Civil War Articles, Macoupin County IL
(copyright 1998 Rindy Fuchs)

Transcribed articles contributed by Rindy Fuchs
Thank you, Carolynn Bettis, for xeroxing.

REBEL PRISONERS

contributed by Rindy Fuchs

Rebel Prisoners.-Several thousand of the rebel prisoners taken at Fort Donelson have passed through town the past week, on their way to Springfield and Chicago. Many of our citizens saw and conversed with them at the Depot, some of them finding old friends and relatives among the prisoners. They were generally very poorly clad, being ragged and without uniforms, and presented a striking contrast to the Union Soldiers who were passing them on their way South...The great majority of the Tennessee troops still cherish a fervent love for the old Union. The prisoners all said that they had been treated with the utmost kindness and consideration. It is said that a Tennessee regiment, after being treated to hot coffee at Bloomington, took their hats and gave three rousing cheers for the old Union. (C arlinville Free Democrat Feb. 27, 1862).

Capt.Lauderdale. - We understand that Capt. John A. Lauderdale, of the secession army, was captured at Fort Donelson, and is now a prisoner on parole, boarding at the Alton House. Our citizens will all remember him as a broad mouthed brawler who divided his time between pettifogging and making stump speeches with the present editor of the Spectator. He was one of the first to join the secession movement in Kentucky, and commanded a rebel company before even Tennessee seceded. It is to such men as Lauderdale that the present rebellion is due...If such men as Lauderdale don't stretch hemp, we can't see any use in raising it...( Carlinville Free Democrat Feb. 27, 1862)


ATROCIOUS ASSAULT UPON FEDERAL OFFICERS NEAR GIRARD-ONE FATALLY WOUNDED

Source-"Illinois State Journal," Tuesday, 4 October 1864

Girard ILL., 3 Oct. 6:00pm 1864
News has reached us that Provost Marshal Cherry and Deputy Enrolling Officer Wolf were assaulted this afternoon seven miles west of this place by thirty or forty guerrillas, Cherry it is thought will not survive, and Wolf is badly wounded.
Union.

ATTEMPTED MURDER OF DRAFT OFFICERS

Source-"Illinois State Journal", Thursday, 6 Oct.1864

A brief dispatch from Girard, in Macoupin County, in the "Journal" of Tuesday morning last, announced that a murderous assault had been made on Monday afternoon upon two draft officers, (Deputy Provost Marshal Cherry and an Assistant Enrolling Officer named Wolf, both being in the service of Capt. Fry, Provost marshal of the 10th District,) about seven miles west of Girard. We have since obtained the following particulars in reference to the villainous affair:

The neighborhood where this murderous affair occurred is known in the surrounding country as "Greasy," and is largely populated with the same ignorant class who a few months ago made a murderous and treacherous assault upon Union soldiers in Charleston, in Coles County. Many were no doubt the identical persons who took part in the insurrection in Greene County last fall.
These men are reported to have held a meeting on Saturday evening last, when it was resolved to resist the serving of notices upon drafted men. On Monday the officers named left Girard for the purpose of serving such notices, and the draft resistants in "Greasy" were promptly notified of the fact by their runners or sympathizers. When the officers had reached a point in the woods about seven miles west of Girard, they were ambushed by a party of about thirty or forty of the resistants, who, without any notice and the most cowardly manner, fired upon the two men from the brush. Mr. Cherry was struck by a ball shattering the bone of his right arm. His bridle-hand being thus rendered useless, he fell from his horse, but succeeded in escaping through the brush. Mr. Wolf also received a severe flesh wound in the thigh, the same ball which produced it passing through the saddle and entering the horse. He still retained his seat, however, and was soon carried out of reach of the villains who continued to fire after him as long as he was in sight. After wandering about for some time Mr. Wolf fell in with Mr. Cherry, whom he assisted to mount his own horse, and the two wounded men were at last enabled to reach a place of
safety. The horse that Wolf rode died the same night from the effects of the wound he had received. Both the wounded reach Girard on Tuesday. It is feared that Cherry will lose his arm which was badly shattered. Wolf is also severely, but less dangerously hurt.

Just before the officers fell into the ambuscade, they passed a house, when they noticed that they were closely observed by that family as if anticipating something. It is evident now, that they knew of the intended attack, and were waiting to see it come off, and that the scoundrels really meditated the murder of the officers is undoubted.

In this case we have but another added to the many illustrations we have had of the teachings of the Copperhead presses and the orators in this State. A set of ignorant and deluded creatures following the spirit of these teachings have not only rendered themselves felons by their attempts in the most cowardly and atrocious manner, to murder two men who were engaged in the simple discharge of their duty, but have added to that the highest crime known in the calender of crime. Their act had its origin in treason to the Constitution and the laws of the United States. Atrocious as has been their crime, however, their guilt is trifling compared with that of the men who have induced them to commit it.

