MCHENRY COUNTY PRESENTATION CIVIL WAR ROUND DISCUSSION GROUP AT THE TABLE AT THE

414 JUDD STREET 6000 NORTHWEST HIGHWAY WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS ANNUAL CRYSTAL LAKE, ILLINOIS MEMBERSHIP DUES TUESDAY SATURDAY MAY 8, 2018 MAY 26, 2018

By Mary Abroe PRESENTATION: SURRENDERS AFTER APPOMATTOX By Chuck Hamilton

DISCUSSION: Contrary to common assumption, the did not come to a screeching halt after General Robert E. Lee accepted General U.S. Grant’s APRIL SUMMARY: terms of surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. AND The Ar mies and Navies of the defeated Confederate States of America did not all surrender at one time, but rather in a slow and piecemeal fashion spread over a widely dispersed area of geographic distribution,which also included one unit overseas. Some units, in fact, never surrendered at all. Some Confederate units surrendered in various places on April 12, 16, 19, 20,21, 26, and 27..

Other various Confederate units would APRIL Jefferson C. Davis vs. Bull Nelson surrender on May 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Nelson gave Davis the job of organizing raw 13, 26 and 30. And finally, a few of the PRESENTATION recruits in Kentucky. Davis, thinking the job last units surrendered on June 2, 3 and REVIEW was beneath him, refused. Nelson then 23. As a final note, on November 6,1865 ordered him to leave, which he did, but then the CSS Shenandoah surrendered to The guest speaker for our April meeting, he returned and shot and killed Nelson. HMS Donelgal at Liverpool England. Rob Girardi, addressed the conflicts within Davis was, of course, arrested. The Union the high commands of both the Union and victory at Perryville, eight days later, might On August 20, 1866, President Andrew Confederate armies. have been a greater one had it not been for Johnson declared what he called the the loss of these two generals “insurrection” officially over and peace Davis, Johnston, and Pemberton restored. President Jefferson Davis appointed Joseph McClellan and Fremont vs. Pope Johnston to foster teamwork in the western After the Peninsula, Campaign President On July 4, 1865, General Joseph Shelby theatre and told General John Pemberton to Lincoln chose John C. Pope to lead the led his Iron Brigade and other troops in his hold Vicksburg at all costs. But, Johnston Army of the Potomac. Fremont now Missouri Division across the Rio Grande then advised him to evacuate the “Gibraltar refused to serve under Pope: he was at Eagle Pass, Texas, into Piedas Negras, of the Mississippi.” He seemed to shy away transferred and replaced by Franz Siegel. Empire of , to avoid surrender. from responsibility and gave Braxton Bragg Pope actually did a good job and made the Accompanying Shelby’s column were the little direction. When he assumed control of cavalry into a significant fighting force. former Confederate governors Pendelton the western armies he basically retreated. Lincoln ordered McClellan to reinforce Pope Murrah (Texas), Henry Allen (Louisiana), in Virginia, but, of course, McClellan found McClellan vs. Scott Thomas Reynolds (Missouri), and Isham reasons not to. In fact, the “Little Napoleon” At the start of the war General in Chief Harris (Tennessee), as well as former actually undercut his commander, thus Winfield Scott was 74 years old and so Confederate generals Edmund Kirby contributing to defeat at 2nd Bull Run Smith, , John Bankhead obese that he was unable to mount a horse. Magruder,a Alexander Watkins Terrell, and His first choice to lead the Union army was . McClellan vs. Burnside vs. Mead other one-time officers and members of Robert E. Lee, but, failing that, his second Now back in charge of the Army of the the former Trans-Mississippi Department choice was Henry Halleck. After the Potomac, McClellan wouldn’t even talk to and all of their families. debacle at First Bull Run he did not want Burnside during the Antietam Campaign. In George McClellan to replace Irwin McDowell fact, he divided and weakened Burnsides’ Under the direction of former Commodore but Pres. Lincoln appointed the “Little two corps. Burnside, in command at , formerly of the Napoleon” anyway. Now, McClellan did Fredericksburg, needed the pontoons to Confederate Navy, ex-officers and troops “end runs” around Scott and issued orders complete the river crossing. However, they who crossed into the Empire of Mexico to without notifying the “General in Chief.” arrived 3 weeks late because orders for establish the New Virginia Colony in the Scott soon retired. them were sent by U.S. Mail rather than state of Veracruz at the invitation of the telegraph or courier. Burnside decided to McClellan vs. Lincoln Emperor Maximilian. attack anyway with disastrous results. McClellan originally thought he could “play” Meade actually made a breakthrough there Between ten and twenty thousand former Lincoln. He always had 1,001 excuses why but Burnside didn’t send him any help. Confederates emigrated to the Empire of he couldn’t do something. Lincoln wanted During the Overland Campaign in 1864 Brazil at the invitation of Dom Pedro II, to divide the army up into corps: McClellan Meade and Burnside were constantly who wanted to encourage the growth of didn’t want to do that. So, the President quarreling. After the Battle of the Crater, cotton in his country. went ahead anyway and created 5 corps. Meade had his rival brought up on charges. McClellan then created 2 more corps and Establishing themselves in several other took troops from the other 5, thus communities, these ex-Confederates Bragg vs. the World weakening them all. Most problems related would became the foundation of an ethnic Braxton Bragg was known for his abrasive to McClellan’s “inaction.” After the Ball’s group unique to Brazil known today as personality and inability to get along with Bluff disaster Congress created the Los , centered in the Sao just about everyone. His subordinate Committee on the Conduct of the War. Paolo town of known as Americana. More generals didn’t like him and his corps commanders basically ignored him at former Confederates settled in what was Hill vs. Longstreet and Jackson Chickamauga. President Davis even came then British Honduras (now Belize). Ex- A.P. Hill and James Longstreet were down from Richmond to patch things up, Rear Admiral John Randolph Tucker led a division commanders at the time. Hill even but to no avail. group of former Confederate expatriates challenged Longstreet to a duel at one into Peru to establish New Manassas. point. General Lee then transferred Hill to Grant vs. McClernand and Rosecrans Dr. Henry Price took another group into Thomas Jackson’s command. Jackson had It is well known that General Grant held grudges Venezuela to occupy large areas of the Hill arrested twice. and viewed many of his subordinates as state of Guyana called the Price Grant. potential rivals. Even though Gen. John McClernand agreed with his commander’s plan,

