Colonel I. H. Tucker, who was relieved about December, 1S61.
Colonel A. G. Brackett, gth Illinois Cavalry, being the senior col-
onel present, succeeded to the command. The 9th Cavalry left in
January, 1862, and Colonel Bell succeeded to the command of the
camp and post. February 13, 1862, he was ordered by Governor
Yates to proceed to St. Louis with his regiment, and report to
Major-General Halleck, commanding the Department of the Mis-
souri. Colonel Bell proceeded to Benton Barracks, then marched
to Pilot Knob, assuming command of the post, and continued thus
to act trom March to June, 1862. In June, he joined General Cur-
tis's army, and was with that command" in its famous march through
the wilds of Arkansas. At the battle of Bayou Cache, or Cache
River, July 7, 1862, Colonel Bell succeeded Colonel Hovey in com-
mand of all the United States forces, until the arrival of Brigadier-
General Benton. Subsequently, he was in command of the Third
Brigade, First Division. He ascended the Mississippi River to
Missouri with his regiment, in the latter part of 1862; was with
General Davidson in that campaign, engaging in the battles and
skirmishes; and finally succeeded in driving General Marmaduke
and his rebels from the State. At the close of the war, Colonel
Bell was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general by brevet, for
"gallant and meritorious services during the war." In 1S64-65,
General Bell was solicitor of the Department of the Missouri. In
1867-69, he was Special Agent of the United States Treasury
Department, under Secretaries McCullough and Boutwell. He then
resumed the practice of law, having many cases before the Court of
Claims and in the Supreme Court of the United States. After
the war, his residence, for the greater part of the time, was in
Washington, D. C, where he died, in January, 1879.
Lieutenant-Colonel Theobald Hartmann was born in
Bernheim, Germany, and was thirty-five years of age when the 13th
left for St. Louis. He was attached to the Bavarian cavalry in
184S, and, during the revolution of 1849, was taken prisoner and
kept in close captivity for six hundred and twenty-three days. He
then made his escape, and, with other refugees, came to this coun-
try. When the Rebellion broke out, in company with Colonel
Knoblesdorf, he raised the 44th Illinois Volunteers, in which he
held the rank of captain. Before that regiment left, he received
authority to raise a battalion of cavalry, which was long and favor-
ably known as " Hartmann's Dragoons." He was a most thor-
ough officer, having had the advantage of a long experience in the
cavalry service.
Major Charles A. Bell, a son of the General, was one of
the original Ellsworth Zouaves, the nth New York Infantry. He
was a first lieutenant, and in July, 1861, was a captain in the 3d
Pennsylvania Cavalry, being present in several skirmishes upon the
Potomac. In February, he was promoted to the rank of major of
the 13th Illinois Cavalry, and served with his regiment in the cam-
paigns in Missouri and Arkansas.
Brevet Brigadier-General Albert Erskine was born in
Bristol, Maine, June 27, 1832. He became a resident of Chicago
before the war, and, on the organization of the 51st Illinois In-
fantry, enlisted as a private, August 20, 1861. On the 13th of
November, following, he was elected first lieutenant of Co. " E,"
13th Cavalry, and on August 8 1S62, was promoted captain. He
was promoted Major of the regiment On October 18, 1863, on the
death of major Lippert, and, on the reorganization of the 13th at
Pine Bluffs, Ark., on April 11, 1S64, was promoted colonel. On
March 13, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier-general for gallant and
meritorious services, having been mustered out of service at the dis-
continuation of the cavalry division, in January, 1865. On his
return to Illinois, he was employed for a time in the Adjutant-
General's office, and, later, was appointed chief clerk in the United
States Assessor's office in Chicago. He died in Chicago, in 1876.
MAJOR Lothar Litpert was born in 1831, near Wurtzburg,
Bavaria. At the age of seventeen, he voluntarily entered the army
as a private, and served until 1859, when he resigned as first lieu-
tenant, 5th Battalion of Sharpshooters, Bavarian army, and emi-
grated to the United States. He located immediately in Chicago,
and engaged in mercantile business until the outbreak of the Re-
bellion, when he left his business and raised a company of infantry
for the three-months' service. Not securing its acceptance by the
Government, he joined with Colonel Charles Knoblesdorf in raising
the 44th Illinois Infantry, and at its organization was elected cap-
SIXTEENTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
267
tain of Co. " E," which he commanded during the campaign of
1S61 in Missouri. Soon after the 13th Illinois Cavalry was or-
ganized, he was commissioned first major of the regiment through
the instrumentality of Lieutenant-Colonel Hartmann, and joined the
regiment in March, 1S62, taking command of the First Battalion,
then in Southeastern Missouri. His superior military ability
attracted the attention of General J. \V. Davidson, commanding
the district of Southeastern Missouri, who appointed him assistant
inspector-general on his staff, which position he occupied through
the campaign of 1S62-63, re-joining his regiment in the spring of
1863. He was severely wounded near Patterson, Mo., being dis-
abled for some months. As soon as he could mount his horse he
joined his command, and participated in the various cavalry fights
which occurred during the advance of Steele's army on Little Rock.
