening  the  Two  fields.  The  artillery  firing  now 
become  very  rapid — the  enemy  replying  with  great  spirit — the  shells  are 
falling  rather  close  to  our  position  to  be  comfortably  pleasant  and  we  are 
ordered  into  a  hollow  nearly  for  protection  until  the  infantry  is  called  into 
action  in  order  to  facilitate  our  movements  we  are  orderen  to  unsling  knap- 
sack remaining  here  ij  hour — meanwhile  the  shot  &  shell  are  passing  over 
around  &  on  all  sides  of  us — doing  no  damage  wliatever.  During  the  firing 
Gen.  Pope  arrives  on  the  fieldv — discovers  the  enemy  to  he  in  full  forces — 
telegraps  to  Gen.  Halleck  of  the  fact — &  his  own  force.  Gen.  Halleck  tele- 
graps  him  not  to  reinforce  as  it  would  bring  on  a  General  engagement  & 
he  is  nof  ready,  but  to  bring  his  force  off  the  field.  The  enemy  have  to  be 
held  in  check  till  the  siege  pieces  wliicli  have  started  across  the  bottom  can 
be  turned  back  again.  A  strong  force  of  the  enemy  is  now  moving  to  our 
left  with  the  intention  of  fianking  us, — we  are  ordered  forward  &  occupy  a 
ridge  in  front  of  our  present  position  to  prevent  their  intended  movements. 
We  move  forward  through  a  shower  of  grape  &  shot  &  canister  from  a  Bat- 
tery on  our  right.  Our  line  of  Battle  is  perfect  and  lying  low  to  escape  the 
fire  on  our  right — coolly  await  the  approaching  foe.  But  have  not  long  to 
wait,  their  Banners  &  then  their  head  &  finally  they  can  all  be  seen  advanc- 
ing to  the  brow  of  the  hill  opposite — distant  about  250  yards.  Our  men  are 
eager  now  &  impatient  for  the  order  fire.  A  new  feature  is  now  added  to  the 
scene  before  us.  Galloping  rapidly  to  the  front  and  unllm'oering  a  Battery 
of  6  pieces  of  artillery  turn  their  mouths  full  upon  us,  this  all  done  before 
our  eyes  without  a  single  order  to  fire — by  which  we  might  have  prevented 
such  a  movement — was  too  much  for  human  nature  to  Ijear.  And  a  sensa- 
tion is  plainly  visible  along  our  whole  line  Here  exposed  to  a  cross  fire  from 
the  Battery  on  our  right — the  enemy  seven  Regts.  Strong  plainly  visible  in 
front — with  the  mouths  of  those  six  "bull  dogs"  gaping  in  our  faces — ready 
to  pour  destruction  into  our  ranks. — while  our  own  Regt.  reduced  to  6  comp. 
and  the  22nd.  on  our  right — was  all  the  force  we  had  to  oppose  them  &  with- 
out any  support  whatever— is  it  surprising  that  men  would  falter  under  such 
circumstances.  A  few  men  in  Co.  B.  and  private  Knip  in  our  comp.  impelled 
by  the  idea  that  they  can  see  just  as  well  a  little  farther  back — attempt  to 
fly — but  are  prevented  by  the  OflScers  and  File  Closers.  But  Joel  Knip  is  so 
determined  in  his  resolution  that  he  does  not  alter  it — Capt.  Allen  jumps 
before  him  with  drawn  sword  threatens  to  run  him  through  unless  he  re- 
turns to  his  post.  This  commotion  discovers  our  position  to  the  enemy — 
and  the  consequence  is  the  Shot  Shell  &  grape  are  rattling  around  us  like 
hail.     The  order  soon   comes  for   us   to   fall   back — we  march  back   in  good 


245 

order  to  the  edge  of  the  field — where  we  face  the  enemy  again.  Orders  came 
again  to  fall  back^ — but  the  Col.  mistaking  the  orders  commanded  forward 
and  we  marched  up  again  to  our  first  position  the  grape  shot  meantime 
falling  around  us  thick  and  fast.  It  was  during  this  last  forward  movement 
that  private  F.  M.  Conner  was  killed  Struck  in  the  back  of  the  head  by  a 
piece  of  shell.  Private  R.  H.  Waters  was  wounded  also — for  a  few  minutes 
we  withstood  the  raking  fire  of  the  Two  Batteries.  The  Col.  gives  no  orders 
to  fire.  The  command  again  is  given  to  fall  back  we  do  so  with  some  con- 
fusion— on  we  go  on  the  "double-quick"  across  the  field — pass  our  knapsacks 
hardly  deigning  to  look  at  them — Over  the  2nd  hill  where  we  form  again 
The  Cavalry  now  make  a  charge  upon  the  Battery  which  is  don  in  splendid 
style — throwing  their  Infantry  into  uter  confusion.  We  now  continue  our 
retreat  across  the  bottom  and  back  to  camp  our  line  of  Battle  is  kept  up  till 
dark — we  are  relieved  by  other  Regts.  We  find  the  loss  of  our  Co.  to  be  one 
killed,  F.  M.  Conner,  One  wounded  T.  H.  Waters,  One  missing,  Richard  Felan. 
The  loss  of  our  Regt.  in  todays  engagement,  is  4  killed,  15  wounded  and  2 
missing.i 

May  10th  Saturday  morning  Reveille  beat  at  8  O'clock  A.  M. 
We  handed  in  a  report  of  our  Co.  loss  today  which  will  be  replaced  by 
government.  Gen.  Pope  has  ordered  the  comdg  officers  of  each  Regt.  to  have 
their  men  fall  in  on  the  color  line  at  the  firing  of  one  cannon  at  his  head 
Qrs.  the  2nd  is  a  signal  to  prepare  for  fighting  the  3rd  is  to  disperse  to  qrs. 
May  11th.  Sunday,  News  of  the  evacuation  of  York  Town  is  rec'd 
today  with  great  rejoicing    Roll  Call  at  the  usual  hour. 

May  12th  Monday.  Our  Co.  is  on  picket  Guard  today  The  line 
of  pickets  is  very  heavy.  Rec'd  intelligence  of  the  surrender  of  Norfolk  and 
the  burning  of  the  Merrimack. 

May  13th2   Tuesday  Our  Company  Came  off  picket  nothing  of  im- 
portance Takes  place  To  day 

May  14  Wensday  nothing  of  importance  going  on  here  to  day 
May  15  Thirsday  we  wore  got  in  to  line  of  battle  with  two  days  provision 
in  our  haversack  and  sixty  rounds  of  aminition  we  laid  in  line  Till  Noon 
we  then  got  orders  to  go  to  camp  noting  hapning  of  importance 

May  16  friday  all  is  quiet  here  to  day  nothing  of  importance 
going  on  here. 

May  17  Saturday  we  are  on  the  road  advancing  with  two  days 
provision  in  our  haversack  we  were  on  picket  to  day  we  advanced  our 
picket  line  the  whole  arem  advanced  to  day  we  wore  releaved  at  night  bjr 
general  Nelsons  men 

May  Sunday  18  we  worked  hard  all  night  building  brest  work 
and  all  day  today  we  have  planted  five  seage  peares  to  day  we  are  ready 
for  them  now  if  they  want  to  come 

May  19  Monday  they  are  still  throwing  up  brest  woorks    Thare 
is  heavy  canonading  in  front  on  the  picked  line  but  did  not  amount  to  much 
May  20  tuesday  we  got  paid  of  To  day  we  got  fifty  two  dolars 
All  is  quiet  here  to  day 

May  21  wensday  there  was  heavy  firing  on  the  picket  line  we  got  orders 
to  advance  we  went  about  half  a  mile  halted  laid  down  a  bout  haf  an  our 
then  marched  back  to  camp  thare  was  heavy  cananading  on  our  right  at 
Tenn  o'clock  it  lasted  a  boute  a  quarter  of  an  our 

May  22  Thirsday  there  was  skirmishing  with  the  picket  this 
morning  all  is  quiet  here  nothing  of  importance  hapaned  May  23  Friday  it 
has  rained  hard  here  all  day  the  roads  are  bad  to  travel  on  for  mud  is 
very  deep 

May  24  Saturday,  it  is  Still  raining  here  the  mud  is  very  deep  all  is  quiet 
here. 


'For  the  retvirn  of  casualties  on  May  3  and  9  see  War  Records,  Series  I.,  vol.  X.,  p.  718  and  for  May  9 
alone  p.  805. 
=  The  handwriting  changes  here.    Note  the  spelling. 


246 

May  25  Sunday  we  are  on  picket  to  day  there  has  ben  some 
picket  firing  but  it  did  not  amount  to  much 

May  26  Monday  off  picket  there  was  a    skirmish    on  the    picket    line    the 
Agetent  of  the  14  Michigan  was  cild  nothing  more  of  importance  hapned  to 
day 
May  27  tuesday  nothing  of  importance  hapned  to  day  on  our  line 

May  28  wensday  we  advanced  about  a  mile  to  the  front  there 
was  a  big  artilery  fight  we  were  on  the  reserve  and  did  not  git  in  to  it  the 
troops  in  our  front  are  throwing  up  brest  works  litle  before  sundown  we 
ware  put  at  it  we  got  ours  done  at  eleven  at  night  the  rebels  atempted  to 
take  one  of  our  baterys  but  were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss  the  rebles  tried 
to  shell  us  but  done  no  harm 

May  29  Thirsday  we  have  got  some  of  the  seage  guns  planted  v/e  are  at 
work  at  them  we  can  hear  the  roar  of  the  big  gun  and  the  whistle  of  the 
shell  as  they  through  the  air  our  gun  sheled  them  all  day 
May  30  friday  irley  this  morning  there  was  a  dense  smoke  seen  to  rise 
in  the  direction  of  corinth  the  enimy  are  blowing  up  their  magasene  the 
enimy  have  evacuated  and  our  cavelry  are  in  persuit  of  them  we  got  orders 
to  git  ready  to  march  with  three  days  provision  in  our  haversacks  we 
started  at  five  oclock  in  persuit  of  them  we  marched  eight  miles  the  enimy 
are  in  front  of  us  in  a  position  that  is  hard  to  git  at  they  are  on  Tuscum- 
bia  river 

May  31  Saturday  we  are  on  guard  to  day  there  is  two  companys  of  our  reg 
one  from  the  51;  one  from  the  42  one  from  the  22  we  are  guarding  a  bridge 
two  of  the  enimy  came  in  and  give  up  we  staid  here  all  night 

June  the  first  1SG2  June  1  we  returned  to  camp  this  morning 
the  enimy  having  retreated  our  regement  are  in  persuit  we  over  took  them 
at  danvill  we  rested  a  while  we  crosed  the  Tuscumbia  river  we  wore  caled 
into  ranks  we  wore  ordered  foward  for  skirmishers  this  is  the  first  time  we 
were  ever  skirmishing  we  went  about  eight  miles  we  incamped  near  the  town 
of  rienzia  we  wore  posted  out  till  the  troops  came  up  we  then  returned  to 
camp 

June  2  monday  we  wore  on  the  road  a  litle  after  daylight  we  incamped  at 
Boonvill  we  made  6  miles  to  day  we  have  not  see  any  of  the  enimy  to  day 
June  3  Tuesday  we  wore  on  a  recinoicance  about  eleven  miles  drove  the 
enimeys  pickets  in  we  got  a  few  cild  and  wounded  we  returned  to  camp 
this  was  the  hardest  march  that  we  ever  have  done  late  of  the  men  give 
out  on  the  road 

June  4  wensday  the  boys  are  sore  this  morning  and  grumbling  about  their 
hal"d  march  we  are  at  the  old  camp  about  sundown  thare  came  the  well  nown 
call  for  us  to  fall  in  there  was  rebel  caveyery  reported  beyond  our  picket 
line  we  started  in  persuit  with  a  section  of  artilery  we  went  about  four 
miles  but  found  nothing  and  returned  to  camp  wild  goose  chase 
June  5  Thirsday  we  laid  in  camp  all  day  to  day  the  men  are  sore  and  tired 
and  near  worn  out 

June  6  friday  we  were  roused  at  noon  by  the  long  road  we  took  up  our  line 
of  march  to  the  rear  for  one  mile  then  turned  west  one  mile  we  then  turned 
north  a  ways  and  then  drew  up  in  line  of  batle  and  stocked  our  arms  and 
laid  down  for  the  night  we  are  in  a  nice  grove  of  timber 
Saturday  June  7  nothing  of  importance  going  on  here  we  laid  in  Camp  all 
day 

June  8  Monday  we  got  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  with  four  days  provision 
we  had  inspection  of  arms  nothing  of  importance  going  on  here 

June  9  monday  nothing  of  worth  has  taken  place  to  day  thare 
has  been  troops  pasing  all  the  after-  noon  they  are  going  to  the  rear 
June  10  Tuesday  nothing  of  note  took  place  to  day  we  are  in  the  old  place 
yet 

June  11  wensday  we  fell  in  and  took  up  our  line  of  march  to  the  rear  our 
company  was  in  advance  we  pased  rienzi  to  day 


247 

June  12  Thirsday  we  were  on  the  road  Irley  this  morning  we  pased  Danvill 

and  crossed  the  Tudcombia  river  drew  up  in  line  and  stocl\ed  our  arms  for 

the  night 

June  13  Friday  we  are  in  camp  here  the  most  of  the  boys  are  buisy  washing 

their  close  our  tents  have  come  up  we  have  not  had  a  tent  since  we  left 

farmington  we  had  to  peleace  our  camp 

June  14  Saturday  we  moved  our  camp  aoout  a  mile  and  paked  our  tents  this 

is  nice  camp  the  name  of  it  Camp  big  Spring 

June  15   Sunday  we  had   inspection   of  arms  water  is  not  very  handy   but 

good  when  you  git  it 

June  16  monday  we  had  to  pelease  our  perade  ground  we  started  to  dig  a 

well  there  came  another  shower  and  we  had  to  quit  for  to  night 

June  17  Tuesday  we  had  drill  and  dressperade  the  well  is  not  done  yet 

June  18  Wensday  Drill  and  Dress  Parade  as  usul  the  well  is  not  done  yet 

June  19    Thirsday  Drill  and  Dress  perade  as  useal  the  well  is  done  we  now 

have  plenty  of  water  and  good  water  and  it  is  handy  this  is  a  healthy  place 

June  20  friday    Drill  and  dressperade  as  useal  nothing  of  importance  taken 

place  here 

June   21     Saturday   the    same   old    thing   are   again    nothing   worth    relating 

taken  place  here 

June  22   Sunday  inspection  this  is  the  onily  day  that  has  seemed  like  Sunday 

to  me  for  a  long  time 

June  23    monday    Drill  and  Dressprade  as  useal  nothing  worth  relating  havr 

ing  taken  place 

June  24  Tuesday  the  same  old  thing  are  again  nothing  new  we  had  to  peleace 

our  parade  ground 

June  25  Wensday  the  same  old  thing  over  again 

June  26  Thirsday  our  company  was  on  picket  nothing  of  importance  going 

on  all  quiet  on  our  line 

June  27  friday  of  pick  all  quiet  drill  as  useal 

June  28  Saturday  we  had  a  nice  shower  drill  and  dressperade  as  useal  the 

same  old  thing  over  again 

June  29  Sunday  we  had  inspection  of  arms  this  has  ben  a  very  quiet  day  for 

the  army 

June  30  monday  we  mustered  for  pay  to  day  and  had  dress  prade  it  is  dull 

in  camp  and  makes  one  feel  lazy 

July  the  1  1862  Tuesday 

it  is  raining  this  morning  we  had  to  peleace  our  camp  ground 
we  got  orders  to  be  ready  to.  march  this  evening  we  went  within  two  miles 
of  rienzia  we  stacked  our  arms  and  laid  down  to  sleep  thare  was  onily  our 
brigade  with  us  the  cavelry  had  a  fight  at  boenvill  we  did  not  git  thare  our 
men  drove  them  to  black  land 

July  2  wensday  we  went  back  to  camp  it  was  very  muddy  and  hard  marching 
we  were  tired  out 

July  3  Thirsday  Drill  as  useal  and  Dressprade  nothing  worth  relating  goin 
on  here 

July  4  Friday  there  was  no  drill  but  Dress  perade  there  was  a  salute  fired 
in  honer  of  the  day  we  had  our  post  flag  out  it  was  nice  to  see  the  boys 
gether  round  it  the  day  was  dull 

July  5  Saturday  nothing  worth  riting  going  on  her  to  day 
July  6  Sunday  we  got  orders  to  take  three  day  provision  in  our  haversacks 
and  be  ready  to  march  at  a  minets  warning  we  laid  around  all  day  wating 
orders  but  got  none 

July  7  monday  nothing  going  on  we  are  wating  orders  but  got  none  we  had 
Dress  prade 

July  8  Tuesday  Drill  and  Dressperade  as  useal  nothing  of 
importance  going  on  here 

July  9  wensday  the  same  old  story  here  nothing  worth  riting 
July  10  Thirsday  all  as  useal  here  it  is  dull  here  in  camp 


248 

July  11  Friday  Drill  and  Dressprade  we  had  inspection  of  arms  and  camp 
and  cooking  utencials 

July  12  Saturday  Drill  this  morning  we  have  had  no  mail  for  five  days 
it  is  reported  that  our  mail  has  ben  robed  and  berid 
July  13  Sunday  inspection  of  arms  we  had  preaching  by  our  chaplin 
July  14  monday  the  right  wing  of  our  reg.  is  on  picket  all  quiet  on  our  line. 
July  15  Tuesday  off  picket  returned  to  camp  Dress  perade 
July  ](i  wensday  drill  and  dressprade  as  useal  that  is  all  that  is  going  on 
here  at  presant 

July  17  Thirsday  it  has  rained  all  night  and  is  showery  to  day  there  was 
a  man  cild  in  co  I  by  axident  we  got  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  with  four 
days  provision   at  any   minit 

July  18  friday  we  are  ready  to  march  at  a  minit  warning  one  of  our  men 
died  it  was  lewis  vannoltmurg  we  did  not  move  to  day  but  wait  orders 
July   19     Saturday  nothing  of  importance  going  on   dressprde   this  evening 
July  20  Sunday  we  got  orders  to  march  in  the  morning  we  have  struct  our 
tents  and  are  ready  to  move 

July  21  monday  we  ware  on  the  uoad  by  nine  in  the  morning  we  marched  all 
day  the  weather  is  hot  and  bad  marching  we  incamped  for  the  night  in  a 
peach  orchard 

July  22  Tuesday  we  were  a  stir  irley  this  morning  we  pased  the  town  of 
burnsvill  we  crosed  yelow  crick  this  is  a  very  hot  dey  we  pased  the  town 
of  luka  about  haf  a  mile  and  halted  for  the  hight 

July  23  wensday  we  were  left  here  to  guard  the  railroad  this  is  a  prity 
town  and  a  healthy  place  there  is  some  of  the  nicest  springs  here  out  Co  on 
picket 

July  24th  thursday  we  are  in  camp  most  of  the  boys  went  a 
blackbering 

July  2.5th  Friday  nothing  doen  but  dressperade  in  the  eving 

July  26th    Saturday  there  was  a  detale  to  go  to  Eastfort  to 
draw  provisions 

July  27th  Sunday,    nothing  going  on  in  camp     We  are  on  picket 

July  28th  monday.  nothing  but  dressperade  times  dull  and 
loansom 

July  29th  tuesday.     all  quiet  times  dull  as  useal 

July  30th  Wednesday,  it  rained  a  heavy  shower  to  day  nothing 
going  on  as  usual- — ■ 

July  31st  thursday.    on  picket  all  quiet^ 
Aug  1st  fryday.     of  picket  shot  of  our  guns  return  to  camp 
August  2  Saturday  all  quiet  here   in  camp  nothing  going  on   worth   riting 
August  3th  Sunday  we  moved  our  camp  up  town  close  to  the  railroad  two 
guard  it  the  weather  is  very  warm 

August  4  monday  all  is  quiet  here  nothing  going  on  worth 
riting 

August  5th  Tuesday  there  is  not  much  going  on  here  our  com- 
pany is  on  picket  to  night. 

August  6th  wensday  off  pickt    Dressprade  this  evening 

August  7th  Thirsday  there  was  a  detail  went  to  Eastport  to  load 
comasarys  stores  for  the  post 

August  8th  Friday  nothing  of  importance  going  on  here  we 
had  Dressprade  as  useal  is  all 

August  9th  Saturday  we  wore  paid  off  to  day  we  got  two  months 
pay  the  left  wing  of  our  reg  went  on  a  scant  they  went  to  the  farm  of 
Mr  man 

August  10  Sunday  there  was  preaching  to  day  by  our  Chaplin  our  bois  got 
back  they  got  69  bales  of  coton  and  a  lot  of  mules  and  v.'agones 

August  11th  monday  nothing  of  importance  to  rite  about  we  got 
orders  to  be  ready  to  march  in  the  morning 


'War  Records,  Series  I.,  vol.  XVII.,  p.  147  show  that  the  27th  lUinoi-s  was  stationed  at  Cherokee  Sta- 
tion, Alabama,  with  Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  R.  Miles  in  command  at  this  time. 


249 

August  12tli  Tuesday  we  were  on  the  road  at  three  aclock  our 
bois  took  a  general  spree  last  night  and  did  not  sleep  much  we  crosed  bair 
crick  we  had  to  waid  it  we  laid  up  through  the  heat  of  the  day  at  busards 
rost  we  pased  dirisons  station  about  two  miles  halted  for  the  night 

August  13th  wensday  we  were  on  the  road  irley  we  pased  a 
station  I  did  not  lurn  the  name  we  trotted  through  the  heat  of  the  day  we 
halted  on  a  little  crick  for  the  night 

August  14th  Thirsday  we  ware  on  the  road  irley  we  reached 
Tuscumbia  about  nine  o  clock  we  went  into  camp  here  this  is  one  of  the 
hotest  days  that  I  ever  say  we  are  in  alabama  the  water  here  is  good  and 
one  of  the  bigest  springs  out 

August  15th  Friday  nothing  of  importance  going  on  here  at  present 
August  16th  Saturday  all  quiet  here  nothing  to  ceep  life  in  one  it  is  lone- 
some here 

August  17th  Sunday  inspection  of  arms  nothing  else  done 
August  18th  monday  we  mustered  to  day  for  pay  we  got  order  to  march  at 
three  oclock  in  the  morning 

August  19  Tuesday  we  ware  on  the  road  irley  we  polled  for  rest  at  the 
town  of  Laiton  we  halted  for  the  night  at  town  crick  thore  was  a  detail 
to  git  watermelons  of  the  regth 

August  20th  wensday  on  the  road  irley  we  pased  the  town  of  courtland  we 
rested  here  a  while  we  halted  for  the  night  at  the  last  place  in  the  world 
I  think  thare  was  a  detail  for  picket 

August  21st  Thursday  we  are  again  on  the  rod  we  have  gone  into  camp  on 
foxcrick  near  a  big  peach  orchard  our  men  made  the  peaches  sufer 
August  22d  Friday  we  got  orders  to  fall  in  for  the  guriles  have  run  the 
train  of  the  track  and  burnt  it  about  three  miles  from  hear  company  A  and 
CO.  c.  started  in  persuit  of  them  under  comand  of  the  maigar  schmitt  we 
went  to  trinety  on  the  railroad  track  we  were  then  in  haf  a  mile  of  them 
we  took  the  mountain  road  to  cut  them  of  we  went  about  a  mile  when  we  dis- 
covered them  in  the  valley  opisite  us  we  advanced  about  haf  way  down  the 
mountain  we  got  orders  to  halt  and  fire  the  rebles  run  without  returning  if 
we  fell  back  to  the  mountain  road  we  marched  by  the  right  flank  we  did  not 
go  far  before  we  met  another  squad  of  them  we  opned  fire  they  run  without 
returning  it  we  had  to  fall  fack  for  fear  of  beaing  cut  of  we  fell  back  to 
trinety  we  met  reinforcements  but  the  enimy  had  gone  we  were  left  at  trinety 
to  guard  the  railroad 

August  23d  Saturday  we  went  out  on  a  scant  but  found  nothing  there  was 
a  detail  of  six  left  to  watch  a  house  but  found  nothing 

August  24th  Sunday  all  is  quiet  here  in  camp  it  is  reported  that  cild  five  and 
wounded  several  we  did  not  git  a  man  hurt 

August  25th  monday  there  was  a  detail  went  to  our  old  camp  for  rations 
we  have  plenty  of  fresh  pork  for  the  bois  cill  four  and  five  a  day  and  plent 
of  chickens 

August  26th  Tuesday  all  is  quiet  here  nov/  as  one  would  wish  the  bois  go 
forging  when  ever  they  please  and  we  live  in  fine  stile 

August  27th  wensday  there  was  an  a  larm  given  last  night  it  was  false  the' 
sentinel  got  fritened  and  shot  of  his  gun  and  run  in  this  place  is  caled  fort 
Tain 

August  28th  Thirsday  thare  was  a  detail  of  five  men  went  into  the  mountains 
but  found  nothing 

August  29th  Friday  all  is  quiet  here  nothing  going  on  here  but  eating  and 
laying  round  camp 

August  30th  Saturday  nothing  of  importance  going  on  here  at  present 
August  31  Sunday  all  is  quiet  in  camp  nothing  of  importance  to  rite  about 

September  the   1st  monday  1862 
there   was    a   fine   shower    it    refreshed    everything   very    much    one    of    our 
bois  died  in  the  hospital  it  was  Sam  brown 


250 

September  2  Tuesday   there  was  a  detail  went  out  forging  they  got   a  lot 

of  turkeys  all  quiet  here 

September  3d  wensday  we  we  went  up  in  to  the  mountains  after  a  team  it 

belonged  to  a  widow  womon  it  was  all  the  team  she  had  the  lieutenant  put 

it  to  vote  whater  we  should  take  it  or  not  we  voted  not  to  take  it  she  came 

out  and  thanked  us 

September  4th  Thirsday  our  bois  got  a  team  at  the  tanyard  we  left  here  at 

two   o  clock   for   decato    we   got    thare   at   dusk   stacked    arms   thare    was    a 

detail  to  take  the  wagons  over  the  river  they  peried  all  night 

September  5th  Friday  by  eight  we  were  all  over  and  took  up  our  line  of 

march  north  we  marched  all  day  it  was  very  hot  marching  we  incamped  by 

a  big  spring 

September  Gth  Saturday  we  were  on  the  road  irley  we  pased  the  town  of 

athens  we  halted  for  the  night  in  the  thick  brush  our  other  brigad  joined 

us  here  general  parmer   (Palmer)   has  comand  of  the  division 

September  7th  Sunday  we  were  on  the  road  irley  we  were  rear  guard  the  16th 

reg  got  fired  into  going  through  a  pass  and  four  wounded   none   cild   the 

rebels  run  as  soon  as  the  had  fired  on  us  we  pased  elkton  we  forded  elk 

river  we  have  pike  road  now  we  camped  in  a  flat  botom 

September  8th   monday  we  were   on   the  road   irley  w^e  pased   the   town   of 

pulaski  we  incamped  for  the  night  in  an  old  field  it  rained  a  heavy  shower 

the  boys  all  have  sore  feet 

September  9tb  Tuesday  we  were  on  the  road   irley  we  pased   the  town   of 

Linvill  we  Incamped  at  Calumbia  on  duck  river  there  was  a  skirmish  with 

the  rear  guard  but  did  not  a  mount  to  much 

September   10th    wensday   on    picket    last   night   all    was   quiet   on    the    road 

irley  the  rebles  fired  into  the  rear  before  they  got  started  ciling  one  man  one 

of  our  six  pounders  opned  on  the  town  and  sheled  it  the  rebs  had  to  travel 

we  pased  the  town  of  spring  hill  we  incamped  for  the  night  in  a  grove  of 

nice  timber  the  rebles  folowed  us  all  day 

September   11th   Thirsday   on   the    road   irley   we   were   stationed    along   the 

train  to  guard  it  we  pased  the  town  of  franklin  this  is  a  nice  place  the  girls 

come  out  and  give  the  boys  fiags  we  incamped  in  two  miles  of  Nashvill 

September  12th  Friday  we  are  incamped  here  we  have  made  one 
hundred  and  sixty  miles  in  seven  days  and  a  haf  and  had  brigade  drill 
bacase  one  of  the  bois  shot  his  gun  off  axidently 

September  13th  Saturday  we  went  out  on  a  scout  we  went  four  miles  it 
was  very  hot  and  a  good  meny  of  the  boys  give  out  it  was  reported  that 
our  forige  train  was  atacked  but  it  was  a  mistake 

September  14th  Sunday  the  boys  got  up  cross  nothing  right  we  had  inspec- 
tion there  was  another  gun  fired  we  had  to  have  brigade  drill  again  they 
punish  the  brigade  for  what  one  man  does 

September  15th  monday  we  moved  our  camp  to  town  on  calige 
hill  there  v/as  two  of  the  19  regth  shot  by  one  of  the  sitisens  they  had  to 
call  out  the  42  regth  to  ceep  the  bois  from  hanging  him  without  guge  or 
Jury  they  burnt  his  house  we  are  on  haf  rations  for  a  few  days  this  is 
nice  place  for  as  large  a  place 

September  16  Tuesday  nothing  going  on  in  camp  here  at  presant 
September  17  wensday  on  picket  all  quiet  we  had  a  nice  shower  the  guards 
are  pressing  all  the   negroes  to  work  on  the  fort  and   fortifications   round 
town 

September  18th  thirsday  off  picket  and  returned  to  camp  three  of  our  bois 
got  tight  up  town  and  got  in  the  work  house  we  have  had  no  mail  for  a  long 
time  our  comunication  is  cut  of  and  what  we  eat  we  have  to  forige  for 
September  19th  Friday  the  right  wing  of  our  regth  is  throwing  up  intrench- 
ments  we  are  fortifying  the  town  and  building  three  forts  there  was  eight 
wagons  taken  and  burnt  and  thirty  four  mules  by  the  guriles  and  several  of 
our  me[n]  wounded 

September  20th  Saturday  thare  was  a  detail  to  forige  for  corn  and  hay  thare 
was  a  train  left  here  after  wards  the  guriles  fired  into  it  and  wounded  two 
of  our  regth 


251 

September  27th  Sunday  on  picket  all  quiet  on  our  line  the  day  passed  of 
very  quiet. 

September  22d  monday  off  picked  shot  of  our  guns  and  returned  to  camp 
we  had  coffee  the  first  for  a  long 

September  23d  Tuesday  nothing  going  on  here  for  to  day 
nothing  of  importance  having  taken  place  here  to  day 

September  24th  wensday  thare  was  a  detail  to  go  forging  nothing  of  import- 
ance having  taken  place  here  to  day 

September  25th  Thirsday  all  is  quiet  here  nothing  but  the  same  old  thing 
tune  all  the  time 

September  26th  friday  it  is  reported  that  they  are  fiting  on  the  pike  we  got 
orders  to  hold  our  selvs  in  readiness  to  move 

September  27th  Saturday  there  was  no  fight  yesterday  as  reported  all  is  quiet 
here  at  presant 

September  28th  Sunday  there  was  a  flag  of  truse  came  in  and  demanded 
the  surender  of  the  sity  negley  told  them  if  they  wanted  it  to  come  and  take 
it  we  got  six  roundzs  of  catriges 

September  29th  mondady  on  picket  all  quiet  they  have  not  taken  us  yet 
nor  are  they  likely  to 

September  30th  Tuesday  off  picket  shot  off  our  guns  and  returned  to  camp 
the  rebels  time  is  out  that  they  give  us  to  surender  and  we  are  here  yet 
and  no  sines  of  leaving 

October  the  1st  wensday  1862 
we  were  wakened  at  twelve  at  night  we  marched  till  after  daylight  we  halted 
at  goadleys  vill  drew  up  in  line  of  batle  laid  till  after  nine  and  then  started 
back  the  cavelrey  had  a  skirmish  with  the  rebles  they  cild  several  and  took 
fifteen  prisners  in  all  we  did  not  lost  a  man  we  got  back  at  noon 

October  2d  Thirsday  at  two  oclock  we  were  caled  into  line  to 
go  forging  we  got  lots  of  corn  and  bay  the  bois  got  to  stealing  chickens  and 
sweet  potatoes  the  conel  found  it  out  and  is  going  to  punish  them  he  had 
the  regth  surched 

October  3d  Friday  thare  was  a  rebel  captin  cild  yesterday  we 
went  out  and  beried  him  nothing  of  importance  to  rite 

October  4th  Saturday  nothing  of  importance  done  here  to  day 

October  5th  Sunday  inspection  of  arms  and  preaching  nothing 
more  for  to  day 

October  6th  monday  nothing  going  on  here  in  camp  to  day  we 
got  got  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  at  twelve  at  night 

October  7th  monday  we  went  fifteen  miles  to  the  town  of  Iverme 
and  routed  a  camp  of  rebles  cild  thirty  and  wounded  eighty  took  three 
hundred  prisners  their  camp  and  equipage  fell  into  our  hands  and  some 
provision  which  we  stood  greatly  in  need  of  we  got  their  colors  and  one 
piece  of  artilery 

we  had  two  cild  and  several  wounded 

October  8th  wensday  all  quiet  in  camp  we  have  two  days  rest  for  our  good 
conduck  yesterday  at  leverne  [Lavergne] 

October  9th  Thirsday  we  have  to  day  for  rest  we  have  not  got  comunlcation 
yet  from  the  north 

October  10th  Fryday  on  picket  all  quiet  on  our  line  it  has  rained  all  the  after 
noon  thare  was  a  flag  of  truce  come  in 

October  11th  Saturday  off  picket  it  was  cold  last  night  and  It 
rained  all  night  we  suferd  some  from  cold  we  have  got  no  over  coats 
October  12th  Sunday  inspection  of  arms  and  napsacks  the  weather  is  still 
cold  most  of  the  boys  are  buisy  making  shell  rings 

October  13th  monday  all  is  quiet  in  camp  here  to  day  nothing  of  importance 
going  on  here  at  Presant 

October  14th  Tuesday  nothing  of  importance  going  on  here  nothing  to  rite 
about  for  to  day 


252 

October  15th  wensday  we  had  drill   to  day  and   dressprade  we  are  on  half 

rations  and  have  ben  ever  sence  we  ben  here  it  reported  that  buels  army  will 

be  here  tomorrow 

October  Itlth  Thirsday  thare  is  some  growling  about  grub  here  none  of  the 

boys  satisfied  Dressprade  this  eavning 

October  17th  Fryday  Drill  and  dressprade  nothing  else 

October  18th   Saturday  the  oficers  had  us  up  in   ranks  at  four  oclock  it  is 

reported  that  thare  is  a  body  of  rebles  in  three  miles  of  us  we  ware  on  picket 

all  quiet  on  our  line 

October  l!)th  Sunday  off  picket  shot  off  our  guns  and  returned  to  camp  it  was 

a  cold  night  last  night  our  grub  is  giting  short  we  have  onily  one  meal  of 

beaf  a  day  we  have  nothing  but  bread  to  day  and  short  alowence  of  that 

some  of  the  boys  are  talking  of  stacking  arms  if  they  dont  git  more  but  they 

wont  it  is  onily  talk 

October  20th  monday  there  was  a  detail  went  forging  for  grub 
and  forige  nothing  of  importance  done  here  to  day. 

October  21st  Tuesday  the  rebels  made  a  dash  on  the  picket  line 
captured  company  c  of  the  22  regth  and  their  maigor  the  rebles  had  on  our 
uniform  and  they  thought  they  ware  our  men  we  got  orders  to  git  ready 
to  march  with  one  days  grub  but  we  had  none  to  take  we  fell  in  at  eight 
and  marched  down  town  and  crosed  the  river  and  got  into  the  wagons  and 
started  the  78th  pencilvania  had  a  fight  yesterday  with  twelve  hundred 
cavelery  they  drove  them  7  miles  cild  several  and  wounded  several  taking 
15  prisners  besides  their  conel 

Octobei»22d  wensday  at  day  light  found  us  at  general  Donilson 
plantation  twenty  miles  from  Nashvill  we  loaded  our  train  of  four  hundred 
wagones  and  geatherd  all  the  sheep  and  hogs  and  catle  and  started  back 
we  had  a  big  drove  we  see  no  rebels 

October  23d  Thirsday  nothing  going  on  here  there  was  a  forse 
went  out  on  this  side  of  the  river  they  got  a  big  drove  of  stock  and  lots  of 
forige  the  weather  is  cold  we  see  the  hardest  time  that  we  ever  did  see 

October  24th  Fryday  nothing  of  importance  going  on  here  for 
the  day 

October  25th  Saturday  all  is  dull  here  at  presant  nothing  to 
rite  nor  eny  thing  else 

October  26th  Sunday  it  snowed  last  night  near  too  inches  deep 
last  night  it  is  cold  all  quiet 

October  27th  monday  nothing  of  importance  going  on  here  to 
day 

October  28th  tuesday  on  picket  all  is  quiet  on  our  line  to  day 
nothing  to  ceep  up  excitement 

October  29th  wensday  of  picket  shot  off  our  guns  returned  to 
camp  we  had  skirmish  drill  this  after  noon  we  driled  to  the  sound  of  the 
bugle 

October  30th  Thirsday  we  went  forging  we  got  lots  of  forige  retured  before 
night 

October  31st  Friday  we  mustered  for  pay  to  day  and  had  revew  we  have  to 
live  on  hard  bread 

November  the  1st  Saturday  1862 

we  had  drill  here  today  we  have  a  good  time  if  we  are  cut  off 
from  our  friends  and  on  haf  rations 

November  2d  sunday  there  was  inspection  of  arms  and  napsacs  to  day  we 
have  preaching  here  every  Sunday 

November  3d  monday  nothing  of  importance  going  on  here  we  have  corn 
coffee  now  by  giting  the  corn  and  parching  it  we  had  Drill  in  the  manuel  of 
arms  for  one  our  we  hear  all  cinds  of  report  here 

November  4th  Tuesday  we  had  Drill  as  useal  here  nothing  new  to  rite  for 
to  day  all  is  quiet  in  camp 

November  5th  wensday  we  were  awakened  last  night  by  two  or  three  volleys 
of  musketrey  on  the  picket  line  we  were  orderd  to  fill  our  canteens  with 


253 

water  we  laid  round  till  daylight  our  picket  line  was  drove  back  haf  a  mile 

a  rebel  batery  opned  but  fell  short  and  did  no  harm  the  42  and    22  and  our 

batery  was  orderd  out  they  drove  the  rebels  back  we  were  orderd  out  and 

formed  in  line  of  batle  we  did  not  git  to  fire  we  went  on  picket  at  twelve 

thare   was  heavy   canonading   on   the  fronkling  pike   they   drove   the   rebles 

of  general  morgon  took  over  a  hundred  prisners  and  two  peaces  of  artilery 

I  think  the  rebles  have  got  a  nuf  of  taking  nashvill  our  loss  is  light 

November  6th  Thirsday  off  picket  all  quiet  on  our  line  we  suferd  from  the 

cold  it  rained  all  night  we  beried  two  rebles  that  were  cild  on  our  post  by 

the    fifty   first   when   the  atack  was   made   the   advance   of   rosecrants   army 

came  in  last  night  the  convalesents  of  our  regtli  came  in 

November  7th  fryday  we  were  orderd  out  with  two  days  provision  in  our 

haversacks  we  went  to   michelvill  we  pased   one   division  of  our  army  we 

pased  goodleysvill  reashed  michelsvill  about  nine  at  night  we  are  after  grub 

November  8th  Saturday  we  did  not  sleep  much  we  bult  a  big  fire  and  laid 

by  it  we  have  ben  loading  our  teams  all  day  we  will  be  ready  to  start  back 

at  three  in  the  morning  troops  have  ben  pasing  here  all  day  for  Nashvill 

November  9th  sunday  at  three  we  wore  on  the  road  we  made  in  tenn  miles 

of  nashvill  we  pased  six  hundred  and  seventy  wagons  going  after  grub  we 

will  have  plenty  now 

November  10th  monday  we  maid  nashvill  by  day  light  thare  was  a  heavy 

frost  we  have  had  a  hard  march  of  it 

November  11th  Tuesday  thare  is  general  revew  here  to  day  our  reg'th  did 

not  go  out  we  were  on  brigade  guard  the  troops  were  revewed  by  general 

resencrant  in  person 

November   12th   wensday  it   rained  last  night  we   got  our   mail   to   day   we 

had  a  good  time  reading  our  leters 

November  13th  thirsday  nothing  of  importance  we  had   Dressprade  we  cut 

quite  a  swell  we  have  got  while  gloves  and  dresscoats 

November  14th  friday  dressprade  as  useal  nothing  else  of  importance  to  rite 

about  for  to  day 

November  15th  Saturday  we  are  on  picket  all  quiet  on  our  line 

November  16th  sunday  off  picket  returned  to  camp  nothing  of 
importance  going  on  in  camp 

November  17th  monday  nothing  of  importance  going  on  here 
November  18th  tuesday  it  rained  all  night  nothing  of  importance  going  on 
in  camp 
November  19th  wensday  on  picket  all  quiet  on  our  line  it  rained  to  day 

November  20th  thirsday  off  picket  returned  to  camp  nothing 
futher  for  the  day 

November  21st  friday  nothing  of  importance  capt  alien  gat  back  he  has  ben 
home  he  left  lis  at  luka 

November   22th    Saturday    the    weather    is    chiley    her    nothing   going    on    in 
camp  thare  was  a  heavy  frost 
November  23d  sunday  on  picket  all  quiet  on  our  line  it  is  cold  and  chiley 

November  24th  monday  off  picket  returned  to  camp  all  quiet  in 
camp 

November  25th  tuesday  nothing  going  on  in  camp  it  is  lone- 
some her  thare  was  a  big  fire  in  town 

November  26th  nothing  of  importance  we  have  to  go  on  picket  tomorrow  it 
is  cold  here 

November  27th  thirsday  we  wore  awakened  at  one  with  orders  to  git  ready 
to  march  at  thre  with  two  days  provision  in  our  haversacks  and  one  in 
the  wagons  we  wore  on  the  road  a  little  after  three  we  took  the  sharlott 
pike  and  went  21  miles  the  guriles  fired  on  us  we  camped  for  the  night  on 
harpers  river  we  wore  tired  and  had  very  sore  feet 

November  28th  friday  the  guriles  fired  on  our  picket  in  the 
night  and  they  all  run  but  one  of  our  boys  James  rose  he  stood  his  ground 
the  guriles  [guerrila]  run  we  started  back  at  neight  we  maid  nashvill  by 
dark  the  men  were  nearley  give  out  we  goat  a  rebel  captin  and  two  or  three 
privats 


254 

November  29th  Saturday  we  rested  to  day  from  all  duty 

November  30th  Sunday  on  picket  all  is  quiet  on  our  line  nothing 
worth  riting  it  rained  some  to  day. 

December  the  1st  A.  D.  1862 
of  picket  returned  to  camp  nothing  going  on   in  camp  all   is   dull  nothing 
to  ceep  xcitement  up 

December  2nd  tuesday  we  moved  our  camp  about  three  hundred  yards  this  is 
not  as  good  a  camp  as  the  other 

December  3d  wensday  on  picket  all  quiet  on  our  lines  we  have  plenty  of 
duty  to  do  here  at  presant 

December  4th  thirsday  off  picket  returned  to  camp  we  are  sining  the  pay 
roll  for  two  months  pay  and  there  is  five  due  us 

December  5th  friday  we  got  paid  off  to  day  we  setled  for  our  close  it  snowed 
to  day  it  is  cold 

December  6th  Saturday  nothing  going  on  it  is  lomesome  here  some  of  the 
bois  got  on  a  bust  and  had  a  fight  we  let  them  fight  it  out 

December  7th  Sunday  of  picket  all  quiet  on  our  line  nothing  of  importance 
going  on  here 

December  8th  monday  off  picket  returned  to  camp  nothing  else  for  the  day 
it  is  dull  here 

December  9  tuesday  we  got  orders  to  march  with  three  days 
provision  in  our  haversacks  we  fell  in  and  started  and  then  got  orders  to 
come  back  to  camp  we  stacked  our  arms  and  are  wating  orders 

December  10th  wensday  we  got  order  to  strike  our  tents  and 
be  ready  to  march  at  tenn  we  moved  to  the  front  six  miles  to  camp  sherden 
we  piched  our  tents  on  a  hill  side  it  is  a  nice  camp  in  the  timber 
December  11  thirsday  on  picket  all  quiet  on  our  line  it  is  reported  that 
there  is  a  large  body  of  the  enimy  in  front  but  we  have  not  seen  any  thing 
of  them 

December  12  friday  off  picket  returned  to  camp  nothing  going 
on  in  camp 

December  13  Saturday  we  have  dressprade  in  the  morning  now 
we  drawed  overcoats  to  day 

December  14  Sunday  nothing  going  on  here  in  camp  it  is  dull 
her  and  lonesome 

December  15th  monday  we  had  Dress  prade  it  rained  in  the  afternoon  so 
that  we  could  not  drill 

December  16th  tuesday  we  were  awakened  at  three  with  orders  to  have  three 
days  provisions  in  our  haversacks  and  be  ready  to  march  at  six  but  we 
did  not  go  we  had  Drill  in  the  four  noon  nothing  of  importance  going 
on  in  camp 

December  17th  wensday  peleocing  our  camp  nothing  firther  we  went  forging 
in  the  after  noon  got  back  at  dusk 

December  19th  thirsday  we  had  Dressprade  no  drill  we  had  to  fix  our  tents 
a  litle  on  picket  to  morow 

December  19  fryday  on  picket  we  are  on  the  reserve  all  quiet  on  our  line  for 
the  day 
December   20th   Saturday   off  picket   returned  to   to   camp   all   still   in   camp 

December  21st  Sunday  had  Dressprad  and  inspection  of  arms 
all  quiet  in  camp 

December  22d  monday  we  had  Dressprade  as  useal  we  had  in- 
spection of  napsacs  the  conolonel  shoed  the  boys  how  they  ought  to  pack 
them  we  had  Brigade  drill  this  after  noon 

December  23d  tuesday  we  went  forging  all  quiet  got  back  to 
camp  litle  after  noon 

December  24  wensday  we  got  orders  to  march  at  six  but  did  not 
start  till  after  noon  we  went  about'  half  a  mile  halted  staid  awhile  then 
marched  back  to  camp  we  had  struck  our  tents  we  are  wating  orders  but 
got  none 


255 

Canpi  Sheridon  DeCember  25th  Thursday  Christmas  having  Come  and  found 
us  lying  Out  without  eny  tents  thoe  about  9  Oclocli  orders  Come  to  pitch 
tents  a  gain  and  the  trups  past  the  day  off  in  perfeCt  quietness  till  eavning 
when  orders  Came  to  form  the  regment  by  Compnys  and  reCeive  a  treat  of 
Mint  Jelop  wiCh  the  Cornel  had  furnished  by  him  it  Caused  some  litle  dis- 
turbinCe  during  the  fore  part  of  the  night 

Camp  Sheridon  DeC  2Gth  Friday 
This  Morning  at  4  oClock  roal  Call  Sounded  and  orders  was  giving  to  air 
prep  3  days  rations  and  to  put  2  in  the  wagon  Making  5  in  all  and  prepair 
to  March  by  daylight  and  at  6  OCloCk  Genral  Mc  Cooks  Corps  was  on  the 
difrent  roads  MarChing  towards  Nolensvill  and  a  bout  10  OCcloCk  it  Com- 
enCed  raining  thoe  it  did  not  Stop  the  advanCe  of  the  trups  and  a  bout  12 
oClock  We  Came  a  pon  the  enymes  Calvery  piCkets  tha  wer  posted  a  pon  a 
hill  a  Cross  a  Creek  and  tha  had  blouen  up  the  Stone  bridge  to  prevent  out 
advanCe  thoe  the  27th  was  throuen  out  as  SCermishers  to  drive  them  to 
the  town  and  at  it  the  Men  went  all  eager  for  a  fight  the  Creek  did  not  Stop 
them  tha  plunged  it  to  it  Some  of  them  holding  ther  Catrage  boxes  a  pon 
ther  heads  to  Keep  ther  powder  dry  and  when  the  rebles  saw  them  So 
determn  tha  left  on  double  QuiCk  time  thoe  Mean  time  the  right  wing 
Comanded  by  Gen  Johnston  had  Come  up  and  opend  fire  on  the  inCampement 
when  a  Sharpe  SCermish  took  plaCe  wiCh  lasted^  a  bout  1  hour  when  the 
rebles  left  leaving  ther  wounded  and  2  pieCes  of  Canion  in  our  hands  our 
Men  drove  them  a  bout  2  Mils  when  darke  Came  and  our  forCes  had  to  Camp 
for  the  Night  and  and  our  regment  Sufedl  MuCh  for  a  bout  Midnight  it 
turned  very  Cold  and  orders  v/er  givin  Not  to  law  eny  fire  a  long  the  piCket 
line 

Satuarday  DeC  27th  this  Morning  orders  Come  for  our 
regment  to  join  our  bregade  on  the  pike  a  gain  the  Men  move  of  in  fine 
Spirits  in  Spite  of  the  rain  that  Continues  to  fall  thoe  the  bregade  does  not 
MarCh  far  till  the  Comand  was  givin  to  halt  and  Canoelon  is  herd  in  our 
front  thoe  it  is  our  batries  Shelling  the  woods  thoe  we  wer  not  detained 
long  till  we  Moved  a  head  thoe  it  Continued  to  rain  till  4  o  CloCk  when  we 
took  posesion  of  a  nother  of  ther  posesion  Cold  Churchill  grove  whear  we 
Campt  for  the  night 

ChurChillQ  Grove  DeC  28th 
This  morning  roal  Call  was  at  3  O.  clock  and  orders  was  givin  to  bee  redy 
to  MarCh  by  daylight  thoe  when  daylight  Came  the  orders  wer  counter- 
manded on  a  Count  of  it  beeing  th  Sabeth  day  the  Sun  Came  out  and  evry 
thing  looked  butifle  and  evry  thing  was  Quiet  during  the  day  no  one  would 
thot  at  the  first  Sight  that  there  was  a  batle  to  bee  fot 

Monday  Morning    DeCember  29th 

This  Morning  we  wer  roused  from  our  Slumbers  at  3  o  Clock 
and  at  daylight  the  army  was  under  the  Move  again  Moving  baCk  tward 
nolensville  Some  ixCitement  a  moung  the  trups  as  to  ther  destination  thoe 
tha  we  not  Kepp  long  in  Suspenc  for  our  Corse  was  Changed  by  MarChing 
a  Cross  to  the  Chatinga  pike  thoe  not  meating  eny  obstiCle  in  the  road  and 
at  dark  we  StruCk  the  turn  pike  and  Met  the  4  U.  S.  Calvery  and  tha  re- 
ported the  enyme  in  forte  a  bout  2i/o  miles  thoe  our  brigade  moved  on  to 
the  front  a  bout  1  Mile  when  we  filed  off  to  the  left  into  a  Corn  field  thoe 
MarChed  into  the  woods  whear  we  lay  on  our  arms  till  morning  thoe  it 
rained  nearly  all  Night 

Tuesday  DeCember  30th 

This  Morning  daylight  Came  it  Seased  raning  and  found  us  out 
of  eny  thing  to  eat  and  the  reble  Cavlry  had  SuCKseaded  in  geting  into 
our  rear  and  had  burnt  our  Suplies  that  had  left  nashville  thoe  we  tuCk 
up  our  line  of  MarCh  in  Spite  of  our  hunger  thoe  did  not  advanCe  for  till 
we  found  Meny  regments  a  long  the  road  asking  what  regment  and  when 
told  that  it  was  the  27th  ill  tha  Could  not  help  giving  Chears  for  the  enyme 


^The  handwriting  changes  here.    Note  the  length  of  the  insertions. 


256 

was  plain  to  bee  Sean  and  we  did  not  advanCe  fare  till  we  Come  a  pon  ther 
SKermishers  when  the  22d  42  ill  we  throen  out  as  Sharp  Shooters  to  drive 
the  SKermishers  thoe  tha  Soon  found  a  brigade  of  them  behind  a  fenC'e 
when  the  engagement  beCame  genral  and  when  dark  Come  we  had  SuCK- 
seded  in  driving  them  from  ther  plaCe  of  Concealment  thoe  drove  them  to 
the  timber  and  when  the  trups  wer  in  camp  it  was  ascertained  that  our  bre- 
gade  had  lost  during  the  day  9  woonded  4  Kild  thoe  the  27th  Ind  51st  was 
not  ingaged  to  day 

Wonsday  December  olst 
This  Morning  roal  Call  at  3  O  Clock  as  uasal  and  when  daylight  Come  it 
brought  forth  a  Sean  that  will  bee  long  remberd  by  every  ameriCan  for 
during  the  night  the  enyme  had  throng  ther  hole  forCe  onto  our  right  and 
ataCted  Gen  Johnston  or  rather  took  him  by  Surprise  while  meny  of  his 
trups  wer  at  brekfast  and  tha  fled  leaving  ther  arms  in  the  rebels  hands 
and  then  tha  ataCted  Genral  Jell  (Jeff)  C.  Davis  when  tha  found  a  man 
and  soldiers  redy  to  fight  them 

Thoe  after  Near  3  hours  hard  fighting  he  was  forst  to  fall  baCk  on  a  Count 
of  Johnston  leting  them  in  his  rear  and  that  throad  them  on  to  Genral  Sheri- 
den  when  the  batle  beCame  to  a  very  high  pitCh  and  tha  Come  up  a  pon  us 
thoe  we  did  not  open  a  pon  them  till  tha  Come  up  within  good  range  when 
we  opened  a  pon  them  with  SuCh  heavy  fire  when  the  rebels  wer  forst  to 
give  way  thoe  Mean  time  tha  had  SuCKseeded  in  planting  3  batries  of 
artilry  and  ComenCed  Shelling  us  thoe  the  Men  Stude  up  to  it  in  the  best 
of  order  and  the  rebles  advanCed  a  gain  thinking  tha  would  Make  us  give 
way  a  gain  thoe  our  fire  was  to  muCh  for  them  More  than  tha  Could  Stand 
and  tha  gave  way  in  this  way  3  defrent  times  when  orders  Come  that  tha 
wer  gibing  in  our  rear  and  we  wer  forsed  to  give  baCk  thoe  MarChed  out  in 
perfect  order  to  the  pike  when  we  Met  Meny  trups  going  to  the  right  and  our 
bregate  was  orderd  to  Suport  the  Center  and  we  advanCed  and  Saw  the  rebels 
advancing  to  the  Center  when  we  was  orderd  baCk  to  the  pike  when  Genral 
McCook  Came  up  and  wanted  to  kow  hoe  gave  orders  to  fall  baCk  when  he 
orderd  us  to  advanCe  a  gain  when  ther  Magar  gave  the  orders  to  a  bout  faCe 
forward  MarCh  and  the  left  wing  fixed  baynots  and  MarChed  into  the  timber 
a  Mid  the  Shower  of  bulets  that  wer  Coming  from  the  Enyme  that  had 
SuCkseeded  in  gaining  the  timber  thoe  on  tha  went  and  when  we  got  within 
75  yards  of  them  tha  brolve  and  run  and  as  tha  had  to  Cross  a  open  field  we 
porde  a  distruCtive  fire  Causing  meny  of  them  to  Surender  to  us  thoe  we  hel 
the  ground  and  that  night  a  bout  9  O  CloCk  we-  reCived  rations  and  the 
Genral  gave  orders  to  give  our  bregade  all  tha  Could  eat  for  tha  Saved  the 
army  on  that  day  thoe  after  the  Men  had  eating  all  tha  wanted  tha  lay  down 
to  pass  the  night  the  best  tha  Could  thoe  it  was  very  Cold- — 

Thirsday  January  1st  Campt  On  the  batle  field  This  Morning 
firing  ComenCed  all  along  our  line  thee  it  was  the  piCkets  firing  eaCh  other 
thoe  no  a  taCt  was  Made  on  us  till  a  bout  2  0  CloCk  when  a  bout  3  bregades 
filde  out  of  to  the  timber  and  then  one  Came  up  within  2  hundred  yards  and 
opend  fire  on  us  wheare  we  wer  posted  behinde  a  Small  brestwork  that  we 
Erected  during  the  day  thoe  when  we  opend  a  deade  fire  on  them  tha 
fled  behinde  a  fenCe  and  into  a  large  Sinke  hole  that  was  Close  to  them 
whear  tha  remained  till  the  Cornal  Orderd  out  2  Compnys  to  bring  them  in 
that  Surendered  without  firing  a  gun  at  the  Same  time  giving  three  Chears 
for  the  Union 

Friday  January  2d  1863 
Still  in  line  of  batle  this  Morning  thoe  nothing  of  importance  Came  with 
daylight  thoe  Shortly  afterwards  our  Canons  opend  fire  Shelling  the  woods 
for  a  bout  one  hour  thoe  the  Enyme  Canot  bee  Seen  in  muCh  forCe  till  a 
bout  4  O  CloCk  in  the  Eavning  when  tha  Came  out  of  the  timber  Making  a 
Charge  on  the  left  Causing  our  Men  to  fall  baCk  and  Meny  of  them  run  into 
Stones  river  that  tha  had  Crosed  during  that  afternoon  thoe  Geni-al  rusan 
[Rosencrans]  received  them  with  rather  a  warm  reception  for  he  porde  a 
distriCtive  fire  of  grape  and  Canistor  a  moung  ther  ranks  piling  Sevral  hun- 


S57 

dred  of  them  a  pon  the  field  the  balanCe  fled  in  Confusion  Our  Men  making 
a  baynot  Charge  a  pon  them  taldng  Sevral  hundred  purisners  and  the  Shades 
of  night  Closed  over  a  Sean  that  will  long  bee  remberd  by  evry  loyal  person. 

