Published March 29, 2024
By Phil Germann
On April 13, 1861, Quincy
received word by telegraph that Confederate forces had attacked Fort Sumter,
located 1,000 miles away in the harbor of Charleston, S.C.. The resulting
American Civil War would tear the nation apart but would mean economic and
population growth for Quincy.
Quincy became an important military location in Illinois,
adjacent to a corner of Missouri with divided loyalties and sympathies, as well
as the place where military units gathered to cross the Mississippi River,
confront Confederate forces, and ensure Missouri’s loyalty to the Union.
Quincy
was the site of several military hospitals, and its residents saw steamers
passing down the river loaded with soldiers only to return with sick and
wounded.
At 1 a.m. Sunday, April 14, news was received that Maj.
Anderson had surrendered Fort Sumter the day before. Church bells rang and
dispatches were read in local churches. The Rev. W. W. Patton of the First
Congregational Church preached from Matthew 21:6, “And ye shall hear of wars
and rumors of wars; see that ye not be troubled; for all these things must come
to pass, for the end is not yet.” Further, Rev. Patton said, “The present
struggle is one in which every Christian may rise from his knees and shoulder
his rifle.”
Hundreds assembled at the Adams County Courthouse on the east
side of Washington Square to hear local speakers discuss the situation. Many
present avowed their readiness to enlist if necessary to redeem the honor of
the country. Throughout Sunday, groups around Quincy discussed the news.
Several fights occurred, but none involved lethal weapons.
Two days after Fort Sumter fell, Quincy held its municipal
elections. Democrats rejoiced in winning all offices except that of city
engineer. Republicans countered that the exciting war news had diverted their
supporters from the polls.
A mass meeting was held at the court house at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday,
April 17. The night was fair and warm, and “Old Glory” floated in the moonlight
from the staff in front of the court house (which faced the east side of
Washington Square) as Orville H. Browning and Isaac N. Morris, two of Quincy’s
leading Republicans, spoke. Browning called the meeting “immense” and said all
stood with the government regardless of party. Browning confessed he was
worried about treason in the community because he felt some in Quincy
supported secession. He also noted Quincy’s two most prominent Democrats,
Richardson and Singleton, did not appear at the meeting, perhaps questioning
their loyalty.
The crowd grew so large that the meeting was adjourned across
the street to Washington Square where Democrat I.N. Morris spoke for over an
hour. He said it was the duty of all patriots to lay aside political parties
and, if necessary, wipe out the whole race of disunionists. The meeting
divided, and the court house refilled to hear Browning once again and several
other local residents. Those outside heard Dell sing ‘The Star Spangled
Banner,’ followed by impassioned speeches by K. K.Jones and B. B. Wentworth. It
was nearly midnight when the throngs dispersed to get a short night’s sleep
before heading off to work Thursday morning.
The following day in a letter to the president, Browning
commented on the enormous patriotism being displayed and told of Quincy’s
hostility to “Southern treachery.”
Recruiting committees of military companies were kept busy
enlisting volunteers throughout the city. The commander of the 10th Illinois
unit was Quincy’s Benjamin Mayberry Prentiss. Prentiss had served with the
militia during the “Mormon Wars” of 1844-45 and as a captain of Illinois
Volunteers during the Mexican War. He had been the losing Republican candidate
for Congress in 1860.
Quincy merchants were encouraged to display “their flag” so
customers might know whether they were for or against the Union. It is likely
Maine and Hampshire streets were bright with the colors of “Old Glory” but less
certain whether the community spirit or the merchants benefitted from the
patriotic display.
On Thursday, April 18, another meeting was held in
the courthouse. This time the
purpose was to form a military organization to be called the “Home Guard.” It
was to consist of six companies, one from each city ward, and each company
would elect its own officers. The Home Guard’s stated purpose was to “… protect
person and property, as circumstances may require, within the City of Quincy.”
Capt. Prentiss addressed the meeting, stating the necessity of extending
substantial aid to the companies such as his 10th Illinois, formed under the
call of Gov. Yates.
Jackson Grimshaw and Thomas Redmond were appointed to a
committee to procure written guarantees from Quincy citizens for payment for a
suffi cient number of uniforms for Prentiss’s company. By 5 p.m. Friday,
April 19, the 10th Illinois had registered 105 recruits. These, added to the
original company of the Quincy Guards, made up its full complement. Plans were
moving ahead to leave for Springfield two days later. Also on Friday, the
daguerreotypist, Mr. Ames, advertised to take the likeness of recruits free of
charge. This offered the opportunity for wives, sweethearts, and mothers to
have a remembrance of the loved ones while they were gone.
Quincy realized that with sons, husbands, fathers and
brothers in harm’s way, casualties were likely. Local businesses pledged to
close every evening (except Saturday) by 7:30 p.m. It was agreed violators
would pay a fine of $5 to an orphans’ find. Local insurance agent G.W. Fore
urged soldiers to purchase life insurance policies for the benefit of their
families in case they failed to return.
On Saturday, April 20, Quincy residents received word that
city founder ex-Gov. John Wood had been appointed Quartermaster General of the
Illinois State Militia by Gov. Yates. Capt. Prentiss continued drilling his 140
recruits in Washington Square while a lieutenant’s guard of Capt. Schroer’s
company paraded through the city in full uniform with fife and drums beating
for recruits.
Sunday, April 21, began rainy, as Capt. Prentiss received a
telegram to report at once with his men to Gov. Yates in Springfield. By noon,
it had cleared and was a fine warm day. Quincy’s church pastors met Capt.
Prentiss and his command in Washington Square to give a parting benediction.
Troops were addresses by Rev. Foote and Orville Browning. Browning recorded it
was the most impressive scene he had ever witnessed. Thousands were in the
Square and, while Browning spoke, many wept aloud. The assemblage marched to
the depot at Front and Vermont where the “Star Spangled Banner” was sung
by Mathias Denman and others with five or six thousand joining in chorus.
At 4 p.m., the train started amid loud cheers, flag waving
and cannon firing. People along the route from Quincy to Springfield hailed the
train’s approach and departure. Speeches were made at different places by Cap.
Prentiss, Lt. John Tillson, and I.N. Morris. A Whig correspondent reported
hearing no secession talk except at Mount Sterling, stating, “That town is a
blot on the map. It ought to be ploughed under and seeded down.” The rain
arrived in Springfield around midnight, and Quincy’s troops were escorted to a
temporary encampment at the fairgrounds. They distributed themselves among
animal pens and stalls for a night’s rest before boarding a train for Cairo and
the start of their military adventures.
Quincy’s response had been swift and its loyalty to the Union
unquestioned. The next four years would bring many changes to the “Gem City.”
Phil Germann is a retired executive director of the
Historical Society, having served for 19 years. He is a former history teacher,
a local historian and speaker, a member of several history- related
organizations and a civic volunteer.
Sources
Quincy
Daily Whig, April 15-25, 1861
Quincy
Daily Herald, April 15-25, 1861
Additional
Information
Pease,
Theodore Calvin; and James G. Randall (eds.) (1925-1913). The Diary of Orville
H. Browning, 1850-1881 (2 vols. ed.). Springfield, Ill.: Illinois State
Historical Society. The diary is also available online at
www.archive.org/stream/diary