His health was undermined by his incessant activity and persist-
ency in remaining at his post when suffering from illness, and.
during a severe and protracted raid after the capture of Little Rock,
it utterly failed, and he was taken back, in an ambulance, to that
city, where he died on the iSth of October, 1863.
Adjutant Thaddeus S. Clarkson was a native of Pennsyl-
vania, and received his education in Maryland. He was an old
resident of Chicago, having previously enlisted as a private in
the Chicago Light Artillery. At the time of his departure he was
twenty-two years of age. He was a brother of Rev. R. H. Clark-
son, formerly rector of St. James Church, Chicago.
Adjutant W. Werther was born in Poland, in 1S34, and
received his education at a military academy. He served three
years in the Prussian army as a commissioned officer. When
the Rebellion broke out, he gave up a profitable business, and
enlisted.
Captain John E. Kimberly, commanding Co. "A," is well
known in Chicago. He served with distinction in the Mexican
War, and was with his company of the 13th Cavalry in all its battles
and marches until he resigned. After the war he returned to
Chicago and obtained a responsible position in the post-office,
which he still holds.
Captain Henry M. Peters, commanding Co. " B," served
with credit until the fall of 1S62, when he resigned, and has since
lived in Chicago. He is well known in political circles, and was
for several years Warden of the Cook County Poor-House.
Captain Ernst F. Riedel, of Co. " C," after serving faith-
fully with his company, returned to Chicago and engaged in
business. He died about 1882.
Brevet Major William W. Bell, captain commanding Co.
" D," a son of General Bell, was nineteen years old when the war
commenced. He recruited his company for the 13th Cavalry, and
was with the regiment in its battles and marches in the campaigns
of General Curtis in Missouri and Arkansas. Captain Bell was
promoted to the rank of major, by brevet, at the close of the war,
his commission from the president reading, " for gallant and meri-
torious services in the battle of Cache River." At the close of the
war he was, for several years, chief deputy collector of internal
revenue in Chicago, and afterward was engaged in the banking
business.
Brevet Major Robert G. Dyhrenfurth, first lieutenant
of Co. " D," was promoted to the rank of captain, and after being
mustered out, at the consolidation of the regiment, raised a com-
pany for the 17th Illinois Cavalry, of which he was captain. He
subsequently was promoted major by brevet " for gallant and
meritorious services during the war." In 1S65, he went to Europe
and graduated at the University of Heidelberg, where he received the
degree of Doctor of Laws. He then returned to the United States,
obtained a clerkship at Washington, and rose, by competitive exam-
inations and upon merit alone, from an ordinary clerkship to be
examiner, principal examiner, and examiner-in-chief in the United
States Patent Office, and is now assistant commissioner of patents.
Keyes Danforth was a corporal in Co. " F." In 1865, he was
captain of Co. " K," and was detailed as aide-de-camp on the staff
of Brigadier-General Powell Clayton. When General Clayton
became Governor of Arkansas, after the war, he appointed Captain
Danforth Adjutant-General of the State, with the rank of briga-
dier general. In 1876, General Danforth removed to Colorado,
and was appointed Clerk of the Supreme Court of that State. He
died there about 1881.
SIXTEENTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
The nucleus of the 16th Cavalry were two
German companies, organized in Chicago ; one
(the Washington Light Cavalry) on July 19, 1858,
by Captain Frederick Schaumbeck ; the other
(Thielemann's Dragoons 1 , early in the spring of 1S61.
Captain Schaumbeck's company was one of the first
offered to Governor Yates after his call for volunteers,
reporting at Camp Yates prior to the passage of the
special act of the State Legislature, passed May 3,
186 r, and authorizing a cavalry regiment. Upon the
passage of the act, the regiment was immediately mus-
tered into State service — forming one of the battalions
of five companies accepted during the month. Lieu-
tenant-Governor Hoffman taking a special pride in
the interest of the company, it adopted the name of
" Hoffman's Dragoons," in his honor. Mr. Hoffman
presented it with an elegant stand of colors at the
time, which was received, in behalf of the company,
by Arno Voss, formerly a member of the Washington
Independent Cavalry. At the time of its entering the
service, the company numbered ninety-five men, includ-
ing officers, of whom sixty-five fall residents of Chicago)
had been in military service in Europe.