Saturday  January  3d  1863 
Still  in  line  of  batle  thoe  thare  was  nothing  took  place  till  evning  only 
buring  the  dead  that  was  Close  to  our  lines  the  rebles  reCived  the  Same 
burel  as  our  one  thoe  it  would  make  the  hardest  heart  Shuder  to  See  so  meny 
laid  under  the  Cold  ground  without  Sroud  or  Coffin  and  no  Marke  left  to 
tell  his  friends  hoe  Might  SerCh  for  him  thoe  a  bout  4  O  Clock  in  the 
evning  during  a  hevy  Storm  of  rain  and  wind  tha  Made  a  Nother  and  last 
despreate  Strugle  thoe  tha  Met  the  Mesengers  of  deth  and  was  forst  to  fall 
baCk  with  a  dexperate  loss 

Sunday  January  4th  1863 
Still  in  line  of  batle  behinde  our  brest  works  thoe  thare  is  no  enyme  to 
bee  Sean  in  our  front  and  the  SKermishers  ComenCe  advancing  when  The 
report  Came  that  the  rebles  had  a  vaCkuated  and  heavy  Camodon  is  herde 
beyond  Murfreesboro  and  it  is  Soon  asertained  that  tha  have  Skidadled  and 
our  Cavlry  is  in  pursuit  of  them  and  orders  wer  givin  for  a  detail  of  Men 
to  goe  over  the  hole  batle  fields  and  bery  the  dead  and  by  12  O  CloCk  it  was 
asertained  that  our  loss  would  a  mount  to  Near  7  thousand  and  that  of  the 
enyme  20  thousand  our  bregade  lost  in  kild  and  woonded  near  5  hundred 
and  the  divishon  lost  17  hundred  and  our  regment  lost  in  kild  13  and 
woonded  68  and  a  bout  1  hundred  taking  prisners  thoe  thare  is  a  gloome 
haning  over  our  regment  on  a  Count  of  the  deth  of  our  Cornal  that  was 
Mortly  woonded  on  the  30  of  DeCember  and  Genral  roberts  C'omanding  our 
bregade  fell  pierst  with  7  bulets  at  the  Same  time  thoe  the  dead  was  all 
beried  and  the  town  taking  posesion  of  thoe  evry  house  was  taking  for  hos- 
pitles  and  the  Sitisans  all  fied  with  the  flying  eynmei 

Monday  January  5th  1863 
This  Morning  roal  Call  was  Sounded  at  3.  o.  CloCk  on  a  Count  of  guarding 
a  gainst  eny  Surprise  for  it  is  reported  that  the  reble  Cavly  is  lurking  in  our 
rear  thoe  it  is  raining  and  the  Men  are  drenChed  with  the  rain  thoe  tha  are 
all  in  good  heart  to  think  that  our  army  is  Crowned  with  a  Nother  victory 
thoe  Nothing  tooke  plaCe  worthy  of  note  ad  on  a  Count  of  the  mud  we  are 
keep  in  our  old  posesion 

Tuesday  January  6th  1863 
This  Morning  the  Sun  rose  Clear  and  orders  wer  given  to  prepair  to  Move 
by  10  thoe  dide  not  Start  till  3  in  the  afternoon  when  we  took  our  posesion 
on  the  bank  of  Stones  river  wheare  we  ixpeCt  to  remain  the  Suplies  Can  bee 
beat  up  for  the  army  to  Move 

Camp  on  Stone  river  Wensday  January  7th  1863 
it  is  asertained  that  nearly  all  of  our  batry  horses  has  bin  kild  and  the  Men 
are  all  in  want  of  Clothing  and  Genral  RosenCrant  Started  Capital  for  what 
purpos  we  Canot  asertain 
M.  Thirsday.     January  8th  1863 

This  Morning  thare  was  details  made  to  polease  the  Compny  grounds  noth- 
ing Else  tooke  plaCe  during  the  day  of  importance  thoe  it  ComenCed  rain- 
ing about  5  O  Clock 

Camp  Stones  river  Friday  January  9th  1863 
Nothing  of  importance  to  day  has  transpired  till  in  the  evning  when  the  mail 
reached  Camp  Causing  Some  litle  exCitement  a  moung  the  men  for  tha  had 
not  herd  from  home  nor  friends  for  more  than  10  days 


'For  reports  on  the  Stone's  River  Campaign,  Dec.  26,  1862-Jan.  5,  1863,  see  War  Records,  Series  I., 
vol.  XX.,  pp.  176,  209,  227,  369-371.  Report  of  General  McCook,  ibid,  p.  256:  "  Although  this  brigade 
was  much  reduced  in  numbers,  and  having  but  two  rounds  of  cartridges,  it  advanced  to  the  charge,  under 
the  gallant  Colonel  Bradley,  driving  the  enemy  bacli  with  the  bayonet,  capturing  two  guns  and  40  pris- 
oners and  securing  our  communication  on  the  Murfreesboro  pike  at  this  point.  This  brigade  is  composed 
of  the  22,  27,  42,  51  Illinois  Volunteers.    The  27th  particularly  distinguished  itself. " 


—17  H  S 


258 

Camp.       Stones  river.       Saturday.       January  10th  1863 
To  day  the  Compny  ofiCers  hehl  an  a  lection  in  favor  of  a  Cornal  in  plaCe 
of  Cornal  Herington  he  fell  mortly  woonded  at  Morfreesboro  that  proposed  to 
have  Cap  rust  for  Cornal  thoe  it  Makes  Some  litle  disatifaCtion  a  moung 
the  Men  tha  would  rather  have  the  Major  for  the  Cornal 

Camp  Stones  River  Sunday  January  17th  1863 
To  day  the  left  wing  was  ordered  to  go  as  a  guard  to  ColeCt  Corn  and  SuCh 
other  forige  as  Could  bee  found  for  the  army  teams  and  trups  thoe  a  bout 

3  0  CloCk  that  returned  without   inCountering  eny  of  the  enyme  tha  had 
SuCkseeded  in  loding  the  train 

Camp  Stone  river    Monday    January  12th  1863 
To  day  the  regment  had  Company  drill  drilling  the  manuel  of  arms  and  in 
the  after  noon  tha  had  to  polease  the  Compny  grounds 

Tuesday 

Camp  Stones  river  January  13th  1863 
This  Morning  the  regiment  had   rool  call  at  4  o  clock  and  the  call   to  the 
Cullers  for  arms  to  be  stacked  and  that  to  ware  our  acoutermentz  till  after 
dressparade  which  was  at  8  oclock  and  ordrs  wer  published  ConSerning  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland 

Wensday  Camp  Stones  River  January  14th   1863 
This  morning  the   Same   instructions  was  givin   as  that  of  yesterday  a  to 
StaKing  arms  and  waring  Cooterments  and  a  bout  10  oCloCk  Liutenant  A.  J. 
Sides  returned  to  the  Company  from  Nashville  whear  he  had  bin  for  the  last 
2  Months  on  detaChed  Servis 

Thirsday 

Camp  Stones  River  January  15th  1863 
To  day  our  bregade  reCived  orders  to  go  on  piCket  Guard  the  42  111  was  on 
the  reserve  while  the  27  x  51  x  22  is  on  out  poste  and  a  bout  5  in  the  Eavning 
it  ComenCed  raining  and  Continued  raining  all  night  the  Men  Sufered  MuCh 
on  a  count  of  the  Cold  and  the  relief  did  not  Come  till  a  bout  12  oCloCk  tha 
the  usel  hour  is  7  in  the  Morning 

Friday 

Camp  Stones  River     January  16th  1863 
this  Morning  the  regment  Came  off  piCket  guard  the  men  is  in  a  very  bad 
umor   on   a  Count  of   being   drenChed    with    the   rain   that    fell    during   the 
night  the  wind  blod  very  hard  and  Cold  with  oCashnel  Snow  Squals  and  by 

4  oCloCk  in  the  eavning  the  ground  began  to  freez  this  is  the  first  winter 
that  we  have  Seen  in  the  Sunny  South 

Saturday 

Camp  Stones  River  January  17th  1863 
this  Morning  the  Men  is  very  buesy  a  falling  timber  for  wood  to  burn  in  the 
tents  for  the  wether  Continues  very  Stormy  and  Cold  thoe  thare  is  no  duty 
for  the  Men  to  doe 

Sunday 

Camp  Stones  River  January  18th  1863 
the  wether  Still  Continues  very  Cold  thoe  Clear  and  orders  are  given  to  have 
inspection  of  KnapSaCk  and  amunetion  and  a  bout  2  oCloCk  in  the  after 
noon  the  boys  Came  up  from  nashvill  wher  tha  have  bin  for  Some  time 
Wm.  Huston  Thomas  Comer  also  Came  up  hoe  was  Slightly  wonded  at  the 
batle  of  Stones  river 

Monday     Camp     Stones     River     January   19th   1863 
this  Morning  the   wether   is   Some  warmer   than   it   was  yesterday   thoe   it 
is  Cloudy  and  thretens  rain  the  OfBCers  are  a  drawing  Clotts  for  the  Men 
and  the  ordly  Sergents  have  reCived  orders  to  have  the  Compny  grounds 
poleased  and  Sinks  dug 

Tuesday  Stone  river  January  20th  1863 
to  day  the  elements  thretens  rain  thoe  thare  is  orders  for  bregade  inspec- 
tion of  arms  and  aminetion  thoe  the  order  was  Countermanded  on  a  Count 
of  the  rain  that  ComenCed  raining 


259 

Wensday 

Camp  Stones  River  January  21st  1863 
To   day   the   wether   Continues   Clody   with   freKent   Chowers   of    rain   and 
in  the  after  noon  the  wether  took  a  sudent  Change  turning  very  Cold  and 
the  Men  begins  to  renew  the  ataCt  on  the  Meny  fine  ash  trees  that  Suround 
our  Camp  for  the  purpos  of  gfiting  wood 

Thirsday 

Camp  Stones  River  January  22d  1863 
To  day  the  wether  is  Clear  and  the  wind  is  blowing  from  the  South  and 
the  mud  is  drying  up  fast  and  the  Men  Move  a  bout  with  More  Spirit 
for  thare  is  a  rumar  through  Camp  that  the  army  is  Ingagin  the  enyme 
on  the  petomiCK  and  at  retreet  the  order  was  givin  to  prepare  for  piCKet 
Guard  by  7  oClocK  in  the  morning  Friday 

Camp  Stones  river  January  23d  1863 
This  morning  roal  Call  at  4  oCloCK  and  at  7  oCloCK  the  bregade  took 
up  a  line  of  MarCh  on  the  Shellyville  pike  a  bout  3  mils  from  Camp  when 
we  Came  to  the  piCKet  line  and  the  right  Wing  of  the  27th  Stud  on  the 
out  post  while  the  left  wing  Stud  as  reserve  the  elements  thretens  rain 
the  does  not  rain  till  morning 

1863 

Satuarday  Camp  Stones  River  January  24 
This  morning  daylight  Maid  its  aperanCe  with  the  Elements  poring  forth 
its  refreshing  Showery  thoe  it  is  not  very  welcomed  by  the  trups  tha 
would  have  Clear  wether  for  of  late  tha  have  bin  drenCTied  often  the 
Cavlry  brot  in  Sevral  prisners  tha  State  that  brag  has  Made  a  Stand  at 
Shelbyville  and  alous  to  fight  thare  and  a  bout  10  OCloCK  the  relief 
Came  and  relived  us 

Sunday  January  25 

This  Morning  the  Cornal  Miles  went  and  Selected  a  beter 
Camping  ground  for  the  regment  and  thare  was  a  detale  maid  out  of  the 
Compnys  to  poleas  it  of  and  Shop  wood  nothing  elCe  of  importance  took 
plaCe 

Monday  January   26th   1863 
This   morning  the   orders   wer  givin   to    move   our   Camp   to   a   More   dryer 
plaCe  a  bout  14  of  a  mile  the  Men  wer  forst  to  Cary  evry  thing  tha  had  in- 
cluding tents  on  a  Count  of  the  teams  being  gon  to  nashville  for  Suplies  for 
the  divishon  nothing  elC'e  took  plaCe  of  importance 

Tuesday  January  27th   1863 
this  Morning  a  hevy  Snow   Storm  bloed   treniendeous  and   it   is   very   Cold 
and  the  Cornal  had  reCived  orders  to  take  his  reg  to  the  erth  worKs  to  work 
thoe  tha  wer  Countermanded  on  a  Count  of  the  Storm  and  the  Men  have  all 
tha  Can  do  to  Keep  warm 

Wensday  January  28 
to  day  the  wether  is  warmer  than  it  was  yesterday  thoe  thare  is  nothing 
of  importance  a  going  on  the  Men  are  a  Clearing  up  the  Camping  grounds 

Thirsday  January  29th  1863 
Today  the  regment  was  orderd  to  Choping  and  Clearing  off  the  Calor  line 
and  half  past  4  oCloCK  had  dressperaid  and  orderds  published 

Camp  Stones  River  Friday  January  30th  1863 
This  Morning  had  roal  Call  at  4  oCloCK  and  reCived  orders  to  prepair  to 
MarCh  at  7  oCloCK  to  guard  a  foragin  train  wiCh  went  out  on  the  Shelby- 
ville pike  thoe  we  did  not  go  More  than  5  Miles  from  the  piCKet  line  when 
the  rebles  opened  fire  on  us  with  artilry  the  Shell  passing  over  our  regment 
one  of  then  hiting  Lt  Sides  on  the  arme  thoe  our  artilry  Soon  Silented  them 

Saturday  January  31st  1863 
This  Morning  rol  Call  at  5  oCloCK  and  orers  wer  givin  to  prepair  for  piCKet 
guard'  by  7  oCloCK  the  regment  Stood  in  the  Same  place  as  before  nothing 
took  plaCe  of  importance 


260 

Sunday  February  1st  1863 
Came  of  piCKet  this  Morning  and  was  a  lowd  the  balenCe  of  the  day  to 
rest  thoe  it  was  rumerd  through  Camp  that  3  hundred  tenneseens  Came  in 
from  the  rebles  gave  them  Selvs  up  and  took  the  oath  of  eleganCe  to  the 
United  States  of  a  MeriCa 

Monday  February  2d  1863 
This  Morning  the  order  was  givin  to  prepair  one  days  rations  and  worke 
on  the   earth   works  the  Men   worKed   all   day  very  well   and  returned   to 
Camp  at  dark 

Tuesday  February  3d  1863 

3rdi  Brigade  is  on  grand  guard  today  left  wing  on  reserve, 
right  wing  on  post.  Reble  Cavalry  lurking  about  our  line  today  little  firing 
on  front  during  the  day.  Light  Snow  fell  during  early  part  of  the  morning. 
Aire  quite  chilly. 

Report  says  General  Bragg  intends  to  establish  his  Head  Quar- 
ters at  Murpreesboro  at  an  early  day 

Camp  on  Stone  River  Tennessee  Feb.  4 — 1863 

The  Regiment  is  relieved  at  7  o'clock  by  77th  Penn.  Regt 
which  Regt.  Suffered  Severely  in  the  late  engagement.  One  Company  has  12 
men  another  only  8.  A  3  o'clock  P.  M.  the  Regt.  is  formed  and  hurried 
part  of  the  way  on  double  quick  two  miles  outside  the  picket  line  to  protect 
a  forage  train.  We  find  the  train  secure,  most  of  the  teams  loaded  and  on 
their  way  back.  Return  to  camp  through  snow  Storm. 
Stone  River  Tennessee  Feb  .5—1863 

There  is  no  rest  of  the  wicked.  Rigment  Is  on  grand  guard 
again  today.     Right  wing  on  reserve. 

Received  our  mail  at  noon.  Nothing  important  in  late  papers. 
It  has  been  a  cold  cloudy  day  much  colder  than  we  have  been  accustomed 
to  during  the  winter.     Little  Snow  falls  at  intervals  during  the  day 

Stone  River  Tennessee  Feb  6—1863 

Are  relieved  at  an  early  hour  and  return  to  camp,  roads  very 
Slippery  in  consequence  of  the  late  Snow,  rain  and  cold.  Heavy  mail  today. 
Newspapers  contain  some  very  interesting  Articles  from  the  pen  of  loyal 
Rentrickrans.  The  are  unconditional  Union  men.  No  news  from  General 
Grants  army,  none  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Camp  on  Stone  River  Tennessee  Feb.  7th  1863. 

The  Regiment  is  allowed  one  day's  rest  and  all  seem  thankful 
for  the  favor.  Large  train  goes  out  foraging  this  morning,  is  not  long  out 
when  we  hear  cannonading  which  proves  the  Rebels  are  following  up  their 
old  tricks,  entertaining  the  train  guard  with  a  lively  game,  not  of  Bat  &  Ball 
but  Shell  and  Ball.  Train  comes  in  afternoon  laden  with  forage.  Nothing 
Special  today. 

Stone  River  Tennessee  Feb.  8 — 1863 

Another  pleasant  day  is  spent  in  camp.  Nothing  noteworthy 
has  occurred  today,  no  news  from  picksburg,  though  we  are  daily  expecting 
something  important.  Much  excitement  North  at  the  present  time.  There 
now  exists  just  grounds  for  apprehensions  of  trouble  there  at  no  distant 
day.  Northern  Traitors  are  thrice  more  to  be  abhorred  than  those  of  the 
South  now  bearing  Arms  gainst  us. 

Stone  River  Tennessee  Feb.  9—1863 

The  day  passes  off  very  quietly.  But  little  news  today.  Rumors 
of  serious  nature  continue  to  arrive  from  the  North.  27th  Regt.  has  orders 
this  evening  to  be  ready  to  march  at  6%  oclock  tomorrow  morning  provided 
with  two  days  rations.  We  are  going  to  Nashville  to  guard  Supply  train. 
Cars  will  soon  be  running  through  as  far  as  Stone  River  suburbs  of  Mur- 
freesboro 


'The  handwriting  changes  here.    It  becomes  more  like  that  at  the  beginning  of  the  diary. 


261 

Camp  on  Stone  River  Tennessee  Feb.  11 — 1863 

The  Bugle  sounds  at  7  oclock  for  the  Regt.  assemble  on  Color 
line  and  soon  after  we  are  on  the  road  to  Nashville.  27th  Regt.  is  in  the 
rear.  The  train  is  made  up  the  1st  &  .3rd  Division  teams  Leridan  &  Davis 
200  wagons  in  the  train  Most  of  the  train  arrives  in  Nashville  during  the 
evening  a  few  are  belated  and  are  obliged  Stop  for  the  night  8  miles  out 
side  the  picket  line.  The  roads  are  very  muddy  and  the  rain  incessant  dur- 
ing the  afternoon  and  evening.  27th  Regt.  on  arriving  in  the  City  is  sent 
to  the  Court  hous  where  the  men  find  comfortable  quarters  for  the  night 
Nashville  Tennessee  February  11th  1863 

The  train  is  loaded  during  the  day  and  all  in  readiness  to 
move  at  an  early  hour  tomorrow  morning  for  our  camp  on  Stone  River. 
The  men  spend  the  day  loafering  about  the  city  making  a  few  purchases  &c. 
can  not  purchase  much  for  want  of  Green-backs,  been  too  long  since  pay  day. 
A  fleet  of  Transports  arrived  here  a  few  days  since  bringing  reinforcements 
for  Rosecrans  Army,  Reinforcements  will  move  toward  Franklin  soon. 

Nashville  Tennessee  Feb.  12—1863 

Are  on  the  road  to  Murfreesboro  at  an  early  hour    27th  takes 
the  lead  and  arrives  at  Laveryne  soon  after  noon.     The  train  closes  up  and 
all  encamp  for  the  night.     We  have  had  a  hard  little  march.     Rain  during 
the  forenoon.     Roads  very  bad 
Laveryne  Tennessee  February   13th — 1863 

Set  out  in  advance  at  7  oclock  and  arrive  at  Murfreesboro  at  12 
at  1%  oclock  P.  M.  reach  camp.  The  march  has  been  a  severe  one  on  the 
men  in  consequence  of  the  inclemency  of  the  weather.  This  has  been  a  fine 
day.  The  rest  of  the  Brigade  left  camp  this  morning  with  five  days  rations, 
and  we  expect  to  follow  tomorrow.  The  Brigade  will  be  stationed  near 
Salem  on  the  pike  of  same  name,  three  miles  beyond  the  present  picket 
line.  Do  not  see  the  necessity  of  Stationing  Brig,  at  that  place. 
Camp  on  Stone  River  Tennessee  Feb.  14th  1863 

The  Regiment  lies  quietly  in  camp  during  the  forenoon  rest- 
ing after  the  toilsome  march  to  Nashville  After  noon  have  orders  to 
join  the  rest  of  the  Brigade  and  accordingly  Set  out  from  camp  at  1^2 
oclock  through  the  rain  and  after  an  houi's  march  reach  the  ground  where 
the  Regt.  has  to  bivouac.  Shelters  are  soon  constructed  by  Spreading  of 
Rubber  Blankets,  beds  are  made  of  corn  Stalks,  weeds  and  grap  and  night 
finds  the  men  as  comfortably  fixed  as  could  be  expected.  Cold  and  chilly 
this  evening. 

Near   Salem   Tennessee   February   15th   1863. 

22nd  Regt.  being  on  picket  today  the  27th  has  no  duty  to 
perform.  Refugees  come  inside  our  lines  today  fleeing  from  the  Rebel 
conscript  law.  These  men  Say  the  Rebel  authorities  are  Sending  armed 
Squads  of  men  through  the  country  forcing  all  able-bodied  men  into  the 
Confederate  ranks. 

Weather  cold — disagreeable  Large  mail  today.  Nothing  im- 
portant in  late  papers. 

Salem   Tennessee   February    16 — 1863. 

Right  wing  of  the  Regement  is  on  grand  guard  today.  Set' 
out  for  the  picket  line  at  8.  A.  M.  Company  C  has  nine  posts, — part  of 
one  relief  comes  from  company  B. 

Cloudy  and  warm  during  the  forenoon.  Rains  at  intervals 
during  the  afternoon,  and  incessantly  during  the  evening.  Good  mail  this 
evening  for  the  Regiment. 

Salem    Tennessee    Tuesday    Feb.    17 — 1863. 

Are  relieved  at  8  oclock  A.  M.  and  return  to  our  Bivonac 
where  quiet  reigns  during  the  day.     Have  a  heavy  rain  this  evening. 

According  to  Statements  of  papers,  the  Canal  at  Vicksburg 
is  likely  to  prove  a  complete  success.     If  it  should,   the  Rebels  will   soon 


262 

have  to  evacuate  an  other  Strong-hold,  which  they  can  not  well  afford  to 
lose  at  the  present  time  owing  to  the  vast  amount  of  Supplies  received  by 
them   from  Texas  by  way  of  that  place 

Salem   Tennessee   Wednesday   Feb.    18 — 1863. 

Nothing  noteworthy  had  occurred  today.  It  has  been  a  cloudy 
day,  little  rain  during  the  early  part  of  the  morning.  Are  disappointed 
relative  to  returning  to  camp  today,  will  have  to  remain  here  a  few  days 
longer. 

Salem    Tennessee    February    Thursday    19 — 1863 

Papers  very  barren  today  nothing  from  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  Mississippi  or  the  Frontier.     Nothing  Strange  occurs  in  camp  to- 
day.   It  has  been  a  cloudy  and  a  very,  very  windy  day,  consequently  very  dis- 
agreeable, fires  must  be  kept  up  or  v.'e  freeze,  and  the  Smoke  almost  blinds  us. 
Salem  Tennessee  Friday  February  20th  1863. 

All  quiet  in  camp  today.  No  important  news  from  any  Source. 
Has  been  a  fine  day — clear  and  pleasant.  The  voices  of  Birds  in  the  grove 
remind  us  that  Spring  approaches.  Mail  today  as  usual.  Some  of  the  men 
busy  themselves  letterwriting  while  others  are  reading. 

Salem  Tennessee  Saturday  February  27th — 1863 

Clear  and  cold  during  the  forenoon.  Cold  incessant  rain  during 
the  afternoon  and  evening. 

Receive  word  from  prisoners  taken  at  the  Battle  of  Stone  River 
Dec.  31st.  They  are  now  paroled  and  in  camp  at  Annapolis  Ind.  They  Saw 
hard  times  while  in  Rebeldom,  and  express  a  birong  desire  to  be  exchanged 
that  they  may  return  to  their  Regiment  where  they  may  an  opportunity  of 
avenging  their  wrongs. 

Salem  Tennessee  Sunday  February  22nd  1863 

Washington's  Birthday.  A  Salute  is  fired  by  one  Battery  of  each 
Division  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  in  honor  of  that  Great,  truely  man.  An 
order,  relative  to  this  gallant  Soldier,  and  true  Patriot  and  his  glorious  deeds 
during  the  Revolutionary  war  is  read  on  dress-parade  this  evening  and  is  not 
without  effect.  Rosecrans  Stands  nearly  as  high  in  the  estimation  of  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  as  Washington  did  in  the  estimation  of  his  army. 
Salem  Tenness  Monday  February  23 — 1863. 

Two  days  rations  are  are  brought  out  this  afternoon  for  the 
Brigade  So  we  are  disappointed  again  about  getting  to  return  to  camp.  Lt. 
Colonel  J.  R.  Miles  receives  his  commission  as  Colonel  this  evening  and  is 
Serenaded  by  the  Officers  of  42nd  Regiment.  Major  Officers  have  a  lively 
time.     All  quiet  about  our  lines  today. 

Salem  Tennessee  Tuesday  February   24^1863. 

The  Right  Wing  of  the  27th  is  on  picket  again  today.  It  has 
been  a  beautiful  day  all  quiet  in  and  about  camp  Nothing  Strange  or  inter- 
esting occuring.  The  Brigade  will  be  relieved  tomorrow  by  the  2nd  Brigade 
of  3rd  Division. 

Salem  Tenn  Wednesday  Feb.  25—1863. 

The  2nd  Brigade  Started  out  to  relieve  us  early  this  morning, 
but  it  is  10 14  oclock  A.  M.  We  then  prepare  to  return  to  camp  and  are 
thither  after  an  hour's  march  through  rain  and  mud.  The  Regiment  has 
orders  to  report  for  grand  guard  tomorrow  morning. 

Camp  on    Stone   River   Tenn   Feb.    26th   1863. 

Heavy  rain  this  morning  before  daylight.  Regiment  leaves 
camp  for  picket  line  at  7  oclock,  rains  during  most  of  the  day  Right  Wing 
is  on  reserve  and  takes  Shelter  in  a  large  Stable.  No  mail  to  day  in  conse- 
quence of  Bridges  being  Swept  away  by  the  late  rain.  No  disturbance  along 
the  line  during  the  day  or  evening. 

On  Stone  River  Tennessee  Friday  Feb.  27  1863 
36th  Illinois  Regiment  relieves  the  27th  in  good  time  this  morning  and  we 
arrive  in  camp  about  10  oclock  A.  M. 

Brid.  Gen.  N.  B.  Buford  presents  a  beautiful  flag  to  the  27th 
and  it  appears  on  Dressparade  this  evening  for  the  first  time 


203 

In  beautiful  letters  may  be  read. 

"Belmont",  "Island  No.   10",  and  "Union  City". 

Camp  Stone  River  Tennessee  February  28 — 1863. 

Inspection  and  muster  at  2  oclock  P.  M.  Have  Six  months  pay 
due  at  present  with  a  good  prospect  of  being  paid  for  two  or  four  months 
Soon.  Most  of  the  men  are  much  in  need  of  money  at  the  present  especially 
those  who  have  families  at  home. 

But  the  wants  or  Suffering  of  Soldiers  wives  in  the  North  is 
nothing  when  compared  with  that  of  Soldiers  families  in  the  South.  Those 
at  the  North  are  in  a  land  of  peace  and  plenty  while  those  of  the  South  live 
as  it  were  upon  a  vast  Battlefield  where  Destitution  now  reigns  to  a  certain 
extent,  and  increases  as  the  War  progresses. 

Stone  River  Tennessee  March  1 — 1863. 

At  an  early  hour  this  morning  for  the  Regiment  to  form  on 
the  Color  line  which  it  does  and  is  Soon  off  foraging.  Return  to  camp  Soon 
after  dark  tired  and  hungry  having  traveled  about  Sixteen  miles  through 
mud  and  rain,  rain  ceases  at  9  A.  M.  rest  of  the  day  fair.  Visit  a  very  hilly 
Sterile  region,  forage  Scars.     Met  no  enimy  today. 

Camp  on  Stone  River  Tennessee  March  2nd  1863. 

Regiment  has  no  duty  to  perform  today. 
News  unimportant.     All  seems  to  be  at  a  Stand-Still  in  every  department. 
Commissioned  Officers  meet  today  and  elect  noncommissioned  officers  whose 
names  are  to  be  placed  on  the  Roll  of  honor.     Three  Private  names  chosen 
by  the  company  are  also  placed  on  the  Roll. 

Stone  River  Tennessee  Tuesday  March  3 — 1863. 

News  from  the  North  more  encouraging.  A  change  for  the 
better  has  taken  place  in  the  minds  of  the  disaffected  and  Sympathy  for 
Rebels  is  growing  less  Sheridans  Division  us  under  marching  orders  We 
leave  camp  tomorrow  morning  with  four  days  rations.  Davis  Division  has 
marching  orders  also. 

Stone  River  Tennessee  Wednesday  March  4 — 1863 

Are  off  at  an  early  hour  toward  Salem  at  which  place  we  halt 
a  couple  of  hours,  during  which  we  have  a  hard,  though  Short,  Storm  of 
wind  and  Snow  Set  out  again  and  al  dark  go  into  camp  two  miles  East  of 
Eaglesville  and  fifteen  from  Murfreesboro.  The  country  through  which 
we  pass  is  in  places  hilly  or  rather  mountainous  and  Sterile,  in  other  places 
it  is  more  level  and  fertile,  pass  some  cedar  flats.  Davis  Division  is  not  with 
Sheridans  One  Brigade  of  Cavalry  accompanies  our  Division  Cavalry  breaks 
up  a  Small  Rebel  Camp  today.     Infantry  meets  no  enemy  except  bad  roads 

Near  Eaglesville  Tennessee  March  5 — 1863 

Division  moves  into  town  in  the  morning  and  being  posted  on 
the  hills  which  almost  Surround  the  little  town.  Arms  are  Stacked  and  fires 
kindled.  Rails  disappear  rapidly  owing  to  the  days  being  cloudy  and  cold. 
A  Battle  progresses  from  10^/2  A.  M.  till  P.  M.  about  eight  or  ten  miles  North 
West  of  us.  We  hear  the  cannonading  distinctly.  Division  does  not  move 
from  town  today. 

Eaglesville  Tennessee  Friday  March   6   1863. 

Have  orders  to  move  this  morning  and  are  off  toward  Triune, 
commences  to  rain  Soon  after  we  are  on  the  road,  travel  five  miles, — are  met 
by  a  courier  from  General  Rosecrans  with  orders  to  halt  and  await  farther 
orders.  Are  formed  along  woody  ridges,  Stack  arms,  light  fires,  Stretch  Rub- 
ber blankits  for  Shelters,  and  are  soon  prepared  for  Spending  the  night. 
The  rain  is  incessant  during  tbe  afternoon  and  evening. 

Near  Triune  Tennessee  Saturday  March  7—1863 

Orders  come  at  noon  to  move  immediately  toward  Franklin  on 
Harpeth.  Soon  on  the  road  continue  North  ward  till  we  reach  Trinne 
and  then  turn  Westward  Travel  five  miles,  over  roads  almost  impassable 
after  leaving  Trinne,  and  halt  for  the  night.  Campanles  A.  &  B  are  on 
picket  this  evening.  A  part  of  General  Steadmans  command  is  Stationed  at 
Trinne. 


264 

Between  Trinne  and  Franklin  Tenn  March  8 — 1863. 

The  Bugle  Sounds  quite  early  this  morning  and  at  daylight 
we  are  ready  to  move,  but  being  in  the  rear  today  we  are  detained  Several 
hours,  finally  we  get  Started  and  after  a  hard  little  march  over  muddy  roads, 
or  field  I  might  say  as  we  often  abandoned  the  roads  we  reach  our  Stopping 
place  two  miles  East  of  Franklin. 

Cannonading  between  Eaglesville  and  Trinne  toward  12  oclock. 
Franklin  Tennessee  Monday  March  9 — 1863. 
Marching  into  town  this  morning  and  after  an  hours  rest 
move  toward  Columbia  on  Duck  River.  Ma'j  Gen  Granger  accompanies  our 
Division  with  a  part  his  command,  and  takes  command  of  the  expedition. 
Our  cavalry  encounters  the  enemy  before  reaching  Spring  Hill  and  Skirm- 
ishing is  commenced  wliich  is  kept  up  till  near  night — the  enemy  falling 
back  continually.  We  lose  Several  men  no  killed  and  wounded  Numbers  of 
the  4  Regt.  U.  S.  Cavalry.  A.  B.  Orr,  formerly  of  of  our  company  is  among 
the  killed.  Go  into  camp  at  8  oclock  one  mile  SouthWest  of  Spring  Hill. 
Other  forces  Several  miles  in  advance.     Rain  late  this  evening. 

Spring  Hill  Tennessee  Tuesday  March  10th  1863. 

Owing  to  the  incessant  rain  which  fall  during  the  morning 
the  troops  do  not  move  till  after  eight  oclock  About  this  hour  it  ceases  rain- 
ing and  we  are  soon  on  the  road  toward  Clumbia.  Before  noon  our  Brigade, 
beign  in  front  arrives  near  Rutherford  Creek  and  is  halted  as  the  creek  is 
Swollen  by  the  recent  rain  and  the  Bridge  gone  we  can-not  cross.  Our  forces 
are  placed  in  position  on  the  bights  North  of  the  Stream  while  the  enemy  is 
seen  on  the  bights  South.  It  is  reported  that  the  Rebel  Cavalry  Suffered 
Some  loss  in  Swimming  the  Stream.  Rains  incessantly  during  the  afternoon 
and  evening.     Very  unpleasant  weather  for  marching  and  bivouacing. 

Near  Columbia  Tennessee  March  11 — 1863. 
Our  Infantry  advances  no  further  today.     Cavalry  forces  a 
passage  at  a  fort  two  miles  above  the  regular  crossing  and  proceeds  as  far 
as  Duck  River,  beyond  which  the  enemy  has  retired.     Rutherfords  creek  is 
still  Swollen,  so  it  would  be  difficult  for  the  Infantry  to  cross. 

It  has  been  a  clear  pleasant  day.  Encamp  this  evening  on 
the  same  ground  as  last  night. 

Near  Columbia  Tennessee  March  12 — 1863. 

Have  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  at  Six  oclock  this  morning 
and  at  the  appointed  time  we  move  from  our  temporary  camp  thinking  that 
we  are  going  on  the  pike  we  turn  our  faces  toward  Franklin  at  which  place 
we  arrive  at  4  o'clock  P.  M.  and  encamp  on  the  South  bank  of  Harpeth  River 
a  Short  distance  West  of  town. 

Get  papers  this  P.  M.  but  they  contain  nothing  of  much  in- 
terest. 

Franklin  Tennessee  March  13 — 1863 

The  Division  takes  up  its  line  of  march  toward  Trinne  this  morn- 
ing and  after  a  Somewhat  toilsome  days  march  encamps  a  few  miles  South  of 
the  town  on  the  Eaglesville  road  near  where  Steadman's  forces  had  a  Skir- 
mish on  the  8th  inst. 

Nothing  of  importance  has  occurred   today. 
Near  Trinne  Tennessee  March  14 — 1863. 

At  an  early  hour  this  morning  we  are  on  the  road  bound  for 
our  old  camp  on  Stone's  River.  3rd  Brigade  in  advance  and  the  27th  leads 
the  way.  March  a  few  miles,  halt,  Stack  arms  and  wait  for  the  Cavalry  to 
come  up  and  pass  when  we  resume  our  journey  and  soon  reach  Eaglesville 
where  we  find  Jeff  Davis  Division  encamped.  It  left  Stone's  River  a  few 
days  after  Sheridan's  and  returns  in  our  rear.  After  a  hard  march  we  ar- 
rive at  our  old  camp  and  are  no  little  rejoiced  to  get  back,  it  sounds  a  little 
like  returning  home  after  an  absence  of  of  many  days. 


265 

Stone's   River  Tennessee.     March   15 — 1863. 
The  Regment  lies  quietly  in  camp  today  and  enjoys  the  rest 
very  much  as  many  of  the  men  are  so  Sore  footed  that  they  can  Scarcely 
walk  about  camp. 

It  is  reported  thatVicksburg  is  being  evacuated  and  that  the 
forces  from  that  place  are  reinforcing  Bragg.  But  the  report  is  doubtless 
untrue.  The  Rebels  will  not  abandon  that  Stronghold  till  forced  to  do  so. 
Camp  Schaefer  on  Stone's  River  Tennessee  March  16 — 1863 
It  has  been  a  very  pleasant  day  nothing  of  interest  occurring. — 
Still  reported  that  Vicksburg  is  evacuated,  though  we  have  nothing  reliable 
relative  to  it.  The  Brigade  has  orders  to  report  for  picket  duty  tomorrow 
morning. 

Stone  River  Tennessee  March  17 — 1863. 
Report  for  grand  guard  at  7%  oclock  this  morning  and  are  soon 
out  on  the  line  and  Stationed  near  our  old  post.     All  quiet  along  the  line 
during  the  day  and  evening.     Receive  mail  this  afternoon.     No  news  of  inter- 
est in  news  papers. 

Stone's  River  Tennessee  March  18 — 1863. 
The  Brigade  is  relieved  at  9  o'clock  A.  M.  an  on  arriving 
at  camp  learn  that  the  Paymaster  is  ready  to  pay  the  27th  Regt. — Receive 
pay  for  four  month, — from  first  of  September  to  31st  December.  Soldiers  are 
preparing  to  send  most  of  their  money  home  Nothing  worthy  of  note  has 
transpired  today  all  quiet. 

Stone  River  Tennessee  Thursday  March  19 — 1863 
The  27th  Regiment  moves  to  a  new  camp  not  far  from  the  old 
one   and   closer  to  the  River.     Part  of  the   day  is   Spent   policing  the   new 
camp.     Part  of  the  Brigade  moved  yesterday.     Weather  pleasant. 

Camp  on  Stone's  River  Tennessee  Friday  March  20 — 1863. 
Have  Battalion  Drill  at  2  o'clock  this  afternoon. — Dressparade 
at  5  P.  M.     Nothing  of  Special  interest  today.     Weather  cloudy  and  warm. 
Sprinkles  rain  during  the  evening. 

Stone's  River  Tennessee  Saturday  March  21 — 1863. 
Firing  commences  on  the  Salem  pike  at  daylight  and  a  lively 
Skirmish  is  kept  up  for  near  two  hours,  when  the  Rebel  cavalry  is  driven 
back  by  our  Artillery  and  the  firing  ceases,  all  is  quiet  again.     Our  loss  in 
the  Skirmish  amounted  to  three  killed  and  four  or  five  wounded. 

General    Sredidan    reviews    his    Division    today    preparatory    to 
a  grand  review  by  General  Rosecrans  tomorrow.     But  little  news  today. 

Stone's  River  Tennessee  Sunday  March  22nd— 1863 
The  grand  Review  which  was  to  have  come  off  today  was 
postponed  in  consequence  of  our  Brigade  being  on  grand  guard.     Weather 
very  pleasant.     Nothing  occurring  to  vary  the  rounds  or  break  the  monotony 
of  camp  life. 

Camp  on  Stone's  River  Tennessee  March  23 — 1863. 
The  Regiment  is   releived   from  guard  at   8   oclock  A.   M.   and 
prepares  for  grand  Review  at  10i/>. 

General  Sheriden,  McCook  and  Rosecrans  are  present.  The 
Review  is  conducted  in  fine  style  and  the  troops  make  a  good  appearance. 
Most  of  the  Regiments  do  excellent  marching. 

General  Roscrans  compliments  the  Division. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  March  24—1863. 
It  has  been  a  gloomy  day,  rained  during  the  day  and  evening. 
Nothing  noteworthy  has  occurred  in  or  about  camp  today.     Very  light  mail 
for  the  Regement  today.     But  we  need  not  expect  much  at  one  time  when  the 
mail  comes  daily. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  March   25th — 1863. 
Papers  give  the  particulars  relative  to  the  fight  near  Milton  on 
the  21st  inst.  where  Colonel  Hall  with  one  Brigade  whipped  General  Morgan 
Guerrila  who  had  a  force  of  4500  men. 


26G 

Rebel  loss,  lulled  28,  wounded  150.     Federal  loss  not  so  'neavy. 

It  rains  today  till  10  oclock  A.  M.  when  the  clouds  pass  away  and  we  have  a 

pleasant  day. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  March  26 — 1863. 
At  noon  we  receive  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  at  2  oclock 
P.  M.  with  all  the  rations  we  have  on  hand.     Leave  Camp  at  2^/;  and  are 
Soon  at  our  destination  which  proves  to  be  Salem.     Night  finds  us  prepared 
for  a  fine  days  bivouac.     Two  Brigades  of  the  Division  are  out. 

Camp   Lookout  Near   Salem   Tennessee   March    27 — 1863. 
The  22nd   Regt.  is  on  picket  today  and   as  but  one  Regement 
is  on  each  day  the  the  27th  has  no  duty  to  perform  and  consequently  lies 
quietly  in  camp.     All  quiet  alonge  the  picket  line  today. 
Receive  our  mail  at  3  oclock  P.  M. 

Camp  Lookout  Tennessee  March  28 — 1863. 
22nd.  Regiment  relieved  the  42nd  this  morning.  27th  not  on 
duty.  It  has  been  a  cloudy  cold,  disagreeable  day.  Nothing  of  much  im- 
portance or  interest  in  the  paper  today,  except  extracts  from  Regel  papers 
which  draw  a  dark  picture  of  the  present  State  of  affairs  in  the  would-be 
Confederacy.  There  appears  to  be  great  destitution  in  many  parts  of  the 
South.  Southern  Chivalry  is  now  beginning  to  taste  the  fruits  of  Rebellion. 
The  harvest  is  plenty  and  must  be  reaped  and  the  fruit  though  bitter  must 
be  eaten. 

Camp  Lookout  Tennessee  March  29/63. 
The  27th   is  on   guard   today,   and   has  an   unpleasant  day  for 
picket  duty.     The  wind  is  very  high  and  chilly,  more  disagreeable  than  a 
winter  day.     Pickets  are  unmolested  during  the  day. 
Receive  mail  as  usual.     Nothing  Special. 

Camp  Lookout  Tennessee  March  30 — 1863. 
The  Regiment  is  relieved  this  morning  at  8  oclock  by  the  51st 
111.  Infty.  Vol.     The  pases  off  very  quietly. 

The  Com.  officers  unite  with  the  men  in  a  lively  game  of  Lawn 
Ball  during  Several  hours  of  the  day.  Very  windy  and  cool  today,  have  a 
little  Snow  after  which  a  Shower  of  rain  set  in. 

Camp    Lookout    Salem    Tennessee    March    31 — 1863. 

The  ist  Division,  Davis,  relieves  the  3rd.,  Sheridan's,  at 
3  oclock  P.  M.  and  we  return  to  our  old  camp..  Nothing  new  in  camp. 
Camp  on  Stone's  River  Tennessee  April  1/63 
No  important  news  from  any  Source  today  relative  to  military 
affairs.  News  from  the  North  is  not  as  discouraging  as  some  time  ago. 
The  Copperheads  have  less  to  say  and  the  feelings  of  disloyalty  are  sub- 
siding. Many  Deserters  from  the  Federal  Army  are  now  returning  to  their 
Regiments. 

Camp  on  Stone's  River  Tennessee.     April  4 — 1863. 

For  2nd  See  next  page. 
At  TYo  o'clock  this  morning  the  Regiment  reports  for 
grand   guard.     27th  Regiment   is   Stationed  at  and  near  the  bridge   on  the 
Shelbyville  pike. 
The  day  is  pleasant  and  passes  off  very  quietly. 

Camp  on  Stone's  River  Tennessee  April  3 — 1863. 
Battalion  drill  from  9  to  11  oclock  A.  M.  Colonel  J.  R.  Miles 
after  drilling  the  first  hour  gives  way  to  Lt.  Colonel  Schmitt  who  finishes 
the  drill.  Dressparade  at  4i^  oclock  P.  M.  at  which  time  Resolutions  are 
read,  and  unanimously  adopted  by  the  men.  which  express  Sentiments  rela- 
tive to  the  conduct  of  a  part  of  the  Democracy  the  North. 

Camp  on  Stone's  River  Tennessee.     April  2 — 1863. 
Battalion   drill  before   noon  by  Colonel   J.  R.   Miles  and  Major 
Bradley.     It  has  been  a  clear,  windy  pleasant  day.     No  Important  or  interest 
news  today.     Something  important  expected   from  the  Army  of  the  Missis- 
sippi soon. 


267 

Camp  on  Stone's  River  Tennessee  April  5 — 1863. 

Tlie  Regiment  receives  two  months  pay  today,  February  and 
March.  The  men  were  not  expecting  pay  again  so  soon,  but  the  Surprise 
is  a  very  agreeable  one. 

Weather  clear  and  pleasant.  No  Startling  news  is  received 
today. 

Camp  on  Stone's  River  Tennessee  Apr.  6 — ■ 

Hear  glorious  news  today.  It  is  reported  that  Gen.  Rosecrans 
has  receievd  a  telegram  Stating  that  Charleston  has  fallen.  The  men  are  not 
credulous  enough  to  believe  the  report.  Without  doubt  there  has  been  an 
engagement  there,  but  the  result  is  not  yet  known  to  us.  No  mail  for  Com- 
pany "C  today.     Has  been  a  fine  day.     Dressparade  at  5  P.  M. 

Camp  Schaefer  on  Stone's  River  Tenn  Apr.  7 — 63. 

No  Drill  this  forenoon,  the  men  devote  their  time  to  policing 
and  ornamenting  the  Camp.  Young  Cedars  are  hauled  and  Set  out  in  two 
rows  along  the  company  ground,  one  row  in  front  of  the  officers  tents.  Yes- 
terday's news  is  not  confirmed  today.  News  from  Vicksburg  not  very  en- 
couraging. Weather  pleasant. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  8 — 1863. 

Two  hours  drill  during  the  forenoon.  Dressparade  at  5  oclock 
P.  M.  Nothing  later  from  Charleston.  Weather  continues  fair  and  during 
the  day  pleasant,  but  chilly  during  the  night. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  9—1863    ■ 

At  2  oclock  A  .M.  we  receive  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  at 
daylight.  We  are  ready  at  the  appointed  time  and  wait  patiently  for  orders 
to  move  anticipating  a  march  of  several  days,  but  the  order  is  not  for  a 
Scout,  or  is  Countermanded  and  at  9  oclock  we  have  orders  to  go  on  picket. 
Occupy  the  Same  position  as  when  out  last.     Been  a  fine  day. 

Camp  Schaefer  on  Stone's  River  Tenn.     April  10 — 

The  Brigade  is  not  relieved  very  early  this  morning.  A  part  of 
the  6th  Kentucky  Regt.  relieves  our  reserve.  The  Army  or  the  Cumberland 
is  mustered  today  to  ascertain  the  number  of  men  requisite  to  fill  up  the 
Regts.  3rd  Brigade  is  mustered  by  the  Brigade  Inspectoi-. 

Weather  Continues  pleasant.  Some  prospects  of  rain. 
Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  11th  1863. 

Have  Battalion  drill  at  9  A.  M.  by  Col.  J.  R.  Miles.  He  does 
better  today  than  usual,  finding  himself  deficient  in  drill  he  has  been 
Studying  Tactics  aiming  to  be  proficient.  Dressparade  at  5  P.  M.  Has  been 
a  cloudy  day  have  a  refreshing  Shower. 

Camp   Schaefer  Tennessee   April   12 — 1863. 

The  Regiment  has  no  duty  to  perform.  Day  passes  very  quietly 
by.     Mail  light  today. 

We  hear  no  important  news  today.  Alway  expecting  to  hear  some  thing 
Startling  but  alway  doomed  to  disappointment,  or  when  we  do  hear  good 
news  it  is  apt  to  be  contradicted  in  the  next  paper  received. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  13 — 1863. 

Two  hours  Battalion  drill  during  the  forenoon,  but  are  excused 
from  drill  afternoon.  It  has  been  a  beautiful  day,  cloudy  in  the  evening — 
Sprinkles  rain.     Dressparade  at  five  oclock  P.  M. 

Receive  orders  for  picket  duty  on  the  morrow. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  14th/63. 

Leave  camp  for  the  picket  line  at  Seven  oclock  this  morning 
and  after  a  Slippery  march  of  one  and  a  half  miles  arrive  at  our  old  post. 

Rain  during  most  of  the  afternoon  and  evening.  Little  firing 
by  the  Cavalry  on  out  post  during  the  evening,  but  no  disturbance  along  the 
Infantry  line  Today's  mail  is  very  light,  amounting  to  only  about  three 
letters  to  each  company. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  15 — 1863. 

The  27th  except  companies  A.  &  B.,  is  relieved  in  good  time 
this  morning  by  the  35th  Ills.,  the  other  Companies  are  not  relieved  till  a 
late  hour. 


268 

Has  been  a  cloudy  cool  day,  drizzling  rain  a  goodly  part  of  the  time.  The 
bombardment  of  Charleston  has  ceased,  not  much  accomplished,  loss  on  the 
Federal  side  very  light,  only  three  or  four  killed. 

Camp  Schaefer  on  Stone's  River  Tenn.  April  16/63. 
During  the  forenoon  battalion  drill,  no  drill  after  noon  in  conse- 
quence of  a  Sword  presentation  at  Davison  Head  Quarters.  Maj.  Gen. 
Sheridan  is  the  Recipient  of  the  present.  Sword  alone  costs  Eight  Hundred 
Dollars,  Revolvers  and  other  Articles  added  render  the  Cost  1400$.  Pre- 
sented by  the  Officers  of  the  Division. 

No  Dressparade  this  evening. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  17 — 1863. 
At  nine  oclock  this  forenoon  the  27th  Sete  out  to  visit  the  old 
battle  field,  where  the  Brigade  fough  on  the  31st  Dec. 

Arriving  on  the  ground  arms  are  Stacked,  tanks  broken,  and  the  men  are 
at  liberty  for  Several  hours  to  Scout  around  through  the  woods  and  over  the 
fields.  We  then  return  to  camp  and  at  5  P.  M.  have  Dressparade.  Weather 
fine. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tenessee  April  18 — 1863. 
Company   drill    during   the   forenoon,   noe   after,   men   are   busy 
policing  camp.    Very  little  news  today,  mail  light.    Has  been  a  fine  day  fair 
and  moderately  warm. 

Many  Officers  seem  to  credit  the  report  of  an  early  advance  by  Gen.  Rose- 
crans.     No  doubt  Rosie  would  rather  let  Bragg  do  the  advancing  this  time. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  19 — 1863. 

Forenoon  cloudy,  have  Some  rain;  Afternoon  fair  and  pleasant. 

Chaplain  of  the  51st.  111.  Infty  Regt.  delivers  a  Sermon  at  5  oclock  near  the 

hospital  of  the  27th  the  different  Regiments  of  the  Brigade  are  represented 

al  the  Representatives  make  quite  a  congregation.     No  Important  nws  today. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  20th  1863. 
Receive  orders  this  morning  to  be  ready  to  go  on  out  post  near 
Salem  by  9  o'clock  A.  M.  about  which  hour  we  Set  out  from  Camp,  the  men 
taking  their  Knapsacks  with  them  that  we  may  be  prepared  to  join  the 
troops  on  the  march  in  case  a  forward  movement  while  we  are  absent  from 
camp.  3rd.  Brigade  is  the  only  one  ordered  out  today  and,  as  two  Regiments 
are  on  duty  at  the  same  time,  we  will  be  on  duty  half  of  the  time  while  out. 
22nd.  &  27  go  on  guard  today.  Pleasant  weather  for  guard  duty.  All  quiet 
in  front. 

On  Look-out  near  Salem  Tenn.  April  21 — 1863. 
22nd.  &  27th.  are  relieved  this  morning  by  the  42  two  hours 
when  we  receive  orders  to  make  a  reconnoisance  in  our  front  and  are  soon 
on  the  road.  Halt  after  marching  out  about  Six  miles,  Stack  arms  and  rest 
till  near  four  oclock  P.  M.  when  we  Start  back  to  our  Bivouac  where  we 
arrive  just  at  night.  Commences  to  rain  at  4  oclock,  consequently  we  have 
a  very  unpleasant  march  returning.     Encounter  no  Rebs. 

Near  Salem  Tennessee    April  22nd.     1863. 
The  22nd  &  27th.  are  on  grand  guard  again  today.    All  quiet. 
Weather  pleasant.     No  news  of  importance  in  late  papers, — Mail  light. 

Near  Salem  Tennessee  April  23rd  1863. 
Are  relieved  at  the  usual  hour  this  morning.  Nothing  Strange  or  important 
occurring  in  or  about  camp.  Deserters  from  the  Rebel  Army  continue  to 
come  inside  of  our  lines  almost  daily.  All  telling  about  the  Same  Story  rela- 
tive to  the  great  destitution  existing  in  the  South  especially  in  the  Rebel 
Camps. 
Weather  pleasant. 

