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THE CONFEDERATE DEAD IN OAKWOODS CEMETERY

There are 6129 bodies of Confederate soldiers lying in Oakwoods cemetery who died during the last three years of the Civil War while prisoners of war at Camp Douglas. Among the remains of the Confederate soldiers are those of twelve Union soldiers, but their graves cannot be distinguished from the others. A monument was erected to the memory of the Confederate dead and dedicated July 23d, 1893, which is fully described in another place in this history.

On one occasion the graves of the Confederate and Union soldiers were impartially strewn with flowers by the women of a Mississippi town. This circumstance inspired the writing of that beautiful poem known as "The Blue and the Gray," by F. M. Finch, which breathes the spirit of peace and reunion, one stanza of which is given here.

"No more shall the war-cry sever,

Or the winding river be red;

They banish our anger forever

When they laurel the graves of our dead!

Under the sod and the dew,

Waiting the judgment-day;

Love and tears for the Blue,

Tears and love for the Gray."

FREDERICK F. COOK'S INTERESTING ACCOUNT

Perhaps this chapter of the memories of the Civil War connected with Camp Douglas cannot be more appropriately closed than by some quotations from Frederick F. Cook's recent volume entitled "Bygone Days," filled with interesting episodes of Chicago history. "Except in those parts of the South where the actual struggle took place," he writes, "perhaps no locality felt its impact more directly, or lived in the presence of its varied accompaniments more persistently, than Chicago. Not only was this city a leading recruiting center and passageway to and from the field, but from the first year of the war to the end there were imprisoned in its immediate vicinity (the spot is now in the very heart of one of its great divisions) for most of the time, a number sufficient to constitute a Rebel army corps. It was because there were here great recruiting camps, with fairly substantial barracks, that Chicago was elected to this doubtful distinction in the first instance; and its continuance was largely due to the fact that nearly all the prisoners captured in large bodies by the Federal arms were taken in the West; whereas it was the Eastern Union armies that filled Andersonville and other Southern prison camps.

"The Rebel horde that was confined in Camp Douglas was a source of mixed sensations to the people of the city. To the timid it was an ever present menace; and during its continuance real estate in its neighborhood was little in demand for permanent improvement, though considerable ground thereabout was covered by temporary ramshackles, occupied by dealers in provisions." The Camp became a popular resort for sight-seers, and on Sundays the horse cars, taking an hour to perform the journey, were crowded; and when after the surrender of Harper's

Ferry to the Confederates, something like seven thousand paroled Union soldiers were added to the population of the camp, the place was doubly besieged by interested and curious visitors. "There was, to be sure, little enough for the latter to see when they got there, unless provided with passes; but for most of this sort it was enough that the place brought them in imagination in contact with something that resembled the seat of war."

LIFE AMONG THE PRISONERS

Mr. Cook in his reminiscences says that he found little trouble in procuring admission to Camp Douglas, where he mingled freely with the prisoners. He says he found them apparently well fed; "and they certainly appeared a jolly lot, much given to horse play. By a class of Northern apologists for the state of things reported about Andersonville, it has been asserted that matters were in all respects equally bad at Camp Douglas; but for such a contention there is as little foundation as there would have been excuse for its existence. Camp Douglas was at the door of the greatest food stores in the world; and if in such case the prisoners were persistently starved, as has been charged against Andersonville, such a condition could be attributed only to deliberate malice; whereas the excuse of the South has been that they had not always the wherewith to supply their captives, and that, on the whole, they were as well cared for as their own men in the field at various exigent times.

"However, as to the charge of unsatisfactory sanitary conditions until matters had come to a pretty sad pass, that is unfortunately only too well founded. When the camp was laid out as a mustering station, a thorough sanitary system was recommended, but because it was supposed to be only a temporary arrangement, this was not carried out; consequently, it was in this respect far from ideal even as a rendezvous for the Federal recruits. But this applies only to the first half of the prison's existence. Later it was placed in an admirable sanitary condition.

FREQUENT CHANGES AT THE CAMP

"Camp Douglas, first as a rendezvous for the early enlistments, and later as the principal Northern prison for captured Confederates, was for four years so continually in people's thoughts, and its varied phases, frequent transformations, and moving incidents in so many ways register the changing tides of the great struggle, that its part in the pageant of war-time Chicago calls for more than a passing notice. It was ever in a state of flux." There were changes in commanding officers, changes of troops on guard, and changes in the occupants of the prison. "The prisoners kept coming and going," says Cook. "Sometimes there would be as many as ten thousand or more, and later only some skeletons of regiments. Then a new contingent would arrive; and altogether the number imprisoned aggregated over thirty thousand. Among those to put in a forced appearance were the 'Morgan Raiders' captured in the fall of 1863, at Salem, Ohio. These numbered something like five thousand, many of them Kentuckians, and were by far the jolliest lot of the various consignments. When time hung heavily on their hands they improvised 'shows,' had mock trials for all manner of offenses, and did quite a trade in jack knife handiwork."

