Jefferson County Online A part of the IAGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects War History

If there is any one thing more than another of which the people of the Northern States have reason to be proud, it is of the record they made during the dark and bloody days of the war of the rebellion. When the war was forced upon the country, the people were quietly pursuing the even tenor of their ways, doing whatever their hands found to do -- making farms or cultivating those already made, erecting homes, founding cities and towns, building shops and manufactories -- in short, the country was alive with industry and hopes for the future. The country was just recovering from the depression and losses incident to the financial panic of 1857. The future looked bright and promising, and the industrious and patriotic sons and daughters of the free States were buoyant with hope -- and, looking forward to the perfecting of new plans for the ensurement of comfort and competence in their declining years, they little heeded the mutterings and threatenings of treason's children in the Slave States of the South. True sons and descendants of the heroes of the "times that tried men's souls" -- the struggle for American independence -- they never dreamed that there was even one so base as to attempt the destruction of the Union of their fathers -- a government baptized with the best blood the world ever knew. While immediately surrounded with peace and tranquillity (sic), they paid but little attention to rumored plots and plans of those who lived and grew rich from the sweat and toil, blood and flesh of others -- aye, even by trafficking in the offspring of their own loins. Nevertheless, the war came with all its attendant horrors.

April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter, at Charleston, South Carolina, Major Anderson, U. S. A. Commandant, was fire upon (sic) by rebels in arms. Although basest treason, this first act in the bloody reality that followed was looked upon as mere bravado of a few hot-heads -- the act of a few fire-eaters whose sectional bias and hatred of freedom was crazed by excessive indulgence in intoxicating potations. When, a day later, the news was borne along the telegraph wires that Major Anderson had been forced to surrender to what had at first been regarded as a drunken mob, the patriotic people of the North were startled from their dreams of the future -- from undertakings half completed -- and made to realize that behind that mob there was a dark, deep and well-organized purpose to destroy the Government, rend the Union in twain, and out of its ruins erect a slave oligarchy, wherein no one would dare question their right to hold in bondage the sons and daughters of men whose skins were black, or who, perchance, through practices of lustful natures, were half or three-quarters removed from the color that God, for His own purposes, had given them. But they "reckoned without their host." Their dreams of the future -- their plans for the establishment of an independent confederacy were doomed, from their inception, to sad and bitter disappointment.

Immediately upon the surrender of Fort Sumter, Abraham Lincoln, America's martyr President, who, but a few short weeks before, had taken the oath of office as the nation's chief executive, issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteers for three months. The last word of that proclamation had scarcely been taken from the electric wires, before the call was filled. Men and money were counted out by hundreds and thousands.

The people who loved their whole government could not give enough. Patriotism thrilled and vibrated and pulsated through every heart. The farm, the workshop, the office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the college, the schoolhouse -- every calling offered its best men, their lives and fontunes (sic) in defense of the Government's honor and unity. Party lines were, for the time, ignored. Bitter words, spoken in moments of political heat, were forgotten and forgiven, and, joining hands in a common cause, the masses of the people repeated the oath of America's soldier statesman: "By the great Eternal, the Union must and shall be preserved."

The gauntlet thrown down by the traitors of the South in their attack upon Fort Sumter was accepted, not, however, in the spirit with which insolence meets insolence, but with a firm, determined spirit of patriotism and love of country. The duty of the President was plain under the Constitution and laws, and above and beyond all, the masses of the people from whom all political power is derived, demanded the suppression of the rebellion, and stood ready to sustain the authority of their representatives and executive officers.

April 14, A. D. 1861, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, issued the following

Whereas, The laws of the United States have been and now are violently opposed in several States, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed in the ordinary way; I therefore call for the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate number of 75,000, to suppress said combinations and execute the laws. I appeal to all loyal citizens to facilitate and aid in this effort to maintain the laws, the integrity and the perpetuity of the popular government, and redress wrongs long enough endured. The first service assigned to the forces, probably, will be to repossess the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union. Let the utmost care be taken, consistent with the object, to avoid devastation, destruction or interference with the property of peaceful citizens in any part of the country; and I hereby command persons composing the aforesaid combination to disperse within twenty days from date.

I hereby convene bouth Houses of Congress for the 4th day of July next, to determine upon measures for public safety which the interest of the subject demands.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President of the United States.
Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State.