McClernand agreed with his "The Raiders", were quite well known a motivated, organized resistance effort, commander’s plan of attack for throughout the camp for their harsh tactics were significantly weakened. However, by Vicksburg, Grant relieved him of his and behavior towards fellow prisoners. mid-June 1864, the prisoners decided that command after the failed frontal assault they could no longer tolerate the Raiders' The Raiders used various methods to get in June. McClernand was a political terrorism and control over the camp in general and a Democrat. Grant also what they wanted, which ranged from pure addition to the constant threats they also "sneak thievery to highway robbery". The saw General William Rosecrans as a experienced from the camp's guards and threat and stripped him of command most common method of stealing involved constant risk of death due to the conditions after Chickamauga. He was replaced by looking for "promising subjects" as they within the camp. They organized to bring General George Thomas. Grant would enter the camp and tricking theim by their complaints to Captain Wirz and also attempted to purge the army in early pretending to help them find a good place to formed an inner prison police force to 1865, keeping only “his boys.” sleep, and then would end up beating and defend against and capture the Raiders. robbing them. The first organized resistance efforts within Sheridan vs. Warren Another of their choice techniques would the camp involved small groups of the A feud also developed between Gen. prisoners - usually members of the same Phil Sheridan and Gen. Gouverneur K. involve sending out spies to track down prisoners suspected of having valuables platoon or squadron – forming together in Warren. Sheridan complained that he self defense against the Raiders. The had left Meade “blind” at Spotsylvania which could be traded to camp guards. After determining a prisoner had something of groups would agree that if one of their while out looking for Jeb Stuart and that members were being attacked, he would his cavalry had clogged the roads at the real value, the Raiders would then wait for him to fall asleep and then raid his tent. scream out an agreed-upon code word; the Wilderness. When he heard that Warren other members would then come to the was complaining about him, Sheridan The Raiders were well organized and had victim's defense and would scare away the relieved him of command. many members who performed a variety of attackers. However, to defeat the Raiders Bob Frenz tasks. The best estimate is that the Raiders entirely, the prisoners would have to get ______consisted of at least 100 regular members, themselves more organized, and would as well as a number of others who would do also need backing from the Captain Wirz. THE favors for the group or provide assistance in On June 29, 1864, a prisoner named Dowd ANDERSONVILLE exchange for some type of compensation. was beaten by two of the Raiders, and had RAIDERS The group was organized around its six some of his valuable possesions stolen. From Wikipedia most important members, known as the After his attack, Dowd went immediately to The Raiders were a band of rogue "chieftains": Charles Curtis, John Sarsfield, the front gate to confront the Confederate soldiers held at Andersonville during the Patrick Delaney, Teri Sullivan, William guards and demand justice. His complaints American Civil War. They were led by their Collins, and A. Munn. It was also said that caught the interest of Captain Henry Wirz. chieftains – Charles Curtis, John Sarsfield, each leader had henchmen who were After hearing Dowd's story, he would then Patrick Delaney, Teri Sullivan, William organized into groups named after the announce that he would cut off all rations Collins, and A. Munn – these thugs terrorized leaders, such as "Collins' Raiders" and until the Raiders were turned in. This in many of their fellow prisoners by stealing "Curtis' Raiders". Resulting from their turn would result in the establishment of an their possessions and sometimes even widespread thievery, the Raiders were well internal police force to be named "the committing murder. supplied and enjoyed considerably better Regulators", who were not new to the Conditions at Andersonville were among living conditions than their fellow prisoners. camp, but had became significantly more the worst of all Civil War prison camps; They also possessed weapons, ranging powerful after Dowd's case was brought to conditions of extremely overcrowding from axes to bowie knives. They were also Captain Wirz attention. Now that there was and starvation was the most common well fed, which gave them an edge when it a police force (the Regulators) now began cause of death. Unsanitary conditions came to fighting; many of their victims were to make arrests and held the individuals and illness flourished within the camp. suffering from malnutrition, and would be they arrested until they were given a fair Whatever food available would often considerably weaker and less able to trial. Most of the Regulators' arrests of cause diseases by contamination. defend themselves. While resistance had suspected Raiders took place between Dysentery, scurvy, and gangrene were a the potential to be quite unsuccessful, the June 29 and July 10, 1864, when the main result of the harsh conditions and poor camp's prisoners needed the motivation to offenders were tried and hanged. The quality of food and water. Besides the fight the Raiders, and this proved to be a Regulators were able to round up most of severe health issues, records indicate major barrier. The prisoners were suffering the Raiders, while they put up considerable that the guards often would behave from widespread disease, starvation, and resistance, they were finally overthrown by sadistically and would kill prisoners for the effects of the other harsh conditions the Regulators. In his diary, Ransom notes no particular reason. within the camp. In contrast to the well-fed, that the first night of arrests were quite well-stocked, and well-organized Raiders, successful because, "thirty or forty of the Then there was the situation concerning the prisoners' physical capabilities for worst characters in camp had been taken “the Raiders”. resistance, and their abilities to sustain outside".

