The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-12
Colonel Elliott.
From the Princeton

-.+ 4 .f From the Princeton Tribune.
From all sides we hear congratulatory
expressions; from all parts of the sixth |
district we see accumulative
evidence of the hearty satisfaction with
which the nomination of the soldier farmer,
Col. Elliott, for congress, is received by the
masses of the people.
Col Elliott is representative western
man, healthful product of the beautiful
and prolific pralrles Of our own beloved
Illinois, and fair exponent of the vital
forces of the great northwest
As the Colonels history, since attaining
manhood, has been intimately interviewer
with that Of this county, and that during
the most eventful period of its existence,
we presume that it is more or less familiar
to every reader Of the Tribune. Yet, as
it is record which shows him to be an
energetic, enterprislng man, an honorable
citizen and worthy son of this great
state, We think it not amiss, in view of his
present relations to the people of this
county, to give brief synopsis of his life
history.
Col Elliott's father, now a respected
citizen citizen of Princeton, emigrated from
Ohio and settled in Bureau county in 1888
and i'll 1887 the Colonel was born on a farm
in Dover township.
Upon attaining the proper age, he COM
menced attending the district school, and
spent as is that of most farmers sons,
working on the farm during the summer
and attending the district school during
the ensuing winter.
Sometime previous to attaining his
eighteenth year he spent in attending
school in Princeton, and then went to Alb
ingdon College, in Knox county After
spending two years at this institution, he
went to the University of Michigan, at
which school he spent four years, and |
graduated with honor in the class of 81, |
Just as the lurid glare of fratricdal war
shot atliwart the southern horizon.
While the echo Of the first gun aimed
at the starry banner by an assassin hand,
was yet reyerberating throughout the length .
and breadth OF the north, and>while many
OF her loyal sons stood still in confusion
and amazement, and while others boastipgly
proclaimed their ability to annihiiate re5el
regiments alone and single handed, the Col /
onel was one of those who saw reck-
less, brave and daring people in open re.
volt he was one OF those who intuitiyely
telt that rivers Of blood would flow from
the hearts OF Columbia sons, ere the an
gel OF peace would again descend with
folded wings upon The land they loved SO
we'll - GU
Feeling thus, he thought his country in
urgent need OF the aid Of every loyal son
she had and with the unanimous consent
OF the company, and by the advice and |
assistance OF Prof. A. d. White, now pres
ldent Of Cornell university, and one of
the Santa Domingo Commissioners. he |
went to Detroit and sought a place in a |
regiment forming there, for the military
company OF the University. Failing in
this, as soon as his class had graduated he
returned to his home in Princeton, and at
once set about raising a company, which |
he soon did in connection with Julian + |
Bryant, nephew of Hon. John II. Rrv
ant.
As soon as bis company was full. he re- |
paired with it TO Bloomington, where he
joined the 33d Illinois. better known as
the Normal regiment" This regiment
was under the command of Colonel c. f.
Hovey, and soon after Elliott Joined twas
ordered to Pilot Knob, Missouri.
Upon the night of the arrival of the repi-
ment at Pilot Knob, Elliott with a mart of
MS company was detailed and sent out IN
guard section Of the Iron Mountain rail.
road. "i'-
-, In just two short weeks afterwards JEFF
Thompson, of the rebel army, with a com.
mand GOO strong, descended upon the
road and Captain Elliott, badly wounded,
and his little band of 80 men were taken
prisoners
Captain Elliott and his men were pa.
f9ied and sent home But the Captain
;nafed by inactivity aud the restraint of
his parole, repaired to StLouis, ere he was
yer ut to leave his bed, and sought Gen
haileck assistance to obtain his exchange
= 1,halieek sent him to Grant, who was
Ihen at Cairo preparing to attack Fort
Donelson. 0''
hen he arrived at Cairo, Gen. Grant
,oid hlm that he could do nothing for him
put after repeated solicitations told him he
!, no ~ give him letters to the rebel ten
tolk' and let him work out his own saliva.
tion-if he could. ' MS Wv" Sai'a-
Napi- Elliott at once accepted this prop
,sitiob, and 1t was in the performance of
MS seu- imposed task that ne met with
me OF the most thrilling adventures of tbe
var, but We haye not space to recount il
lere AN' ii
After surrounding innumerable difEeul.
les, he finally effected his exchange, and
I once fastened home after his men, with
whom he Immediately rejoined his regi-
nent
1t IS not the object Of this article to fol
ow Colonel Elliott through the many vieis-
ltudes OF four years war suffice il TO
ay that he soon became noted for his in
repidity and fearless behavior when under
re, and as illustrative of some of the
'arful scenes ofthis kind, through which
e unfinchiBgly passed, we would ment;on
re famous charge of the 22d of Nav unon
lcksburg, in which every man 10 bis com. =,
any, but one, seas either killed or toourpI-
After ! icksburg, Captain Elliot gradu- Is
" rose IN command until he was at the ssr
.ad of bis regiment And ahon, th. d. ne