The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-26
(Communicated.)
"reminiscences of Rock Island County Com
panies, in the War.

EDITOR or THE ARGUs. Dear iSir--A
glance back to the era of 1861 may not be
uninteresting or uniustructive. On the 18th
of April, 1861, ! was stranger in Rock
Island, I'll. / had landed the day before
from an up river boat, sick, dispirited and
penniless, with no home or friends within
hundreds of miles. Wandering about, my
eye caught sight of q placard calling
meeting Of the citizens at Island City Hall,
that evening, for the purpose of raising vol
unteers. Coming down the river on the
"Ganadan had heard that "Fort Sumter
had been fred on and taken by the "Chival-
ryn Of the Palmetto state. had pondered
over this intelligence and determinedly re-
solved that without home, money OF friends
/ still had country; and that, poor as
was, / was good enough for a target and
Sll a month was not to be despised. The
placard went ON to say, "kally, Rally, Rally +!
A Volunteer Military Company viii be
formed this evening for the purpose of main
tanning the Union and coercing the reeusant
States, or something to that effect. / at
tended that meeting. The Hall was full
and considerable martial enthusiasm pre-
vailed. w. d. Williams, Esq, was called
to the Chair, and Quincy Mcneil, Esq, APP
pointed Secretary. The Chairmain ad-
dressed the meeting in strain of impas
stoned eloquence which reused the meeting
to high degree of excitement. He CON
Guided his address, if j remember correctly,
in these words
The die is cast. Reason has tumbled
from her throne aud Grim visaged war
shakes his CORY locks and thunders forth
TO arms to arms Parricidal hands have
sacrelgiously dared to attempt the Life of
the Jnion-to burst asunder that glorious
bond cenented by the blood and treasure of
our Fathers. We, the sons of that Union
have registered vow never TO lay down our
arms until the Union Is re-established in all
its integrity. power and glory. Asan earn
est of my devotion to that sacred object,
sign my name as the first volunteer"
Quincy Mcneil signed next. This started
the meeting in the right direction, and the
work of signing went bravely on. Mcneil
then made q characteristic speech which
elicited alternate laughter and applause
Many names recnr to my memory who signed
the Ron that night, some of whom occupy
prominent positions before the public at the
present time, and others are pursuing vari-
Gus avoeations in all the walks of life.
Many, alas, have gone 20 that bourne from
whence no traveller returns" Some lie
Wondering with the soil of many a hard
fought battle field; others are resting in
National Cemeteries, while not few per-
ished miserably in the ffightfnl prison pens
of the south. -
"0n Fame's eternal camping ground,
Their silent tents are spread;
And Glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac Of the dead"
VIM. +. Jobe, Robert Kehler, J ames NJ.
Beardsley, L. f. Dimick, A. 7. Highly, and
many others whose names now escape me,
signed their names then and there, some of
whomisahseluently attained high audi hon
orable command, in the army The follow
ing evening, think it was another meeting
was held at the Cont House, at which great
enthusiasm prevailed and much good speak
ing occurred.
The next day the Company was organized
with about 400 namesson the Rolls w. d.
Williams was unanimously chosen captain,
he having evinced, during this brief period
of revolutionary ferver, qualities that semin-
emily fitted him for command Orkney Nc
Neil, Lieutenant James M. Beardsley, Ord
erly Sergeant; and your mblecorrespond
ent was ordered to position as thigh priv-
ate in the rear ranks - 3 seaa 81 Is :
Meanwhile, the fact. of organization had
been telegrap pied to Gov Y ates, and agapt.
Williams Rock. Island Company was ord
cred to rendezvous at Springfield forthwith.
The next day, April %, 1861, at 3 A. M,
we 1.-THE Company started for our destina-
tion. The scene that preceded our depart
IRE beggars description. To do i justice
the pen and genius Of o Dickens or the
pencil of Hogarth would be required
The whole surrounding eountry seemed TO
have poured into Rock Island TO bid the
9last adieun to friends, neighbors and rela.
tiyes, "off for the, deadly battle field.
Fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers,
sweethearts and wives comingled in the