PRESENTATION MONTHLY DISCUSSION GROUP AT THE PRESENTATION REVIEW AT BY BOB FRENZ

The August meeting of the MCCWRT met at the McHenry County Historical Society so members could view Civil War artifacts in the museum’s collection that the Round Table has helped to preserve.

One of these objects, a drum, actually turned out to be from the 1880’s, but was owned by a county veteran and, perhaps, was used in GAR bands. TO THE Another artifact was a Civil War diary kept by a county soldier in 1863. Owing to its fragile condition, the diary required extensive preservation efforts.

Finally, an 1863 rifled musket mainly needed cleaning and the removal of years of wax build-up PRESENTED BY (this last project was undertaken by member, Dave Noe). The Round Table also looked at some possible future restoration efforts. Thanks go to McHenry County Historical Society Curator, Kira Stell, for opening the museum to us.

The same evening members also engaged in some “show and tell” of their own Civil War artifacts. Dave Noe brought two rare guns to display, including an 1844 Oldenberg (modern Germany) rifled musket. The other that Dave exhibited is an 1853 Windsor Enfield, made in Vermont. Both WIKIPEDIA guns are in beautiful condition. The Battle of Chickamauga, fought on Don Purn displayed a number of pieces of September 18 – 20, 1863, between U.S. and Confederate currency, a reproduction Navy Confederate forces in the , revolver, and a knife, of which the authenticity is marked the end of a Union offensive in uncertain. southeastern Tennessee and northwestern — the Chickamauga Campaign. It Ed Urban brought what he believes may be the was the first major battle of the war fought in original draft lottery drum – or “Wheel of Fortune” – used in McHenry County during the Civil War. Georgia, the most significant Union defeat in the Western Theater, and involved the Purchased from a Marengo family, it looks Old Abe second-highest number of casualties after the authentic and still contains hundreds of names on The War Eagle Mascot . Of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry small slips of paper.

ALTON’S This would be a very valuable Civil War, and The Chattanooga Campaign was a series CIVIL WAR PRISON McHenry County, artifact. of maneuvers and battles in October and November 1863. Following the defeat of Maj. WAS ONCE GUARDED Gen. William S. Rosecrans's of BY THIS the Cumberland at the Battle of Chickamauga RAGTAG BUNCH in September, the Confederate under Gen. besieged Rosecrans by occupying key high terrain around Chattanooga, Tennessee. Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was given command of Union forces in the West, now consolidated under the Division of the Mississippi. Significant reinforcements also began to arrive with him in Chattanooga from Mississippi and the Eastern Theater. On October 19, Grant removed Rosecrans from command of the

Army of the Cumberland and replaced him Scott Larimer displayed some of his great- with Major General . grandfather’s GAR ribbons that represented the Iowa regiment that he fought in. He also After opening a supply line (the "Cracker brought memorabilia from re-enactments that he Line") to feed his starving men and animals, Tom Emery For the Telegraph has participated in over the years. Grant's army fought off a Confederate a ALTON — The Civil War prison at Alton was guarded by a surprise counterattack at the Battle of variety of regiments. One was stranger than the others. Wauhatchie on October 28–29, 1863.

