The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-10-17
Board of Trade Battery.

I'VE are coming, Father Abraham,
three hundred thousand more" SO ran
the song, and 1t has an inspiring ring in
1T even now. But when it was written,
in the anxious days of July, 1862, the
public situation was gloomy and full of
cause for alarm.
The ardor of the peoples first re-
spouse to the need Of the nation had
worn off. The grim realities of war
had become known to the people There
was a lull in the whirlwind of patriot.
ism, but it proved to be but the calm of
gathering strength and force.
President Lincoln made his call for
100000 volunteers on the 9th of July,
1862. For ten days the enlistments fell
below expectation in all parts of the
country. But the people were only
thinking and planning.
Three hundred thousand men were
making up their minds to give up their
lives for their country. For although
every soldier has many chances of llv.
ing through his term of service, he has
to look death in the face on the day
when he signs the enlistment roll-to
look, and say, "Well, I'll take my
chances."
July 10 ten members signed request
to the president of the Chicago Board
OF Trade asking him to call a meeting
Of the board to pledge money and infiu-
ence to raise battery to be known as
the Chicago Board Of Trade battery.
Although his name was not signed to
the call for the meeting, Sylvanus ii.
Stevens was the prime mover of the en-.
terprise, the man who originated the
idea Of the Board of Trade battery and
who circulated the call and made all
arrangements for the meeting.
He was the first to sign the enlist.
ment roll at the meeting held in the
board rooms, then on South Water
street, corner OF Wells, now 9Th avenue
on July 81, 1862, $1,000 was pledged
and at the adjourned meeting, IL the
morning of the 23d, the muster roll
was increased to sixty-three names, and
at 4 p. m. on that day the vice president
of the board and his committee tele
graphed the President that the Chicago
Board of Trade had pledged $4,000
bounty money and raised full com
pany of artillery. This fund soor
reached $4,000.
The whole country took fire at the ex
ample OF commercial Chicago. Recruit:
| flocked to the enlistment offices, anC
Lincoln's 100000 were soon swinging
southwark armed and equipped for the
war. Illinois alone sent $4,000 troop:
under this call.
The Board of Trade battery got into
shape, drilled NTH horses for the frs
time Sept. 0, and moved south to Louis
Vile on the 10th.
Its first engagement was with de
! tachment of FORESTS cavalry, in Octo
Der, and then followed three years o.
| fighting In the Army of the Cumber
| land.
The battery took part in many en-
gagements and fiercely fought battle:
whose names are now famOus-Ston,
River. Elk River, Chickamauka, Farm
ington, Dallas, Decatur. Atlanta, Love
Joy, MONDAY Creek, Nashville and Sci
ma. 1t participated in Wilson's raid
In the spring of 1865, and came HON,
covered with glory at the end Of TIL,
war
The total membership Of the battery
counting recruits and all, was PAS
There are now living and known to tn
Chicago Board of Trade Battery Me
mortal Association, sixty-four members
OF these twenty-five were present at tn
latest reunion in Chicago.-Ada
Sweet, in Chicago Journal.