Seventy-five thousand men were not enough to subdue the rebellion. Nor were ten times that number. The war went on and call followed call, until it began to look as if there would not be men enough in all the Free States to crush out and subdue the monstrous war traitors had inaugurated. But to every call for either men or money, there was a willing and ready response. And it is a boast of the people that, had the supply of men fallen short, there were women brave enough, daring enough, patriotic enough, to have offered themselves as sacrifices on their country's altar. Such were the impulses, motives and actions of the patriotic men of the North, among whom the sons of Jefferson made a conspicuous and praiseworthy record.

The readiness with which the first call was filled, together with the embarrassments that surrounded President Lincoln in the absence of sufficient laws to authorize him to meet the unholy, unlooked-for and unexpected emergency -- an emergency that had never been anticipated by the wisest and best of America's statesmen -- together with an underestimate of the magnitude of the rebellion, and a general belief that the war could not and would not last more than three months, checked rather than encouraged the patriotic ardor of the people. But very few of the men, comparatively speaking, who volunteered in response to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers for three months, were accepted. But the time soon came when there was a place and musket for every man. Call followed call in quick succession, until the number reached the grand total of 3,339,748, as follows:

The tocsin of war was sounded, and meetings were held over the North to consider the situation and devise ways and means to meet the President's call.

The first war-meeting in Jefferson County was held in Fairfield on Wednesday, April 17, 1861. Mayor Stubbs was chosen President, Ward Lamson and Dr. S. W. Taylor, Vice Presidents, and W. W. Junkin, Secretary, of the meeting.

At the reading of the call for volunteers, there was a ready response from those of the required age, and one hundred names were soon enrolled. The paper signed by the volunteers was headed by the following:

We, the undersigned, able-bodied men between the ages of eighteen and forty years, hereby tender our services to Gov. Kirkwood, and obligate ourselves to be in readiness to march in defense of our country as occasion may require, subject only to such regulations as may hereafter be enacted by the Government for the regulation of volunteers:

Remarks of a patriotic character were then made by C. W. Slagle, J. C. Kirkpatrick, Robert Brown, George Strong, and others.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That all true men will stand by the Government in its hour of need, and any man who will not lend such support is unworthy of its protection.

By a unanimous vote of those who volunteered, their services were at once tendered to the Governor, and a committee of five, consisting of R. C. Brown, S. W. Taylor, D. Young, R. Gaines and J. H. Allender, was appointed to procure the signatures of those who were willing to assist the families of those volunteers who went into the service of the United States.

After ordering the proceedings to be published, the meeting adjourned with three rousing cheers for the Union, the Constitution and the enforcement of the laws. The proceedings of this meeting were signed by D. P. Stubbs, President, and W. W. Junkin, Secretary.

This, the first company of volunteers raised in Jefferson County, was enrolled on the 6th of May, 1871 (sic - 1861), and mustered into the United States service by Maj. Lauman. It was the original intention that it should be made a part of the First Regiment of Iowa Volunteers, but failing to be ready in time to leave the State with that regiment, the company eventually became Company E of the Second Iowa. The company was at first organized with Frederick F. Metzler, Captain; George Strong, First Lieutenant, and Steven D. Gorsuch, Second Lieutenant. Shortly afterward, however, John T. McCullough was commissioned Captain, D. B. Wilson, First Lieutenant, and S. B. Woods, Second Lieutenant.

On Friday, the 24th day of May, the day on which the company started for Keokuk, a beautiful silk flag, the work of the fair hands of the patriotic ladies of Fairfield, was presented to the company composed of their husbands, brothers, lovers and friends, who were so soon to become familiar with the manifold horrors of the tented field.

The presentation speech was made, on behalf of the ladies, by Miss Helen E. Pelletreau, a very estimable young lady of Fairfield. The company, with the Fairfield Guards and the Home Guards, surrounded by a large assemblage of citizens, who had gathered to witness the presentation, was drawn up in the park, facing an elevated platform, when Miss Pelletreau arose and delivered an appropriate and impressive address. Her voice was clear, full and distinct, and her manner that of one fully impressed with the gravity of the occasion, and the critical condition of the country. She spoke as follows:

Citizen Soldiers: You have enlisted at the call of your country to defend our rights. We honor you for so doing, and rejoice in being able to manifest our approval of your hearty response to that call by presenting you this flat. These are the same stars and stripes under which our fathers fought and bled -- "The Star Spangled Banner" -- which hs been to all nations an emblem of our devotion to liberty and freedom. Take the gift, guard it well. Bear it to the very front of battle, and fight valiantly under its folds until victory is yours. Then, and not till then, we charge you to return it to us unstained by dishonor, and you shall be welcomed home with hearts full of gratitude.