Following is the original company roster :
Captain, Frederick Schaumbeck; First Lieutenant, A. Rittig;
Second Lieutenant, William Warner; Third Lieutenant, John ii.
Rolli; First Sergeant, Julius Jaehne; Second Sergeant, F. Marx;
Third Sergeant, G. Sheef; Fourth Sergeant, L. Rodemeyer; First
Corporal, Benedict Weinger; Second Corporal, H. Klein; Third
Corporal, L. Von Look; Surgeon, W. Burchevard.
The company was accepted by the Secretary of War
for three years' service, on June 21, and was nominally
assigned to the 1st Illinois Cavalry. The dragoons had
neither been armed nor paid for the time they had been
in State service, and refused to take the oath mustering
them into United States service, until arrears due had
been paid and they could be suitably equipped, saying,
properly enough, that the consequences of sending un-
armed companies among enemies had been seen at
Baltimore, and that they had had too active service in
Mexico and Europe to believe it possible to fight with
stones. On receiving their pay, and a promise of arms,
they willingly took the oath, and were mustered into
service for three years.
Thielemann's Cavalry company was organized in
Chicago in the early summer of 1861. The following
was the original roster of officers:
Captain, Christian Thielemann ; First Lieutenant, Berthold
Marschner; Second Lieutenant, Matthew Marx; Orderly Sergeant,
James W. Lavigne; Quartermaster, Milo Thielemann; Sergeants,
V. Gravenstein, Matthias Thielemann, Charles G. Bausenbach,
Henry Williams.
The company was accepted by the Governor on July
2, and immediately ordered to Paducah, where it re-
mained until the fall. On November 1, Captain Thiele-
mann was commissioned major, with command of a
battalion composed of his own company of dragoons,
then commanded by Captain Berthold Marschner, and
a company recruited and commanded by Captain Mat-
thew Marx. Captain Schaumbeck's company was sub-
sequently added to Thielemann's command, which, as
"Thielemann's Cavalry," participated in the earlier
campaigns of the army of the Tennessee.
In September, 1862, the War Department authorized
HISTORY OF CHICAGO.
the extension of the battalion — then in camp at Spring-
neld — to a regiment. The new companies were re-
cruited during the winter of iS62-63,and the organiza-
tion completed the subsequent June, — the following
being the roster :
Field Officers. — Colonel. Christian Thielemann ; Lieutenant-
Colonel. Robert W. Smith: Majors, Frederick Schaumbeck, Milo
Thielemann; Adjutant Joseph Gotthelf.
Line 'ficers'. — Co "A": Captain, William H. Dorchester; First
Lieutenant, Valentine Grebenstein. Co. "13": Captain, Milo
Thielemann; First Lieutenant, George Hamilton ; Second Lieu-
tenant. William S. Kelly. Co. " C " : Captain, Julius Jaehne ;
First Lieutenant. John F. Marx ; Second Lieutenant, Herman
Scharenburg. Co. " D " : Captain, Benedict Weinger ; First
Lieutenant, John Hoffmann ; Second Lieutenant, Frederick Her-
furth Co. " I ": Captain, Francis Jackson. Co. "K": Captain,
Nathan C. Goodenow. Co. "L": Captain, Edward A. Wolcott.
In October, 1863, the 16th Cavalry was ordered to
Knoxville. Tenn. On its arrival, a detachment, under
Colonel Thielemann, was dispatched to garrison and
hold the post at Cumberland Gap; a battalion, under
Major C. H. Beers, was sent up Powell's Valley toward
Tonesville, Va.; and the remainder, under the command
of Lieutenant-Colonel R. W. Smith, formed a portion of
Burnside's force, participating in the defense of the city
in November and December. On Longstreet's retreat
from Knoxville, he attacked Major Beers's command
near Tonesville, January 3, 1864, which, after holding its
ground for ten hours against three brigades, and losing
heavily in killed and wounded, was compelled to sur-
render. The battalion numbered three hundred and
fifty-six men and fifty-six officers, less than two-thirds
of whom survived the horrors of their long captivity at
Andersonville, while those who lived to be exchanged
reached home in a condition almost as bad as death.
Second Lieutenant Samuel Osgood, Co. "L," was killed
in the engagement at Jonesville.
At the conclusion of the campaign in East Tennes-
see, the regiment was ordered to re-cross the Cumber-
land Mountains and report at Camp Nelson, near
Nicholasviile, Ky., where it was re-mounted, and, as a
part of General Stoneman's cavalry corps, left to join
Sherman in Georgia, during the latter part of April.