The 37th Iowa, which was stationed at Alton, On November 23, the Army of the Illinois for six months in late 1863, was unusual Cumberland advanced from their fortifications for several reasons, mainly because of the age around Chattanooga to seize the minor high of its recruits. Over half were older than the ground at Orchard Knob while elements of the traditional Civil War service cutoff of 45 years Union Army of the Tennessee under Maj. of age, leading to the unique nickname of the Gen. had then regiment – the “Greybeards.” maneuvered to launch a surprise attack against Bragg's right flank on Missionary The idea for the 37th was concocted by Ridge. Georgea Kincaid, a 50-year-old farmer from Muscatine, Iowa who was described as a “tall, On November 24, Sherman crossed the rawboned, gray-haired man of stern principles” Tennessee River in the morning and then Bob Frenz brought some of his grandfather’s and “a devout teetotaler.” advanced to occupy high ground at the Civil War books, including ones by John Logan northern end of Missionary Ridge in the Kincaid not only believed older men in the and . He also displayed a afternoon. The same day, Eastern Theater ranks could be of service, but that younger bayonet and scabbard owned by a county troops under Maj. Gen. men would be inspired — or shamed — into veteran (Dave Noe identified the bayonet as defeated the Confederates in the Battle of joining the Union effort themselves. actually from the Indian Wars but the leather Lookout Mountain. The next day they began a Secretary of War agreed, and scabbard from the Civil War – and probably as movement toward Bragg's left flank at approved the odd plan. The regiment was valuable as the bayonet). Rossville. mustered into service in December of 1862. Bob Frenz On November 25, Sherman's attack on “Overall, only six percent of Union soldiers ______Bragg's right flank made little progress. were conscripted,” said George Eaton, Hoping to distract Bragg's attention, Grant historian for the Army Sustainment Command IF THE BRITISH ordered Thomas's army to advance in the at the Rock Island Arsenal, where the regiment ENTERED center of his line to the base of Missionary was stationed after coming to Alton. “I think THE Rid ge. A combination of misunderstood Kincaid and the Iowa governor used the 37th AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, orders and the pressure of the tactical as a way to goad younger men into enlisting WOULD IT HAVE ALTERED situation caused Thomas's men to surge to and avoiding a conscription.” THE OUTCOME? the top of Missionary Ridge, routing the Army American Civil War Forum Traditionally, Civil War service was limited to of Tennessee, which retreated to Dalton, Georgia, fighting off the Union pursuit men ages 18-45. Of the 914 men in the 37th, English participation in the Civil War would have successfully at the Battle of Ringgold Gap. almost 600 were at least fifty years old, and been decisive in my opinion. There would not forty-eight were sixty or over. Nine were have been great invasions to or from Canada. Bragg's defeat eliminated the last significant seventy or older, including Curtis King, 80, Instead, the union would be blockaded and the Confederate control of Tennessee and who nonetheless had five children under the CSA’s blockade would be lifted. opened the door to an invasion of the Deep age of sixteen.