This is a proud day for us and for you. For us, that we can freely give up our husbands, brothers and sons for the sake of our country; for you, that you can sever the ties that bind you to home and friends and go forth "armed with the panoply of war" to fight for our liberties.

May the same spirit which actuated our foregathers inspire you with real and undaunged courage in the great and glorious cause which you have espoused. Be assured our prayers will follow you through all the privations, toils and danger you may encounter, and we believe that that God who protected and sustained Washington in the hour of his greatest need, will be with you and nerve your arms to strike a death-blow to the foes of the "Flag of our Union."

During Miss Pelletreau's remarks, many an eye was wet with tears and sobbings were heard in many portions of the assemblage. When she had concluded her address, the flag was received by Lieut. Strong, who had been appointed by the company for that purpose. This officer responded in a few appropriate remarks, and other members of the company also spoke pertinent to the occasion. A few feeling words by Capt. Metzler concluded the ceremonies, after which the company marched to the scene of departure, and were soon en route for Keokuk.

This beautiful memento of home and friends, the presentation of which is described above, was destined to have a very eventful history, carried as it was throughout the entire four years of conflict. It was with Company E through the bloody, hard-fought fields of Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Bear Creek, Resaca, Atlanta and other engagements equally bloody. It accompanied them with Sherman on his victorious march to the sea, and was, for a time, carried as the colors of the regiment, but throughout all its vicissitudes the silken emblem was never stained with dishonor. This relic of the days of strife, tattered and torn with time and exposure, is still preserved at Fairfield, in the law office of Mr. Moses McCoid, one of the original members of the company.

For one month after their departure, the ladies of Fairfield plied themselves most assiduously to making one hundred suits of clothes, one for each member. The garments were in due time completed and sent to the boys, but scarcely had they got them well fitted to their persons before an order came from the War Department that every regiment in the service should be clothed in the regulation blue, which subsequently became so familiar to all throughout the length and breadth of the land. These suits prepared on this occasion by the Fairfield ladies were of gray, such as were provided for the soldiers during the first three months of the war. As a matter of course, the new habiliments were at once discarded, which was a great disappointment to the ladies who had labored so assiduously in their work of patriotism and love.

The same spirit of patriotism pervaded the other townships of Jefferson County.

Union meetings were held at all the principal points in the county, and an account of the proceedings of one held March 26, in Black Hawk Township, may not prove uninteresting.

Union Hall was well filled. Moses Dudley was called to the chair and A. Defrance appointed Secretary, after which the Chairman stated the object of the meeting. Mr. Bleakmore was then introduced and made an able and eloquent Union speech. He was followed by R. Gaines, E. Davis and Moses Dudley. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Gaines, Davis and Bleakmore, was appointed to draft resolutions setting forth the sense and feeling of the meeting. This committee reported as follows, the report being adopted without a dissenting voice.

Whereas, These United States are now involved in civil war, actual hostilities having been commenced by the bombardment of Fort Sumter; and

Whereas, Our national capital is threatened with invasion and our Government with overthrow; therefore, Resolved,

1. That were are unalterably attached to the American Union, and we deplore and condemn the attempts to dissolve it;

2. That we are, as heretofore, on the side of our country now and forever, and that we will obey, maintain and support the Constitution and laws of the United States and of the State of Iowa;

3. That Abraham Lincoln has been constitutionally and legally elected and inaugurated as President of the United States, and that our very loyalty to the Constitution binds us to protect and defend the Government (of which the Administration wields the executive power) from insult, invasion and overthrow;

4. That, as many persons present in this meeting have condemned, and still do condemn, the unnatural and violent opposition to the Mexican war of many noted personages, during its continuance, and as history also denounces the still more unpatriotic opposition to the war of 1812, so strongly manifested in other States of the Union, so do we now discountenance opposition, for the sake of opposition, to the policy of the Administration; especially do we advise against such opposition as may induce those who have taken up arms against the Consititution and the Union to suppose they have friends and supporters in the loyal States;