It arrived at Red Clay, Ga., May 10, and on the 12th
was engaged in the battle of Varnell's Station, where
Lieutenant Herfurth and twelve men were wounded
and captured. It participated in the entire Atlanta
campaign after May 10, taking part in the battles before
Resaca, Dalton, Marietta, Kenesaw Mountain, Burnt
Hickory, Peach Tree Creek, Allatoona Pass, Atlanta
and Jonesboro'. Major Frederick Schaumbeck, of Chi-
cago, the first officer of the regiment to enlist in the
service of Government, was killed in action, August
3, near Atlanta. At the conclusion of the campaign, the
regiment returned to Decatur, Ga., where it remained
until September 14, and was then ordered to Nicholas-
viile, Ky On its return, it was ordered to Waynesboro',
near the Tennessee River, and a few days later fell
back to Columbia, reaching that place November 24,
after a running fight of three days with the advance of
Hood's pursuing army. On arriving at Columbia, it
was found that the enemy was attempting to cross Duck
River at fords above the town, and the 16th, with small
detachments from the 8th Michigan and 8th Iowa, under
command of Colonel K. W. Smith, was sent to defend
the crossing, which was successfully done, the position
being held six hours against a vastly superior force.
After its r turn to camp at Pulaski, on the termination
of the pursuit, it was engaged in scouting duty until
March, 1865, ami, from that time until June, was suc-
cessively at Spring Hill, Franklin, Columbia and Pu-
laski, Tenn., and at Holton, Ala., with detachments at
Courtland and Decatur. On June 18, it concentrated
at Pulaski, and on July 2, was ordered to Franklin,
where it remained, employed in scouting and guard duty,
until ordered to Nashville, where it was mustered out of
service August 19, 1865. It arrived at Chicago August
23, for final payment and discharge, the Chicago offi-
cers at that time being Colonel Robert W. Smith, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Nathan C. Goodenow, Second Major
Francis Jackson, Captain Frederick Herfurth, Co. " D."
The original force of the 16th was twelve hundred
men. It received one hundred recruits, and at its dis-
charge could muster only two hundred and eighty-three
men — its casualties amounting to nearly one thousand.
During its term of service the regiment marched about
five thousand miles and engaged in thirty-one battles
and numerous skirmishes.
SEVENTEENTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
In the fall of 1863, General John F. P'arnsworth
obtained permission from the War Department to raise
the 17th Cavalry Regiment in Illinois, and at his invita-
tion, and by the consent of Governor Yates, Major
John L. Beveridge, of Evanston, undertook the recruit-
ing and organization of the same, resigning his position
in the 8th Cavalry for the purpose, on November 2,
1863. The 17th regiment was organized at St. Charles,
111., nine companies being mustered into service on
January 22, 1864, and the remaining three on February
12, 1864.
The following officers of the 17th were residents of
Chicago or Cook County :
Colonel, John L. Beveridge; Lieutenant-Colonel, Dennis J.
o^. '^ie^*^»€^< '-^p'C
Hynes; Major, Hiram Hilliard; Adjutant, John A. Hynes. Co.
" A ": Captains, Francis Beaufort, Francis LeClair, and Scott W.
Harrington; Lieutenants, Lyman S. Rowell and James B. Downs.
Co. " B '": Captain, Samuel H. B. McReynolds; First Lieutenants,
Jonas L. Buck and Cyrus Smith; Second Lieutenant, Douglas W.
Scott. Co. "K": Captain, Edward V. Grosvenor; First Lieuten-
ant, Robert Sonders. Co. "L": Captain, Robert G. Dyhren-
furth.
The regiment moved from St. Charles to Alton,
where it was employed, while awaiting its equipments, in
guarding Confederate prisoners. Soon after the arrival
of the regiment at Alton, the first and second battalions,
under Majors Hilliard and Matlack, were ordered to
Missouri, — the former to Weston, the latter to Glas-
gow. The third battalion remained at Alton, with reg-
imental headquarters, until September, 1864, when it
moved to Jefferson City, Mo., where it was joined by
Major Matlack's detachment and one squadron of
Major Hilliard's. The regiment, Colonel Beveridge
commanding, reported to General John McNeil, at Rolla,
Mo., to take part in the defense of Missouri and Kansas
against the great raid just inaugurated by General Price.
On September 27, General Ewing was attacked by two
divisions of Price's army at Pilot Knob, and after
defending the position from daylight until night, evacu-
ated Fort Davidson, not being in sufficient force to
hold the lines of retreat, and fell back toward Rolla,
Mo., intrenching himself at Harrison on the 29th, where
his command was attacked by the pursuing Confederates.