Salem  Tennessee  April  24th  1863. 
At  71/4  oclock  this  morning  we  go  on  guard  again  and  enjoy 
an  other  fine  day.  News  more  interesting  today.  Several  gun  boads  and 
two  transports  have  lately  run  the  blockade  at  Vicksburg.  General  Banks  is 
preparing  to  operate  on  the  offensive  and  we  may  Soon  hear  of  his  Striking 
Some  Serious  blows  to  the  Rebs  along  the  Mississippi  River 


269 

Salem  Tennessee  April  25—1863, 
Soon  after  being  relieved  this  morning  a  Brigade 
arrives  to  relieve  ours  and  we  are,  after  Some  dlay  on  our  way  back  to 
Camp  Schaefer.  Afternoon  Gen.  Lytle  reviews  the  1st  Brigade  of  the  3rd 
Division.  He  has  recently  been  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Brigade. 
News  from  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi  is  encouraging. 

The  future  looks  brighter  now  than  some  time  ago,  and  when 
Grant  captures  Vicksburg  prospects  will  Sill  more  pleasing.  It  is  like  that 
General  Grant  will  first  occupy  Jackson  Miss,  and  then  advance  on  Vicksburg 
from  that  direction.     Rebls  may  hold  out  a  month  longer. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  26 — 1863 

It  has  been  a  cloudy  warm  day.  Nothing  noteworthy  occurring 
in  or  about  camp. 

Hear  from  Some  Small  expeditions  Sent  out  lately  to  operate 
on  the  Reb's  lines  of  communication.  The  raids  have  been  Successful  it 
seems  though  we  have  not  yet  read  the  details  of  the  operations 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  27 — 1863 

It  has  been  a  dull  day, — nothing  ranspiring  to  break  the  monot- 
ony of  camp  life 

The  men  devote  a  goodly  part  of  the  day  policing  and  working 
about  camp,  consequently  we  have  no  drill. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  28 — 1863 

Have  no  drill  during  the  forenoon.  Company  drill  afternoon. 
Forenoon  cloudy  and  pleasant.  Afternoon  fair  and  too  warm  for  comfort. 
No  news  from  the  Rappahanock  and  but  little  from  the  Mississippi,  import- 
ant news  expected  rfom  Banks  expedition  up  the  River. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  April  29 — 1863 
Battalion  drill  during  the  forenoon  and  policing  after  noon.     Dress-parade 
after  5  o'clock  P.  M.     Banks  is  punishing  the  Rebs  on  the  lower  Mississippi: 
— driving  every  right  along, — Hooker  is  now  reported  moving,  and  we  will 
soon  hear  something  important  from  him.     Little  rain  today 

Camp   Schaefer  Tennessee  April   30th/63. 

The  hour  for  mustering  is  changed  from  nine  to  six  oclock  this 
morning.  After  inspection  we  prepare  for  grand  guard  and  at  nine  oclock 
Set  out  for  the  picket  line.  It  has  been  a  fair,  pleasant  day  and  has  passed 
quietly 

Camp  Shaefer  Tennessee  May   1 — 1863 

At  daylight  this  morning  there  is  Some  firing  along  our  advance 
line  of  Cavalry,  but  it  soon  ceases  and  all  is  again  quiet.     The  27th  is  re- 
lieved by  the  59th  Regt.  Ills.  Vol.  we  reach  camp  at  ten  oclock. 
Very  little  news  today.     Weather  fine  as  could  be  desired. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  May  2 — 1863 

Inspection  of  Arms  Ammunition  and  Knapsacks  at  11  oclock. 
Nothing  has  transpired  in  camp  today.  General  Hookers  Army  is  reported 
across  the  Rappahanock  and  a  big  Battle  is  anticipated;  farther  news  from 
the  East  is  anxiously  awaited. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  May  3 — 1863. 

Company   inspection   at   nine   oclock,   meeting   at   Seven   oclock 
near  Regemental  Hospital 
Dressparade  at  the  usual  hour  this  evening. 

News  important  and  cheering  both  from  the  East  and  tlie  West,  prospects 
brightening.We  will  hear  of  hard  fighting  before  many  days. 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  May  4th  1863. 

At  nine  oclock  A.  M.  Col  Miles  marches  the  Regt.  out  to  the 
drill  ground,  finds  a  Brigade  drilling  on  our  ground  and  decides  to  return  to 
camp  without  drilling  his  Regt. 

News  continues  favorable  from  the  Armies  of  the  Mississippi 
and  Rappahannock.     Thunder  Showers  after  noon. 


270 

Camp  Schaefer  on  Stone's  River  Tennessee  May  5 — 1863. 
Brigade  drill  from  9%  till  nearly  12  A.  M.  by  Col.  of  42nd  Ills. 
Regt.     Battery  drills  with   the  Brigade.     The  men  devote  the  afternoon  to 
hauling  boughs  ornamenting  and  policing  the  company  ground.     News  Still 
favorable,  Federals  are  victorious  every  where 

Camp  Schaefer  on  Stone's  River  Tennessee  May  6 — 1863. 
All  quiet  in  camp    today,    nothing    ranspiring    of    importance. 
General  Hooker  has  engaged  Lee  and  has  punished  him  Severely,  loss  heavy 
on  both  sides  according  to  reports  received 
Weather  cloudy,  little  rain, 

Camp  Schaefer  Tenn.  May  7 — 1863 
At  7^4  oclock  A.  M.  the  Brigade  Sets  out  for  the  picket  line  and  an  hour  later 
the  old  guard  is  relieved  and  returns  to  camp  27th  is  Stationed  on  the 
Shelbyville  pike.  The  day  is  cloudy,  drizzly  and  very  disagreeable.  One  of 
our  Vedetles  was  killed  early  this  morning  Hooker  is  Still  fighting,  or  was 
at  last  accounts 

Caup  Schaefer  Tennessee  May  8—1863. 
TJie  new  guard  arrives  at  8^^   oclock  and  Soon  after  9   oclock 
the  Regt.  returns  to  camp     Dressparade  at  five  oclock  P.  M. 

Report  says  this  evening  that  Hooker  has  been  forced  to  recross 
the  Rappahannock;  possibly  he  has  recross 

Campi  Sheafer.     Tennessee  May  9th  1863 
this  morning  the  rose,   clear  and   Bright,     roll   call   at  the   Usual   hour.     It 
was  Verry  cool  last  night  to  day  we  are  policeing  the  Company  grounds  this 
Evening  all  Is  quiet     Dressparade  at  5/2  P.   m.  oclock    nothing  of  Import- 
ance going  on  In  front 

Camp  Schaefer  Tennessee  May  10  1863 
this  morning  roll  rail  at  the  usual  hour     Regimental  Inspection  at  8.  oclock" 
divine  services  at  11  oclock.  A.  M. 

The  Sun  Shone  Verry  Brilliant  this  afternoon  unusually  pleas- 
ant all  quiet  In  the  front. 

Camp.  Schaefer  Tennessee.     May  11.     1863 
No    news — "this    morning    roll    call    at    5%    oclock.     A.    M.     Brigade    Drill 
this  after  noon  2  oclock  till  4  P.  M. 

great  Excitement  In  Camp.     Reported  capture  of  Richmond  by  Keys,  forces^ 
great  enthusiasm  Among  the  Boys — Heat  Oppressive 

Camp.    Sheafer  Tennessee.     May   12.     1863. 
this  morning  the  Sun  rose  and  Bright.     Roll  call  at  .5 14  oclock    Brigade  drill 
this  fore  noon.     I  went  over  to  4  U.  S.  clavalry  this  forenoon   dressparade  at 
51/2  Oclock.  P.  M." 

Camp  Shaefer.     Tennessee.     May  13.     1863 
No  news  from  Hookers-arming"    glorious  News  anticipated  the 
Regiment  has  Orders  for  Pickets  two  citizens  come  through  the  the  lines  on 
the  Shelbyville.  Pike"   commences  to  raining  in  the  Afternoon  all  quiet  along 
the  lines 

Camp.     Schaefer.     Tennessee.     May  14.     1863. 
This  morning  It  Has  cleared  off.    Remarable  this  morning  two  Refuges  came 
thro  the  lines  one  of  the  number  upon  close  Examination  proves  to  be  female 
the  center  of  Attraction  to  the  entire  Battalion  we  come  In  of  Plkett  at  10 
A.  M.  take  breakfast  go  Into  our  holes — 

Camp.     Scheafer.     Tennessee.     May  15  18G3 — 
Nothing  new  afloat  in  camp.     Roll  call  at  the  usual  time  Brigade  drill  from 
7  to  9  oclock     Battalion  drill  In  the  afternoon  dressparade  this  evening 
Exceedingly  hot 

Camp.     Scheafer     Tennessee,     may  16  1863 — 
this  morning  the  Sun  rose,  clear  pleasant  prospect  cheering  roll  call  at  the 
usual  time  Brigade  drill  in  the  forenoon  the  day  closses  beautiful  all  quiett 
a  long  lines  there  was  Cavalry  ofrce  Sent  out 


'The  handwriting  changes  here. 


271 

Camp  Scheafer  near  murfreesboro  Tennessee  May  17   1863 
No  news  this  morning  police  tlie  Company  grounds — 

Inspection  of  Arms  Ammunition  Knapsaclis"  Some  fear  expressed  of  the 
Safety  of  Hookers-Arminy 

Camp  Scheafer  near  murfreesboro  Tennessee  May  18.     1863 — 
Nothing  cheering  this  morning  police  the  Company  grounds — 

Pickett  orders — 7i/4  oclock  A  .M. 
Camp.     Scheafer  near  Murfreesboro  Tenn  May.  19th  1863 — 
nothing  transpired   of   Importance   today   police   the  Company   grounds — we 
were  relieved  By  the   88th   Illinois  at  8i/o   oclocK  we  Return  to   Spend  the 
afternoon  In  reading"  orders  Recived  from  department  Head.     Quarters  to 
Pack  up  all  Surplus  baggage  to   Send   Some   Depo   Either   murfreesboro   or 
Nashville.     Baggage  Reduced  one  hat  on  Cap  1.    Bloss-or  coat  two  Shirts  two 
pairs  Drawers  1  pair  Shoes  or  Boots  1  pair  pants  1  oil  Blanket  1  woolen 
Blankett"     Orders    preparatory    to    marching    on    the    rebel    Stronghold    at 
tullahomy" 
Camp  Shaefer  marfreesboro    Tennessee.     May  20  1863 — 

Nothing  Special  this  morning  Camp  policing  Brigade  drill  fore 
noon  two  hours — U.  S.  Inspector  Is  to  Be.  Here  to  Inspect  all  troops"  Bat- 
tallion  drill  Afternoon" 

Camp   Scheafer  near  murfreesboro  Tennessee  May  2/1863 
this  morning  the   Sun  Rose  beatiful  prospect  of  fine  weather     Roll  call  at 
5^2  oclock  P.  M."    Brigade  drill  Is  not  abdoned    It  Sticks  us  verry  much  So 
think  our  Superiors — Imposses  this  unnecessary  duty  dressparade  this  even- 
ing at  5^2  oclock. 

Friday  May  22  1863— 
Camp  Schaefer  near  murfreesboro  Tennessee. 

nothing  new  roll  call  the  usual  hour  the  Brigade  Recives-orders  to  prepair 
for  Pickett  at  7%  oclock.  P.  M.  weather  changeable  about  noon  the  clouds 
Clears  away  prospect  of  fine  day  quiett  along  the  front. 

Camp    Scheafer.      Tennessee.    May    23    1863 
Roll  call  at  5^2  police  the  company  grounds  fair  &  pleasant     Some  talk  of 
a  general   move.     Brigade   drill   forenoon   2   hours — Expedition    Started   out 
under  command  Brigdrd  Gen.  turchin  former  Col  of  19  Ills. — Suport  during 
the  night. 

they  advance  In  two  Colums — the  Left  on  Shelbyville  Pike  Right  two 
Battallions"  Salem  Pike  About  10  miles"  they  attact  Sharp  Skirmishing 
for  a  few  minutes"  Rebels-dispersed  Camp  Captured  too  Hundred  pris 
quite  fine  lot  of  Horses — In  killed  and  verry  Slight  on  our  side  loss  4  U. 

S.  cavalry  3  men  killd  11  wounded 

Camp   Scheafer  Tennessee   Saturday  May   24   1863 

Regimental     Inspection    forenoon    Arms — ammunition    Knapsacks    clothing 
Inspectors — Col.    Bradley    &    Staff — Brigade    Comdg"      He    finds    fault    with 
Some  of  the  men 
Oppinion  of  most  of  the  is  not  favorable  for  him  our  favorite  has  fallen 

Camp.    Scheafer  tennessee  Sunday.     May  25.     1863 

It  Has  been  clear  and  beautiful  for  the  most  part  of  the  day 

Brigade  drill  this  forenoon    Company  drill  from  4  to  5  Oclock 

It  Has  been  quite  warm  this  afternoon 

Camp.    Sheafer  Near    murfreesboro  Tennessee   May    26    1863 — 

The   morn   Has   dawned   Roll   call   at   the   usual   Hour 

police   the  Company   grounds — Re'ved   Orders   for  Pickett   8i/^    oclock 

1863  Head   Qrs.   27   Illinois   Scheafer.     Tennessee  May  27. 

It  is  fair  this  morning  the  birds  Sing  So  merrily    It  Reminds-us  of  Day  of 

old  we  were  relieved  by  the  93  Ohio  Vols.  Infantry. 

Return  to  Camp  take  Breakfast  Verry  Dull  In  camp  no  News 
to  that  worth  anything 

1863.     Head  Qrs.  27  Illinois  Scheafer    Thursday  May  28. 
The  Sun  Rose  clear  and  Beautiful  this  morning  I  was  detailed  to  Day  to 
get   Brush   to    Build   Bowers   We   Recived    orders    to    go    on    Salem    Pikett 


372 

1863.     Head  Qrs. — 27   Illinois  Salen  tennessee  May  29 

It  Is  clear  and  beatiful  this  morning  Roll  call  at  SMj  oclock    Went  picket 

to  day  we  Relieve  the  15  mo  the  day  Closes  without  anything   Important 

transpiring  great  anxiety   for   Better   News. 

1863     Head  Qrs.   27   Illinois  Camp.     Lookout  tennessee  May   30. 

this  morning  all  is  quiet  along  the  lines   We  came  in  off  out  Post  Relieved 

by  the  42   111    Company   Inspection  afternoon  all  quiet  in  front. 

1863     Head   Qrs— 27    Ills—,    Lookout   May   31. 
Cloudy,   dull   weather   out   Post   again   to   day     It   rained    During   the   night 
Every  thing  passed  off  quietly  to  day  great  News  Expected  from   Hookers 
Armeny  It  Is  to  Be  Hopen  that  Hooker  will  gain  some  advantag 
1863     Head.   Qrs.    27   Illinois  Camp.     Lookout  Tenn  June   1st 
Nothing  new  this  morning  Roll  call  at  5i/o  oclock 
Come  off  pickett    We  were  Relieved  by  the  42  Ills.    Infantry. 
It  Has  been  clear  and  beautiful  to  day  All  quiet  along  the  lines 
Camp  Lookout  Tennessee  June  2  tuesday  18G3 — 

heavy   rains   falling   cloudy    Dull    weather,    Roll    call   at    bV^    oclock.     Re- 
leaved   by   the   2   Brigade  Return  to   Scheafer  Resume  Bower   Building 
Camp   Scheafer  near   murfreesboro   Tennessee   Wedesday   Jun   3d    1863 
prospect   of   Beautiful   day.     Bower   Building   still   progressing   onward.     It 
Is    to    Be    hope    the    work    will    Soon    be    Compleeted"     Marching    oders — 
Company    Inspection    gi'eat    excitment    In    Camp    everything    in    an    uproar. 
7  days  rations  in  Knapsack  &  Haversack  this  a  rather  pour  pill  for  us  to 
Swallow,   never  the   less   this   orders"    Some  curses  others   Recived   mildly. 
Camp   Schaefer  near   murfreesboro    Tennessee    June  4 — 1863 
nothing  Verry  New   this   morning  Roll   call   at   5i/^   oclock   Verry   cool    two 
Brigade  went  this  morning  all  quiet  this  Evening 
Camp   Scheafer  near  murfreesboro  tennessee   Friday   June   5   1863 — 
this  morning  is  unusually  wet  and  cloudy  Roll  call  at  8i/^   oclock  positive 
orders  to  Be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment  Notice  tents  and  Surplus  Baggage 
to  Be  sent  to  murfreesboro 

Camp  Scheafer  near  murfreesboro  tennessee  June   6  1863    Saturday, 
nothing  new  this  morning    Roll   call  at  8%   oclock  policeing  not  Abdoned 
yet  police  the  Co.  grounds — nothing  fresh  or  excting  going  in  camp  today 
favorable  News — Recived   from  Vicksburg 

Camp  Scheafer  murfreesboro  tennessee  Sunday  June  7  1863. 
this  morning  is  clear,  and  Beautiful  Roll  call  5  ock  Brigade  Inspec- 
tion at  8  oclock  the  sacred  ordinance  of  Baptism  was  Administered  to 
twenty  five  Soldiers  of  the  third  Brigade  at  two  ock  P.  M.  preaching  by 
major  Davidson  of  the  73  Illinois  Vol.  Infantry  Ceremonies  performed 
by  Elder  Reymond  of  5/  Ills. 

Camp    Schafer    near    murfreesboro    Tennessee    monday    June    8th    1863 
this    morning    is    unusually    cool     Roll    call    at    5\4    oclock   the    2    Brigades 
Has  orders   to  go   on.     Salem   pickett"   this   evening  all   is  quiet  all   along 
the   lines 

Camp  Scheafer  near  murfreesboro  Tennessee  Tuesday  June  9   1863 
this    morning    clear    and    Beautiful    Rool    call    at    5    oclock    police    the    Co 
grounds  to  day  our  Boys  Return  from  their  plasure  trip  into  Dixie 

They  present  a  fine  appearance  weare  quite  glad  to  see  them 
Jubillee  among  the  Boys  Peter  Cassidy  in  the  afternoon  becomes  very  near 
Drunk  toward  evening  Skirmish  Drill  two  hours  Return  to  camp  Dress- 
parade  at  6  oclock  P.  M. 

Camp    Sheafer   near   murfreesboro    Tennessee   June  Wednesday    1863 
no  news  this  morning  roll  call  at  5/2  oclck  police  the  company  grounds 
Brigade    Drill    this    forenoon"    heat    Increasses"    Skermish    Drill    one    hour 
this  after  noon  Return  to  camp   dressparade 

Camp    Schafer    near    murfreesboro    tennessee    Thursday    June    11th    1863i 
nothing  new  this  morning  Rollcall  at  5.2  police  the  company  grounds     The 


'The  report  of  T.  M.  Vincent,  Assistant  Adjutant  General  to  Governor  Yates  on  the  condition  of  the 
27th  Illinois  Volunteers,  June  11, 1863,  states  that  there  were  800  men  in  it,  serving  for  three  years.  War 
Records,  Series  III.,  vol.  III.,  p.  741. 


S73 

day  unusually  cloudy  prospect  of  Rain  Brigade  Drill  forenoon  Verry  warm 
Skermish  Drill  one  hour  return  to  camp  dressparade  6  oclock  P.  M.  Dull 
and   Still 

Camp  Scheafer  near  murfreesboro  tennessee  Friday  June   12   1863 
this   morning  beautiful    Rollcall  the  usual  hour  great  excitement  at  mur- 
freesboro A  Rebel   Spy  to  Be  executed  a  great  number   of  citizens  gather 
together  to  witness  the  the  execution"  every  thing  passes  off  Harmoniously" 
dressparade  at  6  oclk  P.  M. 

Camp  Schafer  near  murfreesboro  Tennessee.  Saturday  June  13  1863 — 
Is  It  clear  this  morning  fine  weather  Rollcall  at  the  usual  hour  exceedingly 
Hot.  Brigade  Drill  2  hours  this  forenoon  at  4  oclock  Major  general  Sher- 
ridan  Review  the  Division  In  person  all  pass  off  in  a  verry  cheering  Style 
we  marched  in  Reve  Headed  by  our  gallant  Col.  we  got  the  praise"  not  for 
good  marching  But  for  A  neat  appearance  march  to  camp  to  the  time  of 
Yankee  doodle  dressparade  at  5/2  oclock  P.  M.  all  quiet  along  the  lines 
Camp  Scheafer  near  murfreesboro  Tennessee  Sunday  June  14th  1863 
this  morning  is  unusually  quiet  Rollcall  at  the  usual  at  5/2  oclock  A.  M. 
we  Returned  to  go  on  Salem  pickett  at  10  oclock  this  forenoon"  Sad  acci- 
dent a  man  by  the  name  of  John  Camp  cook  of  the  27  Illinois  Co.  B.  was 
killed  by  the  Brigade  Butcher  Hospital  Sends  Him  to  his  friends  they 
Butchers  were  arrested  by  order  of  Col.  Bradley  It  Rained  verry  heavy 
this  evening 

Camp  Look  five  miles  from  murfreesboro  Tennessee  Monday  June  15th  1863 
This  moring  is  very  fair  and  beautiful  after  the  Rain  we  are  Relieved  the 
42  Ills 

Camp  Lookout  five  miles  from  murfreesboro  Tennessee  June  16th  1863 
Tuesday  Nothing  new  this  morning  Rollcall  at  5  1.2  oclock  A.  M.  police 
the  Camp  there  was  detail  of  24  men  out  of  the  Regt.  for  to  get  forage 
we  go  beond  the  cavalry  out  Post  Return  to  camp  there  nothing  Afloat 
this  Evening  great  anxiety  manifested  for  Better  News  It  is  to  Be  hoped 
that  Gen  Grant  will  gain   Some  Important  advantage 

Camp.  Lookout  five  miles  from  murfreesboro  Tennessee  Wednesday  June  17 
1863  nothing  new  this  morning  Rollcall  5/2  oclock  four  companies  Recived 
orders  to  go  on  Pickett  at  half  past  7  oclock  Capt  Jansen  of  Co.  A  learns 
from  contraband  the  where  abouts  of  Some  conceald  Arms  a  detail  was  im- 
mediately got  out  they  go  to  the  designated  house  He  finds  two  Splendid 
Revolvers  one  Shot  guns  two  Squrrel  Refles — this  citizen  Had  the  name  of 
one  of  the  Loyal  Tennisseeians  I  Have  no  confidence  in  none  of  them 
Camp  Lookout  five  miles  from  murfreesboro  Tennessee  Thursday  June  18th 
1863  no  News  this  morning  Rollcall  at  51^  oclock  police  the  Company 
grounds — Still  great  Anixiety  manefested  for  better  News  all  quiet  along  the 
Camp  Stones  River  near  murfreesboro  Tennessee  Friday  June  19th  1863 
It  has  been  clear  and  beautiful  today  one  Detail  from  the  company  for 
Pickett  nothing  Importance  occurred  to  During  the  Day  dull  and  Still 
Camp  Stones  River  near  murfreesboro  Tennessee  Saturday  June  20  1863 
nothing  verry  new  this  morning  rollcall  at  5/2  great  excitement  in  Camp 
today  We  draw  five  days  Rations 

Camp  Stones  River  near  murfreesboro  Tennessee  Sunday  June  21  1863 
this  morning  Rollcall  at  the  usual  hour  the  Sun  Rose  clear  and  Beautiful 
Regimental  Inspection  at  8'  oclock  of  Arms  Ammunition  Knapsacks  com- 
pany Quarters  divine  Services  at  10  oclck  P.  M.  16  Solders  Baptised  all  of 
the  third  Brigade 

Camp  Stones  River  Near  murfreesboi'o  Tennessee  Monday  June  22  1863 
Verry  cool  this  morning    Roll  call  at  the  usual  Hour  police  the  company 
grounds    Drills   are   Suspended   for   Some   unknown   cause   chaplain   Brown 
of  the  38  Ills  preached  at  his  Regt 

Camp  at  Stones  River  near  murfreesboro  Tennessee  Tuesday  Jun  23  1863 
It  is  Still  continues  Beautiful  weather  Rollcall  at  5/2  oclock  police  the 
company  grounds  Bower  Building  not  Suspended  Verry  heavy  detail 

—18  H  S 


274 

Camp  at  Stones  River  near  nurfreesboro  Tennessee  Wednesday  June  24  1863 

Rollcall    at    the    usual    hour    cloudy    and    dull    threatens    Rain    to    day    the 

etire  arminy  of  the   Cumberland   Recives   twelve   days  Rations  moove   at   8 

oclock   destination   tullahony"    We  advance   four  miles  come  up   to   enemy 

at  gayes  gap  the   39   Indiana   mounted   oppens   the   Skirmish   on   Woodbury 

Pike  Co.  A  &  B  &  D,  and  C  are  Detaild  to  Support  the  front  lines  10  oclock 

we  Remain  till  4  ocick    Relieved  By  the  Second  minnesota"  wounded  none 

killd  none  in   the  action 

Encamped   on   the   Battlefield    Some   five   miles   from  Hoovers   Gap  June   25 

1863     Heavy  Rains  falling  this  morning  we  pass  a  verry  disagreeable  night 

last  night    Grangers  divis  as  passing  to  day  Remained  in  camp  fighting  on 

heavy  the  front  canonadeing  in  the  Direction  of  hoovers  gap  thirteen  pris 

Brought   in  from  the  front  all  quiet  we  go  on  picket  to  night 

Encamped    on    the    Battlefield    Some    five    miles    from    Hoovers    gap    June 

26   1863 

Still  it  Rains"  exceedingly   disagreeable  the   Supply  train  is  passing     It  is 

verry  Difficult  for  wagon  trains  to  get  along  Some  fighting  but  no  Import 

ant  engagement  yet  Rollcall  we  Retire  upon  rather  uncomfortable  Bed 

Camped  on  the  Battlefield   near  Hoovers  Gap  tennessee  June   27   1863 

this    morning  Recived    orders    to    march    at   4    oclock   we   Reched    the    Pike 

Halted  taken  dinner  Replenish  our  canteens  Resume  the  march  pass  through 

the  gap  we  have  laborious  marching  Roads  verry  Rough,  numbers  of  wagon 

broken  Down 

enCamped  on  the  field  Some  two  miles  of  the  manchester  Pike  Tenn  June 

28  1863     This  morning  is  verry  Disagreeable.     Still  continues  to  Rain  Roll 

call  at  6  oclock   We  Recived  orders  to  march  in  the  direction  of  manchester 

We  arrived  we  at  the  above  name  town  at  9  oclock    Breakfasted  pitked  tens. 

Baviocked  for  the  night"  general  Reynolds  Division  of  the  14th  Army  Corpse 

Haveing  enter  the  town  Previous 

Camp  Manchester  tennessee  Monday  June  29th  1863 

This  morning  unsally  pleasant  Rollcall  at  7  oclock  earley  A.  M.    we  resume 

our  march  for  tullahony  all   the  teams  are   sent  back  to   murfreesboro  for 

provis    We   advance  a  few  miles  we  meet  a   Squadron  of  federal  cal  with 

some  pris   Said  to  be  Some  Braggs  escort  they  were  as  motly  crew  as  I  ever 

Saw  at  4  oclock  we  go  into  into  Camp  Rather  Disagreeable  to  night  all  in 

fine  Spirits 

Camp  Before  tullahony  Tennessee  Tuesday  June   30   1863 

this  morning  Rollcall  at  the  usual  hour.     Still  Raining  Verry  heavy  today 

the  Rebel  forces  Evacuated  tullahony  last  night  He  Genrl.  Bragg  abadoned 

his  Strong  position  Rather  in  order  heaveing  ervery  that  that  couldnt  Be 

carryed  in  the  fight  the  Stores  he  left  being  few  Boxes  of  tobaco  two  Siege 

pices  or  heavy  ordinance  our  forces  are  in  close  persuit  heavy  canondeing  in 

the  direction  of  elk  River  Major  Genrl  Sherridan  divisin  was  the  first  to 

Enter  the  town  third  Brigade  Bradleys  42  Ills  &  51  Ills  Infantry 

Camp  at  Tullahony  Tennessee  Wednesday  July  1st  1863 

this  morning  the  sun  Rose  clear  and  beautiful    Roll  call  at  4  oclock  A.  M. 

the  enemy  are  in  full  Retreat  our  pressing  thier  rear  gard  verry  closly     We 

recvd  orders  to  march    At  6   oclock  exceedingly  Hot'   and   there   are    Some 

grumbling  on  acct  of  Short  Rations  of  bread 

Camp  before  tullahony  tennessee  Thusday  July  2d  1863 

nothing  New  from  the  front  Rollcall  at  4  oclock  Recive  orders  to  march  a 

Immediately  to  the  front.     We  march  to  Elk  River  go  into  camp  at  .5  oclk 

verry  warried 

Camp  at  Elk  River  Tennessee  Friday  July  3d  1863 

nothing  new  from  the  front  at  7  oclock  we  Resume  the  march  for  the  front 

Slowly  the  clavalry  captured  quite  a  number  of  prisoners  we  pass  through 

Winchester  from  thence  to  Winchester  to  Cow-ens  Station    We  Biavcked  for 


'For  movements  in  this  neighborhood  see  War  Records,  Series  I.,  vol.  XXIII.,  Part  I.,  pp.  411,  423' 
519-520. 


275 

the  night  all  in  fine  Spirits  Half  Rations  of  Bread     We.  have  permission  to 
night  to  kill  all  the  meat  we  want  two  beond  the  Swine  General  Slaughter 
in  all  and  Round  camp    Its  Dangerous  all  About  Here  all  quiet 
Campt  at  Cowen  Stations  Tennessee  Saturday  July  4  1863 
Heavy  Rains  falling  this  morning  the  troops  Remained  in  camp  to  day  there 
was  a  National  fired  by  the  various  batteries  all  pass  off  Verry  cheering 
Camp  at  Cowens  Station  Tennessee  Sunday  July  5  1863 

this  morning  is  unusually  pleasant  Rollcall  verry  promptly  at  4  oclock  A.  M. 
Still  in  Camp  heavy  Detail  to  Blackbury  from  the  various  Regiments 
Camp  at  Cowen  Station  Tennessee  Monday  July  6  1863 

this  morning  Verry  wet  Still  Raining  roll  call  at  5  oclock  there  at  detail 
from  C  10  for  Pickett  the  engineers  commenced  to  construct  the  rail  road 
bridge  this  morning  Verry  little  work  will  Repair  the  Bridge  at  this  point 
Camp  at  Cowens  Station  Tennessee  Tuesday  July  7  1863 
It  has  been  clear,  and  beautiful  this  ofrenoon  news  of  the  Surrender  of 
Vicksburg  Reached  Here  this  afternoon  great  enthusiam  in  camp"  We 
Recived  the  News  while  on  pickett  Post  this  is  decidedly  one  of  the  greatest 
Victories  of  the  war. 

Camp  H  Cowens  Station  Wednesday  July  8th  1863 

Heavy  Rains  falling  this  morning  Verry  disagreeable  rollcall  at  5/2  oclck 
We  were  intersepted  at  the  dawn  of  day  the  Roar  of  cannon  we  soon  accer- 
tain  what  Invoges  a  Salute  of  36  guns  are  fired  in  honor  of  the  fall  of  Vicks- 
burg also  for  general  Meads  Success  at  gatyburg  Pennsylvania 
Camp  at  Cowens  Station  tennessee  Thursday  July  9th  1863. 
the  son.  rose  clear  and  bright  this  morning  rollcall  at  5i/^  we  recived  orders 
ot  march  at  9  oclock  to  the  front  our  march  was  verry  Slow  In  consequence 
of  to  high  mountains  hot  weather  and  rough  Roads  We  arrive  at  the  uni- 
versity at  two  oclock  go  into  camp 

Camp  at  university  Cumberland  Mountain  tenn  Friday  July  10  1863 
It  Has  cleared  off  beautiful  Rollcall  at  5i4  C.  B  &  A  pickett  marching  orders 
Recived  get  ready  to  march  Immediately  to  the  front  as  usual  to  we  march 
in  the  Direction  of  Battle  clreek  toward  Bridge  front  we  go  into  camp  at 
11  oclock  half  rations  of  bread  the  Brigade  Butchers  go  to  killing  Some  Beef 
for  purpose  to  Sustain  life 

Julyi  9th  State  of  tennesse 
This  morning  Our  bregade  tooke  the  advanCe  to  Clime  the  Mountai  the 
day  is  very  hott  and  dry  the  Men  is  very  thirsty  and  water  is  Scarse  at  5 
oCloCk  we  arive  at  university  of  the  South  uhear  the  Corner  Stone  of  the 
Suthern  ConfedreCy  was  laid  the  Sumer  of  61  it  is  a  plesant  plaCe  fine 
Springs  the  boys  all  went  to  gethering  huCkle  bery  till  night  the  foure  right 
Compnys  went  on  piCket 

Friday  July  10th  1863  this  morning  we  resume  Our 
MarCh  till  12  oCloCk  when  we  inCamp  for  the  night  the  road  has  bin  very, 
bad  on  a  Count  of  the  mud  the  regment  is  Still  on  half  rations  of  bred  and 
meat  no  Coffee  nor  Sugar  and  the  meat  was  piCked  up  whever  it  Could 
be  found 

Saturday  July  11th  1863 
Still  oCkipie  the  Camp  on  the  Mountains  8  Companys  of  the  left  wing  are 
on  duty  to  day  Clearing  out  the  road  down  the  Mountin  that  had  bin  timber 
falling  by  the  retreating  enyme  the  day  post  off  quietly  the  Sun  was  bright 
and  Clear  nothing  else  of  importance  to  day 

Sunday    July    12th    1863 
Returned-  to  Camp  last  night  completely  worn  out  after  having  marched  up 
and    down    the    mountain    on    a    reconortering    expedition    we    pushed    our 
reconisance  as  far  a  big  Blue  Spring  nothing  of  importance  hapened  to  day 
the  boys  scouting  the  contry  in  search  of  berrys  &  forage  jenerly 


'The  handwriting  changes  again.    This  time  it  is  the  same  as  that  of  Dec.  25, 1862  to  Feb.  3, 1863. 
2 The  handwriting  changes.    From  here  to  the  end  it  resembles  very  much  the  handwriting  at  the 
beginning  of  the  diary. 


276 

July  13th  Monday  Morning 
Ordered  to  move  at  twelve  oclock  The  time  arrives  order  countermanded 
Noth  occurs  worthy  of  not  to  day  our  camp  is  situated  about  one  quarter 
of  a  mile  west  of  where  John  A  Murrel  commited  one  among  the  many 
Atrocous  Murders  that  he  commited  in  his  carreer  here  he  Murdered  his 
man  and  threw  him  over  a  fightful  pressipice 

Tuesday  Morning  4th 
Ordered  to  move  Camp  back  to  University  Springs  thee  Brigade 
took  up  its  line  of  March  at  eigh  oclock 

Arrived   there   at   twelve   the   the   twenty   seventh    was   ordered    on    Picket 
at  half  past  two  oclock  chain  guard  around  camp 

Wednesday  July  the  15 
Relieved    from    Picket    at    seven    oclock    come    to    camp    found 
Captain  Williams  there  just  returned  from  a  leave  off  absence  to  the  North 
of  twenty  five  days 

Dispatches   received   from   General   Rosecrance 
Post  hudson  Surrendered  seven  thousand  prisinors 

Thursday    thl6 
Spend    the    day    in    camp    nothing   of    importance   hapens    to    day    weather 
warm 

Friday   July   thl7 
Reales  at  five  oclock  visited   the   corner   Stone  of  the  great  University  of 
the  laid  in  eighteen  sixty  it  has  been   broken  open  and   the  relicts  taken 
out  reported  to  have  been  done  by  the  soldiers  but  it  is  jenerly  believed 
that  the  citizens  of  this  part  wer  conserned  in  it 

Camp  on  the  Mountan   Saturday  July  18th 
On    Picket    this    morning.     Capt   Johnson    of    the    22    is    OflBcer    of    the   day 
weather  very  warm  University  is  getting  be  verry  dry  nothing  going  on  to 
interest  the  most  curious 

Camp  on  the  Mountain 

Sunday  thl9  Spend  the  in  Camp  nothing 

of  interest  hapens  to  day  no  News  from  abroad  the  Camp  is  full  of  citizs 

Camp  on  the  Mountain  Monday  the  20 
Revalee    this    morning   and    the    usual    number    of    citizens    in 
Camp  pedling  berries  vegetables  &c" 

Tuesday  July  th  21st 
Relievde  this  morning  by  five  companys  of  forty  second  at  seven  oclock  re- 
turn to  camp   Rovert  Mayo  came  up  to  camp  this  morning  from  University 
The  Payrools  are  being  maid  out  to  some  prospect  of  geting  pay  soon 

Wednesday  the22 
Nothing  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  camp  bought  a  bottle  of  Wine  last  night " 
to  quench  my  thirst  &  drank  it  with  my  friend  Foote  poor  stuff  vinegar  and 
water  threw  part  of  it  away  puting  in  the  day  eating  and  sleeping 

Thursday  July  the   23d 
Reavalee   at   five   as  usual   much   the  same   rotene   of   duties   as   usual   one 
Oclock  P.  M.     Companys  A  &  B  ordered  to  Tracyville  they  leave  at  two 

Friday  July  24 
Camp  on  the  Mountain  sixteen  boys  captured  last  night  in  the  cave  by  the 
Provost  Guard  Col  Miles  went  over  to  Head  Quarters  and  released  them 

Saturday  July  25  Camp  on  the  Mountain 
Got  up  as  usual  this  morning  thought  I  got  up  right  end  first 
but  I  have  lost  a  day  some  where  must  have  been  asleep   What  I  have  writ- 
ten for  yesterdays  transactions  happened  today 

the  Colonel  sentenced  those  fellows  caught  in  the  cave  to  per- 
form on  tour  of  fatigue 

Sunday  the  26  of  July 
On  Picket  this  morning  on  the  Tracyville  road  citizen  coming  in  continually 
with  produce  to  sell  some  citizen  want  to  pass  our  lines  to  day  giving  as 
their  reason  the  presance  of  Rebels  at  Tracyville 


277 

Monday  July  th  27th 
Regiment  relieved  this  morning  comes  in  hungry  &  tired  as  usual  went  to 
the  waterfall   bothe  this  Evening  beautiful  took  a  most  delightful   bath  & 
returned  to  camp  had  to  run  the  Pickets  to  obtain  this  luxiary 

Tuesday  the  28th 
Dispatches  arrived  in  Camp  last  night  of  the  Capture  of  John  Morgan  and 
all  of  his  command  this  glorious  news  nothing  els   of   importance  hapens 
to  day 

Wednesday  July  the  29 
Camp  on  the  Mountain  Idle  this  morning  twelve  oclock  M.  D.  this  Reg.  is 
geting  payed  this  Evening  Ordered  to  march  at  four  oclock  to  morrow  Morn- 
ing destination  unknown 

Thursday  July  30th 

Camp  on  the  Mountain  Started  at  dayling  this 
Morning  across  the  mountain  camped  at  big  Blue  Springs  for  diner  marched 
on  seven  miles  some  rain  roads  slipery  and  mudy  camped  on  Battle  Creek 

Friday  the  31st 
Took  up  our  line  of  at  daylight  marching  one  mile  when  the 
sruck  the  Tennisee  River  Continue  on  down  under  the  Mountain  to  Bridge- 
port Ala  a  distance  of  seven  miles  from  our  last  Camp  We  found  two  regi- 
ments of  the  second  Brigade  here  and  lots  of  reb's  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Tennisee 

August  th  1st 
Bridgeport  Alabama 

Saturday  morning  spend  the  in  flting  up 
camp  erecting  Bowers  over  our  shelter  tents  and  Policing  our  Quarters 
Weather  uncommonly  hot  an  sultry 

Aug"  the  3rd 
Reveale  at  five  oclock  this  morning  the  boys  still  engaged  in 
fixing  their  shelters 

Today  is  fraught  with  interest  to  myself  and  other  of  our  com- 
pany it  being  the  second  anaversary  of  our  commensment  of  service  I  am 
looking  with  anxious  eyes  to  one  more  My  the  time  spedily  roll  round  and 
with  it  peace  to  our  once  happy  Country  Look  on  the  next  page  incident  of 
the  2  over 

Bridgeport  Alabama 

Aug  the  2d 
The  second  Brigade  returns  to  Stevison  to  day  the  first  Brig" 
is  to  take  their  place  and  Brigadier  Jen.  Lytel  will  take  command  of  the 
Post 

Tuesday  Aug  th 
Tuesday  Aug  3d 

Nothing  of  importa  transpires  to 
day  weather  hot  and  sultry  the  boys  have  spirited  conversations  with  the 
rebs  across  the  river  the  fourth  and  ninth  Mississippi  are  doing  picket  duty 
for  the  rebs 

Wednesday  Aug  th  5  th 
Realee  at  four  oclock  this  Morning  Much  the  usual  rotene  of  dutys  to  day 
weather  hot   Bridgeport  dusty  and  lonesome 

Thursday  Aug.  the  6  th 
Rool  call  at  the  usal  hour  two  hot  to  enjoy  life  nothing  but 
laying  under  our  shanties  lolling  some  rain  this  evening  cools  the  air  some 

Friday  Aug  th  7th 
Mornings  the  pleasantst  part  of  the  day  the  company  divided 
into  three  Messes  to  day  Two  oclock  P  M  Gen.  Rosecrans  and  Staff  visits 
Bridgeport  this  evening  the  old  gentleman  looks  odd  in  his  citizen  dress  and 
chip  hat 


278 

Camp  at   Bridgeport  Alabama 

Saturday  August  the  8  th 
Morning  dawns  with  its  usual  fog  and  chilley  air  this  is  cer- 
tainly the  most  detestable  place  for  fogs  I  ever  saw  Mornings  damp  with  fog 
and  stinking  air  from  decaying  Vegetation  and  ajacent  Slaughter  pens 

Sunday  August  the  9th 
The  usual  rotene  of  roll  call  and  policeing  company  grounds 
Nothing  of  interest  untill  the  Mail  comes  in  we  have  things  a  little  more 
like  living  here  now  two  trains  a  day  and  an  occasional  visit  from  Rosey" 
and  Phill  A  flag  of  truce  has  gone  over  to  day  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn 
the  object 

Monday  August  th  10  th 

Nothing  of  interest 
this  morning  I  have  to  resort  to  evry  stratagy  to  pass  away  time  pipes  and 
tobacco  cards  and  whisky  are  the  jeneral  resort  of  the  soldier  (the  later  is 
rather  scarse  here) 

Tuesday   August   the   11   th 
Everything  after   the   old    style   spleepless    nights    uneasy    days 
plenty  of  grub  no  appetite  to  eat  it  time  pass  briskly  notwithstanding  the 
Monotony 

Wednesday  Aug  th  12 
Rool   call  at  the  usual  hour  breakfast   over  comense  trying  to 
kill  time  work  some  read  a  litle  take  a  strole  around  camp  give  it  up  as  a 
bad  job  and  go  to  sleep 

Camp  Roberts  Bridgeport  Alabama 
Thursday  August  th  13  th 
Picket  at  seven  oclock  this  morning  threatens  rain  two  oclock 
heavy  showers  a  tremendus  gale  from  the  North  east  come  darned  near  blow- 
ing us  away  wet  &  cold  the  rest  of  the  rest  of  day 

Friday  th  14 
Relieved  at  seven  go  to  camp  have  more  Idea  what  to  do  to  day 
than  a  man  in  the  Moon  expect  to  putin  the  day  sleeping  and  eating  expect  to 
get  to  lazy  to  do  that  if  I  stay  hear  much  longer 

Saturday  Aug  th  15  th 
Was  wakedup  up  last  night  by  a  shot  from  the  boys  pets  out 
on  the  river  bank  others  folowed  in  quick  succession  making  me  crawl  out  of 
by  nest  to  see  what  the  fraction  was  found  after  geting  my  eys  open  that  the 
rebs  had  fired  the  part  of  the  bridge  in  their  possession  and  Hotlars  boys 
thinking  they  wer  starting  on  a  journey  gave  them  a  parting  salute  Inspec- 
tion of  arms  in  the  company  grounds  by  the  Colo. 

Sunday  th  16th 
Clouds   look   oninous   rains   a   little   this   morning    none   worth 
mentioning  Twelve  oclock  a  flag  of  truce  comes  over  this  morning  to  make 
arangements  for  the  rebel  Generals  Andersons  mother  to  go  to  her  friends 
she  being  inside  of  our  lines 

Camp  Roberts  Bridgeport 

Aug  th  17  th 
Monday  Morning  Revalee  at  the  usual 
hour  camp  cleared  proceed  to  the  duties  of  the  day  which  prove  to  be  much 
the  same  as  usual 

Tuesday  Aug"  th  18  th 
Morning  finds  us  still  in  the  same  hole  strugling  to  live  with 
no  perceavable  purpus  in  view  if  you  should  Judghe  from  apearance     But 
in  good  time  perhaps  our  object  will  be  better  seen 

Wednesday  Aug  th  19  th 
Every  thing  quiet  this  morning  things  begin  to  look  like  moove- 
ing  get  orders  today  to  pack  our  Knapsaclvs  and  send  them  to  Stevison  for 
storage  every  man  has  to  be  provided  with  an  extra  pair  of  shoes  this  looks 
like  ther's  was  marching  in  store  for  us  let  it  come  for  every  one  is  tired 
of  this  place 


279 

Thursday  August  th  20  th 
Flag  of  truce  over  this  morning  culd  not  learn  what  was  the 
object  time  passs  dull  enough  Noth  ne\v  only  a  little  chat  with  escort  that 
came  with  the  flag 

Friday  Aug  th  21  st 
Revalee   and   roll   call   breakfast  over   we   prepared   for   Picket 
rains  lightly  twelve  oclock  skys  clear  up  looks  more  propitious   Rosey"  Visits 
the  Post  to  day  makes  a  speech  to  the  boys  prolongd  cheering  shows  the  con- 
fidence the  feel  in  their  leader 

Camp   Roberts   Bridgeport   ala 

Saturday  Augst  th  22  nd 
Relieved   from   Picket   this   morning  rebs  left  us  alone   in   our 
glory  last  night  they  never  so  much  as  hid  us  good  bye  when  they  started 
well  let  them  go  we  will  visit  them  shortly 

Sunday  th  23  d 
Nothing   transpires    to    interest    the    most    curious    this    is    dry 
work  keeping  diary  in  such  a  place  as  this  I  am  almost  tempted  to  do  some 
thing  desperate  for  the  sake  of  a  chang  guess  I  wont  however  untill  I  see 
what  turns  up 

Monday   Aug"   th   24   th 
All  quiet  to  day  within  hearing  of  the  place 

Tuesday  Aug"  the  25  th 
All  going  as  usual  this  morning  weather  hot  and  dry  this  has 
been  the  case  for  several  days  some  heavy  guns  flreing  up  the  river 

Wednesday  Aug  the  26 
Revalle  sounds  at  the  usual  hour  the  same  rotene  of  duty  heavy 
flreing  towards  Chattamooga    Seargeant  Braiden  of  Col.  D"  died  last  night 
is  buried  at  twelve  oclock  to  day  with  the  the  honers  of  war  peace  to  his 
remains 

Camp  Roberts  Bridgeport  Ala" 
Thursday  Aug  th  27  th 
Revalee  and  roll  call  at  the  usual  hour  breakfast  over  camp  to 

police  nothing  to  do  time  drags  heavaly  on  my  hands  no  news 

Friday  Aug  th  28  "th 
Regiment   on    detail   to   day   geting  out   bridge   timbers   we   got 
out  one  hundred  and  fifty  stcks  blistei-ed  my  hands  all  over  shant  be  able 
to  lay  in  bed  I  am  a  fraid  some  pontoons  arrived  to  night 

Saturday  Aug  th  29  th 
Revalee  at  the  usual  hour  detail  gone  forageing  this  morning — 
night  closes  around  us  and  I  prepare  to  retire  without  having  heard  anything 
to  excite  my  curiosity 

Sunday  Aug  th  30  th 
Roll  call  at  four  oclock  The  first  Reg"  of  Michigan  Fusaliers  are 
puting  up  the  bridge  to  day 

Monday  Aug  th  31  st 
Nothing  past  common   to   record   to   day     More   pontoons  came 
in    last    night   the   bridge    is    progressing    finely    two    thirds    completed    this 
evening 

Camp  Roberts  Bridgeport 

Tuesday  September  th  I  st 

Revalee  at  four 
oclock  Picket  at  eight  have  a  pleasant  day  on  Picket  the  hrldge  is  progressing 
finely  almost  finished     Nothing  of  interes  happens  to  day 

Wednesday  Sept"  the  2  ond 
Relieved  at  eight  oclock  go  to  camp  get  orders  to  get  ready  to 
march  at  one  oclock  at  one  we  are  marched  out  in  line  t)ut  the  bridge  not 
l)eing  completed  we  wer  basted  about  an  hour  in  the  hot  sun  all  things  being 
ready  we  take  up  our  line  march  for  dixey  march  six  miles  camped  for  the 
night  in  Hog  Jaw  Cave  the  bridge  fell  whilst  our  train  was  crossing  No 
casualitys 


280 

Thursday  Sept  th  3  d 
Lying  in  camp  waiting  for  Negleys  division  to  get  up  the  Moun- 
tain they  haveing  come  in  from  the  crossing  below  and  come  up  the  Cave 

Friday  Sept  th  4  th 
Still  laying  here  waiting  twelve  oclock  on  the  march   Commence 
climbing  the  Mountain  one  hour  finds  us  on  top  of  Rackcoon  Mountain  one 
mile  from  the  top  campt  for  night 

Saturday  Sep  th  5  th 
Crossed  the  Mountain  desendlng  in  to  lookout  valley  camped  near  Trenton 
at  a  beautiful  Spring 

Sunday  Morning  Sep"  the  6  th 

Camp  near  trenton 
Georgia  Started  on  our  march  at  twelve  ocloc  passed  Trenton 

going  seven  miles  up  the  Valley  camp  for  the  brig  three  miles  from  an 
Iron  mine  the  works  of  which  have  just  been  put  up  and  have  fallen  inot 
our  hands 

Monday  September  7  th 
Orders  to   ready  to   at   daybreak   we  pass  Negly   camped   in   a 
beautiful  valley  two  miles  in  advance  of  our  camp  after  passing  him  marched 
to  the  front  too  miles  camped  for  the  night  country  rich  produce  abundant 

Tuesday  th  8  th 

Lay  in  camp  to  day 
nothing  of  importance  hapens  Men  feasting  on  the  fat  of  the  land  who 
blams  them 

Wednesday  Sep  the  9  th 
Still   laying   in   camp   no   news   worth   recording  this   morning 
four  oclock  News   of  the  occupation   of   Chattanoog  Jeneral   Rosecrans   at- 
tends mass  in  the  Cathedral  of  that  place 

Thursday  September  th  10  th 
March  at  five  oclock  hot  and  dusty  we    join    the    rest    of    our 
Corpse  it  haveing  gone  to  the  right  after  crossing  the  river  after  joining  the 
corps  we  camp  on  the  mountain 

Friday  September  the  11  th 
On  the  march  early  this  morning  we  pass  down  the  mountain 
camped  at  Alpine  Georgia     We  hear  that  Cattanooga  is  evacuated  it  took 
place  on  the  eighth  our  forces  taking  possession  on  the  ninth     we  left  our 
train  yesterday  hastening  to  the  fron  hopeing  to  intercept  Bragg 

Saturday  Sept  the  12  th 
Alpine  Georgia 
The  Regiment  Ordered  on  Picket  this  morn  all  quiet  in  front 
the  country  abounds  in  corn  potatoes  Beans  &c  Broomcorn  valley  is  on  the 
most  firtile  valleys  in  the  state  abounding  in  all  the  productions  of  the  south 

Sunday  the  13  th  Alpine  Geo. 
Called  in  from  Picket  marched  to  the  foot  of  the  Mountain  but 
it  being  so  thronged  we  wer  obliged  to  wait  until  three  oclock  at  three  we 
comensed  the  ascent  halted  on  the  top  at  sundown  after  the  Battries  gained 
the  top  of  the  Mountain  we  again  resumed  our  March  proceeded  two  miles 
forward  &  camped  for  the  night 

Monday  September  14  th 
Broke  camp  at  daylight  find  ourselves  marching  over  the  same 
raod  we  wer  hured  over  two  days  ago  where  our  destination  no  one  has  the 
remotes  conception  we  cross  the  Mountain  again  repassing  Valley  hea  before 
twelve  M.  D.     Camped  for  the  in  Lookout  Valley 

Tuesday  September  the  15  th 
Lay  in  camp  untill  noon  Moove  camp  to  the  foot  of  the  Moun- 
tain not  of  important  hapens  to  day  weather  dry  and  dusty 

Wednesday  September  the  16  th 
We  comense  the  toilsome   ascent    of  ,  Lookout    Mountain    this 
morning  at  day  break  it  took  most  of  the  forenoon  to  make  the  ascent  it  be- 
ing so  steep  that  the  teams  wer  not  able  to  haul  the  Guns  it  was  accomplished 


281 

by  attaching  roaps  to  the  peacies  and  placing  Men  to  the  guns  this  severe 
duty  was  preformed  after  days  of  hard  marching  without  a  Murmur  We 
camp  to  night  in  Chattanooga  Vally  it  is  quite  rich  and  well  supplied  with 
forage  for  Man  and  beast 

Chattamooga  Valley  Sep  the  17 

The  Enimy  reported  advancing  this  morning  Eleven  oclock 
form  a  line  of  battle  some  Canonading  on  the  left  a  great  Dattle  ininent 

Friday  September  the  18  " 

Our  train  arrives  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  this  Evening  we 
are  train  Guards  we  commence  our  line  of  march  at  Evening  halt  at  Mid- 
night within  ten  miles  of  Crawfish  Springs.  Thomas  has  some  fighting  to 
day  the  enimy  are  trying  to  cut  us  off  from  Chattanooga 

Saturday  September  the  19  " 

Drew  two  days  rations  and  commensed  our  march  at  eight  oclock 
we  had  not  advanced  but  a  short  distance  when  we  heard  heavy  and  continu- 
ous musketry  in  our  front  and  on  our  right  Davis  &  Thomas  wer  engage- 
ing  the  Enimy  who  was  using  Means  to  interpos  his  forces  between  us  & 
Chatanooga  presantly  we  are  ordered  forward  double  quick'  Now  now  the 
tumult  of  battle  rages  within  three  hundred  yards  of  where  we  are  passing 
clouds  of  dust  almost  choke  us  as  we  hury  to  the  front  amid  the  confusion 
of  booming  ratling  Musketry  &  Orderlys  tying  in  every  direction  we  arrive 
at  crawfish  spring  here  we  find  Negleys  superb  division  standing  in  battle 
array  as  cool  as  thoug  they  did  not  expect  shortly  to  be  engaged  in  the  bloody 
strife  here  we  are  ordere  to  halt  &  gallant  Colonel  Bradley  formed  our  bri- 
gade on  the  right  of  Neglys  Division  the  second  brigade  comming  up  at  this 
is  also  formed  in  to  column  and  stack  their  arms  to  replen:sh  their  canteens 
and  take  breath  after  double  quicking  eight  miles  through  Dust  almost  Knee 
deep  soon  we  are  ordered  closer  to  the  seen  of  action  ana  take  position  in 
the  timber  about  a  half  a  mile  to  the  right  of  Gordons  Mills  &  about  three 
quarters  from  the  Battlefield  We  have  barly  time  to  rest  our  weried  limbs 
until  we  are  ordered  to  canghe  our  position  the  enimy  are  threatening  our 
right  we  form  on  the  extream  right  and  explore  the  ground  in  front  of  us 
ascertaining  that  from  the  nature  of  the  groung  we  have  nothing  to  fear 
from  an  attack  in  this  direction  we  had  just  began  to  make  our  selves  com- 
fortable when  the  News  comes  to  Sheridan  that  they  are  pushing  our  Men 
back  quicker  than  thought  the  old  third  Brigade  is  Mooved  a  few  hundred 
yards  to  the  left  and  ordered  in  to  the  fight  with  the  second  Brigade  for  sup- 
port A  brigade  of  Woods  division  give  way  just  as  we  goin  leaveing  a 
battery  exposed  to  the  enimy  they  are  not  slow  to  discover  the  advantage 
and  make  a  rush  for  the  isolated  Batterrie  but  they  have  reckoned  without 
their  host  we  to  have  an  eye  on  that  battery  and  go  for  it  double  quick  just 
in  time  to  save.  We  arrive  at  the  battery  while  the  rebels  are  seventy  five 
yards  of  poring  a  volley  in  to  them  that  makes  them  waver  we  drop  to  the 
ground  not  a  moment  to  soon  for  a  volley  from  the  Rebs  sends  a  sheet  of  led 
fiying  ove  that  no  man  could  have  lived  in  but  the  soon  fond  who  they  had  to 
contend  with  and  left  us  in  possession  of  the  field  after  dragging  off  our 
Battirri  that  had  been  leit  by  the  troops  engaged  when  we  com  in  we  took 
from  the  field  and  peturened  to  its  commander  and  received  his  hearty  thanks 
then  selecting  an  advantage  position  we  fell  back  a  few  rods  and  prepared  to 
hold   the  ground  for  the  night   after  making  enquiries   on   casualities   wer 


'Compare  the  reports  of  Colonel  Miles,  Colonel  Walwortli,  and  Major  General  Sheridan,  War  Records, 
Series,  I.,  vol.  XXX.,  Part  II.,  pp.  596,  .594,  .579  respectively. 


