The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-09-27

Who He is-Waht He has Done, and what
may be Expected Of Him.
of Rock Island County

WuO ne IL WANT ne mss boho, anu "A"'
may be Expected of Him.
The gentleman whose name heads TINS
article was nominated BY the late o'a'e
Democratic Convention for Congress al
Large. Although he is we'll known to the
people of the State, we yet beg the privilege
of giving the public brief history of his
political career.
Gen. William Benton Anderson is q
native of Jefferson county, and son of the
late Lieut. Gov. Stinson Ii. Anderson, who
come to this State at an early day from
Tennessee. He was raised upon his faith
er's farm, and his earlier days were spentin
the hard and rough labor usual TO farm life.
When ia his teens he was sent to school,
and subsequently received some education
for the legal profession. He, however,
never practized law, prefering to till the
soil for a livelihood. In 1856 be was elect
ed to the General Assembly of Illinois, and
so satisfactory was his course there TO his
constituents at home, and he was re
elected in 1858, and served in that capacity
until 1860. In the year 1862, he entered
the Federal army as private soldier in the
Goth Illinois Regiment. When the regiment
was mustered into the Federal service, be
was made Lieut.. Colonel, and was shortly
afterwards made Colonel. He wss actively
engaged at the head of his regiment at the
battles of Pea Ridge, Shiloh, Iuka, Corinth,
Stone River, Nashville, Jonesb oro, Atlanta,
and many other battles OF lesser notoriety.
In all Of these fights he behaved with
marked gallantry and true goodness and
courage. During the latter part of his
career, he commanded brigade, and after
the bloody fight Of Nashville, was recom>
mended by Gen. Sherman, jeff. c Davi
and others, for promotion. Owing to this
complication OF red tape at Washington, his
commission as Brigadief was not
issued promptly, and after the fall
of Savannah he resigned a position in
the army aud came home, he beileviug that
the war was virtually at an end, and his
business at home peremtorily demanding
that he shonld attend to it. a few day
after he left Atlanta for home his commIs
sion as Brigsdier General of Volunteers
arrived there, and for the benefit OF the Chi
cego Tribune. we will state that is why he is
Called General Anderson. During the
progress of the war he was frequently favor
ably mentioned by commanders of corps
and Generals of divisions, in their reports
to headquarters, for gsllsntry, bravery and
general usefulness. He is one of the few
military commanders who retained his De
moCraCy and talked his sentiments during
the war. He remained firm at all times
and under all circumstances and in 1861
voted, together with nearly every mem Der
of his regiment, for Gen. Mcclellan for
President and used his voice In the army
aud wrote many letters TO his friends al
home TO support the Democratic Little Mae
II is believed that his Democracy prevented
him from receiving that promotion he had
frequently won long before the war ended
As a humane commander, We call upon
every man who served under him TO bear
us testimony to its truthfulness, when we
assert tina. he had no equal in the army.
Upon the stirring field of battle, during the
toiisome and wesrisome march, on the scout
or in the camp, his solicitation for the wei
fare and comfort of the soldier was IN
bounded, and he made no distinction be
tween the shoulder strap and haversack
This is why every soldier who knew him 81
served nnder him in the army is "for Bill
Anderson We also take pleasure in stat
ing that Gen Anderson did not enter tbs
army through mercenary motives, but ven
on his own account rs a private soldier
No glitiering promises Of promotion were
held out TO him, no commission was sent in
hot haste to Egypt that there should be Eo
more Big Muddy's, nor anxiety felt that
there might be another Pickneyville, as IN
the case of the classical Logan. Neither
leaves, eagles nor stars were held up as an
inducemeut, but he went as tens of thous-
ands of others haa gone, as simply "priva,e
VIM. b. Anderson" not knowing or dream
ing that there vas show for promotion
from the musket to the sword.
After the war, Mr.. Anderson retired to
his farm in Elk Prairie, III this county. In
TIE fall Of 1866, he made two or three
speeches in behalf OF the Democratic ticket
i'll this part of the State. During the deilv
cry Of one of these addresses al Centraila.
he was set upon by mob of Radical Puri
tans and driven from the stand. In 1865
he was appointed Democratic eleetor for the
Il evepth Congressional District by the
Democratic State Convention. He made
the canvass of the District along with tle
Radical candidate for the same position
and demolished him at every point. Gen.
kitchell was an able talker, yet he was free
10 acknowledge at Effingham and other
places that Anderson had defeated him in
the discussions which they had made
through the district.
Last year, Gen. Anderson WAS elected by
very heavy maj ority from this Representa-
tive District to the Constitutional conven-
ton His record in that body is fresh il the
minds of the people. II was distinguished
for economy, reform and moderation. lie
was very active IN behalf OF those measures
which he deemed right, yet he never bur
dened the Convention with long and
wearisoms speeches that were calculated to
consume time that he considered belonged
to the people. be won the respect and
confidence of all other members, and MANY
of his ideas and notions are low part aud
parcel of the Constitution of the State OF
Illinois.
Gen. Anderson is forcible and earnest
talker, often eloquent, always reasonable,
and never wearisome. On the stump. Mr.
Logan will find him a foeman worthy of his
steel, and we feel certain that the Democ-
racy will have no cause to regret his nomi-
nation. In Congress- ne would prove
firm friend and advocate of those measures
best calculated to benefit the people of the
west and particularly ia he sound on the
great ana important question of free trade.
cnike his competitor, he would suffer7hs
,'eut arm to be severed from his BODY before
ne would barter away the interests of his
constituents.
In Egypt ne will carry everything before
him. In the North he will reduce Io,an,s
majority sufhcient to make him the next
Congressman from the STATE at LARGE.
Colfax said il speech at Perm I'D
that she was proud to belong to the par,v