ARTILLERY.
269
To save General Ewing from capture, and check the
enemy, Colonel Beveridge moved from Rolla with the
17th and relieved the beleaguered garrison. The delay
of Price's northward march at Harrison, enabled the
military commanders in Missouri and Kansas to make
preparations for still further arresting and foiling his
movements, and much credit was due the 17th for its
share in this result, the Legislature of Missouri publicly
thanking Colonel Beveridge and his command. On
October 11, the enemy was encountered at Booneville,
and his skirmishers driven in, the cavalry then resting
in line of battle until morning. On the morning of the
1 2th, Colonel Beveridge's brigade opened the attack,
and afterward covered the backward movement of the
division, guarding the bridge over which it was obliged
to pass until the last troops were over. At the reor-
ganization for the continuation of the campaign, Major-
General Pleasanton having general command, the 1 7th,
Colonel Beveridge commanding, was in McNeil's bri-
gade. On the morning of the 19th, General Blunt,
with Kansas troops, was attacked at Lexington, and
the following day fell back to Independence, where
another engagement took place, in which the cavalry
attacked Price's rear guard, captured several pieces
of artillery, and routed the Confederates. They were
again defeated on the morning of the 25th, at the
crossing of Mine Creek, Kas., the two divisions of Mar-
maduke and Fagan forming the right and left wings,
and the whole under the personal command of General
Price. Generals Curtis and Blunt, with their com-
mands, aided by Pleasanton's troopers, swept the whole
Confederate force back to the south bank of the creek,
and again toward the Osage, with the loss of Major-
General Marmaduke and Brigadier-Generals Cabell,
Slemmon and Graham, besides a large number of regi-
mental officers, eight hundred privates and nine guns.
On the 28th, the command reached Newtonia, and then
returned to Springfield, Mo., thence to Cassville, and
then back to Rolla, which point was reached November
15, the regiment having marched, during the campaign of
forty-three days, over one thousand miles, and suffered
the loss of six hundred horses.
In the early winter of 1865, Colonel Beveridge was
brevetted brigadier-general, and placed in command of
a military district in the Department of Missouri, with
headquarters at Cape Girardeau. Lieutenant-Colonel
Dennis J. Hynes, chief of cavalry of the North Mis-
souri District, of General C. B. Fisk's staff, was relieved
and returned to the regiment, for a time being in com-
mand of a military sub-district, with headquarters at
Pilot Knob, Mo. Major Hiram Hilliard was placed in
command of the regiment, and Major L. C. Matlack
detailed, by order of General Dodge, as provost mar-
shal of the District of St. Louis. Major Philip E.
Fisher was made chief of cavalry for the District of
Rolla.
The 17th, having been re-mounted, was ordered, un-
der command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hynes, to Cape
Girardeau, Mo., in April, 1865, and in May, served as
escort to Captain J. F. Bennett, and Lieutenant-Colonel
Davis, on their embassy to Jonesboro', Ark., to arrange
terms with Jeff. Thompson for the surrender of his
forces. The negotiation was concluded at Jacksonport,
Ark., on June 5. The following month, the regiment
was ordered to Kansas, the second battalion under
Major Matlack being detached for service against the
guerrillas of Central Missouri, with headquarters at
Glasgow, Howard Co., Mo. After two months' service
the detachment moved to Kansas, where the regiment
had occupied posts along the plains through the sum-
mer, and the united command was mustered out of ser-
vice at Leavenworth in November and December, 1865.
By order of the Secretary of War, Colonel Beve-
ridge was retained in the service as president of a mili-
tary commission, and was mustered out on February
6, 1866.
Ex-Governor John L. Beveridge was born in the town of
Greenwich, Washington Co., N. Y., July 6, 1S24, a son of George
and Ann Beveridge. He was reared upon a farm ; in the winter
attending the district school, where he mastered the common
branches and obtained a taste of the higher studies. In the spring
of 1S42, when in his eighteenth year, his father's family moved to
DeKalb County, 111. During the next three years, by great persist-
ency, he managed to obtain a year and a half of solid schooling —
his academic education — at Granville (Putnam County) Academy
and at Rock River Seminary, located at Mt. Morris, Ogle County.
In the fall of 1S45 he started out to make a place for himself in the
world. His first experience was in teaching school in various coun-
ties in Tennessee. Next, he commenced to read law, and was ad-
mitted to the Bar. In the fall of 1849, through the mismanage-
ment of his associate, he lost what little he had accumulated, and
was left in debt. Two years later, having paid his creditors, he,
with his wife and two children, went back to his father's house in
DeKalb County, and soon afterward made arrangements to enter a