We are not informed what steps have been taken to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice, but we cannot doubt that it will be done. The act itself cannot but re-act upon the party whose teachings have led to its commission.

(Note: Greasey was located in the northern part of South Otter Twp Macoupin Co IL.)


"The other day a lot of secesh prisoners were going through and the secesh fellows about town furnished them with whiskey and told them to be of good cheer, that our State would be put out of the Union in thirty days. Don't you think it would be well to have some soldiers that are used to fighting rebels, come home and try their hand in Macoupin?" (Mrs Palmer to General John M. Palmer, Jan.30, 1863). ( Carlinville Free Democrat, Thursday, Nov. 17, 1864)

Nov 1864-Henderson taken and shot-All honest and loyal men will rejoice to be informed that this notorious murderer, assassin, and rebel sympathizer was captured by twelve men from Summerville, in Macoupin County. He was taken about four miles south of that town, at the house of Bill Reno's. But his wife was questioned, denied all knowledge of the villain. The men however refused to take her word for it, and proceeded to search the house, when they found Henderson concealed between two feather beds. They captured him and started with him for Fidelity, when they met the citizens of the latter place, who had also been in search of him, after a few minutes consultation between the two parties from Summerville and Fidelity, they determined on putting an end to him at once.
They, therefore informed the culprit, to prepare for death, as he had but a few minutes to live. They then gave him a few moments for meditation, when they informed him to pull his cap over his eyes, but instead of doing so the hardened wretch shoved it back on his head, and signed to the posse that he was ready.
Ten men, who had been previously detailed for the performance of that duty, fired at him. He fell pierced through and through with both bullets and buckshot, and never breathed afterwards. There is now a large posse in pursuit of Simpson-who was in company with Henderson, and it is said that it was him who shot the soldiers in that place. If he is taken he will probably receive the same
penalty which was inflicted on Henderson.-Alton Telegraph


MORE TIDBITS PERTAINING TO MACOUPIN COUNTY

January 1863-Democrat Charles Walker, of Macoupin County, intoduces a peace proposal bill calling for an armistice and a peace commisssion to meet with the rebel commissioners in Louisville in April. Walker attempted to appease the Repulicans by pleading for understanding: I have certainly had no bad intentions in any thing I have done," he explained. "As true as there is a God in heaven I do not desire to do anything that is not for the best interests of my people and the people of the United States." Walker continued by explaining that he did not
agree that the Administration could put down the rebellion "in the manner in which it is conducting the war." "Let the war return to its original purpose," he said, "and I am in favor of using all the money ,men and means we can command for such a purpose," Walker's bill passes the lower house, stalls in the IL Senate but with strong prospects for passing as Republican stalling tactics begin to run out.

Feb.14-Legislature adjourns until June 2

June 2-Legislature reconvenes,argues over $100,000 soldier’s aid bill.

June 10-Gov.Yates,taking advantage of an obscure and never before used provision in the IL Constitution, prorogues (discontinues or adjourns) the legislature until Jan.1865

July 4-Capture of Vicksburg.

Sept,1863-Battle of Chickamauga.

Nov.1863-Copperheads and deserters dispersed at Rock House. Disturbances in Greene and Morgan counties, Train stopped at Manchester. Iowa and Wisconsin troops sent to Jacksonville.

Nov.1863-Federal victory at Chattanooga.

Winter Spring 1864-veterans re-enlist.

Spring, Summer 1864-Atlanta campaign, fighting in Mississippi.

July, August 1864-Clingman Raid, Montgomery, Fayette, Bond Cos.

August 1864-Attempted seizure of Martin Taylor at Palmer home.

Sept. 1 1864-Capture of Atlanta.

Oct.3,1864-shooting of draft officers near Girard.

Oct, 6-Sergeant Gobble of Scottville, Dem. candidate for IL Leg., accuses war Repubs. of sending "Democratic conscripts into the service of Abe Lincoln, to fatten Southern soil with their bloody carcasses; you would make demons of our statesmen and butchers of our soldiers, and exterminate whole nations because a few designing demagogues have controlled them."

Nov.1864-notorious Copperhead Henderson killed near Summerville.

Nov,1864-Democrats sweep fall elections.

Dec.,1864-Gov.Palmer tried and aquitted in Macoupin County for bringing in Martin Taylor in violation of IL "Black Laws."

(© 1998 Rindy Fuchs)

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