The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-03-24
Death of Gov. Blssell.

Death Of Cow Bassell.
Gov. WV f. BrsssaL died at half past
twelve clock On Sunday, the 18th inst,
at the gsbeznatorial mansion in Spring
6ead, IN this State, He has, as our readers
are aware, been bodily disabled by an az
fection Of the spine for the last six or Sc
ven years, by which his general health was
permanently affected. But the immediate
cause of his death was an Inflammation OF
the lungs, contracted by an undue expo
sure several weeks ago.
Gov. B. was born in Tartwick, Otsego
CO., n. Y, on the 18th of April, 1911, and
was consequently in the 10th year of his
age. His parents were not rich, SO that he
obtained his education solely by his own
exertions. On arriving at his majority, he
studied medicine, and obtained his Giplo-
ma at the Medical College of Fhiladel-
phia, practicias in his profession after
wards in oesego and Delaware counties, n.
Y, until ISIS, when he emigrated to Hi.
uois Finding the medical profession
crowded here, he studied law, and in 1910
was admitted to the bar in Monroe county.
Afterwards he removed to Belleville,
where he resided, except when absent on
official duties, until his death.
He was elected to the legislature in
1910, serving one term. In 1916, when the
Mexican war broke out, he raised volun-
teer company in Monroe county, with
which, as Captain, he joined the army at
Alton. Here he was soon after elected
Colonel of the Second Illinois Regiment, in
which capacity he served during the year
of that regiments enlistment His career
as commander of that regiment forms =
bright page in our country's history, and
would take too much space to be recount
ed here One incident alone, which was
so ably depicted by Maj. Wallace, in lis
remarks the other evening, must suffice
for repetition here, as illustrative of his
great capacity as military commander,
and his GOODNESS and courage in the hour
of danger. We allude, of course, to the
brilliant movement on the battle field of
Buena Vista, when, after his regiment had
stood for over 80 minutes under the fire of
ten times their own number, and after the
Indiana regiment had been panic stricken
and fled, Col Bissell, with all the GOODNESS
and calmness of a regiment on dress pa
rade, ordered his regiment to bout face,
retreat some FIVE or six hundred rods, then
again face about to the enemy and renew
the contest, keeping that overwhelming
force at bay until reinforcements could ar
rive and save the day. AS was we'll re-
marked by Judge Dickey in the meeting
on Wednesday evening, there is no in
stance on record in all history where
force of raw troops, none of whom had
ever before seen a battle demeaned them
selves with equal GOODNESS and courage I'M
der like circumstances. And this was ow-
ing, not 70 the superior courage and cool
ness of his men over those composing the
Indiana regiment that had fled, but solely
to the aanaliar skill and discipline of the
comnlanasr.
After the chose Of the war, Col Bissell
was elected to Congress from the Belleville
district, and subsequently twice reelected.
His career in Congress is also matter of
history, and need not be repeated here
I'm 1856 he was elected Governor of this
State and his official term expiring on the
stsaf'next january During the interim
between. his, death senss that date the office
will of es5e filled by 1t Gov. Wood
Gov BissAll MAG f.x-ioa assseA, f1st in
1881, to a daughter of John James, Esq, a
well known citizen, late of Monroe county
Two daughters, now grown were the issue
of this union He was married the second
time to Miss Elizabeth Kane. daughter of
tae Late Hon. E. X. Kane, of Kaskaskia,
for mary years Senator in Congress from
this State.