The Aurora War Correspondent

Transcription

1 The Aurora War Correspondent Thursday, November 21 and 28, 1861 In news from the 52nd Illinois Infantry, or Lincoln Regiment, we learn that there have been delays in getting the troops accepted for service, and the unit s organizers would like to clarify some of the reasons for the apparent lack of movement thus far. Colonel Wilson, the main impetus behind getting this corps started, focused his attention on getting his men fully armed and equipped before tendering the services of those involved. He has recently returned from a very productive session in the nation s capitol, and has received promises for 2,000 Enfield rifles, and another 800 rifled muskets, all of which are fresh from the factory, which is extremely rare as most troops are being furnished with weaponry that has already been in use. All of these brand-new arms are to be shipped to Geneva within the week. The regiment has been issued orders to proceed to St. Louis, but it appears that they will be departing without the guiding spirit who brought this enterprise together. Colonel Wilson s health has been in a steady decline, and it is not expected that he will be able to remain with his recruits for any extended length of time. Soldiers of the 52nd Illinois Infantry The consciousness that he must give up [the] command of a regiment which he has labored so untiringly through many weeks to build up, and which is composed of so many noble hearted men, the majority of whom are his warm personal friends must be hard indeed, and painful beyond expression. The high hopes surrounding Busteed s Light Artillery Company appear to be a thing of the past. Formed over the summer of 1861 and one hundred fifty members strong, this unit attracted the service of a handful of recruits from our city and the surrounding vicinity. In September, the soldiers were ordered to Washington D. C. where they were issued uniforms, three artillery pieces and horses to transport the ordnance and supplies. More recently, Busteed has resigned his position, and two lieutenants and one other officer were arrested for horse theft. With this major upheaval in the higher ranks of the company, the commissioned men are now serving under strange officers, and the corps is breaking up. Some of the men have transferred to other artillery companies, and General McClellan has divided the remainder into units under Colonel Bailey who hails from New York. Many of the young men who have been disposed of in this way are upset because they joined Busteed s corps in hopes of fighting among their neighbors and comrades from the immediate region. The unfortunate series of events

2 that has plagued the company has left the men demoralized. Our correspondents relate that the Aurora boys and others from the area have now been permanently assigned to Company G in Bailey s regiment. More details emerge about Major Greusel s adventures in southwestern Missouri chasing the three hundred rebel raiders serving under Tom Freeman. Spencer Mitchell, a rebel Quartermaster for secesh [secessionist] General McBride was taken prisoner two days out. Captain Samuel Wood of the Kansas Rangers who accompanied Greusel on this mission, searched a secessionist s plantation, and found Captain Nichols of McBride s army hidden on the premises. Nichols had lost a leg at the battle outside Springfield, Missouri near Wilson s Creek, and has been so disabled that he was no longer perceived as a threat, so he was released. The following day, Inspector General Taylor was apprehended after a three mile chase across the Missouri countryside in which two other rebels were killed. Captain Samuel Wood of the Kansas Rangers Captain McSpaden, C.S.A., and the wife of secesh troublemaker Hamilton Lenox were also apprehended during this enterprise. Mitchell, McSpaden and Taylor are now safely quartered in secure lodgings in St. Louis, and, we assume, will be detained there for some time to come. Besides these prisoners, a mail shipment was intercepted which was found to include messages detailing information concerning troop movements of the enemy. While Major Greusel and his forces were encamped at Houston, Missouri, all of the men in the city were arrested, and required to take the oath of allegiance to the United States. Fifty of the townspeople did so, and were subsequently released. The large military presence created a good deal of fear among the female segment of the population as it was speculated that they would be molested, and their children killed. The Major personally called at every household in Houston to allay such groundless concerns. Most of November 5 was spent rounding up secessionists in the area who were released and had their property returned once they had sworn allegiance to the federal government. After several fruitless attempts to catch their initial rebel quarry, the infantry and cavalry men of this campaign separated for the return to Rolla, and arrived safely at camp a few days later. The United States paymaster was a recent visitor at Rolla, and all of our lads were paid in full up to the end of last month. One correspondent writes, It is estimated that $25,000 will be sent home to the Fox River Valley. We also learn that there is a new telegraph line installed to St. Louis

3 which should improve communications between the camp and Missouri s largest metropolis. A small handful of Aurorans have stopped at the camp these past few days, Joel Jenks among them who came to tend to his ailing son George. Several of our military wives have made an appearance, and it looks as though they may remain until their husbands are deployed elsewhere. Mrs. Greusel, Mrs. Lyon, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Buck, Mrs. E. B. Baldwin, and Mrs. Pierre have busied themselves at the hospital, and their attendance at the sickbed is greatly appreciated. The camp commanders have recently ordered mandatory church attendance on Sundays perhaps a reflection of the presence of the gentler sex on the threshold of the field of battle? Praises continue to emanate from Rolla for Major Greusel who keeps a tight reign on affairs at camp, and is highly respected among all of the regimentals. He is the very embodiment of industry and sobriety, and is the best military man that I have seen since the commencement of the war, one of the gentlemen at camp tells us. To conclude, we also hear that there are issues plaguing the Company B Cavalry, and it is generally felt that the captain will turn in his resignation. One of its privates had been out drinking, and missed roll call. The soldier reported later to the Colonel, and was severely reprimanded for his actions. The Colonel sent this trooper to Captain Smith who gagged the man, bound his hands, and tied a rope around his head and through his mouth After securing the unfortunate trooper, the captain began kicking him until the other members of the company intervened. The victim was sent to the hospital where it was discovered that he had sustained some very severe injuries about his mouth which had been cut by his bonds. His comrades were so incensed by the cruel treatment this unlucky private had received that they set out determined to murder their commander. The Colonel detailed a guard to protect the officer, the imperiled Captain Smith was disguised, and secretly removed from camp. As a result of this calamitous state of affairs, Captain Jenks now finds himself administering both Company A and B of the 36th s cavalry for the present. November 28, 1861 The big news from Missouri this time around is the recent removal of General Fremont from his command after having promulgated his proclamation to emancipate the slaves of all rebellious owners in the state. General David Hunter has been promoted to fill the vacancy. General David Hunter

