The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-26

line of march from their quarters, "Palace
Row." marching four ahreast-surrounded
by crowd such as Rock Island has rarely
witnessed. They were preceded by stirring
music and Haunting banners, and, without
exaggeration, it was agreat uprising" of
patriotic sentiment and love of country.
We halted in front of the Island City Hotel,
to be served with rations-which the provi-
dent foresight of our Captain had amply
provided. The march resumed, the Depot
was reached. Drawn up in line was Com
pany from Dubuque, which had arrived the
previons evening at Davenport. Captain,
afterwards Major General, Frank Heron,
was in command, and We felt highly hon.
ored as they presented arms" with real
maskets, and long and loud were the cheers
that rent the air. Bailey Davenport. the
Mayor Of the City, carried q handsome Gag
to be presented by the ladies Of Rock Island
to the first Company for the war, and by their
request, ]. B. Danforth, Jr. made the pre-.
sentation speech. Jacob Norris also made a
most excellent parting speech to the boys.
On the platform of the railroad depot,
Judge Wilkinson mounted box and poured
forth presentation speech of sword to
Lieut.. Mcneil. 1t seems that it was some
body's old sword that had done good service
in days of yore, and Quincy was eloquently
exhorted TO vindicate its ancient reputation
and add to it undying laurels, and the
speaker added paranthetically,t that no doubt
could be entertained of the full accomplish
ment of their hopes, as he knew personally
the brave and fearless character of the re-
cipient. Mcneil took the weapon, and,
unsheathine it, hourished its glittering blade
aloft, exclaiming in stentorian tones, death
to traitors - clay on Maeduf, and damned
be he who first cries hold, enough He
avowed his firm determination to consign
countless rebels to an unmentionable hot
place and energetically expressed an earnest
intention "never TO sheath it, 70 never, until
many, many rebels had tasted its quality and
felt the vigor of that stalwart arm" 1t was
brave speech and considerably stiffened
our spinal columns, somewhat impaired by
leave.takings from loved ones. We priyates
quietly congratulated ourselves that, come
what might our company would doubtless
furnish the "MNrat of the war; We "broke
ranks, and then commenced the "leayes-
takings" which ran the whole gamut
"From grave to gay, from lively to severe"
At last the train started, and then burs,
forth the pent up feelings Of the vast and
excited Nd altitude. The feeling that ANNA
ted the throng exhibited itself in divers
ways,-weeping, laughing, wringing of
hands and all manner of gesticulations.
The scene melted even my stoicsl heart and
/ experienced feeling Of intense relief as
the City, with all Its hopes and fears, faded
in the distance.
At 3 P. NJ, we arrived at La Sale, and
were obliged to wait there till A. NJ, for
the down train of the Illinois Central. Space
forbids description of the scenes enacted
at La Sale by the Rock Island Company.
Those of my readers who remember them
will scarcely represS smile as 1t recnrs to
their memory; fun and frolc reigned su-
preme: the hours few rapidly and l A. N.
came and with il the down train on the Hi
nois Central, having on board company
from Galena, bound for Springfield We
got on board, arrived in Springfield in due
time, passed in review before the Governor
and wepded our weary way TO the Race
Course, yeclpt Camp 1ates.n .s#eE3
The next day our mammoth company
was divided into two companies. The pro-
cess Of division afforded many ludicrous in
cidents which will doubtless excite smile,
should this paper meet the eye of Col. Will
hams, Maj. Mcneil or Maj. Beardsley-the
trio who OBLIGATED and divided the 'tspoils"
on that Interesting occasion. One company
was assigned to the 18th Illinois and the
other to the 18th Illinois Volunteers, Mcneil
becoming Captain of the company assigned
to the 18th, James NJ. Beardsley LIST Lieut.,
and A. Highly I'd Lieut.. This company
| shortly after left Springfield for Dixon where
| the 18th were to rendezvous. Capt Viii
liams was chosen Major Of the 18th Illinois
Volunteers and thus our Company ID. 18th
| Illinois) lost has invaluable services as
| company commander. During his brief
connection with the company he display
| ed unquestionable administrative capacity
| which he subsequently exhibited on = wider
| and more distinguished field. be organized
| and put these two companies into the ield,
a task of great difficulty, especially at that
period of military ignorance and town meet
| ing proclivities. The 18th, shortly after or
ganization, were ordered 10 the "seata of
war"-Cairo. i do not think II worth while
| to follow its devious fortunes or to chronicle
| its achievements in that hot and pestilential
| rendezvous. We staid there nearly three
| months, drilling, maneuvering, and attend
| ing reviews, principally for the qualification
of the individual vanity Of Gen. b. NJ. Prem
tiss, the commander of the Post. During
these three months, MAY, June aud July,
! we participated in all the "eyentualities" of
| Cairo, not the least of which was the famous
meeting because ice tcdtey was not provided
after drills. Col oglesby, alias Dick
| Oglesbv," was there, and not few were
| the anecdotes told of his awkwardness and
pretension, and among others, Maj. Jesse J.
| Phillips, of the 9Th Illinois, now candidate
for State Treasurer, was there, the admira-
ton of the ladies and the envy of the men
for his fine personal appearance and his
! splendid horsemanship. j. Z 81 30
\ The I'd of August came at last, and we
''three months men, were mustered out |
declined to reinlist for three years, although
most of the old company did. had tasted
the ups and downs of military life and the
taste was in no wise agreeable. Those three
months were the most disagreeable Of my
| life. | was in poor health, which the pesti.
lential climate of that delectsble hole aggra-
waited. ] had enlisted TO fight the rebels,
and for three months had not heard even
| the most distant eannonade. To be sure
| Gen. Prentiss used TO make us a speech ev-
cry week aid tell US what he intended to do,
but then he never done it, and so, on being
mustered OUT / bid adieu To the t'pomp
| aud circumstance of glorious war" and re-
| tired to the calm of civil life, Asoothed and
caressed By an unfaltering trust that il was
| better to be "doorkeeper in the house of
| the Lord than dweller in the tents of the
| wicked stl. -z4-s--4a----a.-e#
In another article propose to sketch the
formation and subsequent career Of another
company organized at Rock Island during
the summer of 1862, part of which was