282 

fond  to  be  300  in  thirty  minutes  we  laid  on  the  field  in  Battle  array  all  night 
the  most  of  us  without  Blankets  the  night  as  very  cold  a  tremendous  heavy 
frost  falling   Morning  at  last  comes' ■ ■ 


'  The  diary  ends  here.  The  further  history  of  the  27th  Illinois  volunteer  regiment  is  compara  t  i  vely  sim- 
ple. It  took  part,  among  other  ensjagemenls,  in  the  battles  of  the  Atlanta  Campaign:  Rocky  Faced 
Ridge,  Resaca,  Adairsville,  Pine  Top  Mountain,  Mud  Creek,  Kenesaw  Mountam,  Peach  Tree  Creek 
and  in  the  skirmishes  around  Atlanta. "  On  the  2.5th  of  August,  ISti.i,  it  was  relieved  from  duty  at  the 
front  by  the  order  of  General  Thomas,  and  ordered  to  Springfield,  111.,  for  muster-out.  On  its'  arrival 
at  Springfield,  it  showed  the  following  record  of  casualties:  killed  or  died  of  wounds,  102:  died  of  disease, 
80;  number  of  wounded,  32S;  discharged  and  resigned,  209."  T.  M.  Eddy,  The  Patriotism  of  Illinois, 
II..  p.  55. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  diary  there  is  a  poem  of  three  stanzas  and  on  the  following  page  the  name  of 
Martha  Crippen. 


■^^^B^^^HB^BMB^Ba 


PART  V. 


In  Memoriam. 


George   N.    Black. 


385 


GEOEGE  NELSON  BLACK. 


By  Jessie  Palmer  Weber. 

To  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  there  are  a  few  names  which 
will  be  enrolled  among  the  list  of  its  immortals.  Their  children  and 
grandchildren  will  die,  their  names  will  be  heard  no  more  on  the  streets, 
in  the  church,  in  their  places  of  business,  but  when  the  history  of  this 
society  is  written  or  read,  these  names  must  be  among  the  first  as 
the  fathers  and  founders  of  the  society.  If  this  society  should  die, 
another  would  be  founded  and  in  writing  the  history  of  the  new  endeavor 
they  would  be  obliged  to  tell  of  other  attempts  to  build  up  an  historical 
society  for  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  as  we  tell  of  John  M.  Peck,  James 
Hall,  Cyrus  Edwards  and  others,  who  were  our  predecessors  in  the  field 
of  State  history,  so  future  workers  would  be  obliged  to  tell  of  the  work 
and  efforts  of  Hiram  Williams  Beckwith,  Dr.  John  F.  Snyder,  David 
McCulloch,  J.  H.  Bumham  and  George  Nelson  Black. 

I  wish  to  offer  today  a  few  words  of  appreciation  of  that  good  and 
modest  man,  that  loyal  friend,  that  generous  and  indulgent  husband 
and  father,  George  Nelson  Black. 

Those  of  us  who  worked  in  close  relation  to  Mr.  Black  know  how  near 
to  his  heart  was  the  interest  of  the  Historical  Library  and  the  Historical 
Society.  During  the  wearing  and  wearying  days  of  his  last  illness  he 
never  lost  interest  in  their  work.  The  Society  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude 
to  him  which  will  never  be  forgotten  or  repaid. 

George  Nelson  Black  was  bom  in  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  March  15, 
1833,  the  son  of  Wm.  M.  Black  and  Persis  Fuller  Black.  He  was  on 
his  mother's  side  of  the  family,  a  descendant  of  John  Alden,  and  of  Dr. 
Samuel  M.  Fuller,  both  of  whom  came  over  in  the  Mayflower.  His 
grandfather.  Captain  James  Black,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  but  came 
to  America,  previous  to,  and  served  the  colonies  as  a  captain  in  the  War 
of  the  Eevolution,  and  was  commissary  general  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  through  the  later  years  of  the  struggle  for  independence. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  government  made  large  grants  of  land  to  this 
Capt.  James  Black,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city  of  Albany,  New  York,  to 
which  the  family  have  never  been  able  to  acquire  title.  George  N.  Black 
studied  in  such  schools  as  there  were  in  his  native  village  in  Massachu- 
setts, and  he  has  often  told  me  of  sweeping  out  the  school  rooms  in  the 
old  academy,  where  he  received  instruction.     He  also  said  he  rang  the 


286 

school  bell,  and  that  as  long  as  he  lived  a  peculiar  tone  in  a  church  or 
institution  bell  would  bring  back  vividly  to  his  mind  the  tone  of  the  old 
liell  of  the  acadeni}-.  He  was  in  after  years  able  to  give  substantial  gifts 
to  the  old  town  of  his  boyhood. 

When  about  15  years  of  age,  he  came  West  to  Vandalia,  Illinois,  where 
his  older  brother  and  sister  had  already  settled,  and  where  the  brother, 
Wm.  Black,  was  conducting  a  general  store.  George  N.  Black  im- 
mediately began  his  mercantile  career,  by  clerking  in  his  brother's  store. 
Vandalia  had  already  begun  to  lose  its  importance  as  a  center  of  business. 
Ten  years  before  Mr.  Black  went  there  the  capital  had  been  removed 
to  Springfield,  and  many  business  and  professional  men  had  followed 
it,  including  the  newspaper,  the  State  Register,  so  in  October,  1850, 
Mr.  Black  came  with  the  family  of  his  sister  to  Springfield.  He  procured 
a  position  as  a  clerk  in  the  general  store  of  Col.  John  Williams  at  $15.00 
per  month.  He  remained  a  clerk  for  Colonel  Williams  for  six  years  and 
then,  though  very  young,  he  was  admitted  as  a  partner  in  the  business. 
He  said  he  tried  to  think  how  he  could  take  more  interest  and  do  more 
work  when  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  but  he  was  unable  to  do  so, 
as  he  had  thrown  all  his  energy  into  the  service  of  the  business  as  a  clerk, 
he  was  unable  to  take  more  interest  when  it  became  in  part  his  own 
business.  This  business  connection  was  continued  for  a  quarter  of  .a 
century  and  was  very  profitable. 

Mr.  Black  was  soon  very  much  interested  in  his  adopted  city,  and  the 
State  of  Illinois.  He  said  that  he  soon  became  a  veritable  "Sucker"  and 
while  he  loved  New  England  and  her  traditions,  Illinois  and  Springfield 
were  home  to  him.  He  had  great  and  abiding  faith  in  the  future  of 
Springfield. 

When  a  very  young  man  he  lived  for  a  time  as  a  neighbor  to  Abraham 
Lincoln,  and  while  he  had  no  remarkable  Lincoln  stories  to  tell,  he 
always  spoke  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  kindness  to  and  interest  in  him.  He  had 
a  great  admiration  for  the  character  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  he  made  a 
study  of  the  mass  of  literature  written  about  him.  He  was  like  Mr. 
Lincoln,  very  fond  of  poetrv,  and  he  often  recited  Mr.  Lincoln's  favorite 
poem  "Oh  why  should  the  Spirit  of  Mortal  be  Proud,"  and  he  would 
say  "who  would  not  admire  those  noble  and  melancholy  lines."  In  the 
Historical  Library  he  urged  the  collection  of  Lincolniana.  but  sometimes 
objected  to  pictures,  such  as  lithographs  or  chromos  which  were  poor 
art  and  poor  taste,  though  he  would  usually  consent  to  such  pictures 
having  a  place  in  the  collection  on  the  ground  that  it  was  the  object  of 
the  library  to  collect  everything  good  or  bad  that  related  to  Mr.  Lincoln. 
He  had  a  great  admiration  for  another  favorite  poem  of  Mr.  Lincoln's, 
Gray's  "Elegy  in  a  Country  Churchyard." 

He  was  not  a  story  teller,  in  the  sense  that  many  of  his  contempor- 
aries were,  perhaps  because  most  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  community 
were  of  southern  birth  or  ancestry,  and  were  more  given  to  talking  and 
gossiping,  while  he  with  his  New  England  training  felt  that  he  could 
not  waste  precious  time  in  chatting,  but  he  was  a  good  listener  and  en- 
joyed the  conversation  of  his  friends.  During  the  latter  part  of  his 
life  his  office  was  the  meeting  place  of  a  coterie  of  his  old  friends,  and 


287 

while  they  chatted,  and  chaffed  each  other  and  told  stories,  he  stood  at 
his  high  old  fashioned  desk,  always  busily  writing,  only  pausing  to  inter- 
ject some  apt,  but  dry  remark  into  the  flow  of  conversation. 

George  N.  Black  has  always  been  spoken  of  as  a  business  man,  and  in 
the  sense  that  he  was  a  man  of  affairs  this  is  true,  but  he  was  by  no  means 
simply  a  business  man,  caring  only  for  profit  in  a  material  way.  He  was 
a  successful  business  man  because  he  worked  hard  and  studied  the  nature 
and  details  of  the  affairs  in  which  he  was  engaged.  The  same  effort,  the 
same  study  would  have,  in  another  direction,  made  of  him  a  successful 
professional  man.  It  seems  to  me  that  he  had  the  very  qualities  of  mind 
that  would  have  made  of  him  an  excellent  teacher,  but  destiny  or  circum- 
stance threw  him  early  upon  his  own  resources  and  he  became  a  business 
man,  a  merchant,  a  manufacturer,  and  railroad  official.  In  every  public 
undertaking  he  took  an  active  part.  Within  the  last  few  weeks  several 
men  have  said  that  Springfield  business  men  lack  a  leader,  that  the 
younger  men  had  depended  upon  a  few  of  the  older  ones  for  mapping  out 
campaigns,  and  that  these  older  men  had  one  by  one  dropped  away  and 
no  one  had  been  found  to  fill  their  places.  One  said,  "When  we  had 
George  N.  Black,  B.  H.  Ferguson,  F,  K.  Whittemore  and  those  men,  we 
younger  ones  were  willing  to  do  the  work  but  we  depended  upon  them  for 
advice."  This  gentleman  did  not  realize  how  young  Mr.  Black  had  been 
when  he  began  the  leadership  of  which  he  spoke. 

He  was  very  active  in  assisting  in  bringing  railroads  to  Springfield, 
and  was  a  power  in  the  building  of  the  Pana,  Springfield  and  North- 
Avestern  railroad,  now  the  Springfield  branch  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio, 
and  was  one  of  its  directors,  and  for  several  years  the  secretary  of  the 
company.  He  was  one  of  the  citizens  of  Springfield,  who  built  the  Gil- 
man,  Clinton  and  Springfield  railroad,  now  the  Springfield  division  of 
the  Illinois  Central  railroad,  and  was  a  director  in  the  company.  He  was 
also  one  of  the  most  important  movers  in  building  the  Springfield  and 
Northwestern  railroad,  and  operated  the  road  for  some  years  as  receiver 
and  general  manager  until  it  liecame  a  part  of  the  Wabash  system.  He 
also  was  a  director  and  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  St.  Louis,  Peoria  and 
Northern  railroad  which  has  since  become  a  part  of  the  Chicago  and 
Alton  system.  Thus  it  is  seen  that  his  activities  along  the  line  of  rail- 
road building,  the  principal  means  of  development  of  the  country,  have 
been  unexcelled  by  any  other  citizen  of  Springfield.  He  believed  that  a 
town  must  encourage  this  work  to  attain  any  prosperity  and  growth.  In 
1861,  he  was  appointed  by  Mr.  Lincoln  receiver  of  the  United  States 
Land  Office  at  Springfield,  which  office  he  filled  for  sixteen  years. 

He  was  for  many  years  the  owner  and  operator  of  extensive  coal  mines, 
and  was  very  enthusiastic  in  regard  to  the  development  of  the  Sangamon 
county  and  Central  Illinois  coal  fields,  and  he  was  associated  with  nearly 
all  of  the  important  business  enterprises,  of  the  town  between  1865  and 
1898  or  later,  a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years.  It  is  not  possible  for 
me  to  estimate  the  value  of  Mr.  Black's  services  and  influence  in  the 
upbuilding  of  Springfield.    A  gentleman  who  knew  Mr.  Black  for  years. 


i 


288 

said,  "When  Geo.  N.  Black  was  in  health,  I  would  rather  have  had  him 
for  me  than  all  the  other  local  leaders  combined,  either  on  a  business  or  a 
political  proposition," 

Many  instances  of  his  influence  and  untiring  energy  for  the  good  of 
the  capital  city  may  be  mentioned,  the  more  important  of  which  are  the 
location  of  the  State  Fair,  the  remodeling  of  the  Lincoln  monument, 
the  organization  and  founding  of  our  beautiful  park  system,  and  the 
organization  and  management  of  the  city  library,  and  his  interest  in  the 
Bettie  Stuart  Institute.  Mr.  Black  was  active  in  politics,  and  was  an 
ardent  Republican.  He  was  chairman  of  the  county  central  committee 
for  many  years,  but  he  was  not  an  office-seeker.  The  position  of  receiver 
of  the  land  office  already  mentioned,  and  that  of  member  of  the  city 
council,  were  the  only  public  positions  which  he  ever  held,  but  he  was  a 
valued  and  influential  leader  for  many  years  in  the  councils  of  his  party 
in  this  State. 

By  these  instances  of  his  business  life  will  be  seen  that  untiring 
industry  and  perseverance  were  the  chief  characteristics  of  George  N. 
Black,  but  there  were  other  sides  to  the  nature  of  this  modest  man. 
The  son  of  an  old  Vandalia  friend  wrote  to  Mr.  Black  within  the  last 
few  years,  and  in  the  letter  said :  "Very  well  do  I  remember  the  long 
walks  over  the  prairies  and  bluffs  which  you  and  I  and  my  father  used 
to  take,  especially  on  pleasant  Sundays.  I  remember,  too,  how  you 
used  to  carry  me  when  I  grew  tired,  and  how  you  showed  me  the  flowers 
and  told  me  the  names  of  many  of  them,  and  pointed  out  the  birds 
and  the  squirrels  to  me,  and  helped  me  to  make  whistles."  This  was 
when  Mr.  Black  was  himself  only  a  boy  or  a  very  young  man.  I  think 
his  love  of  reading  developed  very  early  for  he  said  when  reading 
Andrew  Carnegie's  account  of  his  own  thirst  for  books,  that  he  believed 
that  nearly  all  poor  American  boys  had  suffered  those  pangs  and  resolved 
to  help  other  boys  to  have  books  to  read.  At  any  rate  he  became  a  real 
book  lover.  He  did  not  care  to  skim  through  a  book  and  throw  it  aside 
and  never  see  it  again.  A  good  book  was  to  him  a  friend  and  he  loved 
to  buy  and  own  books.  He  had  a  large  private  library,  which  contained 
some  very  rare  volumes.  He  was  a  lover  of  pictures,  too,  and  he  gave  a 
good  deal  of  time  to  the  study  of  artists  and  their  work,  and  owned  a 
number  of  rare  paintings  and  etchings. 

He  was  appointed  in  1897  by  Gov,  John  R.  Tanner  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Library,  and  he  at  once 
threw  himself  into  the  work  of  the  Library  with  his  accustomed  energy 
and  began  working  in  the  field  of  State  history,  a  taste  for  which  had  been 
growing  in  his  mind  for  some  years,  and  it  continued  to  grow  and  bear 
fruit,  and  until  his  death  there  was  hardly  a  day  during  which  he  did 
not  give  some  part  of  his  time  to  the  affairs  of  the  Library.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society,  and  signed 
the  call  for  the  meeting  at  Champaign  in  May,  1899,  out  of  which  grew 
the  organization  of  the  Society.  He  read  a  paper  at  the  first  annual 
meeting  of  the  Society,  held  at  Peoria,  in  January,  1900.  In  November, 
1906,  he  met  with  a  serious  accident,  a  fall  over  the  banisters  in  the 


389 

high  stairwa}^  of  his  residence.  He  ^yas  badly  injured,  and  it  was 
thought  at  first,  fatally,  but  he  recovered  to  some  extent  and  lived  a 
number  of  months,  but  did  not  regain  his  health. 

These,  then,  as  I  have  said,  were  some  of  the  activities  of  the  busy 
life  of  the  man,  George  Nelson  Black,  but  there  was  the  social  and 
domestic  life.  In  physique  he  was  very  slender,  almost  frail  looking, 
but  he  was  very  wiry  and  had  most  excellent  health  up  to  two  or  three 
years  before  his  death.  He  worked  so  hard  and  he  had  worked  so 
long  that  he  did  not  know  how  to  rest,  and  so  in  spite  of  warnings  by 
his  physicians,  his  family  and  his  friends,  he  kept  in  the  harness  until 
the  serious  accident  already  mentioned  occurred. 

He  had  dark  blue  and  very  expressive  eyes,  which  always  showed  his 
emotions.  His  hair  was  a  very  dark  brown,  nearly  black,  and  he  had  a 
particularly  winning  smile.  He  was  orderly  in  all  his  work,  very 
systematic  and  painstaking,  but  exceedingly  conservative.  He  did  not 
readily  take  up  with  new  ideas,  especially  in  literature.  He  was  very 
quiet,  although  a  good  and  interesting  talker  upon  topics  in.  which  he 
was  interested.  In  1859  he  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  lies  Williams, 
the  daughter  of  his  employer  and  partner.  Col.  John  Williams,  and 
they  founded  a  beautiful  home.  Here  Mr.  Black  stored  his  books  and 
his  pictures,  planted  his  flowers  and  shrubs,  and  made  of  his  house  and 
grounds  things  of  beauty.  To  them  were  born  four  children,  two  of 
whom  survive,  a  son  and  a  daughter,  John  Williams  Black  and  Anna 
Louise,  the  wife  of  Dr.  George  F.  Stericker.  The  youngest  child, 
George,  was  drowned  while  swimming  in  the  lake  at  his  school,  Shat- 
tuck  College,  Faribault,  Minn.  This  promising  boy  was  about  13  years 
of  age,  and  his  tragic  death  was  a  shock  from  which  his  parents  never 
recovered.  George  N.  Black  had  his  faults  —  who  of  us  has  not?  — 
but  he  was  an  honest  man,  a  good  citizen,  a  more  than  ordinarily  loyal 
friend,  and  he  was  charitable.  For  many  years  he  made  a  practice  of 
visiting  all  his  friends,  rich  or  poor,  who  were  in  affliction.  He  was  for 
many  years  a  member  of  the  congregation  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Springfield,  and  was  an  officer  of  the  church.  After  liis 
illness  he  was  confirmed  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  his  family 
were  members.  He  died  April  22,  1908,  and  was  buried  in  beautiful 
Oak  Eidge  cemetery  nearly  under  the  shadow  of  the  tomb  of  the  great 
Lincoln,  whom  he  had  so  loved  and  admired. 

When  we  sum  up  what  it  is  that  makes  a  good  citizen,  it  is  the  attempt 
to  do  one's  part  in  upbuilding  and  promoting  the  interest  along 
righteous  lines  of  the  community  of  which  one  is  a  part.  Mr.  Black 
did  his  duty,  and  did  it  well.  What  makes  a  religious  man?  To  do 
right  by  your  fellow  man,  to  visit  the  sick  and  the  poor,  to  give  of  your 
store,  be  it  much  or  little.  This  he  did  in  a  full  measure  and  without 
ostentation.  He  had  those  virtues  which  make  the  life  of  a  people.  He 
was  industrious;  he  had  a  purpose  in  life  from  which  he  was  never 
diverted.  He  was  hospitable  and  he  was  kind.  By  his  fidelity  to  every 
trust,  by  his  love  for  his  family  and  his  friends,  he  won  the  respect  of 
the  people  with  whom  he  lived,  and  he  achieved  that  measure  of  success 
that  comes  to  those  who  do  well  their  part. 
—19  H  S 


290 

"You  may  be  tiller  of  the  soil,  or  toiler  b\  the  day, 
Eemember  then  he  does  the  best,  the  best  in  every  way 
Who  has  a  single  aim  in  view,  determined  from  the  start 
In  whatso'er  he  shall  pursue,  to  truly  do  his  part 
Though  doctor,  lawyer,  teacher,  priest,  learn  this  command  by  heart 
They  never  fail  but  all  succeed  who  simply  do  their  part." 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    GEORGE    N.    BLACK    BY    MR.    GAIUS 
PADDOCK,  AN  OLD  FRIEND. 

My  first  acquaintance  with  Mr.  George  N.  Black  was  in  the  early 
'50s — am  not  quite  sure  but  think  it  was  1851 ;  at  that  time  he  entered 
the  employ  of  Col.  John  Williams,  who  was  the  leading  merchant  in 
Springfield.  It  was  not  long  before  his  business  talent  and  his  many 
attractive  qualities  gave  him  a  prominent  place  in  the  growing  business 
of  Col.  Williams  and  in  the  leading  industries  in  the  city  of  Springfield, 
filling  many  positions  of  trust.  His  superior  financial  ability  justly 
entitled  him  to  the  consideration  of  the  banking  interests  of  the  city. 

He  appeared  to  grasp  the  opportunities  and  the  conditions  which 
surrounded  the  business  23roblems  quickly  and  with  correct  judgment, 
and  he  gained  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  leading  citizens.  It  was 
not  long  before  he  won  the  most  favored  and  gifted  of  Springfield's 
daughters,  ]\Iiss  Louisa  I.  Williams,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Col.  John 
Williams,  whose  many  accomplishments  and  winning  graces  made  the 
home  life  most  delightful,  in  the  beautiful  place  he  provided  for  his 
family. 

It  is  not  often  that  a  business  career  of  over  fifty  years,  amid  the 
changes  that  occur,  requiring  sound  judgment  with  faith  in  the  future, 
should  remain  throughout  the  entire  period  free  from  any  stain  or 
tarnish  of  selfishness  or  greed.  Mr.  Black's  memory  will  long  remain 
with  us  for  fair  and  honorable  dealing,  and  his  loss  will  be  felt  by  the 
many  associates  with  whom  he  was  closely  endeared. 

I  cannot  close  this  brief  tribute  to  Mr.  Black's  memory  without 
referring  to  the  guiding  hand  that  shaped  the  successful  career  of  many 
young  men — Col.  John  Williams,  who  was  ever  foremost  in  all  the 
enterprises  that  made  Springfield  what  it  is, — one  of  the  pioneer  mer- 
chants who  did  more  than  any  man  to  build  up  the  city  and  develop  the 
many  industries  here  located. 

It  was  my  good  fortune  to  serve  for  a  short  time  as  a  summer  clerk 
in  this  store,  and  whatever  success  has  come  to  me  I  attribute  the 
larger  part  to  his  guiding  hand  and  counsel.  He  was  ever  glad  and 
willing  to  help  the  young  men  to  sow  the  seeds  of  good  business  habits, 
of  honesty,  integrity,  and  economy. 


291 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Abbe  Tanguay — see  Tanguay 136 

Abbott,    Josiah    G. — member    U.     S. 
Congress      from      Massachusetts ; 
member  Electoral  Commission.  185-186 
Aboite   Creek — small   stream  empty- 
ing into   the   Wabash 117,   118 

foot  note   118 

Abolitionists    in   Illinois    Legislature 

in  1855    88 

Abolitionists — mention    

169,    173,    174,   175 

Abrams,  Gordon 206,  207 

Abrams,  James 205 

Ackerman,  Philip — brewery  grounds 

of,   Springfield,   111 191 

Adairsville,  Ga. — battle  of — footnote  282 

Adams  County,   111 13,    45,   148 

foot  note   226 

Adams,  James 197 

Adams,  John  Quincy 169,   170 

Addams,      Jane — honorary     member 

Illinois  State  Historical  Society. .     16 
Address    to    the    Canadians — by    La 

Balm  115 

Address  to  the  Canadians  found 
among  La  Balm's  papers — men- 
tion,   foot    note 116 

Adhemar — La  Balm's  opinion  of 114 

Adler  Des  Westens? — German  news- 
paper,    published     in     Springfield, 

1844,    quoted — foot   note 213 

Admer — merchant  at  Miami 132 

see  Adhemar. 

Ainsworth,  Harry 24 

Ainsworth,  Mrs.   Harry 22 

Aird,      James — British      Trader      at 

Prairie   du   Chien 100 

Aishton,  R.  H 23 

Alabama,   State 278,   279 

foot  note 248 

Albany,  N.  T 67,  107,   285 

Albemarle   Co.,   Va. — history  of 26 

Albion,  111 22 

Alden,    John 285 

"Alec  Scott"    (The) — steamer. .  .228,   231 
Alexander,    Harriet    C. — member    of 
the     First     Presbyterian     Church, 

Belleville,    111.,    1833 172 

"Alfred  Cowles" — Sketch  of,  by  Dr. 
J.   P.   Snyder  in   Contributions  to 

State    History 167-178 

Allegheny,   Pa 56 

Allen,  George  T. — Anti-Nebraska 
member  Illinois  Legislature,  1855 
his    course    in    election    of    U.    S. 

Senator    88 

Allen,  Lyman  G. — Captain  and  First 
Lieutenant  Co.  "C,"  27th  Reg.,  111. 

Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion 

222,    225,    226,    227, 

228,    229,     231-235,    237-241,    244,   253 
footnote   226 


Page. 

Alpine,    Georgia 280 

Alschuler,    Samuel 23 

Alton,   111. — Lovejoy  riots   disastrous 

to  the  prosperity  of 175 

mention... 7,  14,  23,  54,  55,  149,   151 
riot  at  Alton  and  death  of  Love- 
joy  172,  173 

steamer,    "City   of   Alton" 151 

Alvey,  William — first  hatter,  Spring- 
field,  III 200 

Alvord,  Clarence  W. — editor  of  the 
Kaskaskia    Records,     Vol.     5,     111. 

Hist.    Col 19 

Alvord,   Clarence  W. — mention 22 

America 72,    75,    77,   79,   85, 

104,    115,    136,    137,    209,    211,    260,   285 

foot  notes 105,  106,   107,  108,   220 

America — United   Colonies   of.......    104 

American  Aborigines    74 

see  Indians. 
American    Antiquarian    Society    Li- 
brary,   Worcester,    Mass 68 

American  Army,  1779 — condition  of.     97 

American    Army — mention 122 

American      Bottoms,      in      Illinois — 

French  settlements  in 212 

Americon  Bureau  of  Genealogy, 
(An) — suggestions  for  establish- 
ment of   84 

American    Cause — La    Balm's    letter 

in  regard  to  his  zeal  for 122 

foot  note   109 

"American  Club"  (The) — British- 
American  Club  in  London 83 

American  Colonies 38 

American    Flag 120 

American  Genealogists 74,     76 

American  Historical  Review,  Vol.  X, 

quoted — foot    note 108 

American  Indians,  see  Indians. 
American    Journal    of    Science — Hil- 

gard,    contributor    to 213 

American  Journal   of  Science 57 

American  Journal   of  Science,    1831- 

1832 — quoted — see  foot  notes 

48,    55,    57,    58,      61 

American      Lineages — difficulty      in 

tracing   77 

American  Revolutionary  War. 58,  60,  212 

see  War  of  the  Revolution. 
American    Service — La    Balm's    pro- 
posal to  enter.  Appendix  I.... 120-122 

American    Soldiers 71 

Americans — first  movement  of  the 
Americans  against  the  Indians 
during  the  Revolution  a  failure.  .    161 

Americans     

..71,  75,  76,  77,  104,  105,  107,  109, 
110,    112,    113,    119,    120,    130,    133,   213 

foot   note 112 

"Americans  of  Gentle  Birth" 
Browning    80 


292 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

"Americans  of  Royal  Descent" — by- 
Browning — reference    to 80 

Ames,   Mrs.   John  C 24 

Ammunition    131,    132.   269 

"Amphitryon"         (The)— B  r  i  t  i  s  h- 

American  Club  in  London 83 

Amsterdam     176 

"Ancestor"  (The),  Vol.  I. — article  in 

by  Sir  George  Sitwell,  quoted....      83 
Ange.    Louis    de.    St. — commands    a 

post  on  the  Missouri 143 

Ange,    Louis    de    St. — French    Com- 
mandant  in   the   Illinois   Country, 
1730-1734.     see  St.  Ange. 
Anderson — book   by,    on   significance 
of   Family   Names,   mentioned....      75 

Anderson,   Andrew  L 23 

Anderson,  (Gen.)  George  T. — Con- 
federate        278 

Anderson,  Sumner  S 23 

Anderson,  Wm.  B. — member  of  Con- 
gress from  Illinois,  nominated  for 
U.  S.  Senator,  1877,  by  Independ- 
ents   or    Greenbackers    in    Illinois 

Legislature   188 

Ankeny.   John 217,   218 

"Annals    of    Philosophy"    London — 

foot   note 58 

Annapolis,  Ind 262 

Annals  of  Augusta  County,  Va 26 

"Anneke  Jans  Claim,"    (The) 78,  79 

Anthon.     Charles — Greek    scholar — 

mention    114 

Anthon,  George  Christian  (Anthony) 
■ — surgeon    at    Detroit — La    Balm's 

opinion    of 114 

Anthony      (probably      Anthon) — see 

Anthon,    George   Christian 114 

Anti-Nebraska  Democrats  in  Illinois 
Legislature,  1855 — part  taken  by 
them  in  election  of  U.  S.  Senator. . 

88-89 

"Anti-Nebraska"     members     Illinois 

Legislature,    1855 — mention 92 

Anzeiger     des     Westens,      quoted — 

foot  note 213 

Archer,  Wm.  R. — member  Illinois 
Legislature.  1877 — voted  for  David 

Davis  for  U.  S.  Senator 189 

Arctic    Regions    48 

Arizona    68 

Arkansas   142 

Arkansas   Indians 142 

Arkansas — plans  to  establish  Ger- 
man   states    in 211 

Army  of  the  Cumberland 

222,    258,    262,    267,   274 

Army  of  the   Potomac 260,   262 

Army  of  Rappahannock 269 

Army  of  the  Mississippi 262,  266,   269 

Archaeological  Institute  of  America, 
papers  of,  series  V — quoted — foot 

note   137 

Archaeological  investigation  State  of 

Illinois — need    of,    suggested 22 

Archaeology — committee  on.  sugges- 
ted for  the  Illinois  State  Historical 

Society   25 

Archev^que,    L',    see   L'Archeveque. 
Archives  of  Pennsylvania — Pennsyl- 
vania in  the  Revolution,  1775-1783     26 


Page. 

"Armorial  Families" — Fox-Davies, 
pubs. — prints  bogus  arms  in  italics     83 

Arnold,    Ray   M 29 

Artaguette    D' — see   D'Artaguette . . .    141 
Arthur.     Chester    A. — Vice-president 
of    the    U.    S.    becomes    president 
upon  death  of  President  James  A. 

Garfield   91 

Ashley.   William   H 238 

Asiatic  Cholera — Gov.  Ninian  Ed- 
wards, died  of,  July  20.  1833 172 

Astor,  John  Jacob  of  Waldorf — An- 
cestry of   75 

Atchison,    Kansas 138 

Atkins,  (Hon.)  Smith  D. — Second 
Vice-President,  Illinois  State  His- 
torical  Society 7,    13,   23 

Atkinson,  Eleanor — The  Winter  of 
the  Deep  Snow — address  before  the 
Illinois    State    Historical    Society, 

1909   47-62 

Atlanta  Campaign — Civil  War 223 

foot  note 282 

Atlanta.    Georgia— foot    note 282 

"Atlantic,"  (The) — British- Ameri- 
can Club  in  London 83 

Atlantic  Ocean 68,   70 

Atwater.     Caleb — "Tour    to    Prairie 

du  Chien,"  by,  quoted — foot  note..      99 
Aubry,    Charles.    Chevalier   de — quo- 
ted on  the  surrender  of  Ft.  Char- 

tres — -foot    note 144 

Augusta   Co.,    Va. — annals   of 26 

Augustana  College,  Rock  Island,  111.     22 
Augustin    Mottin    de    La   Balm — ad- 
dress before  the  Illinois  State  His- 
torical Society,  1909,  by  Clarence  M. 

Burton    104-134 

"Au  Poste"  (Vincennes) — mention — 

foot  note 114 

Aurora.    Ill 23 

Auszug      aus      der      Gesetzen      des, 

Staats  Illinois,  by  Gustav  Koerner  213 
Autobiography  of  Julian  M.  Sturte- 

vant — quoted — see  foot  note 48 

Avery  family,  the  ancestors  of  John 

D.    Rockefeller 75 

Auzeiger  des  Westens.  error  should 
be  Anzeiger  des  Westens.)  Jan. 
26,    1836 — quoted — foot  note 213 


Baby — merchant  at  Miami 132 

Bacchus.    Mrs.    Lercy 24 

Bacon,  Mrs.  E.  M 23 

Bacon,   (Dr. )   Leonard ■  •     30 

Baffin's    Bay 60,   62 

Bagby.    John    S 23 

Bailey.    Samuel    G. — defends    Love- 

jov  adherents,  Alton  trial 173 

Baine,    (Gen.) 243 

see  Banes. 
Baker.   David    J.— Judge   of   the   Su- 
preme Court.   State  of  Illinois 44 

Baker,    (Col.)    Edward  Dickinson...    229 
Baker,  Edward  L. — editor  The  State 

Journal.    Sprinsrfield,    111..    1865 180 

Baker  Mythical  Estate 78 

Baker,  George  R 18 


293 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Baker,  Henry  S. — Anti-Nebraska 
member  Illinois  Legislature,  1855 
— his  course  as  to  election  of  U.  S. 

Senator , 88 

Baldwin,  (Hon.)  Jesse  A. — member 
of     Board     of     Directors,     Illinois 

State    Historical    Society 7,   14 

Ball,   (Judge)   Farlin  Q 22 

Balme,  M.   Mottin  de  la 102 

see  La  Balm. 

Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad 287 

Baltimore  Gazette — newspaper 56 

Baltimore,   Md 181,   212 

Baltzell,    (Miss)   Alta   23 

Bandolier — the  expedition  of  Pedro 
de  Villazur,  quoted — foot  note....    137 

Banes,    (Capt.)    C.    H 243 

Banks,  Gen.  Nathaniel  P. — comman- 
der in  Red  River  expedition.  Civil 

War — mention 148 

Banks,  (Gen.)  Nathaniel  P. — men- 
tion     268,   269 

Barbadoes — Islands    of 57 

Barbecue  held  in  Springfleld,  111.  in 

an  early  day 193 

Bardsley,  Charles  Wareing — signifi- 
cance of  English  surnames 75 

Barker,     (Col.)     E.    D. — see    Baker, 

Edward   Dickinson 229 

Barry,  111 223 

Barthelemy,    M 132 

Barton,  Herbert  J 15 

Bates,  Edward,   of  Missouri 65 

Battle  Creek.  Tenn 277 

Battle  of  Belmont 221 

Battle  of  Farmington,  description  of 
221    222 

Battle  of 'stone'Rive'r*.'.".*.'.'.'.25"7'-258'   262 

see  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
Baubien     T 

Baubiens    [ 114 

Baubin        f   117,    118,   119,    130,    131,   132 
Beaubien    ! 

Bavarian  (Government 210 

Baxter,   Mrs.    Martha  K 22 

Baxter,  S.  W 23 

Bayard,   Thomas  P. — U.   S.   Senator 
from    Delaware,    member    Electoral 

Commission,  1876-77 185 

Beaird  vs.  the  Governor  (Edwards) 
mandamus.  Edwards  papers — quo- 
ted— foot  note 172 

Beardstown.   Ill 23,   53 

Beaubien,  Goods  in  storehouse  of,  at 
Miami — mentioned  by  La  Balm.  .  .    114 
see  Baubien. 
Beaubien.  M..117,  118,  119,  130,  131,   132 
Beaucoup    Township,     Jackson    Co., 

Ill 218 

Beauharnois,  letter  from,  to  the 
French      Minister  —  quoted  —  foot 

note     139 

Beckwith,    Hiram   W. — mention 15 

Beckwith,  Hiram  W.,  work  in  behalf 

of  State  history,  reference  to 285 

Beecher  Chapel.   Galesburg,  111 30 

Beecher,   (Dr.)   Edward 30.  49,   50 

Beechey,    Frederick   William,    Arctic 

Explorer 60 

Beinlich.  B.  A.— "The  Latin  Immi- 
gration in  Illinois,"  contribution  to 

State  History  by 209-214 

Belmont,  battle  of 221,   263 

foot  note  230 


Page. 

Belmont    231 

Bellerive,  111.,  named  after  Louis  St. 

Ange  de  Bellerive 146 

see  St.  Ange  de  Bellerive. 

Belleville,    111 

23.   168,   169,   172,   175,  212,   223 

First    Presbyterian    Church    or- 
ganized at,  1833,  by  Rev.  John 
F.  Brooks,  list  of  members...    172 
Population    of,    in    1821 — refer- 
ence to 168 

Belvidere,    111 23,   24 

Bench  and  Bar  of  Illinois,  by  John 

M.    Palmer,    vol.    II — quoted 176 

Bender,    Mrs.    Inez   J 23 

Benneson,  Cora  Agnes — address  be- 
fore Illinois  State  Historical  So- 
ciety, May  14,  1909.  The  work  of 
Edward  Everett  of  Quincy  in 
Quarter  Master's  Department  in 
Illinois   during  first   year  of  Civil 

War 147-153 

Benneson,     Robert    S.,     recommends 
Edward  Everett  to  John  Wood  for 
service  in  Q.  M.  Dept.  of  Illinois..    147 
Bennett,    Timothy — duel   with   A.    C. 

Stuart — reference    to 168 

Bent,    Charles 23 

Bentley,  Thomas,  letter  from  Post 
Vincennes   dated   Aug.    17,    1780 — 

foot  note   112 

mention    Ill,   120 

prisoner    at    Detroit,    confiicting 
statements    of — foot    note....    113 

Bently,    A : 240 

Bently,    Orastus 238 

Benton,    (The)  —  (Gun   Boat) 238 

Bergen,    (Miss)    Jane,    early   school 

teacher  of  Springfield,   111 204 

Bergen,    (Rev.)    John   G 180 

Berger,    Charles,    employed    by    La 

Balm     125 

Berkshire  Co.,  Mass 285 

Berlin  Company,  (The) — of  German 
Immigrants  settle  in  St.  Clair  Co., 

Ill 212 

Berlin  Company  Organization  formed 
to      encourage      immigration      to 

America  211 

Berlin,    Germany 73 

Bernerdy  &  Co. — law  firm  in  Lon- 
don, Eng 78 

Berry,  Daniel,  M.  D 23 

Berry,   Orville  F 23 

Bettie    Stuart    Institute,    Springfield, 

111 195,   288 

Bible    Hotel,    Amsterdam 176 

Bienville,  Jean  Baptiste 136,   142,143 

Big  Beaver   Creek,   Pa 163 

Big  Hill  School  District,  Jackson  Co. 

111.,   established,   1825 218,   219 

Big   Kanawha    river 162 

Big  Muddy  Creek  at  Brownsville,  111.   218 
Bigelow's  life  of  Franklin,  quoted — 

foot  note   105 

Bilderback,    Daniel 218 

Billon,  Frederic  L.,  Comp.  Annals  of 
St.  Louis  under  the  French  and 
Spanish  Dominations,  quoted — foot 

note  145 

Bird,   (Capt.)  Henry 119,   164 

Birds'    Point 224, 

225,    226,    227,    228,    231,    232,    234,   235 


294 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Birkbeck,  Morris,  writings  of — refer- 
ence to  68 

Bishop,  Lyman,  death  of,  at  the  riot 
at  Alton.   1837— reference  to.. 172,   173 

Bismark,    N.    D 55 

Bissel,    (Col.)    of  Engineering  Regt. 

238,   239 

Black,     Anna     Louise,     daughter    of 

George  N.   Black 289 

Black,     George,     youngest     son     of 

George  Nelson  Black 289 

Black,    George    Nelson — a   memorial 
address  by  Jessie  Palmer  Weber. 

13,  285-290 

appointed    by    ZMr.    Lincoln    re- 
ceiver    of     the     U.     S.     Land 

Office    at   Springfield,    111 287 

biographical    sketch    of 285 

mention    15,   IS 

one  of  the  founders  of  the  Illi- 
nois   State    Historical    Society  288 

personal    appearance   of 289 

recollections  of  George  N.  Black, 
by   Gaius   Paddock,   an    old 

friend   290 

Black    Hawk 99,   102 

Black    Hawk    War 13.   51.   100 

Black.    (Capt. )    James — grandfather 

of  George  Nelson  Black 285 

"Black      Watch"      famous      British 

Regiment    144 

Black.  John  Williams — son  of  George 

N.    Black 289 

Black.      Persis     Fuller — mother      of 

George    Nelson    Black 285 

Black.    William — brother    of   George 

Nelson    Black    286 

Black.    William    M. — father    of    Geo. 

N.    Black     285' 

Blackbury.  Tenn 275 

Blackwell.    David — early    lawyer    of 

Belleville,    111 168,   169 

Blaine.  James  G..  quoted  as  to  poli- 
tics of  David  Davis,   1876 186 

Twenty  Years  of  Congress,   by, 

quoted  as  to  election  to  U.  S. 

Senate   of  David   Davis. ..  187-188 

"Twenty     Years     of     Congress" 

gives  account  of  Hayes-Tilden 

Contest 184 

Blair,    Francis   G 24 

Blamville   I  904 

Blanville    f   ^^^ 

Bloomington.  Ill 

7,  11,  13,  15,  18,  22,  23,  24,   93 

Blue    Books    73 

Blue  Spring.  Cumberland  Mt 275.   277 

Bodge's    Soldiers    in    King    Phillip's 

War.   quoted 71 

Boenville      "1 

Boonvill         VmIss    246 

Booneville    J 

see  Booneville. 
Book    of    St.    Albans,    1486.    earliest 

English    treatise    on    Heraldry. ...      83 
Bond.      Shadrach.      first      Governor, 

State    of    Illinois 19 

Bondy.  M 133 

Boon.  William 217 

sketch    of — foot   note — appendix  219 

Boone.    Daniel 233 

Booneville.    Miss 246 

Booth.     John     Wilkes,     assassin     of 
Abraham  Lincoln 179 


Page. 

Boothia    Gulf 60,   61 

Bossu — Nouveaux    Voyages,    vol.    I, 

quoted — foot    note 137 

Boston,  Mass 12,,  50,  67,  69,  72,   106 

Boston,    Transcript    (newspaper)..,     73 
Boucher,    Pierre,    Sieur    de    Bouche- 

ville — foot  note    136 

Bouquet.    Col.   Henry— foot   note 163 

Bourgmont    138 

Bowdoin  College,   Brunswick,  Maine     57 

Boyd,     Nat 203 

Braddock's  Defeat,   reference  to....    143 

Bradley,    Mr.    and    Mrs 172 

Bradley,  Joseph  P.,  Associate  Justice 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court  becomes 
member  Electoral  Commission  by 
election  of  David  Davis  to  U.  S. 
Senate,  effect  of  on  Hayes-Tilden 

Contest 187,   188 

Bradley,  Luther  P.  (Bvt.  Maj.-Gen.) 

War  of  the  Rebellion 

266,    271,    273,   274 

foot    note    257 

Bradley     Polytechnic    Institute, 

Peoria,    111 15 

Bradwell,  James  B..  honorary  mem- 
ber Illinois  State  Historical  So- 
ciety        16 

Brady,  Thomas 120 

Bragg,   (Gen.)   Braxton,  Confederate 

CJen.,   War  of  the   Rebellion 

222,    260,    265,    274,   280 

Braiden,  Sergeant  of  Co.  D..  27th 
Reg^t.  111.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion     279 

Brazil — feasibility      of     creating     a 
German   state   either  in   Brazil  or 
the  U.  S.  considered — reference  to   210 
Breese,    Sidney — Judge    of    the    Su- 
preme Court,   State  of  Illinois....      42 

mention   176 

United  States  Senator  from  Illi- 
nois— account  of  his  election. .      87 
Bre'STnan,      M.       (Bravman)       (Adj. 

Gen.)    231 

Brice.  Wallace — history  of  Fort 
Wayne.    Ind.,    quoted — foot   note..    118 

Bridgeport,   Ala.,   camp   at 277,   278 

Bridges,  Frank  M..  Democratic 
member  Illinois  State  Senate, 
1885,     37th    district,     died    during 

term  of   office 91 

Brinkerhoff.   George  M.,   Sr 64,   65,   66 

Bristol.  Eng.,  emigrant  lists  of  Bris- 
tol.   Eng..    destroyed    in    1831.....      77 
British,  see  English. 

British     08 

British-American  Clubs  in  London..      83 
British  Americans  in  the  Ohio  Val- 
ley       143 

British  band.  Sac  and  Fox  Indians 
under   Black    Hawk    known    as...      99 

British  Flag 110 

British   King 121 

British    Military   Department 120 

British    Museum — foot    note 105 

British  Museum   Mss.    21844,   quoted 

— foot  note 104 

British  Parish  Records 76 

British   Troops    134 

Brock.    rLieut.)    John   W 234 

Brodhead.  (Col.)  Daniel.  Brodhead 
Papers  I.  H.  33,  quoted — foot  note  164 


295 


Index — Continued. 


Erodhead — Concluded.  Page. 

commander  of  Eighth  Pennsyl- 
vania   Regiment 162 

foot   note    164 

Deputy  Surveyor,  Reading,   Pa., 
military   sketch   of,    etc. — foot 

note   164 

in   command  at  Fort   Pitt 108 

letter  to  President  Reed,  1789 — 

quoted    109 

mention — foot    note 109,   164 

sends   mesage    to    Delaware    In- 
dians   advising    them    to    join 

the  Americans    113 

Brooks,  Jane  S.,  member  of  the  First 
Presbyterian     Church,     Belleville, 

111..    1833    172 

Brooks.    (Rev.)    John  F.,  member  of 

the    Tale    band 172 

removes  to  Springfield,  111.,  death 

of  in   1880 175 

Brooks,    Laphua 218 

Bross.    (Gov.)   William,  early  friend 

of  Alfred  Cowles 178 

Brown,  in  War  of  the  Rebellion,  pri- 
vate  27th   Regt.,   111.  Vol 229 

Brown,   Mrs.   C.   C 23 

Brown   County,   111 45,   223 

Brown,    James   N.,    one    of   Lincoln's 

Pallbearers    182 

Brown,  John,  Private  27th  Reg.,  111. 

Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion 224 

Brown.     Sam — private     27th     Reg't. 

111.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion..   249 
Brown,     Wm.     Henry — death    of    In 

Amsterdam,    1867 176 

law  partner  of  Alfred  Cowles  in 

Chicago    176 

Brown,  Wm.  W.  (Chaplain) — 38th 
Reg't.  III.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion         273 

Browne.  Thomas  C. — early  judge  of 

the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois 40 

candidate    for    Governor,     State 

of  Illinois,    1822,  vote   of 169 

Browning,  William  P. — sergeant  27th 
Reg't.  111.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion        224 

Browning's     Americans      of     Royal 

Descent     72,   75,  80 

Brown's    History    of    Indianapolis — 

quoted — foot    note 54 

Brownsville     and     Big     Hill     School 

district    established,    1825 218,   219 

Brownsville.     111. — Court    House    at, 

burned  Jan.   10,   1843 217 

mention    218 

Brunswick.    Me 57 

Bryan,   William   Jennings — mention.    184 
Buell.     (Maj.     Gen.)     Don    Carlos — 
Union  Maj.  Gen.,  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion        242 

Buford,  Napoleon  B. — Colonel  of  the 
27th  Reg't.  111.  Vols.,  War  of  the 
Rebellion — later  Brig,  and  Maj.- 
General   ...220,  235,  236,  237,  238,   262 

foot   notes 226,   239 

official    report,    Nov.    6,    1861 — 

quoted — foot    note 232 

report  of  Col.   Buford,   Mar.   31, 

1862 — foot    note 239 

sketch   of  the   military  life   of — 

foot  note 230 

Bunn.  Jacob — one  of  the  Pallbearers 
at  Lincoln's  funeral 182 


Page. 

Bunn,    John   W 66 

Burchard.   Horatio   C 18 

Burke,    H.   Farnham 84 

Burke,  (Sir)  J.  Bernard— General 
Armory — reference 'work  on  Her- 
aldry         83 

mention    72,  76 

prominent  families  in  the  U.   S. 

of   America — reference    to....      84 
Vicissitudes    of    Families — quo- 
ted         79 

Burnham,     (Capt.)    J.    H.. 7, 

11.  12,  13,  14.  15.  21,  22,  23,  24,  25,   27 
work  in  behalf  of  State  history 
reference  to 285 

Burnside,  (Maj. -Gen.)  Ambrose  E. 
^Union  Maj. -Gen.,  War  of  the 
Rebellion    236 

Burrows,    (Dr.)    T.   W 23 

Burton.  Clarence  M. — Augustin  Mot- 
tin  de  La  Balm — address  before 
the  Illinois  State  Historical  So- 
ciety,    1909 104-134 

honorary  member  Illinois   State 
Historical  Society  21 

Burton,  Samuel  L. — clerk  of  the 
court,    Jackson    county 217 

Butcher,    J.    G 218 

Butler,   (Gen.)  Benj.  F. — commanded 

attack  on  New  Orleans 148 

Union   general,  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion        225 

Butterfield,  Consul  W. — "Conquest 
of  Illinois,"   quoted — foot  note....     97 

Byars,    (Hon.)    J 217 


Caho    (Cahokia) — foot   note 144 

Cahokia — complaint     of    the     Caho- 

kians  to  M.  de  la  Balm 102 

French    inhabitants    of,    present 

address  to  La   Balm 113 

French    settlements    at 212 

Indians     139,  140 

inhabitants     of,     send     remon- 
strance   to    Congress 113 

La  Balm  and  troops  leave 116 

mention    68,   97,   98,  103 

mound — in  Madison  county,  Illi- 
nois     19,   25 

or  Monk's  Mound — plea  for 19 

records.     Vol.     2 — Illinois     His- 
torical   collections 19 

Cahokians — complaint  to  M.   Mottln 

de    la    Balme 102 

Cahos,    (Cahokia) — foot  note 114 

Cairo,  111 149,  152,  221,  224, 

225,    226,    227,    228,    229,    230,    231, 

232,    233,    234,    235,    236,    237,    238,  240 

foot  note 231 

Calhoun,     John     C. — U.     S.     Senator 

from    South   Carolina 88 

California    176,  177 

Callender,  Elliot 23 

Calumbia.    Miss. — see   Columbia 250 

Calumet   Marsh,    near    Chicago 62 

Calvary  Cemetery,   St.  Louis 146 

Calve,   Monsr 103 

Campbell,  Charles  B 24 


296 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 


Campbell,  John  T. — contributes  an 
account  of  the  "Hayes-Tilden  Con- 
test, 1876-77"  to  annual  transac- 
tions   of    Illinois    State    Historical 

Society,    1909 184- 

delegate  to  Labor-Reform  Party 

national   convention,   1872.... 

inmate   of  Soldiers'   Home  near 

Lafayette.    Ind 

Camp  Big  Springs 222, 

Camp,  Bridgeport,  Ala 277,   278, 

Camp  Butler,  near  Springfield,  111.. 

27th  Reg't.   111.  Vols.,   mustered 

into  service  at,  Aug.   10,   1861 

220,    223,    224, 

foot  note 

Camp   Cairo,    111 

230,    231,    232,    233,    234,    235, 

Camp   Columbus,    Ky 

Camp  Cowen's   Station,   Tenn...274, 
Camp  Defiance,  Cairo,  111 

Campeau      I  pogt  Miami    

Campeaut     S 

Campeaux    Battiste 

Camp  Elk  River,   Tenn 

Camp    Jefferson 233, 

Camp,  John — Cook  of  the  27th  Reg't. 

111.   Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion.. 

Camp  Lookout,   Tenn 266, 

Camp  McClernand.   Cairo,   111 

224,    225,    226,    227,    228, 

Camp   Manchester,    Tenn 

Camp  Roberts.  Bridgeport,  Ala.. 278, 
Camp  Schaefer  on  Stone  River,  Tenn. 

265, 

266,  267,  268,  269,  270,  271,  272, 


189 

186 

184 

247 

279 

25 


226 
226 

236 
237 
275 
224 
133 

133 

274 


273 
273 

229 
274 
279 


Camp  Sherden       "] 
ridan       !- 


,254, 


Camp  Sherii 
Camp  Sheridon      J 

Camp  Stone  River,   Tenn 

257,    258,    259,    260,    261, 

262,    263.    264,    265,    266,    267.    273, 
Camp  University,  Cumberland  Moun- 
tain,  Tenn 

Canaan,  Land  of 

Canada   67,  104,  107,  110, 

112,    119.    122,    134,    135,    136,    137, 

foot  notes 112,   136, 

Canadian      Archives      Report — 1904, 

Appendix   "K"   quoted — foot  note. 

