Untitled Document

VOLUNTEERS

Saturday, April 14, 1861, was an eventful day in Henry County.

The wires that day told the terrible story of the firing upon Fort Sumter. Men met each other with bated breaths; they were stunned by the blow, and in a dazed sort of way one asked the other meaningless questions, and. heard not the answers often, but continued to ask still other questions; and they began to gather in knots and small crowds, and in time began to discuss the terrible news.

Then the majority began to doubt the truth of the story—they could not at once believe that the flag of our common country had been fired upon by its own citizens. Every variety and shade of belief and disbelief, nearly as numerous as the individuals constituting the crowd, were entertained and expressed. Very soon any one who had anything to say, whether his own opinions or fresh news from the seat of war, would quickly command an eager surrounding of earnest men. The day wore away and the long night of painful interest came. But few could sleep, and many did not even retire and try to rest. Sunday morning dawned, and the early hour found many gathered around the telegraph office at the depots eager for more news.

The news of the firing on Sumter traveled slowly then compared with now, and all day long and all night again Sunday night people were in the gravest doubts and fears, and faint hopes that the first story would prove a false alarm. In the meantime the public sentiment was fast crystallizing into form; the stun of the first blow was passing off, and a deep seated anger was rapidly settling in men's souls.

But the next day, Monday, confirmed the first reports, giving the complete details of the bombardment and surrender of the fort, and the further news of the call of the President for 75,000 troops, and Governor Yates proclamation calling together the State Legislature in extraordinary session to enact such laws and provide such measures as the exigencies demanded.

This instantly settled the questions in men's minds. The stars and stripes were flung to the breeze from cupola, public buildings and private residences, and everywhere bells were rung, the drum and fife were heard at the head of the people.

All business was stopped, and the people in mass rushed into the streets. Men cheered the flag as they had never cheered it before; it looked very different to them to what it ever had; it had been fired upon by rebels; it had been hauled down and trailed in the dust by treason. The excitement of the 48 hours was a pent-up Utica that now burst forth in greatest fury.

Without waiting the action of the Governor, the people began to enlist and get ready to go to war. Israel G. Heaps, of Annawan, placed his name at the head of the roll, made up on the 22d at that place.

The people came together in every town, village and school district in the county. Fiery and patriotic speeches were made, the sharp notes of the fife floated upon the air and drums were pounding vigorously, if not musically.

Among the civilians of Henry County to be counted one of the first soldiers to enlist for the war, was Hon. E. C. Moderwell, attorney at law and interested in the cattle business in the West. He came to Henry County in 1866, after the war was over. Born in Crawford Co., Ohio, March 6, 1838 ; a graduate of Jefferson College in the class of 1859. Major Moderwell was one of the few who enlisted in the army before the war: that is, his enlistment preceded by 24 hours President Lincoln's call for 75,000 troops. There are very few now living of the fifty millions of Americans of whom this can be said. He was in Washington city, and instantly upon the the news of the firing on Fort Surnter, he, with others in the city, organized a company for the protection of the capital; and of the very first to enroll their names in this company was E. C. Moderwell, and thus he was in the war before war was , actually declared, and in first one place and then another stayed until the war was over.

As rapidly as the calls came for more troops, Henry County was never l0th in filling its quota.

The 112th Regt.Ill. Vol. Inf. was largely recruited from this county. This was known as Gen. Henderson's regiment. The Major was James M. Hosford, of Geneseo, commissioned Sept. 20, 1862, resigned Feb.1, 1863. Major Tristam C. Dow succeeded him. Adjutant Henry W. Wells, was commissioned in September, 1862, and was mustered out for promotion, in the Tennessee Heavy Artillery, in November, 1863.

He was succeeded as Adjutant by Bradford N. Thompson, who was promoted as Captain, and his successor was Gilbert R. Woolsey. The Quartermaster of this regiment was George C. Alden.

In the above command was Company A, mostly from Annawan. The Captain was Tristam C. Dow, who was promoted and succeeded by Captain Asa A. Lee, who was killed Nov. 18, 1863, when Captain John L. Dow was put in command, promoted from First Lieutenant, and was succeeded by James P. McChesney, he by L. W. Browning and he by T. J. Williams. These had all been promoted in regular order. In 1865, Jesse Goble was made Second Lieutenant.

Company C of this regiment was from Cambridge and the southwest part of the county. The first Captain was John J. Briggs; then John B. Mitchell. The First Lieutenant was A. P. Petrie, and the Second Lieutenants were H. Starboudy and W. Gillespie.

Company D was from Cambridge and Woodhull, and the first Captain was A. A. Dunn; the First Lieutenant, H. G. Griffin, and the Second Lieutenant was S. L. Patterson, succeeded by James H. Clark, now of Princeton.