5. That the Administration and the Republican party, and all other parties, should and will be hereafter severally held to strict account for any errors they may have committed, or may in future commit, in regard to the secession movement;

6. That we are not Abolitionists, and that we make no war upon the slave property of the Southern States;

7. That civil war has no charms for us, and that we hope and pray for its speedy and happy termination, without an attack upon Washington City, and without further devastation and bloodshed; but come what may, we abide by the Consititution and the flag of our Union;

8. That, if the storm must rage without, we should have peace and union at home, and we do strenuously advise courtesy, toleration and forbearance among our own citizens toward each other; we condemn the use of abusive epithets, such as "traitors" and "secessionists," as applied to men, all of whom are loyal to their country and her flag; and we are not in favor of the revival of the sedition laws of John Adams, nor of the enactment here of the treason laws of Henry the Eighth, of England, which not only put men to death for their deeds, but also for their words; and not only for their words, but also for their thoughts.

The meeting then organized a "Home Guard," of which the following were enrolled at that meeting as members:

The proceedings of this meeting were ordered published in the Fairfield Ledger and the Burlington Hawk-Eye.

In Penn Township, a meeting was held at Miller's schoolhouse, April 27, for the purpose of forming a military company for home protection, and a Home Guard was organized, the roll of which was signed on this occasion by twenty-nine citizens of that township.

At Abingdon, in Polk Township, on May 27, a Home Guard was formed, consisting of eighty members, and officered as follows: Captain, P. W. Wilcox; First Lieutenant, M. M. Campbell; Second Lieutenant, Joshua Wright; Color Sergeant, J. J. Sperry. This company was banded together for the purpose of repelling invasion, protecting their homes, and, if called upon by the President, to tender their services to go out of the State and assist in maintaining the honor of the American flag. Companies of Home Guards were also organized in Liberty and Round Prairie Townships.

An old Mexican war soldier of this county, who knew how it was himself, animated by a humanitarian spirit and a fatherly solicitude for the comfort and general welfare of the young and inexperienced volunteers who were about to start for the sea tof (sic) war, and dare the untried dangers of the march, the camp and the battle-field, offered the following timely suggestions, the observation of which by the soldiers of the county, added greatly to their general health and comfort:

1. Remember, That in a campaign more men die from sickness than by the bullet.

2. Line your blankets with but one thickness of brown drilling. This adds but four ounces in weight, and doubles the warmth.

3. Buy a small India rubber blanket (only $1.50) to lay on the ground or to throw over your shoulder when on guard duty during a rainstorm. Most of the Eastern troops are provided with these. Straw to lay upon is not always to be had.

4. The best military hat in use is he light-colored soft felt, the crown being sufficiently high to allow space for the air over the brain. You can fasten it up as a Continental in fair weather, or turn it down when it is wet or very sunny.

5. Let your beard grow, so as to protect the throat and lungs.

6. Keep your entire person clean. This prevents fevers and bowel complaints in warm climates. Wash your body, if possible. Avoid strong coffee and oily meat. Gen. Scott said the too frequent use of these, together with neglect in keeping the skin clean, cost many a soldier his life in Mexico.

7. A check of perspiration by chilly night air often causes fever and death. When thus exposed, do not forget your blanket.

In the latter part of May, a meeting of the officers of the various organized military companies of Jefferson County was held at Fairfield, of which W. S. Linch was Chairman, and J. H. Winder, Secretary, the object of which, as stated to the meeting by W. M. Clark, was to arrange the preliminaries for a grand military parade. In order to preserve some record of the number of companies then in the county, a list is here given of those represented on that occasion:

Fairfield Home Guard, by W. M. Clark, Captain.
Black Hawk Home Guards, by R. Gaines, Captain. Drill at James H. Baker's.
Penn Township Home Guards, by O. J. Westenhaver, Captain. Drill at W. C. Coop's.
Salina Home Guards, by J. H. Allender, Captain. Drill at Salina.
Prairie Home Guards, by J. H. Strong, First Lieutenant. Drill in Round Prairie Township.
Prairie Home Guards, horse company, by H. Gaylord, Captain. Drill at Glasgow.
Jefferson Home Guards, by P. Walker, Captain. Drill at Libertyville.
Fairfield Guards, by W. K. Alexander, First Lieutenant, Drill at Fairfield.