1905,  Vol.  I,  quoted — foot  notes 

143, 

Canadian  Archives,  Series  B — 184 
Appendix  6 — manuscript  in  Hal- 
dimand     papers,     mentioned — foot 

note  

Series  B — Vol.  57,  Pt.  2,  quoted 

— foot    note     

Series  B — Vol.  97,  Pt.  2,  quoted 

— foot  notes    98, 

Series  B — 122,  quoted — foot  note 

109, 

Series    B— 182-84,    quoted— foot 

note    

Series       B — 184,       quoted — foot 

note    

Series  B — 184,  Pt.  2,  quoted 

Series  B — 185,  quoted — foot  note 
Canadian  History,  Benjamin  Suite — 

authority  on — see  foot   note 

Canadian  Inhabitants  of  the  Illinois 
Country  believed  by  La  Balm  to 
be  willing  to  aid  in  the  attack  on 

Detroit    

Canadian  Volunteers — Chabert's  Ca- 
nadian Volunteers   


273 
255 

274 

275 
183 

140- 
163 

137 

144 

114 

118 

103 

120 

106 

120 
126 
112 

136 

113 
119 


Page. 

Canadians — address  to,  by  La  Balm 

115,    116 

mention    116,    117.   119 

Canedy,   P.  C. — opens  the  first  book 

and  drug  store  in  Springfield,  111..    200 
Canute,    (The  Dane) — reference   to.    174 

Cape   Girardeau    228 

Cape  Hatteras  56 

Capen,    Charles    L 23 

Capps,     Jabez — early     shoe     maker, 

Springfield,    111 200 

Capet,  Hugh — king  of  France 75 

Carbondale,  111 7,   13,   14,  22,   23 

Carleton,    (Gen.)    Sir   Guy — mention   162 

military  plans  of 122 

Carlin,    Walter  E 18 

Carlinville,    111 23 

Carml,    111 23 

Carnegie,    Andrew 288 

Carnegie     Institution,     Washington, 

D.    C C8 

"Carondolette"    (The)  — (Gun   Boat)    239 
Carpenter's    Grocery    Store,    Spring- 
field,  111 200 

Carpenter,  Richard  V 13,   23,   24 

Carr,  (Col.)  Clark  E. — chairman 
Lincoln-Douglas  Debate  Commit- 
tee, Illinois  State  Historical  So- 
ciety          28 

Editor-in-Chief  of  the  report  of 
the  Semi-Centennial  Celebra- 
tion Lincoln-Douglas  De- 
bates          17 

Vice  President,  Illinois  State 
Historical   Society.  .7,  11,  12,  13,   14 

Carriel,   Mrs.   Mary   Turner 23 

Carroll,   C.   C 191 

Carroll  county.   Mo 138 

Carter,  Joseph  N.— judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,   State  of  Illinois 45 

Carthage,    lU 23 

Carver.    Jonathan,    Carver's   Travels 

— 1779,   quoted — foot  note 100 

Cascaski       I  Kaskaskia — foot     notes 

Cascaskias   f       114,   144 

Cass  county.  111 45 

Cassidy,    Peter — private    27th    Reg't. 

111.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion. . .    272 
Caton,     (Judge)     John    D. — superin- 
tendent   Eastern    Division    "Caton 

Lines  Telegraph"   63 

"Caton  Lines"  Illinois  and  Missis- 
sippi  Telegraph  Co. — so  called...      63 

Catoroconi   134 

Cattle   48.  49,  50,  117.  163,   252 

Caucus  of  political  parties  in  Illinois 
Legislature  tirst  nominates  candi- 
dates for  U.  S.  Senate  in  1840 86 

Cave-in-Rock.  Ill 232 

Cayuga   county,   N.   Y. — mention....    147 

Cayuga  Indians    161 

Centralia,    111 23 

Cerro     Gordo,     Mexico — battle     of — 

mention    148 

Chabert's  Canadian  Volunteers 119 

Chacehton,    Messrs 133 

Chadwick   Estate    78 

Chalmers,    fDr.)    G.    S 30 

Chambers,  firm  in  London,  Eng 78 

Chamberlin,  M.  H. — member  Board 
of  Directors,  Illinois  State  His- 
torical Society 7,   13 

mention     22,   23 

Chambly    Hertel,    de — foot    note 136 


297 


Index — Contimied. 


Page. 

Champagne,  province  of 136 

Champaign,    111. — mention 23,   28S 

foot   note 220 

Chancelor,    (The)  —  (Steamer) 231 

Chandler  ,Zachariah — U.  S.  Senator 
from  Michigan— chairman  Nation'l 
Republican  Executive   Committee, 

1876   184 

Chapman,  Robt. — private  27th  Reg't. 
111.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion..    224 

Charles  the  Second 37 

Charleston,    111 •  •  •    „?i 

Charleston,    S.   C 106,    267,   268 

Charlevoix,     Father,    French    Jesuit 

Priest    13  6,   137 

Charlevoix,  Father — letters  to  the 
Duchess  of  Lesdigueres,  puh.  Lon- 
don,   1762,    quoted 137 

foot    note 137 

Chase,  Salmon  P.,  of  Ohio &5 

Chatinga    Pike    255 

Chatouinons  Indians l-jS 

Chattanooga,    Tenn 279,   280,   281 

Chattanooga  Valley    281 

Chatterton's   Jewelry   Store,    Spring- 

field.  111.,  1860 64 

Cheatham's    Brigade    232 

Cherokee      Station,      Alabama— foot 

note    248 

Cherry  Alley,  a  street  in  Philadel- 
phia       125 

Chesne,    Isador — interpreter   for   the 

Hurons  133 

Chicago  &  Alton  R.  R 287 

Chicago    Bar    Association 45,   46 

Chicago— directory    of,    1846,    quoted  176 
early    Chicago    and    Illinois,    by 
E.   G.  Mason — foot  note..  10 8,   139 

foreign  consuls   in 77,  78 

Geographic  Society  of  Chicagol8,  19 
Historical    Society    Col.    Vol.   V, 

quoted — foot  note 107 

Historical  Society's  Library,  col- 
lections  of    68 

Historical       Society's       Papers, 

quoted — foot    note 139 

John  Crerar  Library — foot  note     59 
Light    Artillerry,     War    of    the 

Rebellion 225 

mention   7,  14,  18, 

22,  23,  24,  33,  45,  46,  47,  51, 
52,  53,  61,  62,  63,  64.  65,  66, 
67,    68,    84,    98,    134,    175,    176,   212 

foot   note 173 

Municipal  Voters  League 46 

Newberry  Library    26,   33,   76 

Chicago    Volksfreund,    1845,    quoted 

—foot  note 213 

Chickamauga  Campaign   222 

Chickasaw  Indians    142 

Chickasaw  Village 142 

China — mention 148 

Chippewa  Indians   161 

Chonagin    134 

Choteau,    (Col.)    Auguste — narrative 
of     the     founding    of    St.     Louis, 

quoted — foot    note 144 

Choteau,    (Madame)   Louis  St.  Ange 

dies  in  the  home  of 145-146 

Choteau,    Pierre    146 


Page. 

Choteau,    Pierre,    Jr 146 

Churches — 

Episcopal    Church,     Springfield, 

111 289 

First     Presbyterian,     Belleville, 

111 172 

First    Presbyterian,    Springfield, 

111 195,   289 

Presbyterian  Church    

172,   176,   195,   289 

Churchille   Grove    255 

Cincinnati  American,   (newspaper)..      56 

Cincinnati,  0 56,   70 

foot  note 55 

City  of  Alton   (steamer) — mention..    151 
Civil  War,  heroes  of  favored  for  po- 
sitions and  honors 89 

John    M.    Palmer,    distinguished 

general    in    94 

mention    153,   230 

see  War  of  the  Rebellion, 
number  of  soldiers  furnished  by 

Illinois,    1861 151 

work  of  quartermaster's  depart- 
ment   of    Illinois    during    first 

year  of 147-153 

Clark,  F.  T. — private  27th  Reg't.  111. 

Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion 224 

Clark,  George  Rogers — J.  A.  James, 
editor  of  proposed  publication  of 
the  George  Rogers  Clark  papers.      19 

Clark,    (Col.)    George   Rogers 

...97,   98,   100,    101,   103,    104,   164,   168 

foot  note 120 

monument  to,   dedicated  at  Ft. 

Massac  Park 18 

Clark,  George  W. — private  27th 
Reg't.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion 

— foot    note    233 

Clay  Grove,   Springfield,  111 201 

Clay.    Henry — mention 50,   170 

U.   S.   Senator  from  Kentucky..      88 
Cleaveland,   (Prof.)   Parker,  meteor- 
ological   reports,    quoted 57 

foot  note   57 

Gierke,   AgnSs  M. — mention 61 

Problems      in      Astro  -  Physics, 

quoted    59 

foot  note 59 

Cleveland,  Grover — President  of  the 
United  States,  elected  1884,  first 
Democratic  president  for  twenty- 
five  years 91 

Clifford,  Nathan — Associate  Justice, 
U.     S.     Supreme     Court,     member 

Electoral  Commission 186 

Clinton,    to    Haldimand,    letter,    Feb. 

1,    1779 — foot    note.... 163 

Clinton,  J.  W. — member  of  Board  of 
Directors,  Illinois  State  Historical 

Society   7,  14,  21,  23 

Coats-of-Arms,    Symbolism    of 82 

Cochoquin — mention — foot    note 113 

Cockrell,  James,  "F.  M.  B.  A." — 
member  of  Illinois  Legislature, 
1891,  finally  aids  in  election  of 
John  M.  Palmer  to  U.  S.  Senate..  94 
Coffeys  Company,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion        223 

Cohos    (Cahokia)    101 

Cold   Churchill    Grove 255 


298 


Index — Continued. 


Page, 

Coles,     Edward,     second     Governor, 
State  of   Illinois   emancipates   his 

slaves    169 

Indicted  by  the  Grand  Jury  for 
libeling       Judge       Sam       Mc- 

Roberts    170,   171 

Madison      county     vs.      Edward 
Coles,  case  of — reference  to. .    170 

mention 21S 

receiver    of    the    Land   office    at 

Edwardsville    169 

second    Governor    State    of    Illi- 
nois     19,   40,   169 

sketch  of,  by  E.  B.  "Washburne — 

reference    to — foot    note 171 

College    Hill.    Jacksonville,    111 50 

College  of  Arms.   London 83 

Collea:e    of   Heraldry,    London 83,   84 

Collins.    J.    H 22,   24 

Collins,  Richard  H. — history  of  Ken- 
tucky, quoted — foot  notes 53,   55 

Collins.      William      H. — member     of 
Board   of  Directors,   Illinois   State 

Historical   Society 7,   12,   13,   21 

Colonial      Ancestors — expense      con- 
nected with  looking  up  material  on     75 
Colonial     Virginia     Register,      com- 
piled by  Wm.  G.  and  Mary  Newton 

Stanard.    published,    1902 26 

Colonial  Wars   70 

Colorado     68 

Columbia.  Mo 54 

foot  note   54 

Columbia,    Tenn 264 

Columbus,  Ky..  capture  of 236 

"Gibraltar   of   America" 236 

mention 152,  221, 

225,    231.    232,    234,    235,    236,   237 

foot   notes   231,   232 

Columbus.  O. — mention 186 

Colyer,  Walter 22 

Comanche  Indians  138 

Comer.  Thomas — private  27th  Reg't. 
111.  Vols..  War  of  the  Rebellion...    258 

Condell.    Thomas 180 

Confederate    Memorial   Literary   So- 
ciety Library,   Richmond,   Va 69 

Congress    Continental — Journals    of, 

new  Ed.  IX.  quoted — foot  note 162 

Journal  of  new  Ed.  XI, quoted — 

foot   note    162 

Journals    of    XII,    quoted — foot    . 

note 163 

La  Balm  writes  letter  to 122-123 

papers   of   Xo.    41,   Vol.    I,    folio 

144— foot    note    106 

papers    of   Xo.    41,    Vol.    I,    folio 

150    106 

papers   of  No.    41,   Vol.    I,    folio 

168— foot  note 107 

papers  of  No.  78.  Vol.  VII,  folio 

149.  letter  of  de  la  Balm.  .122-123 
papers  of  Xo.  78,  Vol.  Am,  folio 

151.    quoted    123 

papers  of  No.  78,  Vol.  VII,  folio 

155.    quoted 121 

regulation    of   the    Congress    for 
the  troops  of  the  Continent  of 

America    121 

Congress    of    the    U.    S.,    see    L^nited 

States  Congress. 
Congress,    memorials    to 114 


Page. 
Congressional   Library,   Washington, 

D.    C 85 

Conkling,  Clinton  L. — How  Mr.  Lin- 
coln received  the  news  of  his 
first  nomination,  address  before 
the  Illinois  State  Historical  So- 
ciety,    1909 63-66 

mention    22,  65 

Conkling,      James     C,     law     office, 

Springfield,   111.,    1860 C4 

mention    64,  65,  180 

Connecticut   ...29,  49,  167,  168,  172,   176 
Connelley,    (G.    S.)    Co.,    Springfield, 

111 20 

Conner.    F.    M. — private    27th   Regr't. 

111.    Vols 245 

Conners,    B.    F 217 

Converse  Branch,  Springfield,  111....    190 

Converse,  William    190 

Constitution  of  1818,  State  of  Illi- 
nois— authorized     the     apointment 

of  circuit  judges.  1825 41 

provisions    of    first    section,    ar- 
ticle   I .V38-39^  41 

requirements    of    the    judges    of 
the    Supreme    Court    under...      41 
Constitution    of    1848.    State    of    Illi- 
nois— framers   of   the   Constitution 
of      1848,      methods     of     electing 

judges    43 

mention    40,   42,   43,   44 

provisions    of,    with    regard    to 

governmental   powers    39 

Constitution  of  1870,  State  of  Illi- 
nois— provisions    for    the    election 

of  judges   Supreme   Court 44 

Constitutional  Convention,  State  of 
Illinois      (First) — reference     to — : 

foot    note — appendix    219 

Continental     Congress — La     Balm — 
appendix     I — La     Balm     proposed 
to  enter  the  American  Service.  120-122 
appendix  2,  (De  La  Balm) — pa- 
pers  of  the   Continental   Con- 
gress,   No.    78,    VII,    folio    149 
— letter   from   De   La   Balm.. 

122-123 

appendix  3,  (De  La  Balm) — pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, No.  78.  folio  151 — let- 
ter from  De  La  Balm,  York- 
town  22,  January,  1778  ...  123-124 
appendix  4.  to  the  La  Balm  pa- 
per,   by   C.    M.   Burton — letter 

to    the    Public 125-126 

appendix    5,    order   of  La   Balm 

to    soldiers — letters    126-128 

memorials  of  M.  de  La  Balm  to 

— foot    note    106,   107 

journals      of      the      Continental 
Congress,      New      Ed.      IX — 

quoted — foot    note    161 

journals    of,    vol.    XI,    New   Ed. 

quoted — foot    note    162 

journals    of,    XII,    quoted — foot 

note     163 

papers  of  the   Continental  Con- 

°  No.    41,    vol.    I,    folio    144— 

foot   note    106 

No.  41,  vol.  I,  folio  150 — 
foot    note    106 

No.  41,  vol.  I,  folio  168 — 
foot   note    107 


299 


Index — Continued. 


Continental  Congress — Concluded.     Page. 

papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, 78— VII — quoted   121 

papers  of  No.  78,  ATII,  folio  149 
— letter  of  De  La  Balm — ap- 
pendix   2    122-123 

papers  of  No.  78,  VII,  folio 
151,  appendix  3,  to  La  Balm 
paper— by  C.   M.   Burton.  .123-124 

papers  of  No.  78,  VII,  folio 
155,  appendix  I — La  Balm's 
proposal    121-122 

regulation  of  the  Congress,  for 
the    troops    of    the    Continent 

of    America    121 

Coochocking,  Indian  Council — foot 
note    109 

Cook,  Burton  C. — Anti-Nebraska 
Senator  in  Illinois  Legislature, 
1855 — his  course  as  to  election  of 
U.   S.   Senator   88 

Cook   county,    111 46,   93 

Cook,    (Gen.)    John 182 

Cooper,    John    L 22 

Cooshocking — foot    note    109 

Copperheads     266 

Corinth,    Miss. — mention    

221,    241,    242,   243 

battle   of    241-245 

Cormack,  Rivers — one  of  the  Com- 
missioners appointed  to  locate  the 

county  seat  of  Sangamon  Co 190 

Corn    48,    50, 

103,    206,    250,    251,    252,    258,    261,   280 

"Corn    Island"    97 

Corpus    Christi,    Texas    24 

Count    of    Champagne    82 

County     of     Madison     vs.     Edward 

Coles,    case    of    170 

Court   a   tribunal   of   Justice 37 

Court    House,    Springfield,    111 201 

Courtland,    Miss 249 

Coutures,    Mr 130 

Coven    Creek    140 

Covenanters  —  royal      land      grants 

made    to    77 

Cowens  Station,   Tenn. — camp  at . . . 

274,    275 

Cowles,  Alfred — Alfred  Cowles,  by 
Dr.   J.   F.    Snyder,   contribution   to 

State   History    167-178 

Alton  trials — Alfred  Cowles  ar- 
gument  to    the    Jury 174 

biographical  sketch 167,   168 

death    of,    at    San    Diego,    Cal., 

Nov.    16,    1887    178 

defends  Lovejoy  adherents,  Al- 
ton trial    173 

famUy    of    175 

member  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian  Church,   Belleville,   111., 

1833    172 

personal  appearance  of   168 

political   affiliations  of    177 

Register   U.    S.    Land   Office    in 

Chicago    176 

State's  Attorney,  2d  Judicial 
District,  State  of  Illinois 170 


Page. 

Cowles,  Alfred  E 175,   178 

Cowles  &  Brown,  law  firm,   Chicago   176 
Cowles  &  Krum,  law  firm,  Alton,  111.   175 

Cowles,    Caroline    175 

Cowles,    Charlotte   Gleason,    wife    of 

Alfred    Cowles     167 

Cowles.  Charlotte — member  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  Belle- 
ville.   111.,    1833    172 

Cowles.    Cornelia — mention    175 

wife  of  Dr.  French   177 

Cowles,    Elizabeth — mention    175 

wife  of  Chas.  C.   Leavitt 177 

Cowles,  Frederick — -death  of  at  San 

Diego,   Cal 176 

mention    175,   177 

Cowles,    Louise    175,   176 

Cowles,  (Gen.)  Solomon — revolu- 
tionary soldier    167 

Cowles,    wmiam    167 

Cox,     Alexander — early     settler     of 

Springfield,   111 201 

Cox,  Samuel  S.  (Sunset  Cox) — in 
his  "Three  Decades  of  Federal 
Legislation"      gives      account      of 

Hayes-Tilden    Contest    184 

quoted   as   to   election   of   David 

Davis  to  U.  S.  Senate,  1877..    187 
quoted    as    to    politics    of    David 

Davis,    1876     186 

Cox,    (Col.)    Thomas— mention..  199,   201 
owner  of  two  slave  girls,  Nance 

and   Dice  197,   198 

Register    of    the     Land     Office, 

Springfield,    Illinois,    1823 193 

Cox,     (Mrs.)     Thomas 197 

Cox's  Tread  Mill,   Springfield,   111...    200 

Crabbe,   Mrs.  E.  G 24 

Craig,  Alfred  M. — Judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,   State  of  Illinois    ...      44 
Cravoin,    Captain — officer  under   La 

Balm — orders   to    127 

Craske,  Henry,  Rushville,  111. — in 
letter  to  John  A.  Logan   suggests 

political   scheme    92 

Crawfish    Spring,    Tenn 281 

Crawford,    A.   W 23 

Crawford,   (Col.)  William — foot  note  161 
Crawford,     William     Harris — Presi- 
dential   candidate,    1824    170 

Credit  Island — an  island  In  the  Mis- 
sissippi   River    ..100,   102 

Creoles — rumors  of  the  Creoles  at- 
tack   on    Mackinac 119 

Crevier,       Christopher  —  native       of 

Rouen,   France — foot  note 136 

Crevier    de    Bellerive — foot   note....    136 
Crevier  de  St.  Francois — foot  note..    136 

Crevier  Duvernay — foot  note    136 

Crevier,   Jeanne — foot   note 136 

Crevier,  Marguerite — wife  of  Robert 

Groston  de  St.  Ange   136 

foot    note    136 

Criffin,     Edward     W. — see     Crippin, 

Edward  W 220 

foot    note    220 

certificate  of  muster  into  ser- 
vice, 27th  111.  Vols,  from  office 
Adj.-Gen.,  State  of  Illinois — 
foot    note    220 


300 


Index — Continued. 


(' 


Page. 

CrlDoen  \  Edward   W. — death   of,   at 
rrinnin'-       Mission  Ridge,   Dec.   24, 

Crippen,   Edward   W. — see  Crippin. 
Crippin,    Edward   W. — Certificate   of 
muster  into  service  27th  111.  Vols. 
— from   Adj. -Gen.   office.    State   of 

Illinois — foot   note    220 

diary  of  Edward  W.  Crippin, 
private  27th  111.  Vols.,  War  of 
the  Rebellion.  Aug.  7,  1861  to 
Sept.  19,  1865— edited  with 
introduction      and     notes     by 

Robert  J.   Kerner    220-282 

diary,  Aug.  28,  1861,  Oct.  31, 
Nov.   7,   1861,   March   14,   1863 

— quoted — foot    note    221 

diary.  May  9,  1862,  Sept.  3, 
1862,    Jan.    2,    1863,    Feb.    22, 

1863 — quoted— foot    note 222 

Crippen.    Martha — foot    note    282 

Crittenden    Co.,    Ky 226 

Cromwell,    Nathan — early    merchant 

of    Springfield,    111 198 

Crook,    (Judge)    A.  N.  J 182 

Crozier's    American    Heraldry 84 

Crusader,  emblems  of   82 

Cuba    57 

Cullom.      Shelby     M.  —  course     and 

standing  in  U.   S.  Senate 95-96 

Governor    of    Illinois,    later    U. 

S.    Senator    95 

honorary  member  Illinois   State 

Historical    Society    16 

mention    • 180,   181 

re-elected    U.    S.    Senator    from 

Illinois   95 

Cumberland  Mountain,  Tenn. — camp 

University    275,   276 

Cumberland   River — mention. ..  .151,   235 
Cunningham.      J.      O. — member      of 
Board   of   Directors,   Illinois   State 

Historical   Society 7,    13,    15,    21,   23 

Currey,    J.    Seymour 23 

Custom  House,  Bristol,  Eng. — burned 

in   1831   77 

Cutright,  Daniel — brought  his  slave 
boy  Major  to  Sangamon   county..    197 

D 

Daggett,  Mr. — early  settler  of  San- 
gamon county  and  Springfield,  111. 
190,    191,   197 

Dalton's  Catalogue  of  Auroras — 
quoted    58 

Danville,    111 24 

Danville,  I  Mississippi     247 

Danvill,    \ 

Darby.  William — Emigrants  Guide 
to  Western  &  Southwestern  States 
&  Territories,  published  in  1818 — 
reference    to    68 

D'Artaguette  Family — -manuscript 
sketch  of,  in  the  library  of  the 
Missouri  Historical  Society — foot 
note     141 

D'Artaguette,  Pierre — succeeded  St. 
Ange  in  command  at  Ft.  Chartres  141 

foot    note    141 

D'Artaguette — tragic    death    of.    142 


Page. 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion— Illinois  State  Year  Book  of 

— quoted    ig 

lineage  books,  reference  to 71 

Davenport,    Iowa    99 

Davidson,   Mrs.    Geo.    H 22 

Davidson,  (Maj.)  James  I. — of  the 
73d  111.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion         272 

Davis.  David — Associate  Justice,   U. 

S.    Supreme   Court    90,   186 

elected  U.  S.  Senator  from  Illi- 
nois— account   of  his   election 

188-189 

friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  as- 
sisted in  securing  presidential 
nomination  of  Lincoln  in  1860     90 

leaves    Republican    party 90-91 

nomination  for  Presidency  of 
U.  S.  by  Labor  Reform  Party, 

1872    186 

plan  to  elect  him  to  U.  S. 
Senate  from  Illinois  in  order 
to  remove  him  from  Supreme 

Court  of  U.   S 184 

presiding  officer  U.   S.    Senate..      91 

political    affiliations    of 186,   187 

U.  S.  Senator  and  thus  is  re- 
moved from  Supreme  Bench 
of  the  U.  S.,  and  is  not  ap- 
pointed on  electoral  commis- 
sion— effect   of   on   Hayes-Til- 

den   contest    187-188 

United  States  Senator  from  Illi- 
nois,     elected      1877 — account 

of  his  election    90-91 

United  States  Senator  from  Illi- 
nois,  his  record  and  standing 

in   Senate    91 

United  States  Senator  from  Illi- 
nois reflects  credit  upon  Illi- 
nois          96 

Davis,    George   P 15 

Davis,    G.    T.    M. — defends    Lovejoy 

adherents,    Alton    trials 173 

Davis,    (Gen.)    Hasbrouck    281 

Davis,    Hezekiah,    Sr 218 

Davis,  Jefferson    225 

Davis,    Jeff.    C. — commands    division 

at    Eaglesville.    Tenn 264 

division — mention    263 

mention     256 

Davis,  J.  McCan — "How  Abraham 
Lincoln       became       President"  — 

quoted    66 

mention     22,   24 

The  Senator  from  Illinois — 
some  famous  political  com- 
bats— address  delivered  before 
Illinois  State  Historical  So- 
ciety,   annual    meeting.    May. 

1909    86-96 

Davison,  James^headquarters  Camp 
Schaefer   on    Stone   River,    Tenn..    268 

Dawes,   Chas,   G 22 

Dawson,   George   E 23 

tjeane,  Silas — agent  in  Paris  for  the 

United    Colonies    of    America 104 

Deane,   Silas — foot  notes...  105,   106,  107 


301 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

De  Belestre — acting  as  commandant 

at   Cascaskias — foot   note 144 

Debrett    79 

Decatur,    111 23,   63 

De    Chambly    Hertel — see    Chambly 

— foot    note    136 

Declaration   of  Independence    38 

Deer    50,   110,   192 

Deer  route    134 

Dejean,       Madame  —  mention  —  foot 

note     113 

Dejean,    P. — letter    to    Haldimand — 

foot  note    113 

DeKalb   County,    111 12 

Delano,     (Capt. )     cavalry    company, 

War  of  the  Rebellion    231 

Delaware  Indians,  advised  by  Brod- 
head     and     Linctot     to     join     the 

Americans     113 

mention     162 

Delaware,    state   75 

DeLiette — nephew       of      Henri       de 

Tonty    139 

DeLisle    Bapti    130 

Delitalieu — soldier    under    La    Balm 

— mention     127 

Deluziere,  father  of  DeLassus — last 
Spanish  Governor  of  Upper  Louis- 
iana         135 

Democratic  party  in  Illinois,  Legis- 
lature,   1877    187 

1S90,  nominated  in  State  con- 
vention,   John   M.   Palmer   for 

U.    S.    Senator  93-94 

Legislature  first  nominates  can- 
didates for  U.  S.  Senator  in 
caucus    of    political    party    in 

1840     86 

members  of,  in  Illinois  Legisla- 
ture,    1885     attempts     of,     to 

elect  U.  S.  Senator 91 

mention     44,   45,   46 

Democrats,  in  Illinois  Legislature, 
1855,  contest  for  election  of  U.   S. 

Senator    88-89 

in  Illinois  Legislature,  1877.188,   189 
in     Illinois     Legislature,      1885, 
attempts  to  secure  election  of 

U.    S.    Senator    93 

Deneen,  Charles  S. — honorary  mem- 
ber   Illinois    State    Historical    So- 
ciety          16 

Denning,  William  A. — candidate  for 
U.  S.  Senator  from  Illinois,  1855 
— vote  cast  for,   in  Legislature...      88 

DeNoyelle    140 

DePeyster,  (Maj.)  Arent  Schuyler 
account  of  LeBalm's  attack  on  the 

Miami    towns    117-118 

commander  at  Detroit   Ill,   112 

foot  note   120 

Misc.  of  an  officer  26  a,   quoted 

— foot    note    119 

DePlacey.    M. — see   Placey 132 

Deplanteur,   M. — mention — foot  note  113 

Dequindre    Dagniau    120 

Desaulliers,    Pierre — interpreter    for 

the   Hurons    133 

Desplaines   River 51,  61 


Page. 

D'Estaing,    Count — foot    note 109 

Detroit,  Bentley  a  prisoner  at — foot 

note    113 

Canadians  inhabitants,  wil- 
ling to  aid  La  Balm  in  cap- 
turing  Detroit    113 

expedition    against,    projected. .    162 

foot   note    162 

Frenchman  at    114 

La  Balm's  plans  for  capture  of  114 

mention    

..108,   111,   114,   118,   131,   132,   184 

foot    notes    109„113,   118 

militia,    companies    of 133 

plans    for   the   capture    of — foot 

note   163 

population   of,    1778 — foot  note.    162 

river    134 

rough     map      of     the     western 

country    mentioned    114 

Deutsche    Pioneer,   Vol.   V,    quoted — 

foot   notes    211,   212 

De  Villiers,  Elizabeth  St.  Ange.141,   142 
De  Villiers,  Chevalier  Francois  Cou- 
lon,    marries   Elizabeth   St.   Ange.    141 

Francois    Coulon — mention 143 

De  Villiers,   Jumonville 141 

De     Villiers,     Louis     Coulon — called 

Le    Grand   Villiers    141 

De  Villiers,   Neyon — in  command  at 

Ft.    Chartres    143 

mention 140 

sketch   of  the  life   of,   reference 

to — foot   note    143 

De    Villiers    du    Terrage — Les    Der- 
niers     Annees     de     la     Louisiane 
Francaise,    quoted — foot   note.  143,   144 
De  Volsay  at  Caho  (Cahokia) — foot 

note    144 

Diai-y,  (The)  of,  Edward  W.  Crip- 
pen,  private  27th  Reg't.  111.  Vols., 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  Aug.  7,  1861 
to  Sept.  19,  1863,  with  introduc- 
tion and  notes,  by  Robert  J.  Ker- 

ner     220-282 

Dice,    (Slave    girl) — owned    by   Col. 

Thomas    Cox    197,   198 

Dickens,       Charles  —  Jarndyce       vs. 

Jarndyce — mentioned    78 

Dickerman,    Luke    23 

Dickerson,    O.    M 23 

Dickson,      Frank      S. — Adj. -General 

State    of   Illinois — foot   note 220 

Dillon,  John  B. — History  of  Indiana, 

Vol.  I,  quoted — foot  note    118 

District    of    Columbia — mention 148 

Dixon,    Henry    S 23 

Dixon,    John — at   Dixon's   Ferry,    on 

Rock   River    51 

Dixon's  Ferry  on  Rock  River 51,   52 

Documentary  History  of  Dunmore's 

War,    reference    to    6T 

"Domesday    Boke"     TO 

Don   Galvez,    Spanish   General — foot 

note 112 

Donllson,     (Gen.) — plantation     2.52 

Dougal — firm  in  London,   Eng 78 

Dougherty,  John — Circuit  Judge, 
State  of  Illinois 45 


302 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Douglas,   Stephen  A. — ability  of.. 8 7,  88 
Abraham   Lincoln's   estimate    of 

his   character  and   ability....      87 
account  of  his  rapid  rise  in  Illi- 
nois   politics    87 

ball  and  banquet  given  in  old 
State  House  at  Springfield  in 
honor  of  his  election  to  U.  S. 

Senate    87 

candidate    for   President   of   the 

United    States    87 

course  in  U.   S.  Senate   87 

defeats    Abraham     Lincoln     for 

U.  S.   Senate,  1858   89 

his  course  in  U.  S.  Senate,  mea- 
sures   advocated    87 

his    place    in    history   of   Illinois 

U.    S.    Senators    87,   88 

in    U.    S.    Senate    reflects    credit 

upon    Illinois    96 

Judge    of    the    Supreme    Court, 

State  of  Illinois   42 

mention 183 

patriotism   of    88 

political   offices  held  by 87 

re-elected    U.    S.    Senator    from 

Illinois 95 

U.  S.  Senator  from  Illinois,  his 
election  gave  State  distinc- 
tion  and   prestige    87-88 

U.  S.  Senator  from  Illinois,  his 
election — former  efforts  to  se- 
cure same  office    87 

Douglas.  (Hon.)  Walter  B. — honor- 
ary member  Illinois  State  His- 
torical   Society    21 

The  Sieurs  de  St.  Ange — ad- 
dress before  the  Illinois  State 
Historical  Society,   1909,  by.. 

135-146 

Dow,    Lorenzo    191 

Drake,     Samuel     G. — "Founders    of 

New  England,"   quoted   77 

Draper,  Andrew  S. — President  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois.   1899 15 

Draper  Collection  Wis.  State  His- 
torical   Society    Library     67 

Draper,    ( Dr. )    Lyman    C 102 

Draper  Mss.  Coil's,  Brodhead  Pa- 
pers I  H.   33,   quoted — foot  note..    164 

28  J.   3,    quoted 103 

29  J.    14,    quoted    98 

49  J.  20,  quoted — foot  note...  164 
49  J.  74,  quoted — foot  note...  97 
51  J.  71,  quoted — foot  note...  102 
58    J.    32.    quoted — foot    note...    163 

Drennan,  William — one  of  the  com- 
missioners appointed  to  locate  the 
county   seat   of   Sangamon   county  190 

Drouillard 132 

Dryer,     John — early     nursery     man, 

Springfield,   111 191 

Dublin.    Ireland    78 

Dubois,    (Hon.)    Jesse  K 180,   182 

Dubois,    Lincoln    25 

'buck    River    250,   264 

iDuden.    Gottfried — Germans    placed 

great  confidence  in  the  writings  of, 

concerning  the  Western   country.    211 

report  concerning  a  journey  to 

the     Western     states     of     N. 

America,   quoted    210 

foot    notes    210,211 


Page. 
Duff,   Andres  J. — candidate  for  Cir- 
cuit Judge,   State  of  Illinois 45 

Duluth,    Minn.,    immortalized    by    J. 

Proctor    Knott    185 

Dumont,    Memoires    Historique    Vol. 

2,    quoted — foot   note    139 

Duncan  I,  King  of  Scots,  1033 75 

Duncan,  Gov.  Joseph — active  in  se- 
curing   the    passage    of    the    free 

school    law,    1825.; 218 

biographical    sketch    In    Fergus 
Hist,     series,     reference    to — 

foot    note,    appendix    219 

meniion    217 

foot   note    219 

Duncan,   Matthew    217 

foot   note    219 

Dunn,  Jacob  P.  Jr. — Father  Gibault, 
the  Patriot  Priest  of  tne  North- 
west,  quoted — foot  note    137 

History      of      Indiana      in      the 
American    Commonwealth 
Series,     quoted — foot    note...    137 
librarian   Indiana   State   Histor- 
ical   Society — foot    note    54 

Duplessy,    M 132 

Dupuy,   Geo.   A 22 

Dustisne.  tragic  death  of 142 

Dutch   Hill,    111.,   German  settlement 

in   Illinois,    1815    212 

Dutch  Hollow,  111.,  German  settle- 
ment in   Illinois,   1802    212 


Eaglesville,    Tenn 263,264 

Eames,  Charles  M. — historic  Mor- 
gan     and      Classic      Jacksonville, 

quoted — see  foot  note    48 

Earl  Marshall  or  President  of  Eng- 
lish College  of  Heraldry — refer- 
ence   to    82 

Eastfort,    (  . .    .  248 

Eastport,    T 

Eastman  property,   Springfield,   111..    191 

East  St.  Louis,  111 23,  24 

Edens,  Wm.  G 22 

Eddy,   T.   M. — Patriotism   of  Illinois, 

quoted.    Vol.    2 — foot   notes 

220,   226,   231,   282 

Edinburgh,   Scotland    78,   79 

Edmondston,    English    authority    on 

Royal  descent,  etc 79 

Edmunds,  Geo.  F. — U.  S.  Senator 
from   Vermont,   member   Electoral 

Commission    185 

Education.  Augustana  College,  Rock 

Island,   111 22 

Bettie   Stuart   Institute,   Spring- 
field,   111 195,   288 

Bowdoin      College,      Brunswick, 

Maine — foot   note    57 

Bradley    Polytechnic    Institute, 

Peoria,    111 15 

Brownsville  and  Big  Hill  School 

District,  established,  1825.218-219 
Free  School  Law  of  1825,  State 

of  Illinois,   reference  to    218 

Illinois  College  located  at  Jack- 
sonville     48,  172 

Illinois,  University  of  Illinois.. 

7,   15,   22 

foot   note    220 


303 


Index — Continued. 


Education — Concluded.  Page. 

Knox  College,  Galesburg,  111.. 28,   29 
McClernand   School,    Springfield, 

111 195 

N.  Y.,  University  of  New  York,     58 

foot  note    58 

Oneida   Seminary,   N.  Y 61 

Shattuck      College,      Faribault, 

Minn 289 

Southern    Illinois    Normal    Uni- 
versity,   Carbondale,    111 7 

Western    Illinois    State    Normal 

School,  Macomb,  111 23 

Edward  I,  King  of  England 79 

Edward  III,  King  of  England 79 

Edwards,     Benjamin     S. — prominent 

citizen  of  Springfield,   111 180,   191 

Edwards,  Mrs.  Benjamin  S. — 
honorary    member    Illinois    State 

Historical    Society — death    of 18 

Edwards,  Cyrus — candidate  for  U.  S. 
Senator    from    Illinois,    1855,    vote 

cast  for  in  Legislature   88 

work  in  behalf  of  State  history, 

reference  to   285 

Edwards    estate     78 

Edwards,  Ninian — Beaird  vs.  the 
Governor,      mandamus,      Edwards 

Papers,  cuoted — foot  note    172 

death   of,   from   Asiatic  cholera, 

July   20,    1833    172 

mention    171,   172 

territorial  governor,  U.  S.  Sena- 
tor and  Governor  of  Illinois. 

19,    95,   171 

Edwards,    (Dr.)    Richard    15,   18 

Edwardsville,  111.,  Advocate,  (news- 
paper)            61 

foot    note    51 

mention 171,  172 

foot   note    5o 

Western     Plough     Boy     (news- 
paper)   foot   note    55 

Efforts  to  divorce  judicial  elections 
from  politics  in  Illinois — address 
before  the  Illinois  State  Historical 
Society,  1909,  by  Oliver  A.  Bar- 
ker      37-46 

Egypt,  Southei-n  Illinois,  so  called..    223 

Electoral   Bill    187 

see  Electoral  Commission. 
Electoral      Commission,      1877,      ap- 
pointed    to     decide     Hayes-Tilden 

f.Qj-j^gg^      lo4 

how    originated,    vote    upon    in 

(Congress     186 

to    settle    Hayes-Tilden    contest, 
how  originated  and  organized  185 

Elk.  property  of  Erastus  Wright 200 

Elkin,   W.    F 180 

Elk  River,  Tenn.,  camp  at   274 

Elliott,  Andrew— early  settler  of 
Sangamon  county  and  Springfield, 

111.     190,   197 

earlv  tavern  keeper,  Springfield, 

111 201 

Elliott,    (Rev.)    J.   C 18 

Elliott,    Matthew    119 

Ellis,  Jacob — early  settler  of  San- 
gamon county  and  Springfield,  111. 
^  190,   197 


Page. 
Ellis,       Jacob  —  first       blacksmith, 

Springfield,    111 200 

Ellis,    Levi — early    settler    of    San- 
gamon    county     and     Springfield, 

111 190,   197 

Ellis,    Perry,    Quincy,    111 13 

Elm    River    55 

El  Paso,  111 24 

Emerson,    Ralph    Waldo — quotation 

from    writings    75 

Emery,    Richard — private    27th   Reg. 

111.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion..    240 
Emigration    office,    London,    Eng. ...      77 

Emma,   (The)    (Steamer) 239 

Encyclopedia   Britannica,   quoted  on 

India — foot   note    57 

quoted      on      Meteorology — foot 

note    58 

quoted    on    Polar    Regions — foot 

note    60 

England,    administration    of    justice 

in,   mode   of,   etc.... 37,   38 

mention    72,   76, 

78,   79,   80,  81,  82,  83,   98,   104,   212 

foot    note    113 

property  rights  in  England   ....      78 
prorogation     of     parliament     in 

1679     37 

revolution  of  1688    37,   38 

English    College    of    Heraldry 82,83 

Constitution     37 

in  America,  military  plans  of..    122 
Indians   believed  an   alliance   of 
Virginians,  French  and  Span- 
iards    arrayed     against     the 

English    113 

language     108 

foot   note    108 

Lee,   F. — member   of   Committee 
of    Legislation,    Illinois    State 

Historical  Society   23 

mention    80,    107, 

110,    116,    129,    132.    133,    135,   162 
methods  in  dealing  with  the  In- 
dians        139 

Englishmen,     trace     their     ancestry 

only  through  the  male  line 74 

Bnos,    (Miss)    Catherine  1 18 

Enos,    Pascal    P. — early    settler    of 

Springfield,   111 192,    199,   201 

Enos,  Zimri — Description  of  Spring- 
field, contribution  to  State  History. 

by    190-208 

Eschmann,     (Rev.)     C.    J.- — member 
Board   of  Directors,   Illinois   State 

Historical    Society    7,   14,   25 

Essex  Institute  Historical  Collections     77 

Eureka,    111 23 

Europe 58,    68,    75,    80,    83,   176,   209 

European    Archives    135 

cities,    vital   records   of 77 

Frenchman,    Robert   Groston   de 

St.    Ange    136 

officials  at  the  College  of  Her- 
aldry          83 

workman,    skill    of    81 

Evanston,    111 22,  23 

Evarts,  William  Maxwell,  of  N.  Y..     66 


304 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Everett.   Charles — family  of 148 

father  of  Edward  Everett,  mer- 
chant in  London  148 

resident  of  Quincy,  111 148 

(the  younger)  served  in  Mor- 
mon war,  Mexican  war  and 
Civil  war,  rose  to  rank  Brig.- 

Gen.  in  Civil  war 148 

(the  younger)  son  of  Chas. 
Everett,  member  Quincy  Rifle- 
men    in    Mormon    war,    later 

served   in   Mexican   war 148 

Everett.      Edward  —  born      London, 

England     148 

distinguished  American  scholar, 
clergyman  and  author,  cousin 

of  Chas.   Everett    148 

Everett,  Edward — of  Quincy,  the 
work  of.  in  quarter-master's  de- 
partment  in  Illinois  during  first 
year  of  Civil  war.  paper  before 
Illinois    State    Historical    Society, 

by  Cora  A.   Benneson 147-153 

'  biographical   sketch   of    148 

clerk    in    quarter-master's    dept. 

in   Mexican   war    147 

letter    of.    to    Col.    John   Wood, 

February,    1862    152 

manuscript    papers    of,    mention 

—foot   note    153 

methods  employed  by,  in  con- 
ducting business  quarter- 
master's     dept.      of      Illinois, 

1861    151 

relative  of  the  distinguished  Bd- 

.    ward  Everett  of  Mass 148 

report  made  by,  to  Constitu- 
tional   Convention   of   Illinois, 

1862    151 

resigns      position      in      quarter- 

ma.ster's  dept.  of  Illinois   ....    153 
served  as  member  Quincy  Rifle- 
men in  Mormon  war 148 

service  in  quarter-master's  dept. 

in  Mexican  war.  fitted  him  for 

later  service  in  Civil  war.  147,   149 

services     in     systematizing    the 

equipment    of    Illinois    troops, 

1861    149-150 

shot  above  knee,  lamed  for  life.    149 
Everett.   Samuel — killed  at  battle  of 

Shiloh.    Civil    war    149 

surgeon.     10th     111.     Vols.     Inf.. 

Civil  war   148-149 

youngest  son  of  the  elder  Chas. 
Elliott.        becomes        surgeon, 
served  in  Mormon  war.  Mexi- 
can war  and  Civil  war   .  .  .148-149 
Swing.    Wm.    L.    D. — elected    Lieut. 
Governor    of    Illinois,     served    as 
Governor  short  time.  U.  S.  Senator     95 

Exeter.    (Scott  Co.)   Ill 223 

Expedition     of    Pedro    de    Villazur, 

(Bandelier)    quoted — foot   note...    137 
Extracts    from    the    records    of    the 
Jackson      County     Commissioners 
Court — by  G.   J.   Koons 217-219 


Fagan,     William — early     citizen     of 
Springfield,    111 201 


Page. 

Fairfield.    Ill 22,23 

Fair   grounds,    near   Springfield,   111., 

mention    149 

Falls  of  Ohio    103 

Faribault.    Minn 289 

Farmer's  Mutual  Benefit  Alliance, 
"F.  M.  B.  A."  political  party  in 
Illinois,  1891 — members  of,  in  Illi- 
nois  Legislature    94-93 

Farmington,   (Hartford  Co.)   Conn..    167 
Farmington.    Mississippi,    battle    of, 

description    221 

mention     243,   244 

Fayette   county.   111 169 

Federal  Army,  deserters  from 266 

Federal    Army.    1862 — mention 152 

Felan,   Richard — private   27th  Reg't. 

111.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion..   245 
Felan,    Robert — private    27tli    Reg't. 

111.  Vols 228,  229 

Felmley,   ( Prof. )    David   23 

Fergus  Hist.  Series  No.  29,  bio- 
graphical sketcli  of  Joseph  Dun- 
can— foot   note,    appendix    219 

Ferguson.  Benjamin  H. — prominent 
business    man    of   Springfield,    111. 

182.  287 

Ficklin,  Orlando  B. — candidate  for 
U.   S.   Senator  from  Illinois.   1855, 

vote   cast   for   in   Legislature 88 

Field.    (Capt.)    Martin — meteorolog- 
,  ical  reports  at  Fayetteville,  Vt...     57 

foot    note    57 

Field,  Stephen — Associate  Justice  U. 
S.  Supreme  Court,  member  Elec- 
toral   Commission    186 

Fish,    Grace 20 

Flagg.    Norman    G 24 

Flat    Branch.    Springfield,    111 201 

Florida,  Electoral  vote  of,  1876.  .184-185 
"F.  M.  B.  A."  (Farmers'  Mutual 
Benefit  Alliance) — three  mem- 
bei^s  of  this  party  in  Illinois  Legis- 
lature, 1891  hold  balance  of  power, 
course    during    senatorial    election 

94-95 

Foote — private    in    the    27th    Reg't. 

111.  Vols..  War  of  the  Rebellion..    276 
Foote.  A.  H. — flag  officer,  report  of, 
March      4,      1862.     War     Records 
Series    I,    Vol.    VII,    quoted — foot 

note    238 

Foote,    H.    C 238 

Ford.     (Gov.)     Thomas — history    of 

Illinois,   quoted    175 

Judge    of    the    Supreme    Court, 

State  of  Illinois   42 

Ford,  Worthington  C. — Life  of 
Washington,      Vol.      V,      quoted — 

foot    note    105 

Ford's  Theatre,  Washington,  D.  C.    179 
Foreman.     Anderson — early     settler 

of  Jacksonville.  111.— foot  note....      48 
Forquer.    George — Att'y-Gen.,    State 

of  lUinois    171 

George   Forquer   Grove,    Spring- 
field.   Ill 191 

slave  boy  "Smith"  owned  by...    197 

Fort   Armstrong    99 

Fort    Belle   Fontaine    25 


305 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Ft.   Chai-tres,   Aubry,   quoted   on   the 

surrender    of— foot    note    144 

De  Villiers  in  command  at 143 

Elizabeth  St.  Ange  de  Villiers — 
death     of     at     Ft.     Chartres, 

March   6,   1755    142 

mention    

18,   138,    139,    140,    141,   142 

Madame  St.  Ange,  death  of, 
Feb.  23,  1762,  at  Ft.  Char- 
tres         142 

St.  Ange,  the  elder,  in  com- 
mand  at    139,   140 

Fort      Chartres,      Elder      St.      Ange 
purchases  a  home  near,  in  1729..    139 

Fort  Clark   18 

Fort   Donelson    235,   236 

Fort   Duquesne    134 

Fort  Erie    134 

Fort    Henry    235 

Fort   Holt    231,   234,   235 

Fort   Jefferson    97,   98,   233 

Fort   Laurens    163,   164 

Fort   Mcintosh,    location   of 163 

Fort  Massac  Commission,  Jessie  Pal- 
mer  Weber,    Secretary    of 18 

mention    13 

park,  monument  to  George 
Rogers  Clark  dedicated  at  . . .      18 

Fort  Necessity    141 

Fort  Orleans,  destroyed  by  the  In- 
dians        143 

mention    138 

St.   Ange    (Elder)    in   command 

of     138,   139 

Fort    Pitt    103, 

108,    109,    110,    113,    119,    162,    163,   164 

foot  notes    109,   112 

Fort  Randolph    162 

Fort    Russell    18 

Ft.    Schuyler — foot   note    163 

Fort    Tain    249 

Fort    Wayne,    Ind. — Brice's    History 
of  Fort  Wayne,  quoted — foot  note   118 

Fort  Winnebago    51,   53 

Fort  Wright    240 

Foster,  William   T. — early  Judge  of 

the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois. .  .39-40 
Fountain    Bluff,    Jackson    Co.,    111. — 

foot  note,    appendix    219 

Four    Courts,    on    King's    Inn    Quay, 

Dublin,  Ireland 78 

Fowler,    Wm.    F 23 

Fox,    Benjamin   F. — early   citizen   of 

Springfield,    111 191 

Fox    Creek    249 

Fox-Davies.    publications    issued    in 
the     intei-est    of    the     College    of 

Heraldry   8.^ 

Fox  Fort,   site  of,  sec  foot  note....    140 

Fox  Indians 5i.  f'S,  99,  139,  140,   141 

France,   mention 7o,    79,    82,    104, 

108.    109,    111,    137,    144,    210,    212,   214 

foot   notes    105,   107,   163 

Mercure     de    France,     quoted — 

foot  note    139 

Franklin,       Benjamin       in      France, 
Franklin's       works      quoted — foot 

note    105 

mention    104,   105 

Franklin.    (Sir)   John  arctic  explorer     60 
Franklin.   Tenn 250,    261,    263,   264 


Page. 

Fredrictown    229 

Freeport,   111 13,   18,   23 

Freese,    L.    J 23 

"Free    Soilers,"    in    Illinois    Legisla- 
ture,  1855    88 

Freiheitsbote      fur      Illinois,       1840, 

quoted — foot   note    213 

Frelinghuysen,  Fred  T. — U.  S.  Sena- 
tor   from     New    Jersey,     member 

Electoral  Commission   185 

French,       (Dr.)       Marries      Cornelia 

Cowles    177 

French,    (Dr.)    A.  W 18 

French    and    Indian   Wars 71 

French — advice    to    the    French,    by 

La    Balm    hq 

at  war  with  the  Chickasaws. . .    142 
believed   to    be    allied   with    the 
Virginians       and       Spaniards 

against   the   English    113 

Canadians    i09 

citizens,    antipathy    against    the 

United    States    112 

Colonel     112,   117 

foot   note    112 

emissaries    112 

foot   note    112 

Flag — disappears  from  the  Illi- 
nois  country    143,   144 

inhabitants  of  Cahokia,  present 
address  to  La  Balm  setting 
forth  their  grievances  against 

the    Virginians     113 

of  St.  Louis — mention 113 

of  the  West  and  the  Illinois 

country — mention    113 

King   110 

La   Balm   passes   for   a  French 

officer    no 

language    lOg 

methods    in    dealing    with    the 

Indians    139 

nation — mention    

105,    127,    129,    130,    131,    135,   162 

officers     105 

revolution,     (The) — mention 184 

revolution    of   France   In    1830..    210 
revolutionists,   German   students 
wear    caps,     bear    the    colors 
of   the    French    Revolutionists  210 
settlements     at     Cahokia     and 

Kaskaskia    212 

settlements   in    Illinois    109 

settlements       in      the      Illinois 

country    gg 

settlers    on    the    Mississippi 

55,   56,   58 

soldiers    105 

warriors     no 

wars  with  the  Indians 139 

Puller,    (Dr.)    Samuel   M 285 

Fulton  county,  111 45,   147,  197 

Fury  Beach,  Barrow  Strait,  latitude 

74°     62 


Gage,  Bro.  &  Drake  proprietors, 
Tremont  House,  Chicago,  Illinois, 
1860    63 


-20   H   S 


306 


i 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 
Gage,        (Gen.)        Thomas — Captain 
Thomas    Stirling,    letter    to    Gen. 
Gage  dated  Dec.   15,   1765,   quoted 

— foot    note    144 

Galena,    111.,    mention    51,   223 

"Galena       Miner" — (newspaper)  — 

foot    note    55 

Galesburg,        111.  —  Knox-Galesburg 

Day     29 

Lincoln-Douglas  Debate  Cele- 
bration,  souvenirs  of 30 

Mary  Allen  West — How  Gales- 
burg       Grew,       manuscript — 

reference   to    29 

mention    7,   13,   23,   28,   29 

foot  note 30 

People's  Trust  &  Savings  Bank 

of    ; SO 

Galileo,  Galilei,  Philosopher,  Scien- 
tist          59 

Galveston.    Texas    57 

Galvez,  Don. — see  Don  Galvez — foot 

note     112 

Gamelin,    M 133 

Garfield,  James  A. — member  U.  S. 
Congress      from      Ohio,      member 

Electoral   Commission    185 

President  of  the  United  States, 
death  of,  succeeded  by  Vice- 
president  C.  A.  Arthur 91 

"Garland,"       (The)       Frigate  —  foot 

note     118 

Garm,    Robert    H 23 

Gary,       Joseph       Eaton — prominent 

Judge  of  Cook  county,  111 46 

Gates,    (Gen.)    Horatio    107 

Gatyburg,   Pa. — see  Gettysburg. 
Gehrman,    Charles    A. — early   settler 

of    Springfield,    111 191,   196 

Genealogical  collection  of  the  Illinois 
State  Historical  Library,  reference 

to     19 

Gtenealogy  and  Genealogical  publi- 
cations,   Illinois    State    Historical 

Society,    committee    of 24 

report    of     12,   26 

Genealogy — Harriet  Taylor,  The 
Study  of  Genealogy,  paper  pre- 
pared for  the  Illinois  State  His- 
torical  Society,   1909 26,   33,    67-85 

Abbe       Tanguay       Genealogical 

dictionary — foot   note    136 

American  -  Bureau  of,  sugges- 
tions for 84 

difficulties  in  the  way 74 

family  antiquitj'^   desired    77 

first    family    history    printed    in 

America    72 

foreigners 77 

German-American    Genealogists.     67 

gruide  books  for  searchers 74 

hereditary    patriotic    societies..      70 

heraldry     81-84 

Irish  genealogy,  references  for.      78 
Mormon,    tradition    regarding. .      75 

mythical    estates,    lists    of 78 

New     York     Genealogical     and 

Biographical    Society    72 

next  of  kin  estates 78 

practical   suggestions    69-70 

preliminary  investigations   73 

professional  geneologists   75 

que.stion  sheets   73 


Page. 

relics  and  heirlooms   80-81 

resources,  to  consult  69 

royal  descent    79 

Samuel  and  Hannah  Stebbins — 
first  family  history  published 
in  America;  Hartford,  1771..      72 
selecting     a     working     plan     or 

form    71-72 

settlers   77 

time  required  to  complete  work 

72>-73 

veteran   genealogists    74 

General    Assembly    of    Illinois — see 

Illinois   Legislature. 
General  Assembly,   State  or  Illinois 
—1st    1818,    2d    1820 — foot    note — 

appendix    219 

See  Illinois. 
Geographic    Society    of    Chicago. .  .18-19 
George — an    American    (a    Jew)    at 

Miami    Post    132 

George  Nelson  Black — memorial  ad- 
dress, by  Jessie  Palmer  "Weber.  285-290 
Georgia — historical      collections      of 

Georgia    26 

State    of    212,   280 

Germaine,  (Lord)  George — letter  of 
Gen.  Fred  Haldimand  to,  dated 
Quebec,   Dec.   3,   1780 — foot  note..    118 

German-American   Genealogists 67 

German — confidence  in  the  writings 
of  Duden  concerning  the  Western 

country  of  the  United  States 211 

element  in  America — material 
on    in    the    New    York    Public 

Library — reference    to    67 

Hanover  Colony — which  laid  the 
foundation    of    Vandalia,    111., 

1820 — reference  to    211 

immigration,  to  America,  great- 
est concern  of  the  Germans, 
the  social  and  political  situa- 
tion         211 

immigrants  to  America,  educa- 
tion  of  their   children   causes 

anxiety    213 

immigration      to      the      West, 

causes  leading  to   209-210 

language     108 

newspapers,  articles  in.  relative 
to  creating  a  German  State 
either  in   Brazil  or  the   U.    S. 

