The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-09-17

dlued IN Raising company at Galena.
was elected its captain, and when the
Twelfth Illinois Infantry was organized,
the I'd OF May, 1861, he was commission
ed by Gov Gates its lieutenant colonel
In September, 1851, he was placed nv
Gen. Z. L Smith il command Of Smith
land, Ky where he was stationed until
January, 1862, when he rcjoned his regi-
ment at Paducah, accompanied it with
Gen. Smith in his campaign up the Tens
uessee river 10 Fort Henry. He led the
Twelfth at the battle OF Fort Doueison,
that regiment holding the extreme right
OF the line. 1t acquitted itself with great
valor. aGd sustained a heavy loss in kill
ed and wouaderl in that battle For gal
lantry displayed in this action Lieut. Col
Chet,ain was promoted to the colonelcv
OF the regiment lie commanded it at
Shiloh, where it was in the tbjckest of the
fight, ana lost about one>fourth OF its
number in killed aud wounded, including
an unusual large proportion Of officers.
At Coriath his command made brilliant
assault upon much larger force of the
enemy, and received very honorable
mention from It's brigade commander,
Gen. Oglesby Col Chetain was placed
III charge of the post of Corinth soon
after. and remained there until May.
1868. and upon being relieved was com
plimeuted BY Gen c. NJ Dodge in eener-
al orders for his faithfulness aud eff
cheney; while there be assisted actively 10
Kissing the first regiment Of colored
troops organized in the west
NORTH Of New Orleans He was en-
tireiy convinced that the black mar could
fight aud if necessary must fight before
the rebellion was crushed la December.
1868. he received his well>Carned promo
ton to the position of brigadier general,
and at the suggestion of General Grant
the war department placed him in charge
of the movements for the organic alton of
the colorcd volunteers in Tennessee. In
1861 his iahors in the fulfillment of this
responsible duty extended over the state
of Kentucky, aud in January, 1865, he
had under hiS command Il 900 colOred
troops. OF this force one brigade did he
r0ic fighting at Nashville, and put to
flight the doubts OF mary that the blacks
had the capacity Tor martial career.
For bis efficiency III this service Brigadier
General Chetlain received the rank of
Major General by Brevet Gen. Lorenzo
Thomas, AdJutant General of the United
States Army in the summer of 1865 when
making bis general report TO the war de-
partmcnt speaks uf Gen. Chetlain rs fol
lows: Brig Gen. Chetlain reported to me
and | assigned him as superintendent of
the recruiting service IN Tennessee He
proved a most valuable officer, for found
him to possess both intelligence aud zeal,
with rare qualification for the organiza-
ton of troops. lie never failed in any
duty he was assigned, either as superin>
tendent or AS an inspector to " hich latter
duty | assigned him, and am gratifed
that he was subsequently rewarded by a
Brevet Major General From January
to October, 1865, Gen. Chetlain com
mandcd the Post and defenses of Mem
phis. From October. 1865, to January,
1866. be commanded the district of Tai
ladega, Alabama. and closed there an
honorable and highly meritorious service
under the national flag
LOGAN AND CTETLAIN.
Gen. i.ogan's sharp criticism Of Gen.
ChetlaiL address Wednesday night, has
not caused any ill-feelng between these
two gentlemen us many have been led TO
believe. Gen. Chetlain, in speaking of
the subject TO gathering of press repre-
scntatives last evening, remarked: My
reference 10 the elective franchise gave
Gen. Logan the chance 10 make q little
political capital that is all there was IN
il. IL NV speech I merely quoted the
opiaiaa OF prominent citizens who have
sindei the subject, to the effect that in
cities having n population of over 81, 900,
mjsgoVcrnmeHt might be prevented by
placing Il taxpaying limit ON the elective
franchise, the idea being that these mus
inequalities would be regarded as corpor-
ations in which every taxpayer was a
stakeholder. The argument, you see,
was secondhand and given as such, and
the proposed restriction referred to large
cities only. Gen. Logan, in his reply,
spoke as though general limitation of
the elective franchise to taxpayers had
been advocated by me-
PARTING SHOT.
The Chicago delegation left for home