It was decided that the companies should all meet for general drill at Fairfield, June 1, at 10 o'clock. The officers of the day, as appointed for the occasion, were W. P. Huyett, Colonel; P. Walker, Lieutenant Colonel; J. H. Allender, Major. Saturday, the 1st of June, came, and with it the heaviest shower of rain of the season, which threw a wet blanket over the proceedings, spoiling all the beauty and drowning all the fun out of the parade. The military organizations were on hand in the morning, as well as a large concourse of people from other portions of the county. The troops were marched to the depot grounds, where they were formed and brought into town, and dispersed again until 1 o'clock, at which hour the companies assembled around the Park and were getting into order, when the windows of heaven were again opened and the floods descended, causing considerable marching in "double quick" time.

The Board of Supervisors of Jefferson County, realizing that as the natural protectors of many families of the country were absent in the army, several were beginning to want for the necessaries of life, ordered a special meeting of the Board on Saturday, June 8, to consider the situation. At this meeting, the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors of Jefferson County, Iowa, do hereby appropriate the sum of $1,000 for the relief of families of citizens of said county enlisted in the service of the Government, to be disbursed by William K. Alexander, William Long and George Acheson, they to render a statement of the disbursements at the next regular session of the Board, and authorizing the Clerk to draw warrants on the treasury for the amounts.

H

October 8, 1861, the Board of Supervisors being in session, it was

Ordered, That the Board of Supervisors to hereby appropriate out of the county funds of this county the additional sum of $500, for the support of the families of those persons who have volunteered and are in the actual military service of either the United States or of the State of Iowa, who are in destitute circumstances, and whose families resided in this county at the time of their enlistment and whose families still reside in this county.

In addition to these appropriations by the County Board, a paper began to circulate when enlistments first commenced, for voluntary subscriptions for the benefit of the families of volunteers. No man refused to contribute something, and in this way over $2,000 were provided for the purpose named. It was money cheerfully given, and was the means of carrying gladness to the heart of many a wife and mother at home and husband and father on the tented field.

A systematic plan was adopted for disbursing these amounts, and, be it said to the credit of the people of Jefferson County who remained at home during the war, that not one of any of the soldiers' families was left to suffer when it was known, or could be known, that they were in need of food, fuel, clothing, shelter or medical assitance.

In the charges on Fort Donelson, the Second Iowa Regiment lost over two-thirds of its members, and the report reached Fairfield that Company E was among those who had suffered the most severely. The sorrowful news of this battle brought mourning into the households of all those who had friends and relatives in the Second Regiment, and no one among them knew how soon the probability that some dear one was either killed, wounded or taken prisoner -- on the arrival of more definite information -- would be converted into a certainty.

In the midst of these harrowing doubts, a number of the citizens of Fairfield met together for mutual condolence and to devise some plan for sending assistance to the victims of the carnage before Fort Donelson. At this meeting, Dr. C. S. Clark proposed that he would himself go to the scene of the late battle, which proposition met with general approbation. Mrs. M. E. Woods immediately proposed that she would accompany the Doctor on his mission of mercy to the wounded and dying, however, that Dr. Clark should first go as far as Cairo and ascertain definitely just what was the situation, and what was needed in the way of nurses and sanitary supplies. The report came back from Dr. Clark that there was a crying need for competent nurses, and that the sanitary supplies were low.

It was then arranged for Mrs. Woods to procure the necessary credentials as Sanitary Agent and Nurse, and the papers for transportation, which she did accordingly. On the 3d of April, 1862, she made her first visit to Keokuk with a supply of sanitary stores, and entered heart and soul upon that mission to the sick and wounded who came with her department, in the faithful fulfillment of which she eventually became so distinguished. After distributing the sanitary supplies sent in her care, Mrs. Woods remained for some time in Keokuk, nursing and caring for the sick and wounded, and then returned home, but only remained long enough for another supply of stores to be collected, with which she started, in November, for Springfield, Mo., where the Nineteenth Iowa was quartered.