— reference   to    210 

patent  of  nobility i 80 

settlements   in   Illinois    210,   212 

winter  of  1831,  an  eventful  one 

for   the   Germans    210 

in  Chicago    77 

Germany — mention     82 

organizations  in.  to  promote 
and  encourage  immigration  to 

America,    1815    to    1831 211 

Gettysburg,    Penn 275 

Gibault.   Father.   Pierre — mention...    104 
Patriot  Priest  of  the  Northwest 
— by  J.  P.  Dunn,  publication, 
Illinois    State    Historical    Li- 
brary   No.     10,     quoted — foot 

note    13" 

Gilbreath,     James — of     Kaskaskia — 

foot    note — appendix    219 

Gibson,    (Col.)    John    163,   164 


307 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Gill,    James    217 

Gill.  William    217 

Gilman,  Clinton  &  Springfield  R.  R.  287 

Gilman  Warehouse,   Alton,    111 173 

Gilman,  Winthrop  S. — separate  trial 
of    in    Alton    trials — verdict,     not 

guilty    173 

Gilmore,    Hettie,    (The)    Steamer...  239 

Girty,   Simon    164 

Girty's     (The)     119 

Glenn    Ellyn,    111 - 24 

Glenn,    Isaac    218 

Glenn,    John    218 

Goebel,  Gert — quoted — foot  note. 211,  212 

Godet    132 

Godfrey  M,    (or  Linctot) — see  Line- 
tot — French    Canadian 108,  109 

Godfrey   Warehouse,    Alton,    111 173 

Goethe  or  Gothe  "Von  Johann  Wolf- 

o-g^j-jCT-      ••...•••  Zll) 

illustrious  German  poet    210 

Gognia    township,    Jackson    county, 

111 218 

Gordon's    Mills,    near    Chattanooga, 

Tenn 281 

Gosselin   Abbe   Amedee.      Notes    sur 
la     Faniilie     Coulon     de     Villiers, 

quoted — foot    note 142 

Gough,   (Miss)   Sarah  M 24 

Governor's  Mansion,   Springfield,  111. 

191,  192 

Grampies,    (The)   Rebel  Gun-Boat..  237 

G.  A.   R.   Post  of  Quincy,   111 13 

Grand  Towev,   111 56 

Grand    Village    132 

Granger,     (Maj.-Gen.)     Gordon 264 

Grant,     (Gen.)     U.    S.    invites    John 
Wood   to   accompany   him   on  trip 

south,    1862     152 

mention    ....225,    235,    260,    269,  273 

foot    notes    231,  232 

President  United  States,  men- 
tion      185 

"Gray's  Elegy  in  a  Country  Church- 
yard,"  favorite  poem  of  Abraham 

Lincoln    286 

Great    Britain    58,   77,  135 

foot   note    163 

Great  Western   Railroad  Co 66 

Greece — mention    148 

Greeley,    Horace — mention    63 

nominated  for  presidency  of  U. 
S.  by  Liberal  Republicans  and 

Democrats,   1872    18C 

"Greenback  Democrat" — one  member 
of  Illinois   State   Senate,    1885,   so 

called    91 

Green    Bay,    Wis 137 

Greene,     E,     B.— chairman     of     the 
Committee    on    Publications,    Illi- 
nois   State    Historical    Society.. 12,   22 
editor    of    Vol.    4.    Illinois    His- 
torical Collections   19 

member  of  Board  of  Directors, 
Illinois  State  Historical  So- 
ciety     7,    13,   15 

Gregoire,    M 132 

Griggs,    Clarence     24 

Griggs,    Jesse    219 

sketch    of — foot    note    219 

Gross,    Levsris    M 24 

Groston,  family  name  of  St.  Anges.  135 


Page. 

Groston,  Robert  )  (Sieur      de       St. 

Groston,  Robert   \    Ange) 135,   136 

dit   St.   Ange  ( 

Grundy,  Felix — Chief  Justice  of  Ken- 
tucky,   U.    S.    Senator,   Atty-Gen..    171 

Guest,   R.   Albert 20 

Gulf    of    Boothia    60,61 

Gun,   firm   in   London,    Eng 78 

Gunther,    C.    F 24 

Guoin    M.     (of    Detroit) 132 

Gurley,     (Rev.)     P.    D. —  (noted    Di- 
vine  of   New   York    City) 182 


H 


Haines,  Elijah  M. — Speaker  of  Illi- 
nois    House     of     Representatives, 

1885 — Independent    91 

Speaker  of  Illinois  House  of 
Representatives,     1885,    visits 

New    Orleans    92 

Haines,  John  C,  of  Chicago,  mem- 
ber  Illinois    Legislature,    1877 188 

Hale,    (Rev.)   Albert— of  Springfield, 

111 180,   182 

Half    Century    of    Conflict,    Vol.    I, 

Parkman,   quoted — foot  notes.  137,   138 
Half  King  Chief  of  the  Wyandots..    161 
Haldimand,     Frederick — Clinton     to 
Haldimand,     Feb.      1,     1779 — foot 

note     163 

Haldimand,     (Gov.)     Frederick — let- 
ter  to,    from    Dejean — foot   note..    113 
letter    to    Lord    Geo.    Germain, 
dated  Quebec,   Dec.   3,   1780 — 

foot   note    118 

mention    98,   US 

papers,  manuscript  in  Cana- 
dian Archives,  B.  184 — men- 
tioned— foot   note    114 

Halifax — foot    note     118 

Hall,     (Col.) 265 

Hall,   Mrs.   George   K 24 

Hall,     James — work     in     behalf     of 

State   History,  reference  to 285 

Hall,    James.    Jr 218 

Hall,   Junius,   Esq. — defender  of  the 

rioters,    Alton    trial 173 

Halleck,  Henry  W. — Union  Maj.- 
Gen.,  War  of  the  Rebellion 244 

Hamburg, 
Hamburgh, 

Tenn.    240 

Hamelin.   half   breed   French   Indian  120 
Hamersley,  L.  R.  &  Co.,   Pubs. — list 
of  officers  of  the  Navy  of  the  U. 
S.    and    the    Marine    Corps,    1775- 

1900    71 

Hamilton,    (Gov.)    Henry    162 

foot    notes    113,  162 

Hancock    county.    III. — mention..  45,   147 
Mormon  troubles  in,  services  of 
Everett  brothers  in  quelling.   148 

Hancock,   John    104 

Handbook  of  Learned  Societies  and 
Institutions  of  America — refer- 
ence  to    68 

Hand,    (Gen.)    Edward    161 

foot   note    161 

Hanks,    John    53 


308 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 
Hannant,  John — private,  27th  Reg't. 

111.    Vol.,   War   of   the   Rebellion..    234 
Planover     Colony,     in     Vandalia     in 

1820,   reference  to    211 

Hardin,    John    J. — Colonel    First   111. 

Vols.,    Mexican    war    149 

Harker,  Oliver  A. — efforts  to  divorce 
judicial  elections  from  politics  in 
Illinois — address  before  the  Illi- 
nois State  Historical  Society,  1909 

37-46 

mention     23 

Harpeth    River    263,   264 

Harmon,    (Miss)   Ada  D 24 

Harreld,    J » 217 

Harring-ton,  (Lieut.-Col.)  F.  A., 
Lieut.-Col.    27th    Reg't.    111.    Vols., 

War  of  the  Rebellion 

220,   236,   238,   240 

foot   note    226 

Harris  Landing,  Tennessee  River...    240 
Harrison.  William  H. — elected  Presi- 
dent  U.    S.,    1840    41 

Hart,  (Capt.)  William  M.— Captain 
Co.  "D"   27th  Reg.  III.  Vols.,  War 

of   the   Rebellion    230 

Hartford,    Conn 72 

Hartford,    county.    Conn 167 

Harvard   College,    Cambridge,   Mass. 

— Edward  Everett,   professor  in        148 
Hatch.    Ozias   M. — prominent   citizen 

of    Springfield,    111 180 

Hatfield,  (Dr.)  Marcus  P.,  of  Chi- 
cago          18 

Hauberg,    John    H 24 

Havannah      (Havana)      Cuba — foot 

note    112 

Hawley,     E.     B. — prominent     citizen 

of  Springfield,  111 180 

Hawley,   (Mrs.)    197 

Hay,    John — David    Spear    vs.    John 

Hay.  case  of,  reference  to 199 

Hay,   Logan    22 

Hay,    Milton — prominent    citizen    of 

Springfield,    111 180 

Hay  den.  (Rev.)  Horace  Edwin,  M. 
A. — Virginia  Genealogies — Wilkes- 

barre.    Pa.,    1882,    pubs 26 

Hayes.  Rutherford  B. — election  to 
presidency  of  U.  S.  claimed  by  his 

friends   184 

mention    1S7 

receives  one  more  electoral  vote, 

1876.    than    Tilden    186 

Hayes-Tilden      Contest,      (The)— by 

John    T.    Campbell    184-189 

Hayti    57 

Head.  (Miss)  Idress — librarian  Mis- 
souri     Historical      Society  —  foot 

notes     54,   55,   56 

Hearn,    Campbell    S 23 

Hebrews,    mention — foot   note 114 

Hec^envelder,    )    Moravian    Mission- 

Hecklweldi?"^        ^''^^-f^^t    -«*«••  ^'^ 

Hedges   Estate    78 

Heinl,  F.  J 22 

Heinrich's  Louisiane  sous  la  Com- 
pagnie     des     Indes,     quoted — foot 

note    138 


Page. 
Heitman,  Francis  B.,  comp.  Histor- 
ical   Registry    and    Dictionary    of 

the  U.   S.  Army   71 

foot   note    105 

Henderson  county,  III 45 

Henry  county.  111. — foot  note    226 

Henry  IV. — King  of  England 76 

Henry   V — King   of   England    83 

Henry,    (Gov.)    Patrick    97,   98 

foot  note 163 

Henshie,    Vernor    20 

Heraldic    College    82 

Herald's  "Visltatio  facta  per  Maris- 

challum  de  Norry" 76 

Heraldry    81-84 

College  of  Heraldry    83 

early  English   treatise  on    83 

Hereditary   Patriotic   Societies    70 

Herington.     (Col.) 258 

see  Harrington. 
Herndon,    A.    G. — prominent    citizen 

of    Springfield,    111 180 

Herndon,  William — prominent  citi- 
zen of  Springfield,   111 206 

Hesse,    (Capt.) — British   trader 98 

Hessian  Army — reference  to 212 

Hessian    Grenadier    71 

Hetherly.  Lord   83 

Hettie   Gilmore,    (The)    Steamer 239 

Hickman,  Elijah — private  27th  Reg. 
111.  Vol.,  War  of  the  Rebellion.  224,   229 

Hickman,   Ky 221,    225,    237,    238,   239 

Hicks,  (Col.) — Independent  Com- 
pany,   War   of    the   Rebellion 223 

Hicks,  H.  S 24 

Higgins,    (Hon.)    I.   N 182 

Hildreth,     (Dr.)     Samuel     S. — noted 

scientist 47,  49,  53,  55,  57,   61 

foot    notes    47,   55 

Hilgard,  Theodore,  Sr. — contributor 
to      the      American      Journal      of 

Science  213 

contributor    to    the    "Westland," 

quoted     210 

foot    note    210 

Hillsboro.    Ill 23 

Historic  Morgan  and  Classic  Jack- 
sonville,   by    Charles    M.    Eames, 

quoted — see  foot  note   48 

Historical  Societies  and  Genealog- 
ical associations  in  the  U.  S 68-69 

Historie    des    Grandes    Familes    du 

Canada,  quoted — foot  note  136 

Hitt.  (Capt.)  Henry  W. — Captain 
Co.   B,   27th  Reg't.  Ills.  Vol.,  War 

of  the  Rebellion- 224.   226 

Hoar,  Geo.  P. — member  U.  S.  Con- 
gress from  Massachusetts,  mem- 
ber   Electoral    Commisston 186 

Hobbs,    Daniel — private    Com.    "C," 

27th   Reg't.    Ills.    Vols 227 

Hocquart — letter      to      the      French 

Minister,    quoted — foot    note 139 

letter    to    the    French    Minister, 
Jan.     15,     1731,     quoted — foot 

note    140 

Hog  Jaw  Cave,   Alabama 279,   280 

Holmes,  Charles   49 

Holy    Land    82 


309 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Hooker,     (Gen.)     Joseph    Q.— Union 

"!"^::!^!"-:..'!"i82f  26t  f7T'K  272 

Hoovers    Gap,    Tenn 274 

Hotniings  Battery   ^*^ 

Hotlars    Boys    •^ '  ^ 

Houghteling,  I  Battery .241.   242 

Hottelings       S 

see  Eoughtahng,  Clias. 
Hotten,       John       Camden— emigrant 

book    ••••: :•      '' 

Houck,    Louis — Spanish    Regime    m 

Missouri,  quoted — foot  note   •••■••    l^t) 
Houghtaling,       C  h  a  s  .— Brig,-Gen., 
Capt.    1st    Artillerry,    War    of   the 

Rebellion    ;.--^*'"   ^^-^ 

House  of  Commons,  London,  Eng. — 

mentioned — foot    note    ll^ 

Houston,    J.   W ■,-v:--^'      " 

How,     (Mr.)— early    school    teacher 

of    Springfield,    111 202,   203 

How  Mr.  Linccln  received  the  News 
of  His  First  Nomination — address 
before  the  lUinois  State  Historical 
Society,  1909,  by  Clinton  L.  Conk- 

Ijjjo-     bd-bb 

Howard,    John — foot   note    198 

Howe,     (Gen.)    Wm.— mention 107 

reinforcements  of    l''^ 

Hubbard,  William — narrative  of  the 

Indian  wars,  quoted 71 

Hubble,    Mrs.   Lee   J j'* 

Hudson    River    i*^ 

Hugenots    •• 'i 

Huge  Capet — King  of  France 7o 

HuU,  Charles  E ^^ 

Hull,    Horace     •. j^% 

Humphrey,    (Judge)    J.    Otis .. .      ^6 

Hunt,     (Capt.),     (probably    Charles 
H.    Hurt)    Company    from    Barry, 


111. 


223 


Hunter,    (Gen.)    David— Union  Maj.- 

Gen.,  War  of  the  Rebellion    loO 

Hunton,  Bppa — member  U.  S.  Con- 
gress from  Virginia,  member  Elec- 
toral Commission •  •  •  •    185 

Huron    Indians    110,   132,  133 

Huston,    William    258 

Hutchinson,  Thomas 77 

Hvde   Estate    78 


I 


lies.  Elijah — early  citizen  of  Spring- 
field,   111 180,    197,   198,   199 

opens  first  store   in   Springfield, 

111 198,   200 

Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal    175 

Illinois    and    Mississippi    Telegraph 

Co 63,   65 

Illinoisans    135 

Illinois    Central    R.    R 287 

passenger      depot,       Springfield, 

111 194 

Illinois     College,     Jacksonville,     col- 
lege founded  by  the  "Yale  Band," 

reference    to    172 

mention 48 


Page. 

Illinois    country,    Canadian    inhabit- 
ants   of — mentioned    113 

inhabitants    send    remonstrance 

to  Congress  by  La  Balm 113 

mention., 101,  111,  135,  136,  139,  142 

foot    notes    112,  140 

North  Carolinans  in,  in  1802...    212 
Pennsylvania     Germans     in,     in 

1802    212 

prairies  of   49 

Tennesseans   in,    in   1802    212 

Illinois  Indians   142,  144 

Illinois    Intelligencer,    newspaper...     62 

Illinois    River — mention    

98,    99,    101,    134,    137,   140 

foot    note    140 

Illinois  State — Adjutant  General  of, 

mention    149,   151 

Adjutant  General  of,   report  of 

1861    151 

Anti-slavery  struggle  in,  in  1824 

— mention     » •  •  •    14" 

Archaelogical       investig  a  t  i  o  n. 

State  of  Illinois   22 

Archaeology  in  Illinois,  Dr.  Sny- 
der's articles  on,   reference  to     27 

Capitol — State    House,    1865 181 

Capitol— Supreme    Court    Room     11 
Constitution    of    1818,    Constitu- 
tion Convention  (First),  refer- 
ence    to — foot     note,     appen- 
dix        219 

Constitution  of  1818,   provisions 

of   first   sec,   article   I... 38-39,   41 
Constitution    of    1818,    require- 
ments   of    the    judges    of    the 

Supreme  Court  under   41 

Constitution  of  1848    ..40,   42,  43,   44 
Constitution  of   1848,   provisions 
of,       with       regard      to       govern- 
mental   powers    39,   42,   43 

Constitution  o'f  1862,  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  1862, 
Resolutions  of  Enquiry  by,  to 

Q     M,    Dept.    of   Illinois 151 

Constitution  of  1870,  article  III, 

provisions  of   39 

Constitution    of    1870    43,   44 

counties   of,   who   furnished  sol- 
diers  for   the    27th   Reg't.    111. 
Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion..    226 
Cyrus  Edward's  work  in  behalf 

of  State  history — reference  to  285 
Daughters      of      the      American 

Revolution,    year   book   of. ...      18 
David    McCuUoch,    work    in    be- 
half of  State   History — refer- 
ence  to    285 

efforts  to  divorce  judicial  elec- 
tions from  politics  in  Illinois 
— address  before  the  Illinois 
State  Historical  Society,  1909, 

by   Oliver   A.   Haiker    37-46 

Fair,  George  N.  Black's  in- 
fluence   in    the    location    of — 

reference  to 288 

Ford's  History  of  Illinois,  quoted  175 
French  settlers  in 55 


310 


' 


Index — Continued. 


Illinois   State — Continued. 


Page. 


frontier  forts  or  posts,  bills  be- 
fore the  General  Assembly 
asking     preservation     of     the 

sites    of    3  8 

Gazette,  July  2,  1831,  (news- 
paper)— foot  note   55 

gazetteers    of — reference    to....      68 

General  Assembly   

18,  39,  40,  41,  42,  43,   45 

foot    note    219 

see   Illinois    State   Legislature. 
George  Nelson  Black's  work  in 

behalf  of  State  history 

285,   286,   288 

German    influence    in 209-210 

German     settlements     in     1802, 

1815,    1820.    1831    212 

Governor's  letter  books,  1818- 
1834,  Vol.  IV,  Illinois  His- 
torical Collections 19 

Governors     of     the     State     who 

have  become  U.  S.  Senators..      95 
Hiram    W.    Beckwith's   work    in 

behalf   of,    reference   to 285 

Illinois  State  Historical  Society,  Gen. 
Alfred  Orendorff's   address   before 

15-16 

Board   of   Directors   of  business 

meetings    of    11-14 

committees      of — Archaeological 

committee   25 

Finance  and  Auditing  com- 
mittee         -22 

Genealogy     and     Genealog- 
ical   pubs.,    committee    of     24 

report    of    12,   26 

Journal      of      the      Society, 

historic    sites    22 

Liegislation   23 

Membership    23 

Program     22 

Publication    22 

contributions    to    State    History, 

Pt.    Ill     165-214 

Department  of  the  Illinois  State 

Historical   Library    16 

documents,    Pt.    IV 215-282 

editorial     note     on     publications 

of    3 

Hon.  Frank  O.  Lowden's  gener- 
ous offer   to   21 

George    N.     Black    one    of    the 

founders   of    288 

honorary  members  of   16 

Journal    of    the    Society 

12,    17,    18,   24.    25,   26.   27,   171 

Journal  of.  Vol.   2,  No.   2,   1909, 

quoted — foot  note    171 

Lincoln  Centennial,  Illinois  State 
Historical  Society,  part  in..  17-18 

mention     21,   24,   151,   285 

foot   note    56 

Necrologist's   report    18 

official     proceedings     of,      1909, 

part    1 9 

officers    of,    1909-1910    7,   13 

organization  of,  May  19,  1899..      15 
papers  read  at  the  annual  meet- 
ing,   1909,    part   II    35-164 

Press     Association     of     Illinois 

affiliated   with    16 

publications   of — mention 147 


Illinois  State — Continued. 


Page. 


publications  of — see  fly  leaf 
back  of  this  volume 336 

Secretary  and  Treasurer's  re- 
port     17-20 

transactions    of    1905,    quoted — 

foot    note — appendix    219 

Illinois  State  Historical  Library — 
collections,  Vol.  II,  quoted — foot 
notes 108,  113.  114 

collections,  Vol.  IV,  quoted — 
foot     note — appendix      219 

collections,  Vol.  V,  quoted — 
foot    note     Ill 

Genealogical  collection,  refer- 
ence  to    19 

George  N.  Black — member  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of,  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Tanner, 
1897    288 

George  Nelson  Black's  work  in 
behalf    of     285 

Lincolniana  collection,  reference 
to     19 

mention    3,    285,    286,   288 

publication   No.    10,   quoted 150 

foot    note    137 

publication  No.  12,  quoted — 
foot   note    144 

publication  No.  13,  quoted — 
foot  note   140 

publications    in    press    19 

trustees   of    15 

Illinois  State — James  Hall's  work 
in  behalf  of  State  history — refer- 
ence   to    285 

(Capt.)  J.  H.  Burnham's  work 
in  behalf  of  State  history — 
reference   to    285 

John  F.  Snyder's  work  in  be- 
half of  slate  history — refer- 
ence   to    

John  M.  Peck's  work  in  behalf 
of  State  history — reference 
to    

judicial  power  of  the  State,  how 
invested,    early    history    of.. 39-40 

Korner,  legal  treatise  in  Ger- 
man, Auszug  aus  der  Geset- 
zen  des  Staats  Illinois    213 

Latin  (The)  Immigration  in 
Illinois,  contribution  to  State 
history  by  B.  A.  Beinlich.  209-214 

Legislature,  1853,  political  affil- 
iations of  its  members  and 
organization   of  in   1855    8S 

Legislature,  1861.  authorizes 
formation  of  ten  additional 
regiments,    1861     150 

Legislature,  1861.  money  loaned 
bv  private  parties  to  equiq 
State  troops  before  Legisla- 
ture could  be  called   149 

Legislature,  1877,  action  of 
Democratic  members  in  re- 
gard to  election  of  U.  S. 
Senator    90.   91 

Legislature,  1877.  action  of  Re- 
publican members  in  regard 
to  election  of  U.  S.  Senator.  90,   91 

Legislature.  1877,  elects  David 
Davis  to  U.   S.   Senate    187 

Legislature.  1885.  political  com- 
plexion   of    91 


285 


285 


311 


Index — Continued. 


Illinois    State — Continued.  Page. 

Legislature,  18S5,  senatorial 
election    91-93 

Legislature,  1891,  political  com- 
plexion   of    94 

Legislature,  1891,  U.  S.  Sena- 
torial election,  account  of 
long  struggle  between  poli- 
tical   parties    93-95 

Legislature,  election  of  judges 
to    the    Supreme    Court    by.. 41-42 

Legislature,  election  of  U.  S. 
Senators    by    86-96 

Legislature,  fifteen  independent 
members  of,  187  7,  secure 
election  of  David  Davis  to  U. 
S.    Senate    91 

Legislature,  First  General  As- 
sembly,   1818 — foot   note    219 

Legislature,  first  nomination  of 
candidate  for  U.  S.  Senator 
by  caucus  of  political  party 
in     86 

Legislature,  General  Assembly, 
1840-41    41-42,   43 

Legislature,   mention    

18,    39,   40,    41,    42,    43,    44,    45,   170 
foot  note    219 

Legislature,  Second  General 
Assembly — foot    note     219 

Legislature,  Third  General  As- 
sembly         170 

Illinois,    State — mention    

3,  5,  7,  11,  17-19,  22,  24-27, 
37-46.  48-51,  53-55.  63-66, 
68,  69,  77,  97,  99,  100,  104, 
149,.  167-169,  171,  175,  176, 
177,  180-183,  186,  187,  197, 
218,     220,     223-236,     285,     286,   287 

foot    notes    108.    220,    230,   282 

newspapers.  Early  Newspapers, 
quoted  on  the  Winter  of  the 
Deep    Snow    50-51 

no  large  commercial  center  in, 
in     1833     212 

Park    Commission     25 

Pioneer  History  of  Illinois,  John 
Reynolds  Fergus,  Edition, 
quoted — -foot    note    145 

Pioneer,  (newspaper)  extract 
from    55 

population  of  Central  and 
Southern  Illinois  largely  from 
the  States  of  Virginia,  Ken- 
tucky  and  the   Carolinas 26 

Press  Association  affiliated  with 
the  Illinois  State  Historical 
Society     16 

Press  Association,  members  of, 
associated  with  Illinois  State 
Historical   Society    16 

Quartermaster's  Department, 
1861,  number  of  troops 
equipped    by    151 

Quartermaster's  Department, 
1861-62,  successful  manage- 
ment   of    153 

Quartermaster's  Department, 
1861,    supplies    furnished    by.    151 

Register,  Springfield,  111.,  Feb. 
13,     1903,     quoted 66 

Register,  Springfield,  111.,  (news- 
paper)          286 


Illinois    State— Concluded.                   Page. 
Republican   State   Central   Com- 
mittee.  1885,  Daniel  H.  Shep- 
herd,   Secretary   of 92 

Republican      State      Convention, 

May   9,    1860,    reference   to...      63 
salaries  of  the  early  State  offi- 
cers   of,    reference    to     170 

Staatszeitung,  1847,  (newspa- 
per)   quoted — foot    note 213 

State    Library    26 

Supreme     Court,     early    history 

of    39-42 

Supreme  Court,  early  judges  of 

39-41 

Twenty-seventh  Reg.  Ills.  Vols.. 

War  of  the  Rebellion    220-282 

U.  S.  Senator  from,  election  by 
Legislature,    1855,    account   of 

the    election     88-89 

U.  S.  Senator  from,  manner  of 
electing,  number  of,  who  they 

were 86 

University   of   Illinois 7,    15,   22 

Western   Illinois  Normal   School     23 

Illinois,    (The)    Steamer 236 

Immigration     to    America,     German 

organizations    to    promote     211 

Immigration  to  the  United  States, 
Latin  immigration  of  1833,  events 

leading    up    to    210 

"Independents,"     (The)     in     Illinois 

Legislature    187,   188 

"Independents,"  members  Illinois 
Legislature,       1891— their      course 

during    senatorial    election    94 

India     57 

foot    note     '.'.' .'      57 

Indianapolis.  Ind..  Brown's  History 
of  Indianapolis,  quoted  —  foot 
note    54 

Indiana    State    Historical    Society — 

foot    note    54 

Historical    Society's    pubs..    Vol. 

2,  quoted — foot    note 143 

Hi.storieal    Society's    pubs.,    Vol. 

3,  quoted — foot   note 141 

Indiana,    (State) — mention 

54,    56,    135,    168,    209,  262 

Indian    Allies    140 

Camping     Ground,      Springfield, 

^111 192 

Council     at      Coochocking — foot 

^  note    109 

Guide    of    the    Kinzie's    52 

lodge    52 

princess   of  the   Missouris    138 

■war    233 

Indians — Arkansas    142 

Cahokia     139 

Cayuga     xei 

Chatouinons     132 

Chickasaws     142 

Chippewa    161 

Comanches     135 

Delawares    113,   162 

English      methods      in      dealing 

'With    _ 139 

first  movement  of  the  Ameri- 
cans against  the  Indians 
during    the    Revolution     161 


312 


Index — Continued . 


Indians — Concluded. 


Page. 


Folk  Lore  of  the  Musquakies, 
by  Mary  Alicia  Owen,  quoted 
— foot    note    

Foxes    51,    98.    99,    140. 

French  methods  in  dealing  with 

French   wars   with    

Huron    Indians    110,   132, 

Huron    Indian    Village    

Illinois    142, 

Iroquois     139, 

Kansas     

Kickapoose — foot   note    

Kiowas    

Lake   Indians — foot   note    

Little   Turtle,   Indian   Chief.  117, 

Loups    

mention    52.    98,    99, 

100.  102.  109,  113,  117,  119, 
120,  129,  130,  131,  137,  138, 
139,    140,    141,    143,    144,    164, 

foot  notes    109,    119, 

Menominees     

INIe.'tkwakia  and  the  Meskwa- 
kia  People  of  Today,  quoted 
— foot    note     

:\riami     118, 

Miami  village.  La  Balm  takes 
possession    of    

Mingo     161, 

Missouri     138, 

Musquakies — foot   note    

Ohio    Indians — foot    note    

of  the  West  and  the  Illinois 
country  willing  to  aid  in  cap- 
ture   of   Detroit    

of  the  West  friendly  to  La 
Balm — foot    note     

Onandoga     

Osages     138. 

Ottagams — foot    note    

Ottawa    

Ouias  

Outagamies   (Foxes)    

Outaouis    

pacified  by  La  Balm — foot  note 

Padoucas    

Pioreas     Peorias) — foot    note.. 

Poux     

Renards  (or  Foxes)  137, 

Reynards  (Foxes)  

Sac  and  Fox  Rock  River  Vil- 
lages      99- 

Sacs — foot    note     

Sacs   ...51,  98,   99,  100,   101,   102, 

Saukies    

Saux    (Sac)     

Senecas    

Shawanes    / 

Shawnee      ,- 110,    111,    112, 

Shawnese    i 

foot  note    

Sioux     98, 

Wyandotte     161, 

Ingraham    Estate    

International    Register   of    Shipping, 

N.    T 

Iowa — Journal  of  History  and  Poli- 
tics, quoted.  Vol.  4 — foot  note .... 
Iowa — reference    to 

mention    99, 

7th.  30th  and  31st  Reg-f.  Iowa 
Vols..  War  of  the  Rebellion.. 


139 
141 
139 
139 
133 
133 
144 
142 
138 
119 
138 
162 
US 
110 


193 

145 

98 


139 
142 

US 
164 
144 
139 
134 


113 

114 
161 
144 
119 
161 
129 
103 
'33 
114 
138 
110 
133 
139 
103 

100 
119 
103 
140 
103 
161 

161 

112 

103 

16.1 

78 

77 

1  no 

25 

139 

231 


Page. 
Ireland — W.  P.  O'Brien's  "Great 

Famine  in  Ireland."  quoted  57 

foot  note  57 

Irish — genealogy,    references    for...      7S 

in    Chicago    77 

Iron   banks  of  Mississippi    103 

Iron   mines    near   the    mouth   of   the 

Ohio  River   97 

Iroquois    Indians    139.   142 

Island    No.     10,     in    the    Mississippi 

River 221,    237,    238,    239,    240,   263 

foot    note     230 

Isle  au  Bois   Blanc    134 

Isle  au  Cochon  Lac  St.  Clair 134 

Isle  au  Dinde    134 

Isle   du   H 134 

Italians     79 

luka,    Miss 222,    248,   253 


Jackson,    (Gen.)    Andrew    51 

Jackson  county.  111. — extracts  from 
the  records  of  the  Jackson  Coun- 
ty Commissioners'  Court,  contri- 
buted  by  G.    J.    Koons    217-219 

foot  notes   219,   226 

tavern    keepers    rates,    1825....    218 
Jacksonville,    111. — foot   note,    appen- 
dix         219 

Illinois   College   located  at    ....   172 

mention    7,    13, 

15,   18,  22,   23,   48,   49,  50,  223,   224 

foot   note    48 

Jacobs,   Henry   Eyster    (Rev.) ,.      79 

Jamaica     57 

James,       Edmund       Janes — mention 

7,   13,   15,    22,    23,   24 

James,  Hulbert  F. — private  Co.  "C" 
27th  Reg.   Ills.   Vols.,   War  of  the 

Rebellion     240 

James,  James  Alton— Detroit  the 
Key  to  the  West  during  the 
American  Revolution,  address  be- 
fore   the    Illinois    State    Historical 

Society.    1909    154-1G4 

mention    22 

James  VI,   King  of  England 79 

Jansen,  (Capt. )  Mathew — Captain 
company     "A"     27th     Reg't.     Ills. 

Vols 273 

Jarndyce   vs.    Jarndyce    78 

Jaques  Alma.  ]  Private  company  "C" 
see  Jaquish         27th   Reg  111  Vols 
Almo  '     War  of  the  Rebel- 

'  J      lion    238 

Jayne,  (Dr.)  Gershom — early  phy- 
sician,   Springfield,    111 

180,   197,   206,   207 

Jayne,     (Capt.)     Henry — of    Taylor- 

ville.    111 182 

Jayne,    (Dr.)    William — early   friend 

of    Abraham    Lincoln 23,   180,   181 

Jefferson    Barracks,    near   St.    Louis, 

Mo. — mention     151 

Jefferson    City,    Mo 54 

Jefferson    county.     111. — mention....    188 

Jefferson.   Indiana — mention    150 

Jefferson,    Thomas — foot    note     ....    108 

Jennings    Estate — reference    to 78 

Jersey   county.    111. — foot   note 22C 


313 


Index — Contiimed. 


Page. 

Jerseyville,     111 IS 

Jesuit   Relations,    Vol.    70,    quoted — 

foot     note     137 

Jewish    race     lo9 

Jim    Town    (now   Riverton,    111.) 223 

Jo  Daviess  county,   111 171 

John   Crerar  Library,    Chicago — foot 

note     59 

Jones,  Thornton — Circuit  Clerk,  San- 
gamon   county    198 

Jones,    Gabriel — foot    note 161 

Jones,     (Admiral)    John    Paul 76 

Jones,    (Miss)    Lottie    E 24 

Jones,  Samuel  H. — Springfield,  111., 
Republican  politician,  labors  of, 
in     interest    of    John    A.     Logan, 

1885 92 

Johnson,  Andrew — President  of  the 
U.  S.  impeachment  trial  of — men- 
tioned          90 

Johnson.  (Capt. )  Samuel — Captain 
Co.  "A"   2  2d  Reg.  Ills.  Vols.,  War 

of    the    Rebellion     276 

Johnson  county.  111. — foot  note,  ap- 
pendix        219 

Johnsons     76 

Johnston,  (Gen.)  Joseph  E. — Con- 
federate    General,     War     of     the 

Rebellion     255,   256 

Johnston,    John    D 53 

Journal    of    American    History,    Vol. 

3,    quoted    72 

Jovirnal  of  the  Illinois  State  His- 
torical  Society    

see  Illinois  State  Historical  So- 
ciety. 
Journal   of  Virginia   House   of   dele- 
gates,   July    7,    1778,    quoted — foot 

note     ]63 

Journals    of    the    Continental    Con- 
gress— Vol.   IV — -foot  note    ...155,   156 
Vol.    VII,    quoted — foot    note...    j.59 

Vol.    IX    106 

Vol.    IX,   new   Ed.,    quoted — foot 

note    161 

Vol.    X— foot    note    107 

new   Ed.,   Vol.   XI,   quoted — foot 

note    162 

new  Ed.,  XII,  quoted — foot  note  163 
Judd,     Norman     B. — Anti-Nebraska 
Senator     in     Illinois     Legislature, 
1855,   his  course  as  to  election  of 

U.   S.   Senator    88 

Jumonville,      brother     to     Chevalier 

Francois   Coulon   de  Villiers    141 

see  De  Villiers. 
Jurchins,     (Col.)    see    Turchin — Col- 
onel  Ills.    Reg 226 


K 

Kahokias    (Cahokia)    village    of....    103 

Kahos     (Cahokia) — foot    note 114 

Kane,     (Judge)     Charles     P 22 

Kane,    Elias   Kent — one    of   the   first 
two   United   States   Senators   from 
Illinois,   account   of   his   election..      86 
re-elected    U.    S.    Senator    from 

Illinois     95 

Kankakee,  111 24 

Kankakee  River   137 

Kansas    (Indian)    village    138 

Indians    138 


Page. 

Kansas-Nebraska  Bill,  effect  of  its 
passage    on    political    parties    and 

afflliations  in  Illinois    88 

framed  by  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
passed    U.     S.     Congress,     its 

effect    87 

"Kansas-Nebraska  Question" — men- 
tion           93 

Kansas    River     143 

Kansas    (State) — mention    135,   138 

plans       to      establish       German 

states    in     211 

Kaskaskia  (Cascaskias) — foot  notes 

109,     144,     162,   219 

French   settlements   at    212 

La   Balm   visits    114 

Gen.       La      Fayette's      visits — 

reference    to    171 

mention    97,   120.   137.   142,   176 

Kaskaskia  records,  Vol.  V  of  the 
Illinois     Historical     Collections...      19 

Kaw    or    Kansas    River    143 

Kelley  Branch,  (Creek) — Spring- 
field,  111 190,    191,    192,    195,   196 

Kelley.  John — early  settler  of  San- 
gamon    county     and     Springfield, 

111 190,    193,    197.   201 

Kelley,  William — early  settler  of 
Sangamon  county  and  Spring- 
field,   111 190.    196,   197 

Kellogg,  Wm. — candidate  for  U.  S. 
Senator    from    Illinois,    1855,    vote 

cast  for   by  Legislature    88 

Kendall    coimty.    111. — foot    note    . . .    140 
Kendall,  Edward  Augustus — writings 
of.  Travels  through  Northern  parts 
of    the    United    States    in    1807 — 

reference    to     68 

Kenesaw    Mountain,    battle    of — war 

of    the    Rebellion — foot    note 282 

Kent's    Commentaries,    quoted — foot 

note     144 

Kentucky— State- — mention     

26,    53,    55.    68,    97, 

101,    119,    209,    212,    221,    225,    226,   237 

foot   notes    53,    55,   231 

represented   in  U.    S.   Senate   by 

Henry  Clay   88 

Kepler,    John — astronomer     59 

Kern    Estate    78 

Kerner,  Robert  J. — editor  of  the 
diary  of  Edward  W.  Crippen,  pri- 
vate 27th  111.  Vols.,  War  of  the 
Rebellion,  Aug.  7,  1861  to  Sept. 
19,  1863.  Edited  with  introduc- 
tion   and    notes    220-282 

foot    note    220 

Keyes.    Erasmiis    D. — Union    Major- 
General,  War  of  the   Rebellion...    270 
Keyes,     (Hon.)     Charles    A. — promi- 
nent  citizen    of   Springfield,    111...    182 

Key  Stone,    (The   Steamer) 231,   232 

Kickapoo    Indians — foot    note     119 

Kidd.     T.     W.     S. — early     friend     of 

Abraham    Lincoln    66 

Killian,    Edward   A.    K. — foot  note..    139 
Kilpatrick      (Capt.)      Thomas     L. — 
Company  from  Milton,  Pike  coun- 
ty.   Ill 223 

Kimmel.   Singleton  H 217 

King   of   France    113,    135,   139 

Kinkade    Creek,    Jackson    county.  .  .    219 
Kinley,    David    15 


314 


Index^Continued. 


Page. 

Kinney,  William— Lieut.-Gov.  of  Illi- 
nois       275 

Kinzie,  John  H.— U.  S.  Indian  agent 
at  Ft.   Dearborn    51,   53,   61 

Kmzie,    Juliette    M. — Chicago's    first 

^^B°^  -A 51,    52,    53,   61 

Wau-Bun,  quoted — foot  notes . . 

„.         •■;■;■•: 51,    53 

Kiowas   (Indians)    138 

Kirkpatricks,  early  settlers  of  Sanl 
gamon   county,   brought  slave   boy 

"Titus"  with  them    197 

Kirkpatrick's  Grist  Mill, -Springfield, 

„P}-     ■•:•• 200 

Kirkpatrick's  Horse  Mill,  Spring- 
field,  111 .    .  202 

Knapp,  N.  M. — letter  to  Abraham 
Lincoln,    dated    Chicago,    May    14, 

1S60    '     g3 

telegram  to  Lincoln,  Is'e'oV.VeS,  66 
Knapp's  Addition,  Springfield,  III...  191 
Knip.    Joel — private    27th    Reg'L    111. 

Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion 

............. 222,    224,    228,    231.   244 

Knott,   J.   Proctor — immortalizes  the 

city  of  Duluth,   Minn 185 

member    Congress    U.    S.    from 
Kentucky,    suggests    plan    for 
settling   Hayes-Tilden   contest  185 
Know-Nothings"    in    Illinois   Legis- 
lature,   1855 88 

Knox    College,    Galesburg,    111....  28    ?9 
Knox     County    Historical     Society- 
mention    ■!  4 

report  of,   for   the   year   1969". !  28-30 

Knox    county,    111. — mention 29 

Knoxville.    111. — mention     24 

foot    note    30 

Koerner,   Gustav,     1  American       dip- 
Koernor,    Gustave,  r     lomat  in  Spain 
Korner,    Gustavus,  )     and  France...    214 
Auszug    aus    der    Gesetzen    des 
Staats     Illinois — (legal     trea- 
tise   in    German) 213 

candidate     for     U.     S.     Senator 
from  Illinois,  1855,  votes  cast 

^for    88 

Des    Deutsche    Element,    quoted 

— foot    notes    2II,   213 

Lieut-Gov..   State  of  Illinois 213 

memoirs   of,    quoted — foot  note.    210 
one   of  the  pall-bearers  at  Lin- 
coln's funeral,  Springfield.  III.   182 
prominent     in     the     Republican 

party.    1860    213 

urges    all    immigrants    to    settle 

on  free  soil    ^   211 

Kohos.    (Cahokia)    lOi 

Koons,     G.     J. — extracts     from     the 
records    of    the     Jackson     County 

Commissioners    Court    ''l"7-''19 

Kriebel.    editor— "The    Pennsylvania 

German."   monthly  magazine 67 

Krum,    (Hon.)    John    M. — Mayor   of 
Alton    at    time    of  Alton    riot   and 

.    death  of  Lovejoy   172    175 

Kuhn  Brewery  Grounds,  Springfield, 


III. 


191 


L'Archeveque,    Frenchman,     one    of 
the  murderers  of  La   Salle    137 


Page. 
La     Balm,     Augustin     Mottin     de — 
an     address     before     the     Illinois 
State  Historical   Society,   1909,   by 

Clarence    M.    Burton    104-134 

address  to  the  Canadians,  to  the 

friends    of    Liberty    115-116 

address    to    the    French    at    St. 

Louis — reference  to    113 

appeal  of  the  Cahokians  to....    102 
appendix    I,    La    Balm's    propo- 
sal    to     enter    the     American 

Service     120-121 

appendix    II 122-123 

appendix  III,  writes  letter  to 
Col.  Lawrence  (Lawrens), 
President    of   the    Continental 

Congress     123-124 

appendix    IV     125-126 

appendix  V    126-127 

appendix  VI— information  con- 
cerning the   Miamis    132-134 

at    Fort    Pitt,    makes    arrange- 
ments   for    attack    on    Detroit  109 
believed  that  Canadians  of  Illi- 
nois   country    would    aid    him 

in   taking   Detroit    113 

Bently    makes    charges    against 

— foot    note     113 

business     proposals    and     plans 

of    125-126 

Cahokians  send  to  Congress  bv 
La  Balm  an  account  of  their 

grievances    113 

Colonel    and    Inspector    General 

of  Cavalry    105,   106 

De  Peyster's  account  of  his  at- 
tack on  the  Miami  town.  .117-118 
explanation   of  the   duty   of   In- 
spector   General    of    Cavalry, 

1778 124 

letter  of,  appendix  II,  papers  of 
Continental  Congress,  No.   78, 

VII,  folio   149    122-123 

letter  of,  appendix  III,  papers 
of    the    Continental    Congress, 

No.   78,  VII.   folio  151    123-124 

letter  to  Washington,   March   5, 

1780 — foot  note  108 

memorial  from  Mons.  de  la 
Balme,  to  the  President  of 
Continental  Congress,  York- 
town,    Dec.    25,    1777    106 

memorial  of  Mons.  La  Balm  to 
Continental   Congress,    Oct.    3, 

1777 — foot    note     106 

memorial  to  the  Continental 
Congress,     Philadelphia,     Jan. 

1,    1779 — foot  note    107 

military   orders   of    126-131 

plans  and  orders  to  his  soldiers 

on  the  advance  to  Detroit.  126-128 
proposal   to  enter  the  American 

service     120-122 

received    with    great    favor    by 

Indians — foot    note    114 

report   to   the   Minister   Lucerne 

109-in 

visits  Kaskaskia    114 

writes  letter  to  President  of 
Continental   Congress  advising 

on   military   matters    123-124 

Labelle,    M 132 

Labor    Reform    Party — mention....    186 


315 


Index — Contiimed . 


Page. 

La    Cote    de    St.    Ange,    district    in 

Canada     135 

Lac    St.    Clair    134 

La    Fayette.    (Gen.)    Gilbert    Motier 

De — mention    163 

visits    of,    to    Kaskaskia — refer- 
ence   to    171 

Lafayette.    Indiana — mention    184 

Lafountaine,       (  Incites    the    Indians 
Lafontaine,   M.  (      attack    La    Balme  118 
in    charge    of    Beaubien's    store- 
house  at    Miami    114 

in   sympathy  with  British    114 

mention     117,   132 

La    Harpe,    Bernard    138 

Laiton,    Alabama     249 

see   Leighton,   Ala 249 

Lake    Erie    132 

Lake  Fork,  Branch.  Springfield,  111.)    201 

Lake  Indians — foot  note    162 

Lake    Michigan — foot    note    140 

Lamb.    James    L. — early    citizen    of 

Springfield,    111 180.     182 

La  Mothe,  Guillaume,  (La  Motte,  Le 
Mothe  Lemote).  Trader  at  De- 
troit   in    1767— foot    note 113 

Lancaster    Sound    60,   62 

Lanctot    (Major.)     109 

see  Linctot. 
Langer,    Gobel — Als    ein    Menschen- 

leben.    quoted — foot   note    210 

Langlade,    (Capt.)    Charles   de 98 

Lanphier   Block,    Springfield,    III....    194 
Lanterman,   Abraham — early   settler 
of   Sangamon   county  and   Spring- 
field.    Ill 190,191.197 

La  Roche   Debout     /   _  j28    132 

La  Roche  du  Bout   ( 

La    Salle    county,    111. — mention.. 13,   140 
Historical    Society — mention.... 

14,     18-19 

report   of    31-33 

La  Salle — account  of  La  Balm's  at- 
tack on  the  Miami   town 118 

mention      137 

Lascelle,     M 132 

Lasswell,    Andrew — owner    of    early 

mill    at    Springfield,    111 200 

Latenier    Colony,    settled    in    Shiloh 

valley    near    Belleville,    111 212,   213 

Latham,    (Miss)    May 24 

Latham,     Richard — early    friend    of 

Abraham    Lincoln    ISO 

Latin,  (The)  Immigration  in  Illi- 
nois, contribution  to  State  History 

by    B.    A.    Beinlich    209-214 

Latin     immigration     to     the    U.     S., 

events  leading  up  to   210 

Lacey,    Lyman — able    jurist    of    the 

State  of  Illinois   44 

Lavergne,  j 

Laverne,  V  Tenn 251,  261 

Laveryne.  ' 

Lawrence,  (Henry    President   of   the 

T  „_,„„„„     r     Contmental    Congress.    123 

'    1  foot    note    106 

President     of     the     Continental 
Congress,    letter    to    from    La 

Balm     123-124 

Lawler,  (Col.)  Michael  K. — Colonel 
18th  Ills.  Reg't..  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion        228 


Page. 

Lawrenceburg,    Ind 56 

Lawrence-Townley   estate    78 

Lawson,  Isaac — private  27th  Reg't. 
Ills.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion.    234 

Leak   Estate    78 

Leath,  John — letter  of  John  Leath 
to  George  Morgan,  Aug.  19,  1778. 
Morgan    Letter    Book    III,    quoted 

foot    note    162 

Leavitt,  Chas.  C. — marries  Eliza- 
beth   Cowles    177 

Lebanon,    111 7.   13,   22 

Lee    county.    Miss 142 

Lee,  (Gen.)  Robert  B. — Confeder- 
ate General,  War  of  the  Rebellion  270 
Leeper,  Arthur — nominated  to  fill 
vacancy  in  Illinois,  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, 34th  dist..  1885,  de- 
feated   by    political    trick 92 

Leesburg,     Virginia     229 

Lefl^ngwell,    (Rev.)    Charles  W 24 

Leighton,    Alabama    249 

Leridan    &    Davis     261 

Leland  farm  near  Springfield,   111...    197 
Leland  Hotel,   Springfield,  111. — men- 
tion          92 

Lemen,     (Rev.)    James    170 

"Le    Pantheon    Canadien,"    quoted — ■ 

foot    note    137 

Le    Rocher,    (The    Rock) — foot   note  140 
Lesdigueres,    Duchess   de — letters   of 

Father    Charlevoix    to,    quoted 137 

foot    notes    137,   138 

Letters — Beauharnois,  to  the  French 

Minister,    quoted — foot    note 139 

Bentley  to  De  Peyster,  dated 
Post  Vincennes,  Aug.  17,  1780 

— foot   note    112 

Charlevoix  (Father)  to  the 
Duchess     of     Lesdigueres, 

quoted    137 

foot  notes    137.   138 

Daniel    Brodhead    to    President 

Reed,   1789    (1780),   quoted...    109 
Duchess   of  Lesdigueres — letters 

to,    quoted    137 

foot    notes     137,   138 

Haldimand,  (Gen.) — to  Lord 
Geo.    Germain,    dated   Quebec, 

Dec.    3,    1780 — foot    note 118 

Hocquart  to  the  French  Minis- 
ter,  quoted — foot  note 139 

Hocquart  to  the  French  Minis- 
ter,     dated     Jan.      15,      1731, 

quoted — foot  note    140 

La  Balm  to  Continental  Con- 
gress     122-124 

La   Balm  to  Washington,   dated 

March    5,    1780— foot  note 108 

La    Balm,    orders    to    soldiers.. 

....' 126-131 

Lord  George  Germain,  letter  of 
Gen.  Haldimand  to,  dated 
Quebec,     Dec.     3,     1780 — foot 

note     118 

Martin  Navarro,  letter  of,  trans- 
lated in  Wisconsin  Historical 
Collection,      XVIII,     quoted — 

foot     note     120 

(Capt.)  Thomas  Stirling  to  Gen. 
Gage,  dated  Dec.  15.  1765, 
quoted — foot  note    144 


316 


Index — Continued. 


Letters — Concluded.  Paqb. 

Washington  letters  to,  1778. 
folio  88,  89,  Congressional 
Library,  quoted — foot  note..  163 
Washington  letters  to,  1778, 
Vol.  XXV,  folio  86  87,  Li- 
brary   of    Congress,    quoted — 

foot    note    161 

Leverne,    Tenn 251 

see    Lavergne,    Tenn. 
Lewis,   Thomas — addition  to  Spring- 
field— reference    to    193 

Lexington.    (Gun    Boat)     231,   232 

Lexington,    Mo 227 

Libraries,      Congressional      Library, 

Washington,     D.     C 85,124 

also  foot   notes    105,   161 

Illinois      State      Historical      Li- 
brary .15,  16,  19,  29,  285,  286,   2SS 
John  Crerar  Library,  Chicago — 

foot    note    59 

National    Library,    Leinster    St., 

Dublin,    Ireland    78 

Newberry  Library,  Chicago.. 12, 
26.     33,     67,     68,     70.     76,     78,   79 
Lick  Creek,  Sangamon  county.  111...    208 
Lides,  A.  J. — 2d  Lieut,  of  Com.   "C" 
27th  Reg't.  111.  Vols.,  War  of  the 

Rebellion     240 

Lincoln,   Abraham — army  trail  from 

Beardstown     to     mouth    of    Rock 

River,     special     Com.     of     Illinois 

State    Historical    Society    to    mark     23 

assasinated     by     John     Wilkes 

Booth,  April  14,   1865    179 

as  outcome  of  Lincoln-Douglas 
Debates      of      1858,      becomes 

President  of  U.   S.,    1860 89 

candidate  for  U.  S.  Senator  from 

Illinois,    1855,   defeat   of 88-89 

candidate  for  U.  S.  Senator  from 

Illinois.     1855,    votes    cast    in 

Legislature   for,    defeat   of.. 88,   89 

calls    upon    Illinois    to    furnish 

troops    at    outbreak    of    Civil 

war   147 

Clinton  L.  Conkling,  How  Mr. 
Lincoln  Received  the  News  of 
His  First  Nomination — ad- 
dress before  the  Illinois  State 

Historical    Society,    1909 63-66 

favorite    poems    of 286 

friend   of  David  Davis    90 

Gustavus  Korner  labors  for  the 

candidacy  of,  in  1860    214 

his     estimate     of     Stephen     A. 

Douglas     87 

Inaugural     Address,     March     4, 

1861,    quoted— foot   note 169 

Illinois  State  Historical   Society 

part  in  the  celebration  of  the 

centennial   birthday   of  .t  ...  .17-18 

Illinois  State  Hi-storical  Library 

makes  large  purchase  of  books 

and    pictures    relating  to 19 

Illinois  State  Register,  editor- 
ials,  on  the  death  of 182,   183 

J.    J.     Richards,     telegrams    to, 

1860    66 

J.  McCan  Davis.  "How  Abraham 
Lincoln      became     President," 

quoted    66 

Lincolniana  Collection  in  the 
Illinois  State  Historical  Li- 
brary,   reference    to    19,   28ff 


Lincoln,   Abraham — Concluded.         Page. 
Lincoln-Douglas    Debates,    their 

effect    89 

member  Illinois  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives,   1854,    resigned..      92 
member      Illinois       Legislature, 

1855,  resigns 88 

mention    64, 

65,   66,   136,   179-183,  286,   287,   289 

foot   note    30 

Merritt,  Edward  L. — recollec- 
tions of  the  part  Springfield 
bore  in  the  obsequies  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  contribu- 
tion  to   State  History 179-183 

National  Monument  Associa- 
tion,  organization  of   182 

Nicolay  &  Hay,  Life  of  Lincoln, 

quoted    54 

see  foot  note    53 

N.   M.   Knapp's  letter  to,   dated 

Chicago,  May  14,  1860 63 

N.     M.     Knapp's     telegram     to, 

1860    65 

nominated  by  Republican  State 
Convention   in   1858   for  U.   S. 