Company G was from Galva and vicinity. The first Captain was A. W. Albro, succeeded by James McCartney. Thomas G. Milchrist was First Lieutenant ; he was transferred to the 65th Regt. and succeeded by E. K.. Mock; and Second Lieutenant T. J. Townsend was commissioned March 31, 1863

Company H was recruited from all parts of the county, but largely from Cambridge . The first Captain was G. W. Stroufe; and the First Lieutenant was T. F. Davenport , and the Second Lieutenant Elisha Atwater, and on his promotion Joel Newman succeeded to the command.

Company I was from Geneseo and vicinity. Captain, J. E. Wilkins; First Lieutenant, George Lawrence; Second Lieutenant, H. S. Comstock, succeeded by Henry Fones, June 7, 1863.

Company K was from Geneseo and vicinity. Captain, Joseph Westley, resigned April 12, 1863 , when Captain E. H. Colcord was put in command of the Company; First Lieutenant, C. G. Gearheart, resigned Jan. 31, 1863 , on promotion, when E. H. Colcord became his successor. He had been Second Lieutenant, and, when promoted, Jacob Bush succeeded to his place as First Lieutenant. In turn, Bush was promoted and S. W. Weaver became First Lieutenant April 12, 1863 .

In the l0gth Regiment, Col. John H. Howe became the Colonel, succeeding Col. T. J. Sloan, Dec. 15, 1863 .

Company A of this regiment was from Kewanee and vicinity. Captain, Ralph A. Tenny, resigned, and Capt. E. C. Raymond took command, July 9, 1863 . First Lieutenant, J. A. Pratt; killed June 26, 1863 , E. C. Raymond succeeding him, and on his promotion, D. Ames Bigelow became First Lieutenant. Second Lieutenant, E. C. Raymond, succeeded by W. F. Dodge.

Company F, M. B. Potter, Captain, succeeded by N. H. Pratt, Aug. 7, 1863 ; E. W. Taylor became First Lieutenant, promoted from Second Lieutenant, when E. R. Breckans became Second Lieutenant.

The first Lieutenant Colonel of the Ninth Regiment was H. J. Humphrey. He was succeeded by Anthony R. Mock, Dec. 5, 1864 . Col. Mock was promoted from Captain of Co. B, a company principally raised in Geneseo, of which the first Captain was H. J. Humphrey; second Captain, T. W. O. Broffet; third Captain, Ransom Harrington; fourth, A. A. Mock; fifth, T. J. McNair. The First Lieutenants were T. W. O. Broffett, R. Herrington, C. P. Manville, Thomas J. McNair and J. C. Kilner.

Second Lieutenants were R. Herrington, A. R. Zinzie, J. T. Showalter.

Co. C of the Ninth Ill. Inf. was from Geneseo. The Captains were J. S. Buckles, C. W. Blakemore, F. H. McArthur and S. A. Davidson. The First Lieutenants were C. W. Blakemore, J. W. Brackett, A. R. Mock, C. R. Marshall, S. A. Davidson and Stephen Pettys. The Second Lieutenants were F. A. McArthur, C. M. Marshall, S. A. Davidson and F. W. Harding.

Co. H, of this regiment, was from Kewanee. The Captains of this company were in succession, Lews D. Bishop, C. T. Scammon, F. W. Swerby, and the First Lieutenants were Edwin W. Luce, T. W. Stephenson, A. H. McClure. F. W. Swerby and James H. Murray.

In the 57 Regiment was Co. D, from Bishop Hill, Galva and Kewanee. The Captains were Eric Forsee, Eric Johnson, P M. Wickstrurn, and the First Lieutenants were Eric Johnson and Eric Berglend, and the Second Lieutenants were Eric Berglend, P. M. Wickstrum, G. E. Rodeea, A. G. Washner and Olof Anderson.

Co. H was from the southern part of the county. The First Lieutenants were Nelson Flansburv and Alexander B. Hanna. The Second Lieutenant was Geo. Welch.

Part of Co. A of the 33d Regiment was from Kewanee and Cambridge , with J. A. McKenzie Captain.

In the 17th Regiment a part of Co. D was from Galva, Kewanee and Cambridge , with H. C. Bush as Captain.

Co. D of the 83d Regiment was from Woodhull and vicinity.

Co. A of the 42d Regiment was from Kewanee, with Lieut.Col. C. Northrop, who was promoted from Major. F. A. Atwater then was Major, E. S. Church Captain, then J. S. McFadden, then H. M. Way . First Lieutenants were A. Bennett and W. H. Gier.

Part of Co. B was from this county, with First Lieutenants A. F. Stevenson and C. W. Jackson.

Portriat and Biographical Album of Henry County

Submitted by W. Caudell

Illinois Ancestors

111606BMKF