CHAPTER XXI THE CIVIL WAR-PRESIDENT LINCOLN CALLS FOR SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND MEN AND PEORIANS RESPOND LOYALLY AND HEARTILY-PARTY LINES ARE DIMMED AND PRACTICALLY ALL ARE FOR THE UNION-ROBERT G. INGERSOLL TENDERS HIS SERVICES AND BECOMES COLONEL OF A REGIMENT-COMPLETE LIST OF PEORIA'S HEROES OTHER WARS-SOLDIERS' MONUMENTS. Notwithstanding the threats of the south that it would sever its connection with the Union in the event an anti-slavery president was elected, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated on the 4th day of March, 1861, great precautions having been taken to guard him from the ruthless hand of the assassin. Even at this time some of the slave-holding states had seceded and the inauguration of Lincoln but precipitated the "irrepressible conflict." On the 12th day of April, Fort Sumter was fired on by the vanguard of the southern army at Charleston, South Carolina, and the whole civilized world was notified by that traitorous action that civil war was on in the United States. The duty of the president was plain to him, as he saw it under the constitution, and immediately after this taunting insult had been paid the flag, on the 14th day of April, Lincoln issued a proclamation calling upon his countrymen to join with him to defend their homes and country and vindicate her honor. The call of the president was for 75,000 men and on the 15th of April, Governor Richard Yates issued a call for the convening of the legislature. Measures were there and then taken to meet the wishes and demands of the president and within. ten days after the call for troops, 10,000 men of the state of Illinois had volunteered their services to their country and millions in money were at the command of the government from patriots in various parts of the state. Only six regiments could be accepted at this time, but, anticipating another call, the legislature authorized the raising of ten additional regiments and more than the requisite number of men to fill them at once offered themselves. In May, June and July seventeen regiments of infantry and five of cavalry had been raised and at the close of 1861 Illinois had in camp 17,000 troops and 50,000 in the field,—15,000 over and above her full quota. The president, in July and August, 1862, called for 600,000 more men, and August 18 was set as the limit for volunteers, after which a draft would be ordered. Before eleven days had expired, men came from the fields, shops, stores, offices and other places of business, to the number of 50,000, showing by their promptitude the patriotism of a great state and of its people. On the 21st day of December, 1864, the last call was made. It was for 300,000 men and Illinois responded generously, although her quota had been overdrawn to a great extent. In the meantime the citizens of Peoria and the country were heartily and enthusiastically in sympathy with the president in his efforts and determination to put down rebellion in the states and save the integrity of the Union. There were mass meetings, pole raisings, patriotic speeches on rostrums, in the pulpits and on the street corners. Democrats vied with republicans in expressions of condemnation of the spirit of the southern confederacy and party affiliations were forgotten by the thousands of loyal men who fell over each other in their eagerness to sign their names to the muster rolls. Hon. William Manning, one of Peoria's eminent lawyers of the day, an ardent Douglas democrat, declared himself for the Union, the constitution and the flag. At a great meeting of citizens presided over by the mayor, William A. Williard, William B. Whiffen, a democrat, was made one of the secretaries. The Democratic Union announced its policy as being unequivocally for the maintenance of the federal union and Robert G. Ingersoll, then a brilliant young Peoria lawyer and up to that time a democrat, offered to raise a regiment of cavalry 1,000 strong. This offer was not available, but shortly after a cavalry regiment was organized and Ingersoll was made its colonel. The board of supervisors appropriated $10,000 to equip her volunteer soldiers and provide for the families of those needing assistance. Many offers from influential and wealthy men were made to provide for families of volunteers and it seemed to be in the nature of a competition among the men of affairs to see who could do the most for the Union cause. The first departure of volunteers from Peoria was on the 24th day of April, 1861. On this day Captain Dennison's company of "National Blues" entrained for Springfield, their departure being witnessed by a mass of men, women and children. To the depot the "Blues" were escorted by Captain Norton's company of volunteers, the Peoria Zouaves and the Emmet Guards, each of which was headed by a brass band. On the following day the company was made a part of the state militia and finally it was mustered into the United States service as Company E, Eighteenth Regiment Illinois Volunteers. Richard J. Oglesby, who was afterwards three times governor of the state and United States senator, was commissioned as colonel of the regiment. Of the thousands of men sent to the front from Illinois, many of whom never returned, Peoria contributed a generous share. But the tales of the war have been oft told and countless