Senator    89 

resolutions  of  condolence,  Spring- 
field, 111.,  on  the  death  of.  180-181 

Tarbell's  Life  of  Lincoln 54 

quoted,   see  foot  note    53 

telegrams  to,  1860,  on  his  nomi- 
nation   for    the    presidency.  .65-66 
T.   W.   S.    Kidd,   quoted,   on   Mr. 
Lincoln's       first      nomination, 

reference    to    66 

withdraws  as  candidate  for  U. 
S.  Senator,  1855,  secures  elec- 
tion of  Trumbull    88,   89 

Lincoln-Douglas      Debates,       1858 — ■ 
celebration   of   semi-centennial   of, 

Galesburg,  111.,  souvenirs  of 30 

celebration,  mention  

11,   12,  13,  17,  28 

Galesburg,  111..  50th  anniversary 

of,    celebration    at    28 

semi-centennial    celebration    of, 

accounts    to    be    published 17 

their  results  and  later  effects..      89 

Lincoln,    111 23,24 

Lincoln   monument    288 

Lincoln    National    Monument   Ass'n., 

organization    of    182 

Lincoln,    (Hon.)    Robert  T 66 

Lincoln.  Wm.   B.— Alton  trials,  pub- 
lished   N.    Y.,    1838,    quoted— foot 

note     174 

f  1  at       Ft.       Pitt, 


Linctot    j 
Lintot      1 


Godefroi  |  makes  ar- 
Godefroy  I  rangem  e  n  t  s 
Godfroi  f  for  an  attack 
Godfroy    I     on   Detroit... 

J      108.   109 

mention    110,   111 

foot    notes    108.   109,   119 

sends  messages  to  Delaware  In- 
dians       113 

Linder.   Usher  F. — Atty.-Gen.,   State 

of   Illinois    173,   174 

eloquence  of  at  Alton  trials.  173,   174 
Lindlv.    Cicero   J.- — candidate   for  U. 
S.  Senator  from  Illinois.  1891,  de- 
feated bv  John   M.   Palmer 94 


317 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Lindsay,    Esquii-e — early    settler    of 

Springfield,    111 191 

mill  of,   for  grinding  corn 200 

Lindsey,  John — early  settler  of  San- 
gamon county  and  Springfield,  111. 

190,   197 

Linville,    Miss 250 

Lisenbee,  Joseph — private  27th  Reg. 

Ills.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion..    231 
Liise(nbee),      Josiah — private      27  th 

Reg.   Ills.   Vols 229 

Lisle,    Bapti    de    130 

Litchfield  Hill,   Connecticut 49 

Little,   Gershom   J. — early  settler  of 

Springfield,  III 197 

"Little  Giant,"    (The) — nickname   of 

Stephen  A.  Douglas 88 

see  Douglas,  Stephen  A. 

Little,  J.  S 24 

Little  Kincaid  Creek,  Jackson  coun- 
ty,   111 2J9 

Little  Missouri  River   55 

Little,  Samuel — early  settler  of  San- 
gamon county  and  Springfield,  111. 
]^90    197 

Little'  Turtle,'  Indian  'ch'ief '. '.'.'..  Ill,   118 

Lloyd's   Shipping  Register   77 

Lockhart,    Patrick — foot    note 163 

Lockwood,   Samuel  D. — early  settler 

of  Illinois   176 

Logan,  John  A. — account  of  political 

trick  by  friends,  which  secured  his 

re-election  to  U.   S.   Senate,   1885.      92 

candidate  for  U.  S.  Senator  from 

Illinois,    1877,    account   of   his 

defeat  by  David  Davis   90-91 

defeated    for    U.    S.    Senate    by 

David   Davis    184,   187 

favors   John   M.   Palmer  for  U. 

S.    Senator,    1867 39 

nominated  by  Republican  mem- 
bers   Illinois    Legislature    for 

U.  S.  Senator,  1877    188 

re-elected    U.    S.    Senator    from 

Illinois     95 

re-elected    U.    S.    Senator    from 

Illinois,   1885,  speech  of   93 

satisfaction   felt   by  his   friends 
over   his    re-election   to   U.   S. 

Senate,    1885    93 

Logan,  Robert  B. — Republican  mem- 
ber House  Representatives,  Illi- 
nois Legislature,  1885,  from  19th 
district,      died     during     term     of 

office     91 

Logan,  (Hon.)  Stephen  Trigg — 
prominent    lawyer    of    Springfield, 

111 180,    182,   191 

London.  England — "Annals  of  Philo- 
sophy,"   London — foot   note    58 

British-American    clubs    in 83 

College   of  Arms    83 

Emigration    Office    77 

mention    37,  38,   73,   78,   84,   148 

Looking  Glass  Prairie,  111. — German 

settlement  in  Illinois,   1831    212 

Lookout    Camp,    Tenn 266 

Lookout  Mountain   280 

Lookout,     Tenn 272 

Lookout    Valley    280 

Loomis'.  "Tables  of  Sun-Spots  and 
Auroras,"    quoted    58 


Page, 

Lost  Maramech  and  Earliest  Chica- 
go, by  John  F.  Steward,  quoted — 

foot  notes    139,   140 

Louisiana,  electoral  vote  of,  1876... 

184-185 

mention     135,   142 

purchase  of,   in   1803    209 

Louisville,     Ky. — foot     notes 55,   120 

Loup    Indians    110 

Lovelaceville   234 

Lovejoy,  Elijah  Parish — riot  at  Al- 
ton and  death  of  Lovejoy    172 

Tanner's    Martyrdom    of    Love- 
joy,  quoted — foot  note    173 

Lovejoy  riots,  disastrous  to  the  pros- 
perity of  Alton,  111 175 

Lovel,  James — Secretary  of  Con- 
gress,   extract    from    letter    of,    to 

Franklin,   July  4,   1777., 105 

foot  note    108 

Lowden,  (Hon.)  Frank  O. — offers  a 
sum  of  money  to  the  Illinois  State 
Historical  Society  to  mark  the 
route  of  Lincoln's  army  from 
Beardstown    to    the    Rock    River 

country    21 

Lowell,    James    Russell — quoted....      83 
Lower,   an  authority  on  significance 

of    family    names    75 

Loyalists    71 

Lucerne,     ((minister).     La     Balme's 

Luzerne,    f     report    to    109-111 

Lytel,    Brig.-Gen 277 

see    Lytle,    William    H. — Union 
Brig.-General,  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion. 
Lytle,    (Gen.)    Wm.   H 269 


M 


McCagg,  E.  B 18 

McCarthy,       Richard — journal       of, 

quoted — foot  note    114 

reports    La    Balm's    efforts    to 

raise  troops  to  attack  Detroit  114 
statement  in  regard  to   conduct 
of   troops   toward   inhabitants 

of    Illinois    country    113 

McClellan,  (Gen.)  George  B. — men- 
tion       150 

telegraphs  Col.  J.  B.  Wyman  to 

equip  Illinois  troops 149 

McClernand,  (Gen.)  John  A. — can- 
didate   for    U.    S.    Senator    before 

Illinois    Legislature    87 

honorary  member  Illinois   State 

Historical  Society   16 

mention    182,    230,    231,    234,   235 

reports    of    Jan.    24,    1862,    War 
Record     Series     I,     Vol.     VII, 

quoted — foot    note    233 

McClernand    School,    Springfield,    111.   195 

McConnel,    G.    M 15 

McCook,  (Gen.)  Alex.  McD. — Union 
Major-General,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion       255,   256,   265 

foot   note    257 

McCormick,   Henry    23 

McCrary,  George  Washington — 
member  Congress  U.  S.  suggests 
idea   of  Electoral   Commission 185 


318 


Index — Continued . 


Page. 
McCulloch,  David — work  in  behalf  of 

State  history,  reference  to 285 

McCutcheon,    John — cartoonist 80 

McDaniel,  Jonathan — member  Illi- 
nois Legislature  from  Sangamon 
county,  to  succeed  Abraham  Lin- 
coln,  resigned    S8 

McDonough    county,    111 45,   223 

McGill,   T.   L. —  (steamer)  .  .238,   239,   240 
McGregor,  Gregor   (Gregoire) — later 
sheriff     at     Detroit,     La     Balm's 

opinion    of    114 

Mclnerney,    J.    J 23 

Mclntire,  C.  F. — in  charge  local 
office,  Illinois  &  Mississippi  Tele- 
graph Office,  Springfield,  111.,  1860     6  4 

Mcintosh,    (Gen.)    Lachlan — 

161,    162,    163,   164 

foot    note    164 

McKee,   Alexander    119 

Mackey  Estate    78 

Mackinac    Island    Ill,   119,   137 

McLaughlin,  Robert  K. — early  law- 
yer of  Belleville,  111 168,   169 

McLean   County   Historical   Society.      15 
McLean,  John — one  of  the  first  two 
U.   S   .Senators  from   the   State   of 
Illinois,    account   of  election   of...      86 
re-elected    U.    S.    Senator    from 

Illinois    95 

McMasters,  (Rev.)  S.  Young — Chap- 
lain  27th   Reg't.   111.   Vols 230 

foot    note    226 

Macomb.  McDonough  county,  III.  .23,   223 
Macombes,   I  Messrs.,  traders  at  De- 

Macombs,      f      troit     112 

foot   note    112 

Macoupin  county,  111. — foot  note....    226 
McRoberts,  (Judge)  Samuel — Demo- 
crat,   elected    to    U.    S.    Senate    by 
Illinois     Legislature.        The     first 
time  nomination  by  party  caucus 

was  made    86 

Edward    Coles    indicted    by    the 
Grand  Jury  for  libeling.  .170,   171 

Madison    county    111. — mention 

169,    171,    172,   203 

foot   note    226 

Madison    county   vs.    Edward    Coles, 

case  of — reference  to    170 

Madison,    Wis 67 

Maertz,    (Miss)    Louise    23 

Magantel,    M 132 

Magazine  of  American  History,  Vol. 

Ill,    quoted — foot   note    105 

Magnau,  M. — -officer  under  La  Balm 

126-127 

Mail  Printing  Co.,  Galesburg,   111...      29 

Maine,  state    54,   57,   dl 

foot    note    57 

Maisonville,       Alexis — La       Balm's 

opinion  of   114,  133 

"Major,"      (Slave     boy) — owned     by 

Daniel    Cartright     197 

Maldener  &  Son   20 

Manchester    Pike,    Tenn 274 

Manchester,    Tenn. — mention 274 

Manlius-Rutland  Township  Histor- 
ical  Society    £1 

Mannhardt,   Emil    23 

Maramech  Hill  in  Kendall  county, 
111. — foot    note    140 


Page. 
Margry,      Pierre  —  Decouvertes      et 
Etablissements    des    Francais    en 
Amferique     Septentrionale,    quoted 

— foot   note    138 

Decouvertes  et  Establissments 
des  Francais,  etc..  Vol.  6, 
quoted — footnotes  ..136,   137,   .143 

Marietta,  Ohio 47,  49,   53,  55,   56 

Marion    county.    111 169 

Marion,  111 15 

Marseillaise,  National  song  or  hymn 

of  France    210 

Marseilles,    111. — mention 14,   '^i 

Plaindealer,    (newspaper) 31 

Quarter  Century  History  of 
Marseilles,  by  Terry  Simmons, 

reference  to 31 

Marshall,  Albert  O. — of  Will  county. 
Republican  member  of  Illinois 
Legislature  1877,  refuses  to  vote 
for  John  A.  Logan  for  U.  S.  Sena- 
tor,   1877   188 

Martin,  (Sergt.)  Henry,  Co.  "C" 
27th  Reg't.  111.  Vols.,  War  of  the 

Rebellion     242 

Martin,    (Hon.)    William — Presiding 

Judge,    trial    of   Alton    riots 173 

Marts,    Srs 130 

Maryland    58 

Mason  county,  111 45 

foot   note    22e 

Mason  county,  Onstot's  Pioneers  of 
Mason     and     Menard     Counties — 

quoted — foot   notes    50,  53 

Mason,  Edward  G. — Chapters  of  Illi- 
nois History,  quoted — foot  notes.. 

137,   13» 

Early    Chicago   &   Illinois — foot 

note    108 

Illinois  in  the  Eighteenth  Cen- 
tury, quoted — foot  note    13^ 

Masonic    Hall,    Springfield,    111.,    in 

1826     202 

Massachusetts — State — mention     . . . 

56,   67,   68,   84,   135,   285 

represented  in   U.   S.   Senate  by 

Daniel    Webster    88 

Master,       (Mr.) — early      settler      of 

Springfield,  111 208 

Matheny,    Charles — early    settler    of 

Springfield,    111 197 

Mathenv,      Charles      W. — prominent 

citizen  of  Springfield,   111 182 

Mather,    Thomas — pioneer    merchant 

of    Kaskaskia,    111 176 

Matthews,  A.  C 18 

Matthews,    J. — ^American    Heraldry, 

quoted    84 

Matteson.  Joel  A. — candidate  for 
U.   S.   Senator  from  Illinois.   1855, 

vote  cast  for  in   Legislature 88.   89 

Governor  of  Illinois   88-S9 

"Mayflower" — mention    70,   285 

passengers,  statement  made  that 
none   were   arms-bearers    ....      82 
Mayo,  Robert — teamster  27th  Reg't. 
Ills.    Vols.,   War   of   the   Rebellion 

242,   243 

Mayo,    Rovert    (Robert) 276 

Meade,  (Gten.)  George  G. — Union 
Major-General,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion         275 


319 


Index — Continued . 


Page. 
Mears.     William — early     lawyer     of 

Belleville,    111 168,   169 

Meese,  (Hon.)  William  A. — member 
of     Board     of     Directors,     Illinois 

State  Historical  Society    

7,    11,    13,    14,    21 

member    of   Committees    Illinois 

State  Historical  Society    ...22,   23 
Rock  River  in  the  Revolution — 
addi-ess     before     the     Illinois 
State   Historical    Society,  1909 

97-103 

Melosche,      (a     Frenchman     at     the 

Miami)     132 

Memoires    Historique,    Vol.     2,    Du- 

mont,  quoted — foot  note    139 

Memorial   from  Mons  de  La  Balme, 
to  the  Continental  Congress,  York- 
town,   Dec.    25,    1777 — toot  note...    106 
Memorial   of  Mons  de   La   Balme   to 
the   Continental   Congress,    Oct.    3, 

1777 — foot  note    106 

Memorial  of  Mons  de  La  Balme,  to 
the  Continental  Congress,  Phila- 
delphia, Jan.    1,    1779 — foot  note..    107 

Memphis,     (steamer)     231,  233 

Memphis,    Tenn. — mention. .  142,   152.   242 
Menall,    (Mr.) — early  school  teacher 

of   Springfield,   111 202 

Menard    county,    111. — mention. ...  45,   92 
T.   G.   Onstot's  Pioneers  of  Ma- 
son    and     Menard     Counties, 

quoted — foot   notes    50,   53 

Mendenhall,    Samuel,    of   Springfield, 

111 191 

Menominee    Indians    98 

Mercer  county,   111 45 

foot    note    226 

Merchandise    and    stores    at    differ- 
ent points  reported   by  La  Balme  114 
Mercure      de      France,      Dec.      1725, 

quoted — -foot    note    139 

Merrill,  (Capt.)  Joseph  W. — Cap- 
tain Co.  I,   27th  Reg't.   Ills.  Vols., 

War  of  the  Rebellion    230 

Merritt,  Edward  L. — editor  The 
State     Register,     Springfield,    111., 

1865    180 

one  of  the  survivors  of  the 
twelve  aids  to  Gen.  McClern- 
and  at  Lincoln's  funeral  ....  182 
Recollections  of  the  part  Spring- 
field bore  in  the  obsequies  of 
Abraham  Lincoln.  Contribu- 
tion  to   State   history  by..  179-183 

Merritt    Estate    78 

Merryman,  (Merriman)  (Dr.)  E.  H. 
— early    physician    of    Springfield, 

111 208 

Meskwakia      and      the      Meskwakie 

People  of  Today— foot  note 139 

Meteorological  Data  Federal 
Weather  Bureau,  U.  S. — compila- 
tion          47 

Meteorological      reports,      kept      at 
Brunswick,       Maine,       by       Prof. 
Cleaveland — quoted — foot    note...      57 
Meteorological    reports    at    Fayette- 
ville,   Vt.,    by   Gen.    Martin   Field.      57 

foot    note    57 

Mexican    War,    mention 147,   149 

Miami,  La  Balm  mentions  Beau- 
bien's    storehouse    at    114,   132 


Page. 


Miami   country    

Indians     118,   132, 

post.  La  Balm  takes  possession 

of 117- 

post — mention   117,   130,  131, 

Michigan  state  —  Fusaliers,  1st 
Reg't.    of    Michigan    Fusaliers    in 

War    of    the    Rebellion    

mention    77,   104,   111,   137, 

Pioneer   Historical   Society   Col- 
lections, Vol.  IX,  quoted — foot 

notes     118, 

Pioneer   Historical   Society   Col- 
lections, Vol.   X,   quoted — foot 

notes    113,    116,   118,    119. 

Pioneer   Historical    Society   Col- 
lections,   Vol.    XIX,    quoted — 

foot   note    

Michilimacnac,    |  ^  ^^^  ^     Sinclair 
Michillmacinac,  C      ^leut.     Governor 
)      of    98, 

Michilimackinas — mention    

Milburn,    Ky .' 

Miles,  (Capt.)  Jonathan  R. — Capt. 
Co.  F,  27th  Reg't.  111.  Vols.,  War 
of  the  Rebellion,  later  Colonel... 

220,   239,   262,   266,   267, 

foot  notes    226,   248, 

Military  bounty  lands  in  Illinois — 
mention     

Military  district  in  Illinois,  (Mili- 
tary Tract) — mention    

Military  tract.  State  of  Illinois — 
mention    147, 

Miller,   Bell    

Miller,  Henrv — printer,  Philadel- 
phia,   1788    

Miller,    Mrs.   I.    G 

Miller,    John   E 

Miller,  Samuel — Associate  Justice 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  member 
Electoral  (Z!ommission    

Million,  (Dr.)  J.  L. — prominent  phy- 
sician of  Springfield,  111 

Mills,  Benjamin — of  Jo  Daviess 
countJ^    lawyer   of   ability 

Mills,  early  mills  of  Springfield,  111. 

Mills,    Richard    W 

Mills,  W.  S. — genealogist 

Milton,    (Pike  county)    111 

Milton,    (Tenn.) 

Mingo    Indians    161, 

Minnesota    

Miskelemacknor        (Michillmacinac) 


101 
142 

118 
132 


279 
182 


162 

120 

118 

111 
134 
234 


see  Mackinac. 

Mission  Ridge   

Mississippi  River.  German  settlement 

along  the  bluffs  of 

mention    51,    55, 

56.  58.  99,  100,  103,  134,  135, 
139,  144,  146,  151,  168,  221, 
222,    225,    228,    239,    242,    268, 

foot   note    

Spanish  posts  on 

Mississippi  State   55,  135,  142, 

Mississippi  Valley,   German  life  and 

influence    in    209 

Hilgard's     colony     in,     in     1832, 

reference    to    

mention    58,    61.    68, 

Missouri   country    


269 
281 

147 

147 

202 
20 

126 
23 
24 

186 

182 

171 
200 
18 
74 
223 
265 
164 
289 

101 

223 

212 


269 

140 

98 

241 

-210 

210 
136 

138 


320 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Missouri    Indians     138,   144 

Missouri   River — mention    

137,    138,    139,  143 

Capt.      Rui      builds      forts      on, 

1767    ■•    145 

Missouri  State — Duden  favors  immi- 
gration  of  the  Germans  to 211 

Historical  Society,  St.  Louis, 
State  Historical  Society,  Co- 
lumbia,   Mo. — foot    note 54 

State     Historical     Society — foot 

notes     54,  139 

State  Historical  Society  Li- 
brary— foot    note    141 

Houck's  Spanish  Regime  in  Mis- 
souri,   quoted — foot   note 145 

Intelligencer,     (newspaper)     ...      54 

quoted — foot  note    54 

mention    51, 

54.   55,   68,   135.   142,   224,   225.   238 
Republican,     (newspaper), 

quoted — foot    notes 54,   56 

Mobile,  Ala. — mention    57 

foot  note    112 

Register,    (newspaper) 57 

Moffett,        (Judge) — early        school 

teacher  in  Springfield,  111 203 

Mohawk    (River)— foot  note    163 

Moline,    111 7,    14.    22,   24 

Monette,  John  W.,  M.  D. — ISIississippi 
Valley,  Vol.  II,   quoted — foot  note     97 

Monforton,   (at  the  Miami  Post) 132 

Monforton,  register  of  deeds  at  De- 
troit. La  Balm's  opinion  of 114 

Monk's  Mound,  see  Cahokia 19 

Monmouth,    111 18,   24 

Monroe,    (President)    James 197 

Montgomery,  (Col.)  John — Com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  Virginia 
troops  in  the  country  of  Illinois. 

97    98 
"  "ietVe'r'  dated  'Feb.'  '22,'  ll'si.  .101-102 

mention    100,   101,   103 

foot  note 114 

Montgomery,     (steamer)     231 

Monticello.    Ill 23 

Montou,  M.— owner  of  warehouse  at 

Post  Miami    132 

Montreal,    Canada    119 

foot   note    163 

Moore,  Hosea  H. — F.  M.  B.  A.  mem- 
ber Illinois  Legislature,  1891, 
finally  aids  in  election  of  John  M. 

Palmer    94-95 

Moore.     (Gen.)     James     B. — of     the 
State    Militia,    Pro-slavery    candi- 
date  for   Governor   of   Illinois....    169 
Moravia,    Cayuga    county,    N.    Y. — 

mention   147 

Moravians,    mention — foot   note 113 

More,  (Capt.)  R.  S. — Captain  Co. 
"E"   27th  Reg.  Ills.  Vols.,  War  of 

the    Rebellion     230,238 

Morfreesboro,   see   Murfreesboro    . . .    258 
Morgan      county,      Illinois — Historic 
Morgan  &  Classic  Jacksonville,  by 
Charles    M.    Fames,    quoted — foot 

note  48 

mention    45.    54,    223,   224 

foot   note    226 

Morgan.     (Gen.)     James    D. — Union 

General.  War  of  the  Rebellion 

241,    2-12.    243,   265 


Page. 

Morgan,  John— Confederate  Brig.- 
General,    capture    of    and   all    his 

command,   reference  to    277 

Morgan,  George — letter  of  John 
Leath  to  George  Morgan.  Aug.  19, 
1778.      Morgan    Letter    Book    III, 

quoted — foot  note    163 

Morgan,  J.  Pierpont — ancestrv  of...  75 
Morgan  Letter  Book  III— foot  note  162 
Mormon  uprising  in  Hancock  county, 

111..     1844-1846 — mention     148 

Mormons,    tradition   with    regard   to 

Genealogy "5 

Moro.    Ill 24 

Morris— private  27th  Reg't.  111.  Vols., 

War  of   the   Rebellion    232 

Morrisceau.    at   Post   Miami 132 

Morrison,  111 23 

Morrison,  William  R. — candidate  for 
U.   S.   Senator  from  Illinois,   1885, 

defeated   by   John   A.   Logan 91-93 

candidate  for  U.  S.  Senator 
from  Illinois,  1885,  makes 
trip  to  Washington,  D.  C.   on 

political    business    92-93 

friendly  relations  of,  with  John 

A.  Logan,   speech  of  Logan..      93 
his    reminiscences    of    men    and 

events    related    89,  90 

member      Illinois      Legislature, 

1855    89 

Speaker  Illinois  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives,   1859    89 

telegraphs  R.  A.  D.  Wilbanks..      92 
Morton,     (Gov.)     Oliver    P.,    of    In- 
diana— mention     236 

U.  S.  Senator  from  Indiana, 
member  Electoral  Commis- 
sion        185 

Mosher    Estate    78 

Mound    City,    111 236 

Mud  Creek,  War  of  the  Rebellion — 

foot  note   •  ■  •    -8. 

Muddy    River.    Jackson    county,    111.   -:1» 
Muddy    Township,    Jackson    county. 

Ills 218 

Municipal   Voter's   League,    Chicago, 

Ills \-^--      ^^ 

Munro's  Story  of  the  British  Race, 

quoted    .•  •  •      '^ 

Murdock,     Francis     B. — prosecuting 

attorney,    trial    of   Alton   riot 175 

Murfreesboro,    Tenn. — mention    

257. 

258;'26b,    261,    263,    271,    272,    273,   274 

foot   note    257 

Murrel.    John    A 276 

Muskingum  River    163 

foot   note    16^ 

Myers,  (Col.)  E.  E. — Aid  to  Gen. 
John  A.  McClernand  at  Lincoln 
funeral   18^ 


N 


Xance.    (slave   girl)    owned   by   Col. 
Thomas   Cox   of   Springfield,   111...    197 

foot   note    13| 

Naples,    111 6« 

Napoleonic  wars    -"^ 


321 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

"Narrative    of    the    founding    of    St. 
'Louis,"     by     Col.     Augusta     Cho- 

teau,    quoted — foot   note 144 

"Narrative     of     the     Second     Polar 
Vovaee  of  Sir  Jolin  Ross."  quoted 

— foot  note    GO,   62 

Nashville,  Tenn.   ..55,  153,  171,  222, 
250.    252.    255.    258.    259.    260,    261,   272 

Nathan.    Simon — foot    note    lOS 

National  Library,  Leinster  st.,  Dub- 
lin          78 

Nautical    Almanac    Bureau,    Wash- 
ington,   D.    C 53,   59 

Navarre,    Royal   notary    at   Detroit, 

La  Balm's  opinion  of 114 

mention     132 

Navarro,    Martin — letter    of,    quoted 

—foot  note   120 

Neale,    (Col.)    Thomas 193,201 

Negley,    Jas.    S. — Union    Major-Gen- 

eral.  War  of  the  Rebellion 280,   281 

Nelson,      Wm.      U. — Union      Major- 
General,  War  of  the  Rebellion...    245 
"Nero,"  English  bull  dog  owned  by 

Dr.  Jayne  of  Springfield,  111 208 

Neustadt.  Germany  210 

Newberry  Library,   Chicago,  Genea- 
logical   Department     67,   68 

mention    ...12,  26,  33,  70,  76,  78,  79 
New    England    Historical    &    Gene- 
alogical  Register    67,  81 

New  England   Historical   and  Gene- 
alogical Society  of  Boston 68,  69 

New  England — mention 

48,     50,     56,     57,    77,    84,     99,    167,   286 
Perley  "Historic  Storms  of  New 

England,"  quoted — foot  note.  56 
register  system  in  Genealogy..  71 
settlers,  list  of  authorized  arms 

of    81-82 

tombstones,  coats  of  arms  sculp- 
tured on  before  1760   81 

New  Englanders    50,  58 

New  Foundland — foot  note    163 

New  Haven,   Conn 29,   30 

New  Jersey — mention    186 

plans  for  the  protection  of  the 

frontiers  of — foot  note 163 

New  Madrid,  Mo.. 225,  237,  238.  239,   240 
New  Orleans,  attack  on,  in  Civil  war 

— mention   148 

mention    53,    55,    57,    143,   212 

foot  notes    112,   162 

New   Salem,    III 50 

Newsomeville,     part     of     the     early 

town    of    Springfield,    111 193,   200 

Newson.  M. — at  Post  Miami   130 

Newspapers — Adler     Des     Westens, 
Springfield,       1844,       quoted — foot 

note     213 

Auzeiger  des  Westens,   Jan.    26, 

1836 — footnote    213 

should     be     Anzeiger     des 
Westens. 

Baltimore   Gazette    56 

Boston  Transcript   73 

Chicago      Volksfreund,      1845 — 

foot  note    213 

Cincinnati  American 56 

Cincinnati    papers — foot    note..      55 


Page. 

Edwardsville  Advocate    51,  61 

Feb.  26,  1831 — footnote     51 
Freiheitsbote   fur   Illinois,    1840, 

quoted — foot  note    213 

"Galena,    111.    Miner,"    July    27, 

1831 — footnote   55 

German    newspapers,    The    Tri- 
bune,  Westland   and  Ausland 

—foot    note    210 

Illinois,     early     newspapers     of. 
Quoted   on   the   Winter   of  the 

Deep    Snow    . . . .' 50-51 

Illinois   Gazette,   July   2,    1831 — 

foot  note    55 

Intelligencer  of  Vandalia.  51,   62 
foot  note,  Feb.  26,  1831     51 
Pioneer,  Rock  Spring  (near 

Alton)    55 

Staatszeitung,        1847 — foot 

note   213 

State    Journal 180 

State  Register.. 66,  180,  182.   286 
Louisville         newspapers  —  foot 

note    .' . . .      55 

Marseilles  Plain  Dealer 31 

Missouri  Intelligencer    54 

foot  note    54 

Missouri  Republican   54 

foot  notes   54,   56 

Mobile   Register    57 

New   York   Mail   and  Express..      73 

St.   Louis  Democrat   226 

St.  Louis  Times   54 

foot   notes    54,   55 

Sangamo    Journal    5^,   56 

foot    notes    55,   56 

Stern  des  Westens,  1845,  quoted 

foot  note    213 

Western      Ploughboy      of      Ed- 
wardsville, 111. — foot  note    ...      55 
Wisconsin    State    Library,    files 

of    67 

New       York       City.       International 

Register  of  Shipping   77 

Mail  and  Express,   (newspaper)     73 
mention    ..56,    57.    67,    176,    181,   182 

foot    note    174 

Public   Library    67 

New    York    State,    frontiers,    incur- 
sion of  the  savages  against    ....    161 
Genealogical    and    Biographical 

Society   72 

mention    ...54,   61.   66,  168,  218,   285 

University  of  N.  T 58 

foot  note  58 

Niagara  Falls    58 

Niagara     134 

foot  note   118 

Nicolay  &  Hay,  Life  of  Lincoln,  Vol. 

I,   quoted — see  foot  note    53 

"C,"  27th  Reg't.  111.  Vols.,  War  of 
Nighswonger,      Joseph — private     Co. 

the    Rebellion    227 

Noleman,    (Capt.)    231 

Nolensville,    (Tenn.)     255 

Norfolk,    Mo 226,   227 

see  Northfork,  Mo. 

Normal,    111 23 

Norman  Conquest    76 

North  America  Nomadic  Redmen  of 
North    America    99 


—21  H  S 


322 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

North    Carolina    225 

North  Carolinans  in  Illinois  in   1802   212 

North  Dakota    55 

Northern  Cross  R.  R.,  reference  to..    175 

Norfork,    Mo 226.   227 

Norton.  W.  T. — member  of  Board 
of  Directors  Illinois  State  Histor- 
ical  Society    9.    14.    24,   25 

paper    on    Old    Fort    Belle    Fon- 
taine,  reference  to 25 

Notes  sur  la  Famille  Coulon  de  Vil- 
liers  Par  I'Abbe  Amedee  Gosselin, 

Levis.    1906— foot   note    142 

Nova    Scotia    RT 


Oak    Park,    III 18.   22,   23 

Oak     Ridge     Cemetery,     Springfield, 

111 182,   289 

O'Brien,      W.       P.      O.  —  "Great 

.    Famine  in  Ireland,"  quoted 57 

foot    note     57 

Odd    Fellows    Bldg-..    Springfield.    111.    194 
Offutt,    Denton — engages   Lincoln    to 
take    a    flat    boat    of   merchandise 

to  N.   0 53 

Ogden.    Wm.    B. — candidate    for    U. 

S.     Senator     from     Illinois,     1855, 

votes  cast  for  in  Legislature   ....      8S 

Oglesby,    Richard    J. — candidate    for 

U.    S.   Senator  from  Illinois.   1891, 

vote  cast  for  in  Legislature 94 

Governor   of   Illinois   and   U.    S. 

Senator   95 

Governor      of      Illinois,      favors 
.Tohn    M.     Palmer    for    U.    S. 

Senator,    1867     89 

in    U.    S.    Senate    reflects    credit 

upon  Illinois   96 

mention   226 

President        of        the        Lincoln 
National    Monument    Ass'n...    182 
Ohio  Company  at  Marietta  in   1788.      47 
Ohio    River,     iron    mines    near    the 

mouth   of   the   Ohio   River 97 

mention    55,    56,    98,    101, 

103,    111,    151,    162,    163,    232,   235 

foot  note    112 

Ohio— State    47,   55,   65,   69,   77,   168 

foot    note    220 

Ohio  Valley,   British  Americans  in..    143 
"Oh  .    Why     Should     the     Spirit     of 
Mortal   be    Proud."    favorite   poem 

of  Abraham   Lincoln    286 

Oklahoma    68 

"Old  Glory,"  National  Emblem 81 

"Old     Washington,"     calendar.     Li- 
brary    of     Congress,     papers     in, 

quoted    124 

Onandoga  Indians    161 

Oneida  Seminary.  N.  Y 61 

Onstot,    T.    G. — Pioneers    of    Mason 
and     Menard    Counties,     quoted — 

foot    notes    50,   oS 

Ontario,  "Ship" — footnote US 

Onwhistle,   Thomas   225 

Order   of   the    Bath    60,   61 

Oregon,  Electoral  vote  of,   1876...,    183 


Page. 
O'Reilly.    fDon)   Alexander — instruc- 
tions   to    Piernas,    Feb.    17,    1770, 

quoted — foot  note 145 

Orendorff.  (Gen.)  Alfred— address 
before  the  Illinois  State  Historical 

Society   15-lS 

mention    21,    22.   23.    24.   25,   27 

President   Illinois   State    Histor- 
ical   Societv.    1909-1910    

9,    11.    12,    13 

resolutions  passed  on  the  death 
of,  by  Illinois  State  Historical 

Society 21 

Orleans,    (New   Orleans)    102 

Orr,  A.  B.— private  Company  "C," 
27th  Reg't.  111.  Vols.,  War  of  the 
Rebellion     264 

Orr,    Andrew — earlv    school    teacher 

of    Springfield,    111 202 

Osage    Indians     138.   144 

Osborne,  Georgia  L. — Chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  Genealogy  and 
Genealogical    Publications,    Illinois 

State    Historical    Society 12,   24 

report  on   Genealogy  and  Gene- 
alogical   Publications,    Illinois 

State    Historical    Society 2C 

Osceola,    Mo 240 

Oswego,  plans  for  the  attack  on — 
foot  note   162 

Ottagams.     '  Indians— foot   note    ...    119 
Ottagamies,  t 

Ottawa,    111. — mention    23,   24,   63 

Ottawa   Indians    161 

Quia.      )  Post  of.  mention   U7, 

Ouya,     .-      lOQ     127,    128,    129,    131,   132 
Ouyas,  ) 

La    Balm    expected   to   meet  re- 
inforcements at   116 

Ouias.  I  (Indians)     129 

Ouyas,  > 

Outagamies,   (Foxes)  Indians 103 

see  Ottagamies. 

Outaouals,  (Indians    133 

Outaouis.     (  — 

Owen — early  blacksmith  of  Spring- 
field.  Ill 200 

Owen.  Mary  Alicia— "The  Folk  Lore 
of  the  ilusquakies,"  quoted— 
foot    note    139 

Owen,  Thomas — Aid  to  Gen.  John  A. 
ISIcClernand   at  Lincoln's   funeral.    182 

Ox  Tread  T^^leel  Grist  Mill,  for 
grinding  wheat  and  corn.  Spring- 
field,  111 193 


Pacific  Coast    70,  178 

Pacific    Ocean    68.   136.  137 

Paddock,       Gaius — recollections       of 

George  X.   Black    290 

Padoucas     (Indians)     138 

Padouca   Indian  Village    138 

Paducah.   Kv 225,    231,    234,  240 

Page,    (Prof.)    E.    C 12,   15 

Paillet,   M. — at   Miami   Post    132 

Paincourt,    (St.    Louis) — foot   note..  144 


323 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Paine,  (Gen.)  Eleazer  A. — Union 
Brig.-General,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion     231,    232,    235,   241 

Palatines   77 

Palmer,  John  M. — Anti-Nebraska 
Senator  in  Illinois  Legislature, 
1855.      His    course    as   to    election 

of  U.   S.  Senator   SS 

Bench     and     Bar      of     Illinois, 

edited  by.  Vol.  II,   quoted 17G 

candidate     for     U.     S.     Senator 
from  Illinois,  1877,  account  of 
his    defeat   by  David   Davis.  90-91 
from    Illinois,     1867.    receives 
strong    support,    defeated    by 

Lyman   Trumbull    S& 

Chairman  first  Republican  State 

Convention  in  Illinois,  1856.93-94 
civil  and  military  career  of.. 93-94 
course    and    standing    in    U.    S. 

Senate 95 

elected     Governor     of     Illinois, 

1868     94 

Governor    of    Illinois,    later    U. 

S.   Senator   95 

honorary  member,  Illinois  State 

Historical    Society    If- 

in   U.    S.    Senate,   reflects  credit 

upon    Illinois    j...'     96 

mention    241,   242,   250 

nominated   for  U.    S.   Senate   by 
caucus  of  democratic  member 
Illinois   Legislature,    1877....    1S8 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Re- 
publican party  in  Illinois    ...      9.^ 

political    career   of    93-9-1 

several  times  nominated  for  U. 
S.  Senator  by  caucus.  Demo- 
cratic members  Illinois  Legis- 
lature           94 

U.  S.  Senator  from  Illinois, 
elected,  1891,  after  protracted 

struggle     93-95 

withdraws   from   contest   for  U. 

S.    Senate,    1877    18S-189 

Panama   Canal    ^ 74 

Pana,    Springfield    &    Northwestern 

R.    R 287 

Papers  of  the  Archaeological  Insti- 
tute of  America  Series  V,  quoted 

— foot   note    137 

Papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, 41,  Vol.  I,  folio  144,  quoted 

— foot   note    106 

41,    Vol.    I,    folio    150,    quoted — 

foot    note    IOC 

41,    Vol     I,    folio    168,    quoted — 

foot    note     107 

No.  78.  Vol.  VII,  folio  149.  ap- 
pendix   2,    letter    from    de    la 

Balm    122-123 

No.   78,  VII,  folio  151,  appendix 

3    123-124 

No.    78,   VII,   folio    155,    quoted.    121 
see    Continental    Congress. 
Paris,  France— mention.  .58,  73,   104,   106 
Parish,    (Capt.)    Wm.    H.,    of   Saline 
county.    111. — receives   vote    for  U. 

S.    Senator.    1877    188-189 

part  taken  by,  in  Senatorial 
Contest  in  Illinois  Legislature, 
1877   188-189 


Page. 

Parke,  (Capt.)  Lemuel — Captain  Co. 
"C,"   27th  Reg.   111.   Vols.,  War  of 

the    Rebellion    

mention   223,  224,  226,   228, 

229,    230,    231,    232,    235,    236,   240 

foot  note    226 

Parkman,  Francis — A  Half  Century 
of    Conflict,    Vol.    I,    quoted — foot 

notes     137,  138 

Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  quoted — 

foot  note 137 

Montcalm    and    Wolfe,    Vol.    I, 

quoted — foot  note    143 

Parker,  Joel,  of  New  Jersey — nomi- 
nated for  Vice-presidency  of  U. 
S.   by  Labor  Reform  Party,,    1872   186 

Park,   Samuel — foot  note    106 

Parmer,  (Gen.)  John  M.  see  Palmer. 
Parry,    ((Ilapt.)   Edward — Arctic  Ex- 
plorer        60 

Patriotism  of  Illinois,  by  T.  M. 
Eddy,   Vol.   II,   quoted— foot  notes 

...226,    230,    282 

Pasfield,    (Mrs.)    George    203 

Pawnee,   111 22 

Payne,  Henry  B. ^member  U.  S. 
(Congress  from  Ohio,  member  Elec- 
toral   Commission    185 

Peach  Tree  Creek,  battle  of,  War  of 

the    Rebellion — foot    note    282 

Pease's  Hardware  Store,  Springfield, 

111.,    1860    64 

Peck.    (Dr.)    John   M. — mention 170 

work  in  behalf  of  State  history, 

reference  to 285 

People's    Trust    &   Savings    Bank   of 

Galesburg.    Ill 30 

Peoria,  111..  Bradley  Polytechnic  In- 
stitute, located  at 15 

mention    12,   15,   23,   137,   288 

Pencour,  (St.  Louis)  Spanish  Com- 
mandant at   98 

Pensacila    (Pensacola)- — foot   note..    112 

Pensacola — foot   note    112 

Pensoneau    Etienne    172 

Pennsylvania  Archives,  VIII,  quoted, 

— foot   note    109 

VIII.     1st     series,     quoted — foot 

note    108 

X.  quoted — foot  note    113 

XII,   quoted— foot   note    109 

Pennsylvania     in      the      Revolution, 

1775-1783    26 

Pennsylvania,  8th  Penn.  Reg't.,  War 

of  the  Rebellion   162 

frontiers  defense  of — foot  note.    162 
frontiers,       incursion       of       the 

savages    against    161 

Genealogical    and    Biographical 

Magazine    77 

German-monthly     ]M  a  g  a  z  i  n  e, 

edited  by  Kriebel    67 

Germans     in     Illinois     in     1802, 

reference    to    212 

mention   65,  77,  168,   275 

foot  note    164 

oath   of  allegiance  to   the   state 
of     Pennsylvania,     1776-1794, 

reference  to   26 

plans   for  the   protection  of  the 
frontiers  of — foot  note 163 


324 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Periodicals — Iowa  Journal  of  His- 
tory and  Politics   ) .  .  .      25 

Journal     of    the     Illinois     State 

Historical  Society  

12,   18,  19,   24,  25,   26 

New     England     Historical     and 

Genealogical   Register    67,   71 

Pennsylvania    German    Monthly 

Magazine    67 

South    Carolina    Historical    and 

Genealogical  Magazine   26 

Perley,  Historic  Storms  of  New  Eng- 
land, quoted — foot  note   56 

Perrin,   J.   Nick    23 

Perry,  111. — foot  note   220 

Peter.  Zachariah — one  of  the  Com- 
missioners appointed  to  locate  the 
county   seat  of   Sangamon    county  190 

Petomick  River,  see  Potomac 259 

Philadelphia,  French  envoy  at — men- 
tion      114 

La     Balm's    proposal     to     erect 

workshops    near    126 

mention   56,  107,  110,  126,   181 

foot   notes    107,   108 

Phillips,  Joseph — early  Judge  of  the 

Supreme  Court  of  Illinois   40 

mention    169 

Phillips,    Mr 238 

Philips'    Plantation    239,   240 

Phillips,  (Gen.)  William — foot  note.    113 
Philleo,    (Dr.) — early   physician   and 

surgeon  of  Springfield,   111 205 

Phoebe,    (Slave  woman) — owned  by 

Dr.   Todd  of  Springfield,   lU 197 

Phyladelphia  —  see     Philadelphia  — 

foot    note    108 

Pike  county.  Ill 45,   147,   189,   223 

foot  notes   220,   226 

Pike,    Zebulon    M. — Sources    of    the 

Mississippi  River,  quoted 100 

toot    note    100 

Pierce,     J.     B. — operator     telegraph 

office  in  Springfield  in  1860 64,  65 

Piernas,  Don  Pedro— Governor  Post 

St.    Louis    145 

Pilgrims   Of   Massachusetts    135 

Pillow,  (Gen.)  Gideon — Confederate 
Brig.-General,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion       225 

Pillsbury,    (Prof.)    William    L 15 

Pine  Top  Mountain,  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion— foot   note    282 

Pioneer  History  of  the  Ohio  Valley, 
by     Dr.      Samuel     P.      Hildredth, 

quoted — see   foot  notes    47,  55 

Pioreas,  (Peoria)  Indians — foot  note  119 
Pisgah    183 

Pittsburg        >   _foot  notes   ....109,  161 
Pittsburgh,     I 

mention    163,  164 

Pittsburgh   Landing    240 

Pittsburgh.     (The),     (Gun    Boat)...  239 

Pittsfield.  Ill 18 

Placey,  M.  de — at  Post  Miami  .......  132 

Planet,    M. — teacher    of    the    French 

.langruage.  Philadelphia 125 

Plank,      Jacob — early      shoe-maker, 

Springfield,   111 200 

Plasq,   M. — ofHcer  under  La  Balm..  126 
Plassy,     Capt.,      (Duplasy,     Jos.)  — 

served  under  La  Balm — foot  note  114 
see  Du  Plasy. 


Page. 
Polar  Explorations,  early  records  of, 

reference   to    60 

Polar  Regions,  article  on,  in  the 
Encyclopedia,    Britannica,    quoted 

— foot   note    60 

Polar   Regions    61 

Polar   Seas    60 

Polar    Voyages     60 

Polasky,  Baron  de — foot  note  106 

Politics,  definition  of  the  term   ....      39 
Pollock,    Oliver — American   agent  at 

New  Orleans — foot  note   108 

Polo,  111 9.   14,   23 

Pontiac,    (Ottawa  Chief)    144 

Pope,  (Gen.)  John — Union  Major- 
General,  War  of  the  Rebellion   . . . 

237,   239,   240,   242,   243,   244,   245 

"Popular  Sovereignty,"  political 
doctrine  advocated  by  Stephen  A. 

Douglas 87 

Portage  City.  Wis 51 

Porter.  ( Pommandor')  Dnniel  D. — 
Union  Rear  Admiral,  War  of  the 

Rebellion     242 

Port  Gibson,  Mississippi   55 

Port  Hudson,   battle  of — mention...    148 

Porto    Rico     57 

Portuguese,  Marquis,  title  of  nobility     80 

Post    Hudson    276 

Post  Vincennes,  La  Balme  at 127-128 

mention 117 

foot  note    112 

see  Vincennes. 

Poulx,  I  Indians    133 

Poux,    r  Post 133 

Potier,   Father — at   Post  Miami 132 

Potomac  River   259 

Pottawatomie  Indians 52 

Pottawatomie  Lodge 52 

Pottervin,   M. — at  Post  Miami    132 

Poway  Valley,  California 178 

Powell,  William  Henry — list  of 
officers   of   army   of   U.    S.,    1799- 

1900     71 

Power,  John  Carroll — Early  settlers 
of  Sangamon  county,  by,  quoted..      68 

foot  note    50 

Prairie      du      Chien — James      Aird, 

British  trader  at 100 

mention     ; 98 

Tour    to    Prairie    du    Chien,    by 
Caleb    Atwater,    quoted — foot 

note    99 

Prairie  du  Pont — French  settlements 

at  212 

Prairie  du  Rocher,  111 9,  14,  97 

Prairies  of  Illinois 49 

Pratz,  Le  Page  du — Histoire  de  la 
Louisiane,     Vol.     I,     quoted — foot 

note 137 

Vol.   IL   quoted — foot   note    138 

Prentiss,  (Gen.)  Benjamin  M. — 
Union  General,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion        225 

Pres5byterian  Church,  (First) — Belle- 
ville. Ill 172 

mention     176 

(First)— Springfield,  111 195 

Presqu'  Isle — foot  note    112 

Prevost,  Pierre — with  La  Balm — 
foot  note   113 


325 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Price,  (Gen.)  Sterling — Confederate 
Major-General,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion        227 

Price,     Thomas — early     resident    of 

Springfield,    HI 197 

Price,  Thomas— early  tavern  keeper 

of  Springfield,  lU 201 

Princess  of  the  Missouris  (In- 
dian)        138 

Prince,    Ezra    M ; 15,   18 

Prive,  Mr 130 

"Problems     in     Astro-Physics,"     by 

Agnes  M.  Gierke,  quoted 59 

foot    note    59 

Proctor — Tanyard,     on     the     branch 

near  Newsomeville    193,   200 

Prominent  Families  in  the  United 
States     of     America,     by     Burke, 

reference  to 84 

Proschowsky   76 

Provence,    France     82 

Province   of   Bearn    141 

Puritans 77 

of  New  England,  custom  regard- 
ing   tlie    name    of    the    oldest 

son    76 

of   Massachusetts    135 

Putnam.  (Prof.)  J.  W. — former  Sec- 
retary Illinois  State  Historical 
Society 15 


Quakers    77 

Quarter     Master's     Department     of 
Illinois,   work   of  Edward  Everett 

in     1861-62     147-153 

Quebec,  mention    119,   163 

foot    note    118 

plans  for  the  attack  on 163 

foot   note    163 

Province  of — foot  note 113 

Quincy,  111.,   Chamber  of  Commerce 

of  13 

G.  A.   R.   Post    •. .      13 

Historical  Society- of,  purchases 

the  home   of  Governor  Wood     13 
home     of     Chas.     Everett     and 

family    148 

mention 

9,    12,    13,    23,    147,    149,    152,   153 
Rifiemen  mustered   into   service 
U.  S.  in  Mexican  war 149 


Raccoon  Mountain,   I  _  280 

Rackcoon,  f 

Railroads — Baltimore   &  Ohio  R.   R.   287 

Chicago  &  Alton  R.   R 287 

Gilman,     Clinton    &    Springfield 

R.    R 287 

Illinois  Central  R.  R 287 

Northern   Cross  R.   R 175 

Pana,   Springfield  &  Northwest- 
ern   R.    R 287 

St.    Louis,    Peoria    &    Northern 

R.  R 287 

Springfield    &   Northwestern   R. 

R 287 

Wabash  R.  R.    287 


Page. 

Ralston,  (Capt.)  J.  H.— Assistant 
Quartermaster  of  U.  S.  Mexican 
war,  appoints  Edward  Everett 
clerk    149 

Rames — early  blacksmith  of  Spring- 
field, in 200 

Rammelkamp.  Charles  H. — member 
of  Program  Committee,  Illinois 
State  Historical  Society   22 

Randolph   56 

Randolph    county,    111 169 

foot  note,  appendix   219 

Randolph,  R. — one  of  the  Aides  of 
Gen.  John  A.  McClernand  at  Lin- 
coln's  funeral    182 

Rapp,    John   M 23 

Rappahannock   River    269,   270 

Rapport  de  M.  Edouard  Richard, 
quoted — foot  notes   136,   137 

Ray,   (Dr.) — served  under  La  Balme 

— foot  notes   114,   118 

see  Rhe  or  Rey. 

Reading,  Penn. — foot  note 164 

Reardon,  (Col.)  James  S. — Colonel 
29th  Infantry  Reg't.,  War  of  the 
Rebellion   231 

Recollections  of  the  Part  Springfield 
Bore  in  the  Obsequies  of  Abraham 
Lincoln,  contribution  to  State  his- 
tory by  Edward  L.  Merritt. ...  179-183 

Red  River  Expedition,  Civil  war — 
mention 148 

Red  River — mention    138 

Reed,  (President)  Joseph — letter  of 
Col.    Daniel    Brodhead    to,    dated, 

1789     (1780)— quoted     109 

letter  from  Linctot  to,  Sept.   13, 

1780,  extract  from — foot  note.    113 
President    Provincial    Congress, 

mention • 113 

foot  note 161 

Reisch    Building,    Springfield,    111 194 

Reisch,    Frank    191 

Renards,   (or  Foxes)  Indians  ...137,   139 
see  Fox  Indians. 

Republican  National  Convention  in 
Chicago,  May  16,  1860   63 

Republican  National  Executive  Com- 
mittee, 1876 — mention 184 

Republican  party  in  Illinois  uses 
political  party  caucus  in  election 
of  U.  S.  Senators 87 

Republican  Party — members  of  in 
Illinois  State  Legislature,  1885, 
how  they  secured  re-election  of 
Cren.    John    A.    Logan    to    U.    S. 

Senate    91-92 

mention 44,  45,  46,  90,  91,   187 

Republican  State  Central  Committee 

of    Illinois,    1891 — mention    94 

Dan.  H.  Shepherd,  secretary  of, 
1885    92 

Republican  State  Convention — 1856, 
Bloomington,  first  in  Illinois,  John 

M.   Palmer,   Chairman    93-94 

May   9,    1860 — reference   to 63 

Resaca,  battle  of.  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion— foot  note 282 

Resolutions  of  condolence,  Spring- 
field, on  the  death  of  Lincoln.  .180-181 

Revolution  of  1688  in  England. .  .37,  38 

Revolution,  (The),  on  the  Upper 
Ohio,   1775-1777 — reference  to 67 


326 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Revolutionary    Ancestors,     (fees    for 

research  work  on  looking  up; 75 

Revolutionary  Conventions  of  the 
Colony    of    Virginia,    (in    Colonial 

Virginia  Register) 26 

Revolutionary  War,  first  movement 
of  the  Americans  against  the  In- 
dians during  the  Revolution 161 

mention    38,    58,, 

60,    67,    70,    71,    147,    222,    262,   285 
see  War  of  the  Revolution. 

Key,   Dr. — foot   notes 114,  118 

Reymond,  (Elder)  Lewis — Chaplain 
of    the    51st    Reg't.    Illinois    Vols., 

War  of  the  Rebellion    272 

Reynards,    (Foxes)    Indians    103 

see  Fox  Indians. 
Reynolds,     John — early     Judge,     Su- 
preme Court  of  Illinois,  Governor 

of  Illinois   40 

fourth  Governor  of  the  State  of 

Illinois 19 

mention    168,   170 

Pioneer  History  of  Illinois,  Fer- 
gus Ed.,  quoted — foot  no.te...    145 
Reynolds,    (Gen.)    Joseph    J.— Union 
Major-General,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion       274 

Rh6,    (or  Rey) — Aide  to  La  Balm — 

foot  notes    114,   118 

Rhode  Island 84 

Richard,  M.  Edouard — Rapport,  Sup- 
plement des  Archives  Cana- 
diennes,   1899,  quoted — foot  notes. 

136,   137 

Richard  III,  King  of  England 82 

Richard.^,   J.   J. — sends   telegrams   to 

Lincoln,   1860    66 

Richland    Grove,    Springfield,   111 201 

Richmond,   Va 69,   270 

Riddles   Point    240 

Ridgely,      Nicholas      H. — prominent 

citizen   of   Springfield,   111 180 

Rinaker,  (Gen.)  John  I. — member 
of  Committee  on  Local  Historical 
Societies,   Illinois   State  Historical 

Society 23 

Ritters,  (Capt.) — War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion        227 

Rivard.   M. — at  Post  Miami    132 

River  de   la  Rouze,    (Rocke?) 103 

Roanoke  Island 235,   236 

"Robert  Hanna,"    (steam  boat)    54 

Roberts,    Peyton    18 

Robinson,  Eliza — pupil  in  one  of  the 
early  schools  of  Springfield,  111...    203 

"Rob  Roy,"   (steamer)    238 

Rocheblave,     (Philippe     de     Rastel) 

Chevalier   de — foot  note 109 

Roche  de  Bout,  stores  of  provisions 

and  ammunition  at 114 

Rockefeller,   John  D. — ancestry  of..      75 

Rockford,   111 24 

Rock  Island  county.  111 45,   99 

Rock  Island,  111 13,   99 

Rock    River    Country 21 

Rock  River  in  the  Revolution,  ad- 
dress before  the  Illinois  State 
Historical  Society,  1909.  By  Wil- 
liam  A.    Meese    97-103 

mention  

51,    52,    98,    99,    100,    101,   102 

River  de  la  Rouze,    (Rocke?)..    103 


280 


178 

144 

62 
60 

62 


Page. 
Rock  Spring,  111.,  (near  Alton).. 54,  55 
Itock,  (fc>tar\ed  Rock)  on  the  Illinois 

River    140 

Itocky  Faced  Ridge,  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion— foot  note    282 

Roderic  the  Great,  King  of  Wales. . .      75 
Rogers,     (Capt.)     John — report     of, 

1780     102,   103 

Romans,    La    Balm,    quotation    from 

sayings  of    123 

Rome,    Italy — mention     148 

liosecrance,    (Gen.) — see   Rosecrans. 
Rosecrans,      (Gen.)      William      S. — 
Union  General,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion    222,   256,  261,  262,  263, 

265,    266,    268,    276,    277,    278,    279, 

"Rose      Lawn" — home      of      Alfred 

Cow'les      in      San      Jose      Valley, 

Cal 177, 

Ross.    Lieut — English    officer    at    Ft. 