After the Raiders were arrested, as Ironically, Segent Leroy L. Key was buried in Captain Wirz had promised, all of the his home town of Springfield, Illinois in a plot offenders were put on trial for their in the Oak Ridge Cemetary over 130 years crimes against their fellow prisoners. ago with no head stone marker.

The court was set up much like a typical court, including a judge and Upon request by the Oak Ridge Cemetary of jury of the offenders' peers. Those Springfield, Illinois, who applied to the who were then convicted were given Veteran’s Administration in Washington D.C. relatively light sentences, such as they were able to obtain a Civil War Veteran "setting in the stocks, strung up by head marker stone for Sergent Key. the thumbs, thumb screws, head hanging, etc." Another of the lesser A ceremony to comemorate his stone, his life punishments was the running of the and his dedication as a non-commisioned gauntlet. Those sentenced to this officer during the American Civil War to the punishment were fthen orced to run United States of America, was held on through a gauntlet of inmates who Memorial Day, 2011. had clubs and were allowed to hit the offenders as they ran by. In some May Sergent Key Finally Rest In Peace. cases, the Raiders who had run the ______gauntlet were able to escape with just a few blows to the head, but others VISIT THE were beaten so badly that they died MCHENRY COUNTY from their injuries. The six members, who were to be considered the rogue CIVIL WAR ROUND group's leaders, were given the most TABLE WEB SITE severe punishment: death by www.mchenrycivilwar.com hanging. Sarsfield, Collins, Curtis, Delaney, Munn, and Sullivan – were DON PURN WEB MASTER executed on July 11, 1864, on a set of gallows that was built that day. AND On the way to the gallows, Curtis escaped from his rope ties and fled, but was caught by the police and READ THE returned to the gallows. MCHENRY COUNTY Each man was given time to say CIVIL WAR ROUND some last words before he was Quartermaster Sergent Leroy L. Key of the hanged. 16th. Illinois Cavalry was a prisoner of war TABLE at the infamous Andersonville Prison Camp MONTHLY NEWSPAPER Munn expressed great remorse for in South-Central Georgia during the his acts and hoped that God would American Civil War. show him mercy; Collins pleaded for KEITH FISHER EDITOR mercy from the crowd and claimed Sergent Key was also the organizer of that he was innocent; and Sarsfield “The Regulators”, a Retaliatory Police gave a long speech in which he, too, Force he established to fend off the expressed some regret. Delaney and terrorist gang of Union prisoners called Curtis, however, showed no remorse; “Mosby’s Raiders” or “The Raiders”, Delaney went so far as to say he who would prey upon the defensless and would "rather be hanged than live in week imanciated Union prisoners at the Andersonville”. All six were buried prison camp at Andersonville, Georgia. away from the other prisoners who were buried in the military cemetery Born: 19 March, 1841 Mississippi, U.S.A. at Andersonville. Death: 2 December, 1880 (Aged 39 Years) Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois USA Their execution marked the end of Bural: Oak Ridge Cemetery the Raiders' reign over Andersonville. Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois USA