volumes contribute to the history of the great conflict, which make it superfluous to go into details in this work. The well-filled shelves of Peoria's libraries will furnish all that may be desired on the subject. Following is a complete list of names of the brave men, who fought for their country's honor and integrity, , from Peoria county: Enlisted April 25, 1861. Anderson, Irwin; Babb, Timothy; Bohn, John; Brauns, Otto; Carner, Lawrence; Christ, Carl M.; Commensenusich, David; Fairke, Otto; Forrester, Asa B.; Frazer, Chastaise S.; Fry, Charles G.; Gray, William H.; Garsuch, Noah H.; Gilliard, John P.; Gindele, Francis; Gruse, Gustavus; Gingrich, Jacob; Gillig, Charles E.; Gaup, William; Greenleaf, Henry B.; Hetzel, Frederick; Hahle, Charles; Harrison, A, Y.; Hurd, George W.; Humphries, James; Irons, Charles D.; Jackel, Amandus: July, Basil; Keener, Henry H.; Karl, Joseph; Kluge, Gustavus; Kolmbuck, Reynolds; Kellogg, John H.; Kuehnle, Joseph; Law son, Benjamin; Loomis, Andrew; Lutz, Henry; Dred, Richard W., enlisted February 24, 1865. Bauman, August, enlisted February 21, 1865. Haslench. Joseph, enlisted February 21, 1865. Harlow, Moses, enlisted February 23, 1865. Hinkle, William A., enlisted February 24, 1865. Isenburg, Samuel D., enlisted February 23, 1865. Jordan, John, enlisted February 23, 1865. Johnson, Edgar, enlisted February 20, 1865. Kampmier, William, enlisted February 21, 1865. Keller, Thomas, enlisted February 23, 1865. Keppel, Frederick, enlisted February 23, 1865; promoted corporal. Keyser, Dennis E., enlisted February 23, 1865. Kistner, Paul, enlisted February 24, 1865. Lorins, Julius, enlisted February 24, 1865. Lorins, Eugene, enlisted February 24, 1865. Nicholas, William, enlisted February 23, 1865. Regan, Henry, enlisted February 23, 1865. Shiplen, Henry F., enlisted February 24, 1865. Scoville, John, enlisted February 24, 1865. Sarver, Benjamin, enlisted February 20, 1865. Sessler, Emile, enlisted February 24, 1865. Teufel, Christian, enlisted February 23, promoted corporal. 1865; Teufel, Andreas, enlisted February 23, 1865. Wagener, August, enlisted February 21, 1865. Yans, Charles, enlisted February 20, 1865. Yates, John C., enlisted February 20, 1865. Young, John B., enlisted February 23, 1863. COMPANY E. Stead, William, enlisted February 1, 1864. Transferred from Seventeenth Infantry. Campbell, William, enlisted February 15, 1864. Cross, William, enlisted February 2, 1864. Snyder, James, enlisted December 23, 1863. Transferred from Eleventh Infantry. Fleck, Martin, enlisted September 30, 1864. Miller, Anton, enlisted October 7, 1864. Drafted and Substitute Recruits. Easton, Clark, enlisted September 26, 1864. Childs, Benjamin, enlisted September 27, Cliff, Richard, enlisted October 10, 1864. Grant, Winslow, enlisted September 26, 1864. Harriott, Ephraim, enlisted October 11, 1864. Wonder, John, enlisted October 11, 1864. Woods, Henry, enlisted October 11, 1864. COMPANY E. Captains. John Wetzel, commissioned July 25, 1861. Lloyd Wheaton, commissioned March 25, 1862; promoted major. Lieutenants. First, Lloyd Wheaton, commissioned July 25, 1861; promoted. First, Frederick A. King, commissioned July 25, 1861; promoted adjutant. Second, Frederick A. King, commissioned March 25, 1862; promoted. Brown, Benjamin W., enlisted July 25, 1861; promoted sergeant; transferred Veteran Relief Corps, September 15, 1863. Irons, Charles D., enlisted July 25, 1861; reduced to ranks April, 1863; discharged April 24, 1863; promotion in Eighty-sixth Illinois. Whane, John, enlisted July 25, 1861; promoted sergeant; discharged July 31, 1862; wounded at Shiloh. Molineaux, Gold D., enlisted July 25, 1861; reenlisted as veteran. Keener, Henry N., enlisted July 25, 1861; reenlisted as veteran. Musician. Walton, Henry H., enlisted July 25, 1861; mustered out July 30, 1864. Privates. Barrett, John, enlisted July 26, 1861. Ash, Francis W., enlisted July 28, 1861. Veterans. Brant, Jacob, enlisted January 5, 1864. 1864. COMPANY F. Recruits. Clark, David, enlisted August 18, 1861. Ines, Frank H., enlisted October 10, 1861. Nangel, Joseph, enlisted March 11, 1864. Veterans. Bensel, John E., January 5, 1864. Balser, Andreas, enlisted July 25, 1861. COMPANY I. Recruits. 1861. 1861. 1861. 1861. 19, Garon, George, enlisted January 1, 1864. Drafted and Substitute Recruits. Engel, Joseph, enlisted September 26, 1864. Mamburg, Madison, enlisted October 11, 1864. Spenive, Jacob, enlisted September 26, 1864. McKenny, Michael, enlisted July 9, 1861. Veterans. Basler, Andrew, enlisted February 1, 1864. Duenaechter, Melchor, J., enlisted February 1864. I, Ensch, Michael, enlisted February 1, 1864. COMPANY K. Recruits. Brandt, Jacob, enlisted August 20, 1862. Drafted and Substitute Recruits. Miner, Cyrus, enlisted September 26, 1864. Stubbs, John, enlisted September 27, 1864. 1864. Transferred from Seventeenth Infantry. Ackerman, William B., enlisted January 14, 1864. Blind, Philip, enlisted December 15, 1863. Beald, William H., enlisted February 16, 1864. Clumnings, William C., enlisted December 1, 1863. Forgarthy, Jeremiah, enlisted February 24, 1864. Galaway, George W., enlisted December 1, 1863. McHenry, James, enlisted January 20, 1864. Mills, Samuel C., enlisted December 8, 1863. Drafted and Substitute Recruits. Duplade, William, enlisted September 26, 1864. NINTH INFANTRY. |