Farmers Weekly Review

Captain Rodney Bowen

By Sandy Vasko

When we left the “War Between the States,” the 100th Illinois Voluntary Infantry was being assembled.

In the August 20th edition we read, “A general election for officers of the Will County Regiment was held pursuant to adjournment, at the Court House, in Joliet, on Friday last. Everything passed off in good shape. Major Bartleson, of the 20th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, was elected Colonel by acclamation. A. N. Waterman, Esq., of Joliet, was elected Lieut. Colonel, and C. M. Hammond, of the Wilmington Rifles, was elected Major.”
In the same edition we read, “On Saturday last Maj. Hammond, Capt.

Gardner and Lieut. McConnell chartered the steamer ‘Pioneer’ for the purpose of giving the brave volunteers under their command, and their favorite dulcineas, a gala trip down the river (the Kankakee River). A prolonged cheer, a rousing huzza, (such as only a soldier by the side of his sweet-heart can give) wafted a brief adieu to those on shore. Music, under the direction of Fife-Major Young and Major Hammond, Jr., was discoursed in lively martial strains. All were joyous; all were happy!”

But as George Woodruff says in his book “Fifteen Years Ago”: “But the 100th regiment does not absorb all the interest, or all the volunteers. The ‘Casey Guards,’ Capt. O’Connor’s company, joined the 90th regiment, or Irish Legion. A company was also raised in Lockport by some of the well-known citizens of Irish nationality, which joined the same regiment, under the captaincy of Patrick O’Marah. Our county was represented in this regiment by eight commissioned officers and 140 enlisted men.

“During the month of August, also, Captain (afterwards Major) Holden, of Frankfort, enlisted some men for the Holden Guards, which became Co. E of the 88th regiment. Some twenty young men of Lockport also enlisted in the Chicago Mercantile Battery, and the 72nd, or 1st Board of Trade regiment, obtained twenty-five men from our county, mostly from the towns of Dupage and Channahon.”

Reading about all the hometown fervor, one unnamed volunteer of the 39th Voluntary Infantry stationed in Virginia, wrote back to the Independent, “It gladdens our hearts to hear of the patriotic, manly feelings which are moving our friends at home. The awful truth is just at present staring them in the face for the second time, that our beloved country and her institutions are terrible threatened with destruction.

“We have felt it ever since the conflict began. In the various changes, victories and reverses of the war, we have not lost sight that the odds, at least in numbers, were against us. But the victories in the West and East seemed to blind the people to the fact, until at last the great reverse at Richmond opened their eyes to the dread reality.
“They see that we must have reinforcements of men and means, or our cause must perish, and the thousands of lives which have already been lost in the struggle will have been for naught.

“Did our friends at home know how anxiously we watch the actions of those we have left behind us; it would probably stimulate them to greater exertions. Then, friends of the Union, rally around our glorious standard. Patriots, arise’ your country calls upon you, perhaps for the last time. Our cause must prevail; fill up the companies already started in your midst, and when they are full come and go with us. We are decimated in numbers, but strong in heart.”

And as always, the people of Will County went to work to be sure that their “boys” had what they needed. A new round of fund raisers was kicked off. We read in the Joliet Signal, “Ladies Festival – A festival for the benefit of the 100th regiment, under the auspices of the Ladies — will be held at Young’s Hall in Joliet, on Thursday evening, the 21st inst. A supper is to be contributed, and the funds will be applied to the purchasing of a regimental flag and for hospital stores. Admission 10 cents (about $3.00 today). Supper – Tickets 50 cents (about $15 today). By order of Committee.”

By the end of the month we read, “The Will County Regiment is now in camp, and will commence drilling at once. Barracks have been erected on the old Fair Ground, a little over a mile from Joliet. Camp Goodell is the name of their quarters. Col. Bartleson will, it is decided, have the Colonelcy of the Regiment. They will remain in camp about 10 days, when tents and camp equipage will be furnished and the boys have orders to ‘move.’”

And from the Joliet Signal September 4, “For nearly a week the Will County regiment have actually been breaking themselves into the mysteries of miseries of camp life. We visited the camp (which, the name of by the way, has been changed from Camp Goodell to Camp Erwin) on Friday last, and again on Monday. On the latter occasion, the grounds were filled to overflowing, by visitors and friends of the soldiers who came to bid them God speed on their journey to strike a blow for the ‘star Spangled Banner.’

1st Lieutenant Malcolm Neil McLaren Stewart

The boys had received $40 of their Government bounty money on Saturday, and $60 more from the County on Monday, at 5 p.m., and though a few had still a little business left undone about home, the majority were in ecstasies. As cars could not be procured, however, before Tuesday noon, the hour of departure was postponed a little, and at 3 o’clock yesterday an extra train left Joliet, and our good old regiment is now on Dixie’s sacred soil.”

Two young men from Wilmington, friends since childhood, prepared to go to war. Rodney Bowen, only son of Will County pioneer Dr. Albert Bowen, looked to his wife and children. He went to his father for a loan, to keep his family in necessities while he was away at war. His father responded by giving his son $2,000, but taking his collateral out by way of a mortgage on Rodney’s beautiful new home. He, of course, was elected captain.

Malcolm Neil McClaren Stewart, only son of Peter Stewart, famous Will County abolitionist, had enlisted in the Chicago Dragoon’s at the start of the war, but came home to join the 100th and help his old friend Rodney.
He was a seasoned vet now, a man others would look to for leadership, elected First Lieutenant immediately below Bowen. He had seen the elephant – battle — and knew what was ahead.