Chartres 143, 

Ross,   (Capt.)   John — Arctic  explorer 

60,  61, 

foot   note    

Polar  Voyage  of  Sir  John  Ross, 

quoted — foot    notes     60, 

Rouen,   France — foot  note    136 

Royal  Proclamation,    (The)   of  1417, 
(Reign  of  Henry  V),  reference  to     83 

Royalists — mention    120 

Royalists  who  during  the  Revolution 

fled  to  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia.      67 
Rui,    (Don)    Francesco    Y.    Morales, 
erects   forts   at   the   mouth   of   the 

IMissouri    145 

Rupp's  immigrants  in   Pennsylvania     77 

Rusan,   (Gen.)     see  Rosencrans 256 

Rushville.    Ill 23,   24,   92 

Russel,    (Hon.)   Andrew — member  of 
Board   of   Directors,   Illinois   State 

Historical   Society 9,    11,    13,    21, 

mention   12,   22,   23,   25, 

Rust,  Henry  A. —  (Adj.)    27th  Reg't. 
Ills.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion — 

foot    note    226 

Rutherford  Creek 264 


Sac  and  Fox  Rock  River  Villages. 99,   100 

Sac  Indians   51,  98,  99,  100,  103 

foot   note    119 

Sacramento.    Cal 177 

St.  Ange,  (The)  Sieurs  de — address 
before  the  Illinois  State  Historical 
Society,  1909,  by  Walter  B.  Doug- 
las   135-146 

St.  Ange,  Elizabeth — mention   

136,    143,   146 

wife  of  Chevalier  Francois  Cou- 

lon  de  Villiers 141,   142 

St.    Ange,     Louis     (The    Elder) — in 

command  at  Ft.  (I^hartres 139,   140 

in  command  at  Ft.  Orleans.  .138,   139 

mention 136 

receives      his      commission      as 

Captain,    April,    1738 141 

St.  Ange  de  Bellerive,  Louis  (St. 
Ange  the  younger — acting  Gov- 
ernor, Post  St.  Louis 145 

Bellerive,  111.  named  after 146 

death  of,  Dec.  26,  1774 145,   146 


24 

27 


327 


Index — Contini^ed. 


Rock  River — Concluded.  Page. 

in  command  at  Post  Vincennes  143 
second    in    command    to    Bourg- 

mont  138 

street    in    St.    Louis    named    in 

honor  of 146 

St.  Ange.  (Madam) — widow  of  Mon- 
sieur de   St.  Ange  Captaine 141 

St.  Ange,  Madame — widow  of  Robert 
Groston  de  St.  Ange,  death  of,  at 

Ft.   Chartres,   Feb.    23,    1762 142 

St.  Ange,  Pierre  de — little  known  of 
tlie  history  of ;  Soldier  In  the  Illi- 
nois country,  1722   142 

mention 136 

tragic  death  of    142 

St.   Ange,   Robert   Groston  de...l35,   136 

St.  Ange's,  family  name  of 135 

St.   Anne   de   Fort   Chartres,    church 

records   of    141 

St.  Charles  Hotel   226 

St.   Charles  Hotel,   Springfield,  111...    202 

St.  Clair  county,  111 212,   223 

Saint    Core,    M 130 

Sainte    Genevieve — foot    note    144 

St.    Joseph,    Mich 120,   137,   140 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  "Democrat,"  (news- 
paper)        226 

La   Balm   at — foot   note 114 

La    Balm    presents    an    address 

to   French    inhabitants   of. . .  .    113 
mention  ...54,  55,  56,  63.  66,  68, 
103,  144,  175.  212,  223,  225,  235,   238 
foot  notes..  54,    55.    56,    136,   144 
narrative  of  the  founding  of  St. 
Louis,  by  Col.  Auguste  Chou- 
teau, quoted — foot  note 144 

Old  St.  Louis  road   208 

Pencour  98 

Peoria  &  Northern  R.  R 287 

Paincourt,    note    144 

St.  Ange  street  in,  named  after 

Louis  St.  Ange  de  Bellerive..  146 
Spaniards  of  Sa.  Louis  ...102,  103 
St.      Louis,       (The)      steamer — 

mention    238 

St.    Louis    Times,    (newspaper), 

quoted  54,   55 

foot    notes    54,   55 

St.  Maurice  River,  in  Canada 137 

St.   Nicholas  Hotel.   Springfield.   111..    194 
Saint      Romain      Elizabeth      Chorel, 
second  wife  of  Robert  Groston  de 

St.   Ange    136 

St.  Romaine  family,  family  of  dis- 
tinction— foot   note    136 

St.   Romain.   Gabriel — foot  note 136 

St.   Vrain    de   Lassus,    (Santiago   St. 

Vrain   de   Lassus) 135 

Salem,  111 23 

Salem  Pike,   (road)  Tenn 265,  271 

Salem,   Tenn 261, 

262,    263.    266,    268,    269.    271,    272,   273 

Saline   county.    111. — mention 188 

Saline   township,   Jackson   county...    218 

Saltzenstein.    E 20 

Sampson.  F.  A. — :Librarian  State 
Historical  Society  of  Missouri,  Co- 
lumbia— foot  note 54 

San      Antonio      de      Bexar,      Texas, 

during    Mexican    war — mention...    149 
San  Antonio,  Texa.s — mention 147 


Page. 

Sandham,  William  R 15 

San  Diego  Bay,  Cal 178 

San    Diego,    Cal. — mention    176,   178 

San    Diego    County,    California.  .  177,   178 
Sandoisque,         ( Sandusky)         thirty 

leagues  from  Detroit   132 

Sandusky,   British  soldiers  stationed 

at 114 

San  Francisco,   Cal 177 

Sangamo    Journal,    quoted 55,   56 

foot  notes    55,   56 

Sangamon    county,    111. — coal    fields 

of    287 

commissioners   appointed   to   lo- 
cate the  county  seat  of  190 

Court  House   179 

created    by    act    of    Legislature, 

1821    190 

early  settlers  of,  brought  slaves 

with    them    197 

early    settlers    of,    list   of 190 

mention    50,    54,    220,   223 

foot  note 50 

Power's  Early  Settlers  of  San- 
gamon  Co.,   quoted — foot  note     50 
Representatives  from,  in  Illinois 

Legi-slature,     1855     8S 

Sangamon  River   53,  54 

Sangamon    town    53. 

San  Jose  Valley,  California 177 

Saukees,     (Indians) 140 

see  Sac  Indians 
Saunders.      Asbury — early      saddler, 

Springfield,    111 200 

Saunders,    Sir   Edmund — Chief    Jus- 
tice  of  England    37 

Saux  Indians,    (Sac) 103 

see  Sac  Indians. 
Savage's     "Genealogical     Dictionary 

of  settlers  in  New  England" 77 

Savannah,    Tenn 240 

Sawyer,      S.      T. — defender     of     the 

Rioters,  Alton  trial   173 

Scates,  Walter  B. — Judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,   State  of  Illinois    ...      42 
Schaefer,     camp     on     Stone     River, 

Tenn 265, 

266,    267,    268,    269,    270,    271.    272,   273 
Schiller,    Johann    Christoph     Fried- 
rich    von — German    poet    210 

Schmidt,      (Dr.)      Otto     L. — member 
of  the  Board  of  Directors,  Illinois 

State    Historical    Library     22,   24 

Schmitt.     (Capt.)     W.     A. — Captain 
Co.    "A,"     27th    Reg't.    111.    Vols., 

War  of  the  Rebellion    220 

foot    note 226 

Schuyler  county,  111 45 

Schwartz,    (Lieut.)    Col.   Adolphus..    182 
Scoresby,     (Capt.)     William — ^Arctic 

explorer  60 

Scotland,    General    Register    House, 

Princess   St.    Edinburgh    78 

Scotland — mention   285 

records  of  the  Kingdom   78 

Scott,    Alec,     (steamer) 228,   231 

Scott    county.    111 » 223 

foot  note    226 

Scott,    Guy    C. — Judge    of    the    Su- 
preme  Court  of  Illinois    45 

Scott,     (Rev.)     J.     E. — "In    Famine 
Land,"   by,    quoted — foot   note....      57 


328 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Scott,  (Mrs.)  Matthew  T.— Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  on  marking 
historic  sites,  Illinois  State  His- 
torical   Society    12,   24 

Scott.  Thomas — member  of  the  First 
Presbyterian     Church,     Belleville, 

111.,   1833    172 

Sears.      David      B. — Quartermaster, 

27th  Reg-t.  in.  Vols 237 

foot   note    226 

Selby,    Paul    22 

Selby,    James — foot   note 120 

Senat.    Father — tragic   death   of 142 

Senator,  (The)  from  Illinois — some 
Famous  Political  Combats,  ad- 
dress before  the  Illinois  State 
Historical  Society,  May,   1909,  by 

J.  McCan  Davis    86-96 

Seneca    Indians    161 

Sevrance,  M 132 

Seward,  William  H.— candidate  for 
the  Presidency  of  the  U.  S.,  1860 

63,    65 

Secretary  of  State  of  U.  S.,  1865  181 
Seymour,   (Bishop)  George  F. — resi- 
dence   of     205 

Shabbona,  monument  to,  in  La  Salle 

county,  reference  to   "■  3 

Shakespeare,   William    .136 

Shattuck  College,  Faribault,  Minn..  .    289 
Shaw,    J.    Henry — Democratic  mem- 
ber  House    Representatives,    1885, 
34th     dist.,     Illinois     Legislature, 

died  during  term  of  office 91 

mention 92 

Shawanes,  /  in(jians  ...110,  111,  112,   161 

Shawnee,     r         foot  note 112 

Shawnese,  ! 

Shawnee    Princess     Ill 

Shawneetown,   111 176 

ShelbyvUle  Pike,    (road)   Tenn 

259,   266,   270.   271 

Shelbyville,    Tenn 259 

Shepherd,  Daniel  H.— Secretary 
Republican  State  Central  Com- 
mittee   of    Illinois,    1885,    political 

labors    of    ^2 

Shepherd  Estate    78 

Shepherd,       Henry       M. — prominent 

Judge  of  Cook  county 46 

Sheridan,  (Gen.)  Philip 

256,    265,    268,    273,    274,   278 

foot    note     281 

Sheridan's  Division    263,  266 

Sherman,  (Hon.)  Lawrence  Y. — 
Third      Vice      President      Illinois 

State  Historical  Society   7,  13 

Sherman.    (Gen.)    Wm.    T. — mention  150 
Sherrill,  I    John,     early     shoemaker, 
Sherril,    f        Springfield,   111.    ...200,   201 
Shields,     James — candidate     for     U. 
S.     Senator    from    Illinois,     1855, 

votes  cast  for,  in  Legislature  88 

U.  S.  Senator  from  Illinois,  a 
Democrat,  seeks  re-election, 
defeat  of   88 


Page. 

Shiloh,   battle   of — mention    149 

Shiloh  Valley,  111.,  near  Belleville, 
called  the  Latin  settlement  on  ac- 
count of  the  educational  standard 

of  its  people   214 

German  settlement  in  212 

Shumway,  George    28 

Sidell.  Maj.  W.  H. — writes  letter  to 
Edward  Everett,  commending, 
blank  forms  used  by  Mr.  Everett 

in   equiping   troops,    1861 150 

Sides,   (Lieut.)  A.  J 258 

Sieurs  de  St.  Ange,  (The) — address 
before  the  Illinois  State  Historical 
Society,  1909,  by  Walter  B.  Doug- 
las    ; . . 135-146 

Silas  Hotel,  Springfield,  111 194 

Silver  Wave,    (steamer)    ..237,   238,   240 

Simmons,  Terry mention    24 

Simmons,  Terry — Quarter  Century 
History     of     Marseilles,     111.,     by, 

reference  to  31 

report    of    the    LaSalle    county 

Historical  Society   14,  31-33 

Simpson,  Bishop  Matthew — officiates 
at  Lincoln's  funeral  in  Spring- 
field       182 

Sinclair,     Patt — Lieut.-Governor     of 

Michilimacinac  98,   103,   111 

Sioux   Indians 98,   103 

Sitwell,  (Sir)  George — The  Ancestor, 

Vol.  I,  quoted   83 

Slater,    Elijah    197 

"Slater's,"  early  tavern,  Springfield, 

111 201 

Slavery — mention     169 

Sangamon      county      III. — early 
settlers     of,     brought     slaves 

with  them    197 

Smith,  George  W. — inember  of  .Board 
of  Directors,  Illinois  State  Histor- 
ical Society   7,   13,   22,   23,   24,   25 

Smith,  Daniel  D. — murdered  by 
Palemon  H.  Winchester,  case  of..  171 

Smiths    family    76 

Smith,   Samuel    218 

"Smith"      (Slave     boy)     owned     by 

George  Forquer   197 

Smithsonian  Institution,  Washing- 
ton   D.    C 47 

Smiths  Company  from  Galena,  111..   223 
Smyth's      "Franklin,"      quoted — foot 

note 106 

Snyder,  (Dr.)  J.  F. — contribution  to 
State  history  by,  sketch  of  Alfred 

Cowles   167-178 

Archaeology  in  Illinois,  articles 

by,  reference  to  27 

mention    15,  25 

appendix 219 

work  in  behalf  of  State  history, 

reference  to    .  - 285 

Soldiers'  home  near  Lafayette,  Ind., 
mention    184 


\i2d 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

South  Carolina,  electoral. vote,  1876, 

184-185 

Historical       and       Genealogical 

Magazine    26 

historical   collections    26 

mention     212 

represented  in  U.    S.   Senate   by 

John   C.    Calhoun    88 

Southern  Illinois  Normal  University, 

Carbondale,   111 7 

Spain,  declares  war  against  Eng- 
land,   1779    .-..      98 

mention   109,  135,   144,   214 

Spaniards,  believed  by  the  Indians 
to  be  allied  with  the  French  and 
Virginians  against  the  English...    113 

mention 138 

foot  note 112 

of  St.   Louis    102,   103 

Spanish   Governor    120 

Spanish  noble,  price  of  title,  quoted  80 
Spanish  I'osts,  mention — foot  note..  162 
Spanish    Posts    on    the    Mississippi 

PJver  98 

Sparks,  Jared — life  and  writings  of 
Washington,    Vol.    I,    quoted — foot 

note 163 

Spear,  David — David  Spear  vs.  John 
Hay,  case  at  law  of — reference  to  199 

Spear,    Stephen    L 22 

Spencer,  J.  W. — Reminiscences  of 
Pioneer   Life,   quoted — foot  note..    100 

Springer,  Annie  G 20 

Springer,  Wm.  M, — member  U.  S. 
Congress  from  Illinois,  quoted  as 
to  politics  of  David  Davis,  1876..    186 

mention    182 

Springfield  &  Northwestern  R.  R...  287 
Springfield,    111.,    barbecue    held    at, 

in  an  early  day 193 

condition  in  regard  to  equip- 
ment of  volunteers  at  break- 
ing out  of  Civil  war   147 

descriotion    of    Springfield,     by 

Zimri   Enos    190-208 

early  schools  of 201-204 

first  settlements  in   1819-1820..    190 

Gas,  Light  Co 20 

Indian   camping  ground  at 192 

mention 5,   7, 

11,  13,  14,  15,  17,  18,  22,  24, 
29,  50,  53,  63,  64,  66,  93,  149, 
150,  151,  152,  153,  175,  179, 
181,    223,    224,    286,    287,    289,   290 

foot  notes    56,   220,   282 

Mills,  early  mills  of  Springfield  200 
Ox  Tread  Wheel  Grist  Mill  built 

at    193 

resolutions  of  condolence,  on  the 

death  of  Lincoln   180-181 

State  Fair  Grounds  near,  volun- 
teer soldiers  at,  mention 149 

Transfer  Company 20 

Van-Noy,  hanging  In  1826.  .204-205 
Williams  Directory  of,  for  1860, 

quoted   66 

Winter  of  the  Deep  Snow  in . . . 

205-208 

Spring    Hill.    Tenn 264 

Sredidan,  (Gen.)  see  Sheridan....  265 
Stanley,    (Gen.)   David  S 243 


Page. 

Starne,  Alexander    180 

Starr,     Henry — leading     lawyer     of   " 

Madison   county,   111 17] 

Starved    Rock,    appropriation    asked 

to  make  a  State  Park  of,  etc 14 

mention   140 

preservation  of 18-19 

tragedy    of    140-141 

State  House,  Springfield,  111. — men- 
tion       181 

old  Capitol  building,  banquet 
and  ball  given  in,  in  honor  of 
election    of    S.    A.    Douglas   to 

U.  S.  Senate    87 

Steadman,    (Gen.)     263 

Stebbins,  Hannah 72 

Stebbins,   Samuel    72 

"Steers,"    (The),     see  Texas  steers. 

Stennett,    W.    H 23 

Stephenson,    (Mrs.)    Col 171 

Stericker,   (Dr.)   George  F 289 

Sterling,    I  (Capt.)       Thomas — men- 
Stirling,    (       tion    144 

takes    possession    Ft.     Chartres 

for  the  British 144 

Stern  des  Westens,  1845,  (newspa- 
per)  quoted — footnote   213 

Stevenson,    (Hon.)   Adlai  E 20 

Stevison,    (Tenn.) 277,   278 

Steward,    John    F. "Lost    Mara- 

mech      and      Earliest      Chicago," 

quoted — foot  notes   139,   140 

Stiles,    Henry   R. — Genealogist 74 

Stillman    Valley,    111. 23 

Sterling,     |(Capt.)       Thomas — death 
Stirling'     ('    °^  ^"  1808,  distinguished 

'      '     military  career 145 

letter  to  Gen.  Gage,  dated  Dec. 

15,    1765,   quoted — foot  note..    144 
takes  possession  of  Ft.  Chartres 

for  the  British   144 

Stokes,  (Capt.)  James  H.,  of  Chi- 
cago— captured  rifles  and  ammu- 
nition       151 

Stone  River,    (Tenn.),  camp  on 

257,  258,   259,  260,  261, 

262,    263.    264,    265,    266,    267,    273,   274 

campaign — mention    222 

campaign  reports  on.  War 
Record     Series    I,    Vol.    XX, 

quoted — foot    note    257 

mention     222,    265-268,   270 

Stout,    (Lieut.)    230 

Strawbridge,   Thomas — first  saddler, 

Springfield,  111 200 

Streator,    111 24 

Streetor,  Alson  J. — candidate  for 
U.  S.  Senator  from  Illinois,   1891, 

defeated  by  John  M.  Palmer 94-95 

mention     94,   95 

Strong,  William — Associate  Justice 
U.     S.     Supreme    Court,    member 

Electoral  Commission    186 

Stuart,  A.  C. — early  lawyer  of  Belle- 
ville,  111.,  killed  in  a  duel    168 

Stuart,  (Hon.)  John  T. — law  part- 
ner of  Abraham  Lincoln 180,  182 

Study  of  Genealogy,  (The) — paper 
prepared  for  the  Illinois  State 
Historical  Society,  1909,  by  Har- 
riet  Taylor    67-S5 


530 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Sturtevant,    (Dr.)    Julian   M. — Auto- 
biography   of,    quoted.      see    foot 

note     48 

President  Illinois  College,  Jack- 
sonville     48,    49,    50 

quoted    on    the    Winter    of    the 

Deep   Snow    50 

Sullivan,      William  —  private       27th 

Reg't.    111.    Vols 224,   228,  229 

Suite.  Benjamin — authority  on  Cana- 
dian history,  quoted — foot  note...    136 
Supreme  Court  Bldg.,   State  of  Illi- 
nois         191 

Supreme     Court,     State    of    Illinois, 

early   history   of    39-42 

Swanwick.    Ill 18 

Swartz.    Edward     218 

Swedish  population  in  U.  S 77 

Sweet.    Charles    S 66 

Sweet,     B.     D.     L. — Superintendent 
Western    Division,     "Caton    Lines 

Telegraph"    64,    65,    66 

Swiss   Colony  at  Turkey  Hill,   111...    212 
Sycamore,    111 24 


Tanner.  Henry — The  Martyrdom  of 
Lovejoy,  pub.  Chicago,  1881, 
quoted— foot    note    173 

Tanner,  (Gov.)  John  R. — appoints 
George  N.  Black  member  Board  of 
Trustees,  Illinois  State  Historical 
Library    288 

Tanguay,  Abb$,  Dictionnaire  Gene- 
alogique    des    Families    Canadien- 

nes,   "Vols.   3   and   4,  quoted 136 

foot   note    136 

Tarbell,   Ida  M. — Life  of  Lincoln...      54 
quoted — foot   note.    Vol.    1 53 

Taubeneck,  Herman  E. — "F.  M.  B. 
A."  member,  Illinois  Legislature, 
1891    94 

Tavlor's  Battery,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion        231 

Taylor,  "Dice" — Negro  slave  girl 
owned  by  Col.  Thomas  Cox,  bought 

by  John  Taylor  197 

foot    note    198 

Taylor.  (Mrs.')  Harriet — Genealogy 
and  the  West,  paper  before  Illi- 
nois     State      Historical      Society, 

reference  to    26,   33 

The  Study  of  Genealogy,  paper 
prepared  for  the  Illinois  State 
Hi.storical    Society,    1909    ...67-S5 

Taylor,      John — early      resident      of 

Springfield.    Ill 

196.    197,    198,    199,    200,   201 

Taylor,  "Nance,"  Negro  slave  girl, 
owned  by  Col.  Thomas  Cox,  bought 

by  John   Taylor    197 

foot  note 198 

Taylorville.  Ill 182 

Taylor.     (Gen.)     Zachary 176 

Teetsaw,  (Petitsas-Petit  Osage), 
Plain   Missouri    138 

Telegrams,  (original)  received  by 
Mr.  Lincoln  on  the  day  he  was 
nominated  for  the  Presidency  in 
1860 65,   66 


Page. 

Tennesseans  in  Illinois  in   1802 212 

Tennessee,    mention    

54,   55,   153,   171,   240,   260, 

261,    262.    263,    264,    265,    266,    267, 
268,    269,    270,    271,    272,    273,    274,   275 

Tennessee    i  River,  mention 

Tennisee       f       235,    240,    243,   277 

"Terry,  W.  B.,"    (The)    (steamer)  .  .    239 

Texas,    mention     148,   149,   262 

"Texas  Steers,"  (The) — nickname 
given  Greenback  members  of  Illi- 
nois .  Legislature,  1877.  Part 
taken  by  them  in  election  of  David 

Davis  to  U.   S.   Senate,   1877 

184,    188,   189 

Thomas,  (Gen.)  George  H. — Union 
Major-General,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion       281 

foot    note    282 

Thomas.    Jesse    B. — re-elected   U.    S. 

Senator   from   Illinois    95 

Thomas,  Jesse  B.,  Jr. — State's  At- 
torney  2d   Judicial   District,   State 

of    Illinois    170 

Thompson,  M.  Jeff — Confederate 
Brig.-General,  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion        229 

"Three  Decades  of  Federal  Legisla- 
tion," by  Samuel  S.  Cox,  con- 
tains    account  '  of     Hayes-Tilden 

Contest    184 

"Three  Decades  of  Federal  Legisla- 
tion," by  Samuel  S.  Cox.  quoted 
as   to   election   of   David   Davis   to 

U.    S.    Senate    187 

Three    Rivers,    Canada — foot    note..    136 

Throop,   William    218 

Thurman,  Allen  G. — U.  S.  Senator 
from      Ohio,      member      Electoral 

Commission    185 

Tilden,  Samuel  J. — believed  by 
many  to  have  been  elected  Presi- 
dent   U.     S.,     1876,    plans    of    his 

friends  to  inaugurate  him    185 

election     to     presidency,      1876, 
claimed      by      his      friends.. 

184-185 

mention    186,  187 

received     majority     of     popular 

vote,    1876    186 

Titus,    Slave    owned    by    one    of   the 

Kirkpatricks  of  Springfield.  111...    197 
"T.  L.  McGill,"  (steamer).. 238,   239,   240 

Tood,    H.    C 18 

Todd,    (Col.)    John — foot   note 108 

Todd,     (Dr.)     John,     of    Springfield. 

111.,  owner  of  slave  woman  Phoebe   197 
Tompkins,     Alex — early     blacksmith 

of  Springfield,  111 200 

Tonty,  Henri  de 139 

Tracyville,    Tenn 276 

Treat,  Samuel  H. — Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  State  of  Illinois.  .      42 

mention     180,   182 

Tree,  Lambert — candidate  for  U.  S. 
Senator    from    Illinois,    vote    cast 

for,    in   Illinois   Legislature 93 

Tremont   House,   Chicago,    111 63 

Trenton,    Ala? 280 

Trinne,   Tenn 263,   264 

Trio,    (Emma.)    (steamer) 239 

Trotter    Estate     78 


331 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Trumbull,  Lyman— anecdotes  of,   re- 
miniscences   of,    by   Col.    Wm.    R- 

Morrison    °^  ^" 

candidate  for  U.  S.  Senator  from 
Illinois,    1855,   account   of   his 

election     ■°°'  °^ 

in   U.    S.    Senate,    reflects   credit 

upon  Illinois    »" 

re-elected    U.    S.    Senator    from 

Illinois,    1867    «» 

Tucker — Englishman  from  the  Fort, 
interpreter  for  the  Ouataouis 

and    the   Poux    1^^ 

Tudcombia    River.      see    Tuscombia 

River ^11 

Tuley,      Murray      Floyd— prominent 

Judge  of  Cook  county   i*> 

Tullahony,    Tenn 274 

Tunnicliff,    (Mrs.)    George  D ^-J 

Turchin,     (Col.    later    Gen.)    John— 
19th   111.    Reg't.,    War   of   the   Re- 

bellion     22b,   All 

"Turk,"   English  bull  dog  owned  by 

the  Enos  family,   Springfield,  111..    i»» 
Turkey     Hill.     HI.,     German     settle- 

ment   in   Illinois,    1831    ^]^ 

Swiss   Colony  at    '^'-^ 

Turkey  Peas,  description  of 192 

Turkish  Crefakat  order 80 

Turkish   Osmanje    order    80 

Turner,       Frederick       Jackson— foot 

note     ^^° 

Tuscarawas    River    163 

Tuscombia    River     246,   247 

Tuthill,    R.    S •  •  •  •  •      23 

Twenty  Seventh  Reg't.  Illinois  Vols., 
"War  of  the  Rebellion,  list  of  coun- 
ties   in    the    State    that    gave    the 

largest   number — foot    note -i-b 

Twenty       Seventh       Reg't.       Illinois 

Vols,    in    War    of    the    Rebellion, 

mustered    into    service    at    Camp 

Butler,   Aug.    10,   1861— foot  note.    226 

War  of  the  Rebellion,  officers  of 

— foot  note    226 

"Twenty  Years  of  Congress,"  by 
James  G.  Blaine,  contains  account 

of   Hayes-Tilden    Contest 184 

"Twenty  Tears  of  Congress,"  by 
James  G.  Blaine,  quoted  as  to 
election   of   David  Davis   to  U.    S. 

Senate    ^^^"ooi 

Tyler,    (Gun    Boat) ^^J^ 


U 

Udden,    (Prof.)    John   A..' 22 

Union   City,    Battle   of 26d 

foot   note    ^^^ 

Union  Jack   •. ^  ' 

United   Colonies    of   America    104 

United  States— Adjutant  General...  71 

Board  of  War    1^^ 

Cavalry,    4th    Regiment 264 

Commissioner   of   Pensions    71 


Page. 

United   States    Congress — mention .  . 

187,   188 

Continental  Congress — mention. 

105,   106, 

107,    114,    121-123,    161,    162,   163 

foot    notes    

105,   106,   107,   108,   109 

see  Continental  Congress. 

United    States    District    Court 176 

excitement    in,     on    account    of 
Haves-Tilden    Contest,     1876- 

1877    185 

Federal  Weather  Bureau    47 

flag.    sysj:em    of   ensigns    in    our 

flag    seals 82 

foreigners  in   77 

Government — mention    47,   150 

Survey  Oflfice 47 

mention   

43  47.  49,  58.  61,  67.  70, 

78,   83,   84,   108,   111,   116,   121, 
139,    148,    152,    221,    224,    260,   287 

foot    notes    .106,   109,   220 

Meteorological  data 47 

Naval    Observatory    59 

Senator      from      Illinois  —  some 

famous    political    contests. ..  86-96 
Senator    from    Illinois — election 
of.     by     Illinois     Ltegislature. 
1885,  account  of  methods  used 

91-93 

Senators  from  Illinois — manner 
of  electing,  number  of,  their 
character,  who  they  were....     86 

soldiers  in  1831  99 

Supreme  Court,  members  of,  to 
be  members  of  Electoral  Com- 
mission        186 

Supreme  Cotirt — mention   185 

War    Department    71 

University  Camp,  Cumberland  Moun- 
tain,   Tenn 275,276 

Universitv      of      Illinois,       Urbana- 

Champaign,  111 9,  15,  22 

foot    note    220 

University   of  New  York 58 

foot   note 58 

University  Springs,  Cumberland  Mt., 

Tenn.     ? 276 

Updegraff,       Milton — Professor       of 
Mathematics    in    the    U.    S.    Naval 

Observatory 59 

Upper  Alton   175 

Upper     Louisiana,     De     Lassus     last 

Spanish  Governor  of   135 

mention    135 

Upton's  farm  near  New  Madrid,  Mo.   240 

Urbana,   111 9,   13,   15,   22,   23 

Usher,  firm  in  London,  Eng 78 


V 


Valley  Forge   58 

Van     Arsdale,      Simon — member     of 
the     First     Presbvterian     Church, 

Belleville,   111..    1833    172 

Van  Bergen,  Peter — early  citizen  of 
Springfield,  111 206,   207 


332 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

Vaners,  Henry,  see  Varner,  Henry. 

Van  Horn  Estate  T8 

Vandagrif,  Thomas — early  settler  of 

Springfield,  111 201 

Vandalia,     111. — German     settlement 

in,    1820    212 

Hanover  Colony  laid  the  foun- 
dations of,  in  1820    211 

mention    ...49,  51,   54,   169,   286,   288 

foot  note    51 

X'annoltmurg,     Lewis — private     27th 

Reg't.    III.    Vols ;...   248 

Van      Nov,      Nathaniel — hanged     in 
1826,  in  Springfield,  111. . . . .  .194,  204-205 

1  Daniel,  Private  Co. 
Vanvaltinberg,  I  "C,"  27th  Reg't. 
Vanvoltenberg,    f       111.  Vols.,  War  of 

J      the  Rebellion 232 

Varner,  Henry — private  Co.  "C," 
27th  Reg't.  Ills.  Vols.,  War  of  the 

Rebellion    229 

Vatican 80 

Vera  Cruz,  Mexico,  siege  of — men- 
tion        148 

Vergennes,   Count  de    104 

foot   note    105 

Vermilion,    (river)    La   Balm   at....    114 
Vermont.    State    of,    birthplace    and 
early   home    of   Stephen   A.    Doug- 
las          87 

mention     57,   61 

Versailles,    France    104 

Vicissitudes   of  Families,   by   Burke, 

quoted    79 

Vicksburg,    Tenn 

261,    265,    267,    268,    269,    272,   275 

Vigo,   Francois    104 

Villazur,     Pedro    de — expedition    of, 

quoted — foot  note    137 

Vincennes — Commandant  of  the  Post 
on  the  Wabash.  Burned  at  the 
stake   by  the  Chickasaw  Indians.    142 

death  of,  leference  to 143 

Vincennes     Post — La     Balm     leaves 

and   goes   to    St.    Louis    '  113 

La    Balm    to    meet    re-inforce- 

ments    at    114 

Louis  de  St.  Ange  in  command 

at    143 

mention* 97,    117,    127,   128 

Vincennes,    Indiana    56,   143 

Vincent,  T.  M. — Assistant  Adj. -Gen- 
eral Illinois,  his  report  to  Gov- 
ernor Yates  on  the  condition  of  the 
27th  Reg't.  111.  Vols.,  quoted — foot 

note    272 

Virginia    State,     Albemarle    county, 

Va. 26 

Augusta  county,  annals  of  Au- 
gusta county,  Va 26 

Colonial  Virginia  Register,  comp. 
by  Wm.  G.  and  Mary  New- 
ton   Stanard,    1902 26 

frontiers,      incursions      of      the 

Savages  against    161 

frontiers — mention — foot  note..  162 
Hayden's  Virginia  Genealogies  26 
House   of  Burgesses,    1619-1776, 

reference  to    26 

Journal  of  Virginia  House  of 
Delegates,  July  7,  1778 — foot 
note    163 


Virginia    State — Concluded.  Page. 

Virginia — mention 26,    69,    109,   229 

foot  note    108 

Militiamen    141 

Revolutionary  conventions  of  the 

Colony  of  Virginia    26 

State      Papers,       quoted  —  foot 

notes  97,   102,   114 

Thirteenth     Virginia     Regiment, 
under  command  of  Col.  John 

Gibson    162. 

troops,     create     in     the     French 

citizen    feeling    of    antipathy 

against   the   United    States...    112 

Virginians — believed  by  the  Indians 

to  be  allied  with  the   French  and 

Spanish   against  the   English 113 

feeling    against    entertained    by 
inhabitants   of   the   West   and 

the  Illinois  country    113 

inhcibitants  of  Cahokia  complain 

of  conduct  of    113 

in   Illinois,   1802 — reference  to..    212 

mention    102 

foot  note    .■ 114 

"Visitatio    facta    per    Marischallum 

de    Norry"    76 

Voltaire,  Francois  Marie  Arouet  de, 

quotation    from    writings 76 

Vredenburgh    Lumber    Co.,    Spring- 
field,   111 194 


W 

Wabache       (Wabash)       River — foot 

note     140 

Wabash — Railroad    287 

River    98,   142 

foot  note    lis 

W.    B.    Terry,    (Steamer) 239 

Wagoner,    S.    A 30 

Waite,  Morrison  Remick — Chief  Jus- 
tice U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  mention  186 

Walker,   Mrs.   Edwin   S 24 

Wallace,   Joseph — Illinois   and  Loui- 
siana under   French   Rule,   quoted 

— foot  note    137 

Walworth,    Col.    Nathaniel    H. — foot 

note    281 

War    of    American    Independence...    104 

see  War  of  the  Revolution. 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Regiments  in — 

Tenth    Reg't.    111.    Vols 234,   242 

Fourteenth    Reg't.    111.    Vols 242 

Eighteenth  Reg't.  111.  Vols.. 231,   234 

Nineteenth  Reg't.  111.  Vols 

226,   250,  271 

Twenty-second   Reg't.    111.   Vols. 

231,    241,    242,    246, 

252,    253,    256,    261,    266,    268,  276 

foot  note    257 

Twenty-seventh  Reg't  111.  Vols. 

220-282 

officers  of— foot  note 226 

Twenty-ninth  Reg't.   111.  Vols.. 

231,   234 

Thirtieth  Reg't.  111.  Vols... 231,  234 
Thirty-first  Reg't.  111.  Vols.. 231,  234 
Thirty-third  Reg't.  (Yates  Phal- 

a^jjx)     242    243 

Thirty-fifth  Reg't.'  'ill.'  'Vol's.. . .'  267 
Thirty-sixth   Reg't.   111.   Vols....    262 


333 


Index — Continued. 


Page. 

War  of  the  Rebellion,  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Regiments  in — Concluded. 

Thirty-eigth   Reg-t.    111.    Vols...   273 
Forty-second  Reg't.  111.  Vols... 
..241,  246,   250,  253,   256,  258, 
262,    268,    270,    271,    272,    273,   274 

foot  note    257 

Forty-eighth    Reg't.    111.    Vols..    234 

Fifty-first  Reg't.  111.  Vols 

241,    246,   268,    272,   274 

foot    note     257 

Fifty-ninth    Reg't.    111.    Vols 269 

Seventy-third    Reg't.    111.    Vols..    272 
Eighty — eighth  Reg't.   111.   Vols.   271 
Yates    Phalanx    111.    Vols... 242,   243 
Indiana  Volunteer  Regiments  in — 

Thirty-ninth    274 

Iowa  Volunteer  Regiments  in — 

Seventh   231 

Kentucky     Volunteer     Regiments 
in — 

Sixth    267 

Michigan      Volunteer      Regiments 
in — 

First  Reg't.    of   Michigan  Fusi- 
liers       279 

Tenth  Michigan    242 

Fourteenth    Michigan    242 

Minnesota     Volunteer     Regiments 
in — 

Second     274 

Mississippi    Volunteer    Regiments 
in — 

Fourth     277 

Ninth     277 

Missouri       Volunteer       Regiments 
in — 

Eighth    226 

Ohio  Volunteer  Regiments  in — 

Ninety-third    Reg't 271 

Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Regiments 
in — 

Seventy-seventh    260 

Seven-eighth   252 

Virginia  Volunteer  Regiments  in — 

Thirteenth    162 

"War  of  the  Rebellion,  War  Records — 
Series  I,  Vol.  Ill,   quoted — foot 

notes    231,   232,   272 

Series  I,  Vol.  VII,  quoted — foot 

notes     233,  236 

Series    I,    Vol.    VIII,    quoted — 

foot  notes   238,   239 

Series    I,    Vol.    X,    quoted — foot 

note    245 

Series    I,    Vol.    XVII,    quoted — 

foot  note 248 

Series     I,     Vol.     XX,     quoted — 

foot  note    257 

Series    I,    Vol.    XXIII,    Pt.    I, 

quoted — foot  note    274 

Series     I,     Vol.     XXX,     Pt.     I, 

quoted    281 

War  of  the  Revolution — first  move- 
ment of  the  Americans  against  the 
Indians  during  the  Revolution   ...    161 

mention    

..38,   58,   60,   67,   70.   104,   212,   285 
Rock    River    in    the    Revolution, 

by  William  A.   Meese 97-103 

War  Records.  See  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion War  Records. 


Page. 

Warren   county.   111 45 

Warren,  Hooper — early  resident  and 

business  man  of  Springfield,  111...    198 
Warville,      Brissot     de — travels     of 

in   17  92,   reference   to 68' 

Washburne,  Elihu  B. — candidate  for 
U.  S.  Senator  from  Illinois,  de- 
feated by  Richard  Yates 89 

early   friend   of  Alfred   Cowles.    178 
sketch  of  Edv?ard   Coles,   refer- 
ence   to — foot   note    171 

Washburne,  James  M. — Democratic 
member   Illinois   Legislature,    1877   189 

'Washington,  D.  C 53,   54,   59, 

67,   68,   71,   85,   149,   179,   180,    181,   185 
Washington,  George — birthday,  Feb. 
22,   1863,  salute  fired  in  honor  of.    262 
Calendar        "Old       Washington 
Calendar,"    George    Washing- 
ton,   papers,    1732-1799 124 

Coat  of  Arms,  honored  in  "Old 

Glory"    81 

letters    to,    Vol.     36,     folio    87, 

quoted — foot    note     108 

letters  to  Washington,  1778,  Vol. 
XXV,    folios    86,    87,    Library 
of  Congress,  quoted — footnote  161 
M.  de  la  Balme,  letter  to  Wash- 
ington,   March    5,    1780 — foot 

note    108 

Washington  Ms.   Box  35,  No.   5, 
Library    of    Congress,    quoted 

— foot   note 161 

mention  ..58,  104,  141,  163,  164,   222 

foot  note   107 

Sparks,    Life    and    Writings    of 
Washington     I,     quoted — foot 

note     163 

Washington,      (Col.)      Samuel — foot 

note    161 

Watch  Tower,  Black  Hawk's  Watch 

Tower    99 

Waterloo,  III.,  home  of  Col.  Wm.  R. 

Morrison    89 

Waters,  Henry  F. — ^Water's  Glean- 
ings  in   England    77 

iCCapt.)  Louis  H. — Cap- 
Waters,  L  tain  Co.  "D,"  28th  Inf. 
Watters,    I     Ills.  Vols.,  War  of  the 

J     Rebellion    223,   226 

Waters,  R.  H. — private.  War  of  the 

RebeUion     245 

Waters,    T.    H. — private    27th   Reg't. 

Ills.  Vols.,  War  of  the  Rebellion.    245 
Watson,    Arthur — early    resident    of 

Springfield,    111 190,   203 

Watson   Branch,    Springfield,   111....    190 
Watson,       John      B. — early      school 

teacher   of   Springfield,   111 203,   204 

Watson,  John  B. — Grove,  settled  by 
him  in  1829,  now  the  State  House 

grounds    191 

Watterson,  (Col.)  Henry  of  Ken- 
tucky— mention     55,   185 

Wau-Bun,     by    Juliette    M.     Kinzie, 

quoted — foot   notes    51,   53 

Weaver,  (Capt.)  Wm.  H.,  of  Menard 
county.  111. — Republican  elected  to 
Illinois  Legislature  from  34th  dis- 
trict, to  fill  vacancy,  secures  re- 
election of  John  A.  Logan  to  U. 
S.   Senate    92 


334 


In  clex — Continued . 


Page. 


Webber  Estate    

Weber,      Jessie      Palmer — Editor-in- 
Chief  of  the  Journal   of   the   Illi- 
nois   State    Historical    Society.... 
George    Nelson    Black   Memorial 

addre.^ss    13,    285- 

Librarian   Illinois   State   Histor- 
ical   Library — foot    note    .... 
member  of   Board   of   Directors, 
Illinois    State    Historical    So- 
ciety    9,  13,  21.  22,   24 

member   of  Committees,    Illinois 
State  Historical  Society. ..  .22 

mention    

Secretary    and    Treasurer,    Illi- 
nois  State  Historical   Society, 

report  of   9,   14,   15,   17 

Secretary    of   the    Fort    Massac 

Commission     

Webster,  Mrs.  Charles  A. — mem- 
ber of  Committee  on  Local  Histor- 
ical Socielie.';,  Illinois  State  Histor- 
ical   Society     

see  Webster,   IMartha  Farnham. 

Webster.   Daniel — mention    

United      States      Senator      from 

Massachusetts    

Webster.  Martha  Farnham — Secre- 
tary Knox  County  Historical  So- 
ciety,   report   of    21 

Week's    Review,    Galesburg,    111 

Weiss    Estate    

Weldon,  Lawrence — member  of  the 
Committee  on  Resolutions  of  Con- 
dolence, death  of  Lincoln,  Spring- 
field,   111 

Western  Hotel,   Springfield,   111.. 194. 
Western       Illinois       State       Normal 

School,   Macomb.   Ill 

Western  Ploughboy  of  Edwards- 
ville.   111.,    (newspaper) — foot  note 

Western  States    

Western  Union  Telegraph  Co.,  1866. 

West   Indian    Hurricane 

Westland.     quoted — foot    notes..  2 10, 

West    Mary    Allen,    How    Galesburg 

Grew.    Manuscript  of,  reference  to 

West    Point — foot   note    

Wharton.  Francis — Diplomatic  Cor- 
respondence,     Vol.      II,      quoted — 

foot    note    

Wheat     

Wheeler,  Jacob.  U.  S.  Marshal 
Southern  District  of  Illinois.  1885. 
political    labors    of,    in    interest   of 

.lohn  A.  Logan    

Wheeler.    (Mrs.)    Katherine   Goss... 

Whig  Party — in   Illinois  Legislature 

nominates     candidate     for     U.     S. 

Senate   by   means   of   a   caucus   of 

a    political    party    86 

mention    41,    90,    176, 

Whigs,   in   Illinois  Legislature,    1855, 

part     taken     by.     in     contest     for 

election    of  U.    S.    Senator    . . 

White,      (Rev.)      George — Historical 

Collections    of    Georgia,    published 

in   1854.   reference  to 

White,     Horace     

White.  John — early  blacksmith  of 
Springfield.    Ill 


78 

25 

290i 

56 

27 

■   \^ 

10 

,   18 
18 

23 
50 
88 


-30 
29 
78 


180 
202 

23 

55 
48 
64 
57 
211 

29 
230 


105 
48 


92 
22 


87 
177 


88-89 


26 
20 

200 


Page. 

White    River    54 

Whittemore,  Floyd  K. — former  State 

Treasurer   of   Illinois    287 

Who's  Who  in  America 73 

"Wigwam"  Chicago,  where  Abraham 
Lincoln    was    nominated    for    the 

Presidency    64 

Wilbanks.  Robert  A.  D. — Clerk  Illi- 
nois House  of  Representatives 
1885,     telegraphs     Col.     Wm.     R. 

Morrison    92 

Will,  Conrad — active  in  securing 
the    passage    of    the    free    school 

law,     1825     218 

mention    217,   218 

foot    note,    appendix 219 

Will,  Susanna — wife  of  Conrad  Will 

— foot   note,    appendix    219 

Willcox,     E.     S. — Librarian     Peoria 

Public  Library,  Peoria,  111 12 

Williamsburgh,        Virginia — mention 

— foot   note    11.", 

Williams    Branch,    Springfield,    111...    191 
Williams,     (Col.)     John — early    resi- 
dent  of    Springfield,    111 

180,    182.    200,    286,    289,   290 

Williams.  Laommi  F. — Captain  Co. 
"C,"    27th    Reg't.    Illinois    Vols. — 

foot    note    226 

mention    223,    224,    226,    227, 

228,    229,    230,    232,    233,    234, 
235,    236,    237,    238,    239,    240,   276 
Williams,       Louisa       lies — wife       of 

George  Nelson   Black    289,   290 

Williams  Springfield  Directory,  1860.     66 

Williamson,    Oliver    R 24 

William   the   Conqueror    75 

Wilson,    John    James     Speed,     (Col. 

Wilson)    63,   64,   65,   66 

Supt.  Western  Union  Telegraph 

Co 64 

Winchester,     III 63,   223 

Winchester,  Palemon  H. — celebrated 
case    of,    in    the    Madison    county 

Circuit    Court    171 

Winchester,    Tenn 274 

Windward    Islands    57 

Winnebago    Indians    98,   103 

Winnebago  W^ar    193 

Winston.     Richard — his     opinion     of 

De    La    Balm — foot    note    114 

Winter,  (The)  of  the  Deep  Snow, 
address  before  the  Illinois  State 
Historical  Society,  1909,  by  Elea- 
nor   Atkinson     47-62 

Wisconsin  State  Historical  Society's 
Collections,    Vol.    16,    quoted — foot 

note    142 

Collections     No.     17,      quoted — 

foot  notes    135,   139,    140,   141 

XVIII,    quoted— foot   note..    120 
Historical     Library,     collections 

of     67 

mention 51 

Sons    of    American    Revolution, 

Pubs,   of    67 

Wolf's     Tables     of     Sun-Spots     and 

Auroras,    quoted    58 

Wolves     50 

Worcester,    Mass 68 


335 


Index — Concluded. 


Page. 
Work,  (The)  of  Edward  Everett  of 
Quincy  in  the  Quarter-master's  De- 
partment in  Illinois  during  the 
first  year  of  the  Civil  war.  Ad- 
dress before  Illinois  State  Histor- 
ical Societj',   1909,  by  Cora  Agnes 

Benneson     147-153 

Worthington,  Mrs.  Thomas 24 

Wood,  John — anectdote  of  his  prom- 
inence and  acquaintance  in  Quincy, 

Illinois    148 

biographical   sketch   of    147-14S 

Colonel,  137th  Illinois  Vols.  In- 
fantry,   1864     153 

elected  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
Illinois,  on  death  of  Governor 
Bissell,     1860,     becomes    Gov- 

ei-nor    148 

founder   of   Quincy,    111 147 

111 147 

Governor   of   Illinois    148 

home  of,  at  Quincy,  111.  pur- 
chased by  the  Quincy  Histor- 
ical  Society    13 

leaves  Edward  Everett  to  close 
business     of     Illinois     Q.     M. 

Dept.,    February,    1862 152 

letter    of,    to    Edward    Everett, 

March,    1862    152-153 

makes    report    of    operations    of 

Q.   M.  Dept.  of  Illinois 151 

political   offices  held  by   148 

Quarter      Master     General      for 

Illinois — mention    149,   153 

Quarter  Master  General  of  Illi- 
nois,   first   year   of   Civil   war, 

his    embarassments    147 

services  in  anti-slavery  struggle 

in    Illinois,    1823    147-148 

Wood,    John — Springfield,    111 193 

Wood,     Thomas     J. — Union     Major- 
General,  War  of  the  Rebellion   . . .    281 
Wool,    (Gen.)    John   E. — in   Mexican 

war     149 

Wright,    Erastus — early    resident    of 
Springfield,    111.,    Elk,    owned    by, 

incident   relating  to    202 

mention    182,    192,    197,   200 

Wyandot    Indians    161 

Wyandotte    Indians    164 

Wyckoff,    (Dr.)    C.   T 15 

Wyman,    (Col.)    J.    B.— mention 149 

Wyoming,   111 15 

Wyoming — foot   note    163 


Y 

Page. 
"Yale    Band,"    founders    of    Illinois 

College,   Jacksonville,   111.,    1828...    172 
Yankee     Doodle     and     Dixie     land, 

stirring  music  of   221 

Yates,      Catherine      Geers — wife     of 

Richard  Yates  the  Elder 18 

Yates  Phalanx  and  Sharp  Shooters, 

War  of  the  Rebellion   242,   243 

Yates,  Richard,  The  Elder — anec- 
dote  of,   reminiscences  of,   by  Col. 

Wm.    R.    Morrison    89-90 

elected  U.   S.   Senator  from  Illi- 
nois,    defeats     E.     B.     Wash- 

burne   89 

Governor    of    Illinois,     appoints 
committee      to      audit      State 

War  Accounts 151 

Governor    of    Illinois,    later    U. 

S.     Senator     95 

Governor     of     Illinois — mention 

150,    152,    153,   236 

foot    notes    230,   232 

in    U.    S.    Senate    reflects    credit 

upon  Illinois   96 

Yates   Sharpshooters — Battle   of 

Corinth     242 

Yates,      ( Hon. )      Richard,      ( The 
Younger) — honorary  member  Illi- 
nois   State    Historical    Society. ...      16 
member     Board     of     Directors, 
Illinois    State    Historical    So- 
ciety     9,   14 

Yates       Sharpshooters,       Battle       at 

Corinth,    Miss 242 

Yellowstone,     (steamer) 55 

Yorktown,    Va.,    evacuation   of 245 

foot    note    106 

mention    124 

Young    America,    111 65 

Young,    (Judge)    G.   W. — of   Marion, 

111 15 

Young,  Richard  M. — U.  S.  Senator 
from  Illinois,  his  defeat  for  re- 
election          87 


Ziesberger,   (Rev.)  David — Moravian 

Missionary — foot    note    109 

Zanesville,    ©hio — foot    note 220 


9CS 


Publications  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical    Library 

and  Society. 


No.  1.  *A  Bibliography  of  Newspapers  Published  in  Illincis  prior  to  1S60.  Pre- 
pared by  Edmund  J.  James,  Ph.  D.,  professor  in  the  University  of  Chicago : 
assisted  by  Milo  J.  Loveless,  graduate  student  in  the  University  of  Chicago.  94 
pages,   8   vo.,    Springfield,   1899. 

No.  2.  *Information  Relating  to  the  Territorial  Laws  of  Illinois,  passed  from 
1809  to  1812.  Prepared  by  Edmund  J.  James,  Ph.  D.,  15  pages,  8  vo..  Springfield, 
1899. 

No.  3.  *The  Territorial  Records  of  Illinois.  Edited  by  Edmund  J.  James,  Ph. 
D.,  professor  in  the  University  of  Chicago.     170  pages,   8  vo.,  Springfield,   1901. 

No.  4.  *Transactions  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  for  the  Year  1900. 
Edited  bv  E.  B.  Greene,  Ph.  D.,  secretary  of  the  society.  55  pages,  8  vo.,  Spring- 
field, 1900. 

No.  5.  *Alphabetic  Catalog  of  the  Books,  Manuscripts,  Pictures  and  Curios  of 
the  Illinois  State  Historical  Library.  Authors,  Titles  and  Subjects.  Compiled 
under  the  direction  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Library,  by  the  librarian,  Mrs. 
Jessie  Palmer  Weber.     363   pages,   8  vo.,   Springfield,   1900. 

No.  6.  'Transactions  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  for  the  Tear  1901. 
122  pages,  8  vo.,  Springfield,  1901. 

No.  7.  *Transactions  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  for  the  Tear  1902. 
246  pages,   8  vo.,   Springfield,   1902. 

No.  8.  *Transactions  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  for  the  Tear  1903. 
376  pages,  8  vo.,  Springfield,   1904. 

No.  9.  'Transactions  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  for  the  Tear  1904. 
701   pages,   8  vo.,   Springfield,   1904. 

No.  10.  'Transactions  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  for  the  Tear  1905. 
500   pages,    8   vo.,    Springfield.    1906. 

No.  11.  'Transactions  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  for  the  Tear  1906. 
437   pages,   8  vo.,   Springfield.   1906. 

No.  12.  Transactions  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  for  the  Tear  1907. 
436   pages,   8   vo.,   Springfield,   1908. 

No.  13.  Transactions  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  for  the  Year  1908. 
383   pages,    8   vo.,   Springfield,   1909. 

'Illinois  Historical  Collections,  "Vol.  1.  Edited  by  H.  W.  Beckwlth,  President 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Library.  642  pages,  8  vo.,  Spring- 
field, 1903. 

'Illinois  Historical  Collections,  Vol.  2.  Virginia  series.  Vol.  1.  Edited  by 
Clarence  W.  Alvord.     CLVI  and  663   pages.   8  vo.,   Springfield,   111.,   1907. 

'Illinois  Historical  Collections,  Vol.  3.  Lincoln-Douglas  Debates  of  1S5S.  Lin- 
coln Series,  Vol.  1.  Edited  by  Edwin  Erie  Sparks,  Ph.  D.,  627  pages,  8  vo.,  Spring- 
field, 111.,  1908. 

'Illinois  Historical  Collections.  Vol.  4.  Executive  Series,  Vol.  1.  The  Governors' 
Letter-Books,  1818-1834.  Edited  by  Evarts  Boutel  Greene  and  Clarence  Vv'alworth 
Alvord.      317  pages,   S   vo.,   Springfield,   111.,   1909. 

Illinois  Historical  Collections,  Vol.  5.  Virginia  Series,  Vol.  II.  Kaskaskia 
Records,  1778-1790.  Edited  by  Clarence  Walworth  Alvord.  L  and  681  pages,  8  vo., 
Springfield,  111.,   1909. 

♦Bulletin  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Library.  Vol  1,  Sept.  1905.  Illinois  in 
the  Eighteenth  Century.  By  Clarence  W.  Alvord,  University  of  Illinois.  3  8  pages, 
8   vo.,    Springfield,    1905. 

Bulletin  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Library.  Vol.  1,  No.  2.  June  1.  1906. 
Laws  of  the  Territory  of  Illinois,  1809-1811.  Edited  by  Clarence  W.  Alvord,  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois.     34  pages.   8  vo.,   Springfield,   1906. 

'Circular  Illinois  State  Historical  Library.  Vol.  1,  No.  1,  Nov.  1905.  An  outline 
for  the  study  of  Illinois  State  history.  Compiled  under  the  direction  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Library,  by  Jessie  Palmer  Weber, 
librarian  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Library  and  secretary  of  the  Illinois  State 
Historical  Society,  assisted  by  Georgia  LL.  Osborn,  assistant  librarian.  94  pages, 
8  vo.,   Springfield,   1905. 

Journal  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society.  Vol.  1,  Nos.  1-3.  April,  1908  to 
Vol.    4,    No.    1,   April.   1911. 


* 


I