Farmers Weekly Review

We can safely say that by October of 1861 the War Between the States was really starting to get serious. The boys of the 20^th, who had joined in April, were finally preparing to see action. On October 18^th they boarded a steamer, destination Fredericktown, where they hoped to capture the notorious rebel Jeff Thompson.

They made camp near a southern sympathizer’s plantation house. The chaplain of the 20^th called on the family, and finding they were Baptist asked if they would like a prayer meeting held in their home after dinner. To this they agreed, but unfortunately not all of the 20^th were of a religious mind. While some of the men attended the prayer meeting in the home, others raided the farm stealing the family’s chickens, sweet potatoes and a good bit of their honey.

When a Sergeant Bernier, who was not aware of the theft, called on the family the next day to borrow a kettle, the lady of the house thought it pretty “cheeky.” She screamed, “Some of you come here and pray, and talk very pious, while the rest steal my chickens and potatoes! And now you want my kettle!” She then attacked him with a broadside of words that we cannot repeat. Sergeant Bernier beat a hasty retreat still wondering what he had done wrong.

On the 20^th of October, the 20^th marched into Fredericktown expecting a fight. When they arrived they found that another Union regiment had gotten there before them, but the elusive Thompson had left the day before.

Hoping to still catch up to him, the 20^th set off in pursuit. They would have run right into an ambush prepared by the wily Thompson had it not been for one solitary black man they found sitting on a fence post. He informed them that he saw “a heap of Secesh (Confederates) down the road a piece.” Thus being warned, the troops set up their artillery to flush out the rebels. The result was that the 20^th lost only 3 men, while Thompson left 300 on the field.

After the battle strict orders came down from Col. Marsh that the men were not to forage for food. However, supplies were short and many of them were hungry. They came upon a flock of sheep; the temptation was too great and soon mutton was roasting away over the campfires. Marsh came riding out and chastised them for violating his orders. They replied that they had come upon the flock, and as the sheep refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Union, they had to be disposed of.

Meanwhile back in Will County, war meetings and rallies were still the order of the day. The 39^th Illinois Voluntary Infantry, known as the Yates Phalanx, was being organized. They passed through Joliet on their way to camp in Chicago, and were warmly greeted at the station by a large group of citizens. The end of October found the 39^th on their way to the East.

Most were a bit homesick, but a pleasant surprise took their minds off the war for a while. In Carlyle, Pennsylvania the train stopped to put on supplies and the boys of the 39^th got off to stretch their legs. They were surprised by a crowd of well-dressed women and girls who began kissing and hugging them to express their admiration and appreciation.

Woodruff says, “Although they had not yet received their muskets, they had the right kind of arms to meet such an attack and returned the attack with compound interest.”

On the 1^st of October Wilmington created a county-wide sensation. It seems that Dr. W. H. Russell, better known as “Bull Run Russell,” visited the town. He was a correspondent for the London Times and had been severely critical of the Union forces after their defeat at the first battle of Bull Run. So much so that he was thought a southern sympathizer and the Lincoln administration would have little to do with him.

As another one of his countrymen had done, Russell went hunting prairie chickens on the prairies between Wilmington and what would become Braidwood. And as his countryman did, he went hunting on Sunday with his retinue of sportsmen and followers.

The good citizens of Wilmington were outraged and arrested him for breaking the Sabbath. His fine was three dollars and court costs (about $94 today). George Woodruff said that he hoped this would give Russell a good respect for Illinois law and Wilmington justice. Russell beat a hasty retreat to more civilized parts of the country.

In November of 1861 the entire country came to the realization that there would be no quick and easy end to the War Between the States. The Union Army had taken quite a beating thus far, and it was determined that more men in the field was what was needed to win the war. To that end, new calls for new regiments were made. Will County did not shy away from that call. Will County stepped up to it.

Recruitment officers were everywhere in Will County in November of 1861. Major Fred Matteson, son of former Gov. Joel Matteson was recruiting for the 64^th Illinois Voluntary Infantry, also known as Yates’ Sharpshooters.

Lieut. O’Kane had an office in Joliet to enlist men in the 23^rd, also known as the Irish Brigade.

Plainfield saw 60 men enlist in Company I of the 46^th regiment, while thirty men from Crete enlisted in Company D of the 9^th Cavalry. Company K of the 8^th Cavalry was raised in Plainfield and Wheatland Townships, and Company F in the same regiment was raised in Crete and Beecher.

Boys from Will County were also enlisting in regiments from other states, perhaps where they grew up, or where a relative was enlisting. In the end, Will County provided soldiers to every state in the Union, but only two men to the rebel cause.