Returning to her home in Fairfield for a short time, in the month of March, 1863, Mrs. Woods started with another extensive supply of stores for Pilot Knob, Mo., where the Third Regiment of Iowa Cavalry was quartered. In the latter part of March, she went from Pilot Knob to Helena with supplies that were much needed by the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, which at the time was stationed there. She then proceeded on her first trip down the river en route for Milliken's Bend and Vicksburg, arriving at the former place about the 1st of April. Mrs. Woods was in the rear of Vicksburg with the Union army during the bombardment of that city by Gen. Grant's forces, when the gunboats on the Mississippi succeeded in running the blockade, and for a time herself was under fire when the shot and shell from the company's guns were falling so thick and fast that she was obliged to keep up an active movement in order to avoid the range of the exploding shells, which, with the blazing guns, so illuminated all things in that vicinity at night that one could readily see to read by the light they made, and even see to pick up a pin on the deck of a gunboat.

This energetic and patriotic woman made nine trips to the seat of conflict and the various military stations with supplies for the soldiers in amounts varying in bulk from ten to thirty-seven tons each time, and continued her ministrations throughout the entire war. During the time Mrs. Woods was engaged in this good work, the Government and all with whom she came in contact, and on all occasions, reposed in her the most implicit confidence, and many is the wounded, suffering soldier that has occasion to remember her more as a ministering angel than as woman.

The following letter of acknowledgment is inserted here as one of many of a like character received by Mrs. Woods, showing the appreciation in which her services were held by that portion of the army with which she had communication as Nurse and Sanitary Agent:

Headquarters 15th Army Corps,      }
Scottsborough, December 31, 1863. }

Mrs. Woods, Headquarters First Division, Madam: Maj. Gen. Logan desires to express his hearty appreciation of your kindness in bearing us in mind on the approach of the New Year. Allow me, madam, on his part and for the entire staff, to tender you our thanks.

The bearer will bring the articles you intend for us, and in "doing them justice" we will not fail to remember you and the noble women who, with you, have done so much to smooth the rough and stormy paths of a soldier's life.

Wishing you, madam, a happy New Year, and many of them,

I am very truly your obediant servant,

J. H. Hammond,
Adjutant General and Chief of Staff 15th Army Corps.

Not all the credit is due to Mrs. Woods for this good work -- for the gladness and comfort carried to Jefferson's "Boys in Blue," as they languished in hospitals or stood exposed on the outposts of duty. Behind her were the wives, and mothers, and sisters, and daughters, who had watched their soldier-husbands, sons and brothers march away to meet, repel and conquer a rebellious foe. They provided, and Mrs. Woods was the trusted agent whom they commissioned to deliver their representative soldiery what they prepared. Nobly, bravely, fearlessly did Mrs. Woods discharge that duty. Faithfully, lovingly did the noble, patriotic daughters of Jefferson do theirs. Fairs and festivals were held in almost every schoolhouse in the county. Speeches were interdicted. Work, not talk, was the purpose. On occasions of fairs and festivals, the walls of the buildings were adorned with wreaths of evergreens and mottoes like these: Ladies' Aid Society, The Soldier's Friend, "The Love of Country Guides Us," "Where Liberty Dwells, There is My Country," "He Who Gives Promptly, Gives Twice as Much."

The ladies of Jefferson County caught the spirit of the hour in a manner that showed them to be imbued with the noblest ambitions of Amerian women; and from the hour when those who were near and dear to them were first called the field, their patriotism never wavered, nor did they allow their interests in the cause to flag, until the victorious troops "came marching home with glad and gallant tread."

While the women were almost constantly employed in gathering supplies and hurrying them to the soldiers already in the field, others were enlisting and joining the companies and regiments to which they were assigned. Many more pages could be written of the patriotic offerings made by the people of Jefferson County during the years involved in the great and final struggle between freedom and slavery, but those offerings were recorded in deeds more sacred and lasting than words. Out of a population of 15,038, in 1860, as shown by the United States Census for that decade, this county furnished over one thousand six hundred soldiers -- a record unequaled by any other county of the same population in the United States. The Adjutant General's report for 1866 shows 966 enlistments from this county, but, as many citizens of the county entered the army at other points, it has been ascertained that the total number who fought in the war of the great rebellion will approximate 1,600.

Many of these sleep in unmarked graves, far away from home and kindred, but their names and their memories live in the hearts of a grateful people. We can offer a no more fitting tribute to their patriotic valor than a full and complete record, so far as it is possible to make it, that will embrace the names, the terms of enlistments, the battles in which they engaged, etc. It will be a wreath of glory encircling every brow, and a memento which each and every one of them earned in defense of their country's honor, integrity and unity.