Most were farmers and some were veterans of This would have had so many dramatic results, South, leading to Sherman's Atlanta the War of 1812, from a half-century earlier. they’re hard to list. campaign of 1864. Grant called off the remaining pursuit of Bragg because his On the flip side, Kincaid also ignored the age 1. Oregon would likely be invaded. army was low on rations and he decided minimum. Eighty-six recruits were underage, he needed to stay close to his supply line. 2. A Royal Navy squadron would eventually including one who was fifteen years old. Furthermore, Washington was still clamoring clean the Pacific coast of US ships which would for the rescue of Burnside in Knoxville and The adjutant general of Iowa wrote that include closing San Francisco Bay and the Grant was told that Union troops there had Kincaid was “large as life, happy as a clam, stopping or taking over the gold trade. If an rations that would last only until December 3. and proud as a peacock” of his new unit, which enemy army occupied California, it might be a President Lincoln's congratulstory message may have been an omen. The late scholar Spanish one from the Philippines. This would to Grant after Missionary Ridge had said Benton McAdams declared that “in (Kincaid’s) hurt the US economy significantly. "Well done. Many thanks to all. Remember estimation, he was now half a step below God, Burnside." and beholden to no one.” 3. The Royal Navy could freely bombard US coastal cities and launch raids to burn factories, Casualties for the Union Army amounted to Prior to their transfer to Alton, the Greybeards etc. 5,824 (753 killed, 4,722 wounded, and 349 were stationed at the notorious Gratiot Street missing) of about 56,000 engaged; Bragg prison in St. Louis. There, Kincaid informed a 4. The US would have to move tens of reported Confederate casualties of 6,667 group of Confederate officers that all women of thousands of troops to coastal defense, not to (361 killed, 2,160 wounded, and 4,146 the South, including their wives, were mention the northern border. missing, mostly prisoners) of about 44,000. “prostitutes of the very lowest class.” Southern losses may have been higher; 5. The economy of New England would Grant claimed 6,142 prisoners. Kincaid also had his own form of collapse as the whaling fleet would be sunk When a chaplain asked General Thomas waterboarding. One recruit in the 37th and the fishing fleets would be kept in port. whether the dead should be sorted and remembered that any errant soldier would “be 6. Necessary imports would be stopped buried by state, Thomas replied "Mix 'em up. placed … under a (hydrant)” and have the including 500,000 Enfeldt Rifles, optics, I'm tired of States' rights." One of the water “let upon his face, eyes, and mouth until textiles, sugar, immigrants, etc. Confederacy's two major armies was routed. he was perfectly suffocated and apparently Bragg relieved Breckinridge from command, dead.” One man was left partially deaf from 7. The Mississippi River would have remained accusing him of all out drunkenness during the experience, while another died from it. in Confederate hands. November 23–27. Bragg chose to blame Such brutality was ordered even “for trivial Breckinridge and the cowardice of his army offenses.” 8. Imports would have flooded into the CSA. for the defeat. He resigned from command Instead of fighting with inferior weapons, they of the Army of Tennessee on December 1 Not surprisingly, desertions in the 37th were would have had access to the most advanced and was replaced temporarily by Hardee. high, and, owing to age, many were unable to weapons in Europe. complete their three-year enlistments. None of (Gen. Joseph E. Johnston then assumed the men seventy or older made it through the 9. The CSA would have had tens of thousands command of the army on December 27.) war, and almost 350 men of the regiment were of additional soldiers freed from coastal eventually discharged for disability. The defense or watching federal garrisons on its In East Tennessee, Longstreet's offensive erstwhile King died in July 1863, seven months coasts. New Orleans would have been a against Burnside (the Knoxville campaign) after joining the service. thriving trading city rather than an occupied fell apart at the Battle of Fort Sanders on city. November 29. Although he was ordered to “As soldiers, I think the 37th was initially rejoin Bragg, Longstreet considered the 10. Desertion would have been a less serious adequate, but declined to marginal,” order impracticable and informed Bragg that problem in the CSA as families back home remarked Eaton. “At their age, roughing he would return with his command to Virginia wouldn’t be starving. it was hard. There was very little combat but would maintain the siege on Knoxville as excitement to inspire them to stay at their long as possible in the hopes that Burnside peak form.” In short, I think Lincoln would have quickly sued for peace. Time would not be on his side and Grant could be prevented from joining In late July 1863, the Greybeards were sent to so peace would come quickly. forces to annihilate the Army of Tennessee. Alton, where their ineptitude remained intact. This plan turned out to be effective because During the span of one month, the Greybeards Grant sent Sherman with 25,000 men to somehow let twenty-three Confederates relieve the siege at Knoxville. Longstreet escape. “I think that when the POWs consider abandoned his siege on December 4, to go the guards as kindly gentlemen, they were not into winter quarters, and returned to Virginia enforcing the rules, and were not a feared in the spring of 1864. The Confederate force,” said Eaton. “The number of escapes is enthusiasm that had risen so high after a good indication they were not paying Chickamauga had been dashed at attention.” Chattanooga. The Union now held all undisputed control of the entire state of “The inspector general’s reports indicate that Tennessee, including Chattanooga, the the 37th didn’t do a very good job of running "Gateway to the Lower South." The city the show,” commented Huber. “There were became the supply and logistics base for problems with logistics, food, clothing, and Image of British Veterans Sherman's 1864 . Who fought on the Union side via Wikimedia Commons supplies that weren’t accounted for”.