4 Our lads in Rolla comment about this matter that, It is true Fremont did do a vast amount of labor while at St. Louis which was of great benefit to the government Still, in the field, all, or nearly all, believe he did not fit the bill. That he was sincere, that he tried to do the best of his judgment, no one doubts Another of our boys states that, The men of our regiment, at least, are fighting for their country and not for an individual. There are some fears that southern General Price may be settling in southwestern Missouri for the winter. By all accounts, his troops are poorly shod, ragged, and raid from friend or foe everything wearable or eatable. Even the carpets of those homes they invade are not safe as these ragamuffins cut up the rugs to supply blankets for themselves. All of the lands in the state west of Springfield have been utterly decimated by Price s men which is apparently something of an observation about much of our neighboring state. Our correspondents tell us that If peace were declared tomorrow, and both armies leave the field, ten years would not place Missouri where it was six months ago. A further comment about the state s uncertain future maintains Never was a country in worse condition than Missouri at the present time. One year more of guerilla warfare will leave it without inhabitant save predatory bands and not a vestige of improvement or sign of civilization left. It is reported that large numbers of people are leaving the area for the safety of Illinois. General Sterling Price C.S.A. We read that Generals Siegel and Alexander Asboth are currently housed near our soldiers at Rolla. It is speculated that these men and their brigades are either preparing to set up winter camp in the vicinity, or that they may be among those forces called upon to work at opening the Mississippi River to northern traffic. It is beginning to look, however, as though the 36th Regiment will not be remaining at Rolla much longer. General Siegel is characterized as quick and active in his movements and conversation. His black, fiery, restless eye attracts attention the first of anything about him there is a something about him which tells the stranger that he is no common man, and that he will not disgrace the position he occupies. The 13th Illinois is also encamped nearby, and, as a result of all the soldiers at Rolla, one writer informs us, Never have I seen so many armed men before. Several regiments were on parade, but I saw none that could equal the 36th and the 13th. Indeed Gen. Asboth said that no troops in the

5 service equaled the 36th in the manual of arms. General Alexander Asboth Measles has been a most unwelcome visitor at camp lately, and Company C has experienced one fatality from the disease. There are currently five men in the hospital. George Jenks, son of Joel Jenks, passed from this mortal coil November 17 of typhoid fever. The elder Mr. Jenks was at his son s side when the angel of death came to call, and will accompany the remains back to our city for burial. Here in Aurora, our city s Rhetorical Society met on November 22 to pass a series of resolutions relating to this sad event. Resolved, That in the death of George Jenks the Association has lost a worthy and influential member, and that every one of our Society feel the loss of a loved and true friend, and one who took a deep interest in the welfare of each and every brother of the Association. Resolved, That we as a band of brothers, do truly and sincerely sympathize with the parents of our departed brother, in their sore affliction and bereavement. It was further agreed that copies of these resolutions would be sent to Jenks immediate family, and for publication in the Beacon. On November 16, there was a large government sale of many confiscated livestock and other material goods at Rolla. One of our gentlemen informs us that horses were selling for anywhere from $5 to $40, and that cattle were going even cheaper. The 36th cavalry has been detailed on many scouting missions lately, and returned to Rolla with forty prisoners November 18. The troops were hardly allowed to rest upon these laurels as they were sent on a further assignment later the same day. They departed with three days of rations, and their enterprise is entirely unknown to the remainder of the camp. Elsewhere on the tented field, Colonel Farnsworth has issued directives for any and all items that may be sent to his troops. Packages, clothing, blankets, etc. are to be marked Care of Col. Farnsworth/For the 8th Illinois Cavalry, and remitted to Captain Potter in Chicago who will then arrange delivery. Accompanying this article in the Beacon was an appeal for our loyal citizens to be attentive to our boys calls for supplies. Many materials are in extremely short supply, and it is well to remember that no one would be asking for these things if they weren t so urgently needed. We were urged to remember that His regiment was raised in Northern Illinois, and surely we will not let them suffer for want of such articles as we ourselves are so abundantly supplied.

6 In this same vein, the gentlemen of the 52nd Illinois Infantry Regiment have tendered a letter of thanks to the women of Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Elgin and Blackberry for presents like twenty four sheets, twenty shirts, a number of dressing gowns, twenty comfortables, fourteen pillows, and a variety of other items that add materially to the comfort of our men. In other news from the Lincoln Regiment, we learn that Quartermaster C. B. Wells and Sutler George E. Corwin have been charged with fraud, and were arrested. Their activities are currently being reviewed by U. S. Commissioner Hoyne in Chicago. Wells, it is reported, is being very cooperative in assisting with the investigation. We have since been informed that Corwin is now being held on $2,000 bail, and that Wells will be a witness at his trial. More happily for the regiment, the friends of Lieutenant Morris McGraw have held a sword presentation ceremony in which Judge Parks gave a brief oration at the private affair. McGraw s former co-workers and the administrators of the Big Wagon Factory arm of Taylor, Butterworth and Company were the biggest contributors to the fund which made the sword purchase possible. Information compiled from the November 21, 1861 and November 28, 1861 Aurora Beacon and the Civil War diaries of Lyman Gibson Bennett