Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

HISTORY OF THE

SEVENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

CHAPTER I.

The Storm that for years had been brewing-Lincoln's Election -The Inauguration-The wild frenzy of the South-The Fall of Fort Sumter-The Commencement of the War-The first call for troops-The first muster in of the Seventh-The Three Months Service-Their Re-enlistment.

For thirty years the leading spirits of the South, with slavery in full feather, wrote every day of the inviolateness of secession, and the divinity of human bondage. The leading spirits of the North, champions of universal freedom, advocates of a broad and comprehensive democracy, read every cruel, vaunting word as fast as it emanated from the oligarchy; hence sprung the agitation of the slavery question. Thus the great conflict between liberty and its opposing element began. Looking from the watch-tower, they had seen the South for years rule the nation, and by this rule, which was a rule for the interest of the slave power, the argus eyes of liberty's sentinels discovered that the proud edifice of liberty was threatened. They beheld not afar the rock that was threat

ening to split it in twain, and thereby whelm a strug gling people into a wild, dark night of war. The fair goddess sat weeping as she beheld the danger. Tears fell like dew drops, when the harsh music from the lowly bondman's chains was wafted to her ears from Pennsylvania Avenue. It was in the last days of Buchanan's administration when the promulgators of the great principles of universal brotherhood to man, saw most clearly the yawning gulf over which the great Union hung. The people having educated themselves out of their mutual indignation to a grand abhorrence, and out of this grand abhorrence to a grand agency, with a voice whose echoes rolled around the world, proclaimed ABRAHAM LINCOLN their leader. A revolution that had been brewing ever since Calhoun's day, was now threatening. A wild frenzy was now holding and controlling the general mind of the slave power. Declarations to the effect that they would not submit to abolition rule were boldly made throughout the South. LINCOLN beholds the gathering storm. He imagines he hears afar the thunders of war and revolution. He starts for the Capitol; but ere he starts, says: "I hope there will be no trouble; but I will make the South a grave-yard rather than see a slavery gospel triumph, or successful secession lose this government to the cause of the people and representative institutions." Thus spoke the great apostle of freedom before leaving Springfield. Inauguration day is drawing nigh. The waves of revolution seem rolling. The fostered

coals in the hot-bed of treason are being fanned into flame. At last the fourth of March, 1861, dawns. LINCOLN is inaugurated. His inaugural address savors of conciliation. He seeks to stay the angry storm that is brewing. His heart goes out "with malice towards none-with charity for all." But his words of christian beauty, coming from a heart whose dimensions would embrace the whole world and have room for more, has no effect upon the Southern heart. They say, "this has been our darling scheme for thirty years. We will not abandon it now. We will sever this Union. We will crush her laws. We will trail her flag." LINCOLN enters upon his duties; curtains of gloom are flung around him. But in Him who bid faith lean upon His arm and hope to dip her pinions in His blood and mount to the skies, he trusts.

The secession movement had been inaugurated. Five months had intervened since the ball commenced rolling. Five months of turmoil--five months of uncertainty to the republic. The fearful clouds grow darker.

On the night of the thirteenth of April, 1861, a glaring light might have been seen flashing along the horizon's bar down by the Atlantic. The fourteenth dawns, and from the ramparts of Fort Sumter war's dread tocsin is sounded. "Fort Sumter has fallen!" The beautiful banner of stars has been struck by a traitorous foe. The gauntlet has been flung. The ship of state rocks wildly. Soon it is swept from the ocean, over the mountains of the

north, telling an anxious people that "the flag has been struck down to-day." The North's powerful millions seem to surge like tall, dark pines swayed by a fierce wind, and we imagine we see the march and tramp of a grand army that will make pale the nations of the earth. The news goes home to Europe, and a voice comes rolling back, like the organic swell of ocean's thunder, "Save, Oh! save, the American Union!" It comes not from kings, queens, and popes, but from the struggling millions, from the chained slave, from Russia's serfs. But ere this news went across the waters, the President made the call for seventy-five thousand troops, and ere this voice rolls back, there are citizen soldiers in America marshaled for the fray, rushing on to the rescue. Like a grand legion they move to save the flag-save the Republic from drifting back apace towards anarchy and universal night. In every city and hamlet in the north, drums are beating for volunteers. Their notes are heard among the pineries of Maine-heard among the Green Mountains-heard where the Hudson flows-heard where Liberty's great cradle first rocked. Simultaneous with the east, the same living spirit burns in the west. The prairies of Illinois seem blazing with the patriots' fire. Tramp! tramp! is the music rolling from the great west, forboding to traitors the doom of disaster.

The first from the great commonwealth of Illinois, who harkened to the call "to arms !"-who harkened to the appeals that came from the tombs of the silent, sleeping warriors of the revolution, were the

« ZurückWeiter »