“Their books didn’t balance.” Kincaid, THE MOST though, found a way to make it all REMARKABLE SURVIVOR worthwhile. New prisoners at Alton were OF THE required to turn in their money, expecting PLEASE VISIT CIVIL WAR to be repaid when they were released. THE If they turned in gold, Kincaid paid them American Civil War Forum back in greenbacks. He kept the gold MCHENRY COUNTY himself, and reaped the benefits of any increase in its value. CIVIL WAR

Don Huber of Alton has extensively ROUND TABLE researched the Civil War in the Riverbend. He describes the situation of WEB SITE ON LINE the Greybeards’s time in Alton as @ “something of chaos. Huber also says that thirty-seven men of the regiment died www.mchenrycivilwar.com at Alton, mainly of disease. Among them DON PURN WEB MASTER was sixty-five-year-old Jacob Neely of Knoxville, Iowa, who died on Oct. 8, 1863 and was buried in the Alton National Jacob C. Miller, August 4, 1840-January 13, AND READ Cemetery. Smallpox, which ravaged the 1917. formerly a private in company K 9th THE prison and had created the need for a Indiana Vol. Inf. was wounded in the head near quarantine on “Smallpox Island” in the the Brock Field at the Battle of Chickamauga on MCHENRY COUNTY Mississippi, also afflicted the 37th. In the morning of September 19, 1863. September 1863, one man of the unit CIVIL WAR wrote that “our regiment has almost as Private Jacob Miller is, without a doubt, the many (13) on the island as the rebels most singular example of the low lethality of ROUND TABLE (15).” “A lot of the deaths in the 37th at buck & ball that it is possible to imagine. Buck Alton were from September to December & Ball rounds consisted of a single round MONTHLY in 1863,” remarked Huber. “That was the musket ball & three buckshot. It was intended prime time for smallpox at the prison. So to compensate for the inaccuracy of NEWSPAPER a lot of those deaths may have been from smoothbore muskets. smallpox.” Private Jacob C. Miller was awarded the At least one account implies that the city Congressional Medal of Honor for gallantry in KEITH FISHER EDITOR of Alton was satisfied with the 37th. In the charge of the volunteer storming party on 22 December, the Telegraph criticized May 1863, while serving with Company G, reports of an impending transfer of the 113th Illinois Infantry, in action at Vicksburg, unit. Likewise, the men of the 37th Mississippi. expressed a desire to stay in Alton. He was awarded the metal on August 20, 1894. Some residents of Alton, though, had at Perhaps uniquely, the Metal of Honor is by far least one gripe with the 37th. “The not the most remarkable of Miller’s wartime regiment didn’t have a very good band,” experiences. laughed Huber. “By comparison, the 10th Kansas, which came next, was a battle- “since September 19, 1863, he has lived with an hardened regiment and had a great band, open bullet wound in his forehead. For quite a and people liked that.” number of years the bullet remained in his head but piece by piece it fell out till now. It is thought On Jan. 17, 1864, the Greybeards were none of it remains in the wound. During the time sent to the newly established prison camp was in the head it at times would produce a at the Rock Island Arsenal, where Kincaid stupor, which sometimes would last two weeks, clashed with prison authorities. By then, it being usually when he caught cold & it had the regiment was largely spent. “I have produced more of a pressure on the brain. At always felt a little sorry for the 37th for other times delirium would seize him & he would being guards at Rock Island,” commented imagine himself again on picket duty & would Eaton. “They were already worn out, and tramp back & forth on his beat, a stick on his their discharge station was in Davenport, shoulder for a musket, a pitiful object of the just across the river. They could see the sacrifice for freedom. end of their military service, but could not take advantage without deserting.” As these pieces of lead gradually loosened & Kincaid eventually lost interest in the fell out he regained his usual health & is now at the age of 78 years, one of the most, if not the regiment, and was not present when it was mustered out of service in May 1865. most remarkable survivor of the Civil War.”