COMMENTS ON THE CONSPIRACY TO LIBERATE PRISONERS

"Much has been written about the conspiracy to liberate the Confederate prisoners, with the object of harassing the rear of the Union armies," says Cook. "The exact truth about this attempt may never be known, for there were political exigencies to be served that might well have tempted to an exaggeration or distortion of appearances. That there was some foundation for all the excitement stirred up may well be admitted; but that any wholesale scheme of liberation was contemplated or seriously furthered by the Confederate authorities is highly improbable. What could such a horde, even if partially provided with arms, have accomplished, a thousand miles or more from any helpful support? To be sure, it might well have brought about the fate that overtook Chicago a few years later; but such an adventure could have had no appreciable effect on the fortunes of war, and the consequences would have fallen in the end most heavily on the heads of those who had promoted the offense.

"That there were not wanting opportunities for hatching a conspiracy between those within the camp and any sympathizing and adventurous friends outside, is not open to doubt. There was a goodly number of Kentuckians among the prisoners, and there was also a considerable Kentucky element in the city's population, with quite a sprinkling of relatives within the enclosure;" and on account of the well known laxity of surveillance it was not difficult to establish communications with the prisoners.

Vol. II-10

CHAPTER XXIX

LATER EVENTS OF THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD

THE DRAFT OF 1864-THE LAST CALL FOR TROOPS-LARGE BOUNTIES PAID FOR RECRUITS -NUMBER OF TROOPS FURNISHED BY ILLINOIS-NUMBER FURNISHED BY COOK

COUNTY WAR TIME TRANSPORTATION- -CONDITIONS IN THE NORTH CONTRASTED WITH THOSE IN THE SOUTH-THE DEATH OF LINCOLN THE FUNERAL JOURNEY -ARRIVAL OF THE REMAINS AT CHICAGO-LYING IN STATE IN THE COURTHOUSE ΤΟ SPRINGFIELD- -GREELEY'S TRIBUTE TO LINCOLN-WORK

ROTUNDA-JOURNEY

OF THE SANITARY COMMISSION-FIRST SANITARY FAIR-THE ORIGINAL COPY OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION-"OLD ABE,' THE WAR EAGLE-THE SECOND SANITARY FAIR-SAMUEL BOWLES' VISIT-JOHN

L. SCRIPPS-WRITES THE FIRST AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF LINCOLN-BECOMES POSTMASTER AT CHICAGO-ANNIVERSARIES CELEBRATED IN 1911.

THE DRAFT OF 1864

N July 4th, 1864, President Lincoln issued a call for five hundred thousand men. The quota of Illinois under this call was fixed at 16,182 men, of which Cook county was to furnish 1,818. A "Citizens' Enrollment Committee" was organized which cooperated with the military authorities in the work of raising this number of men. A bounty of three hundred dollars to each recruit was offered by the county, but as in the progress of enlistments even with that inducement the quota had not yet been filled, a draft was inaugurated September 26th. The drawings were spasmodically conducted, the voluntary enlistments being so numerous that it often seemed unnecessary to continue its operation. However, fifty nine conscripts were drawn for service, but before they were sent to the field they were relieved by volunteers; so that there were no drafted men sent to the army from this state up to that time, nor, indeed, at any time during the war, as we shall presently see.

Reviewing a book on the Civil War a writer in the Nation recently said: "In the first flush of war excitement and patriotic fervor, volunteering can be depended upon to supply the raw material for armies, but the wearing quality of that system is poor. The bounty plan proves to be most unsatisfactory, and a rigid draft does great harm to the industries which must supply the means to wage the war. The question how best to maintain an army in a democracy remains for the present unanswered."

THE LAST CALL FOR TROOPS

In the proclamation issued by Governor Richard J. Oglesby, on the 17th day of January, 1865, (the very day of his inauguration) he announced to the

people of Illinois, that a call had been made by the President of the United States for three hundred thousand more men to serve in the armies of the Union. He appealed to the people to fill up the proposed new regiments by voluntary enlistments, and thus manifest once more their patriotism and devotion to their country. He promised to make known the quota of troops to be raised in this state as soon as it could be ascertained.

"In appealing to you," said the Governor, "I believe that neither the state nor the general government will ask in vain. At no time during the existence of this wicked rebellion has Illinois been behind her sister states in manifestations of loyalty and patriotism; and during the darkest hours of this contest, her sons, with matchless heroism and devotion, have ever responded to the requirements of our National Executive. I feel that you will do so again;" and that thousands will come forward and leave their avocations "whilst their country needs their services and calls for their assistance."

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The President's proclamation had referred to the Act of Congress of the previous July, which provided that, at the President's discretion, he might order a draft to complete the quotas assigned to any district or city, if he found it necessary to do so, under any call that should hereafter be made. Thus the President said that "in case the quota or any part thereof shall not be filled before the 15th day of February, 1865, then a draft shall be made to fill such quota." The Governor in his proclamation to the people of Illinois refers to this subject in these words: "Let it not be said when our brave Illinoisans, under the gallant Sherman, have penetrated the heart of the rebellion, and our heroic and indomitable Grant is breaking down the very gates of its citadel, and the end of the rebellion, so far as we can see, is not distant, that at this hour Illinois has dimmed and tarnished her proud record by tardiness and inaction; but let her respond with men as true and brave as those who have shed such imperishable fame upon her arms."

THE RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S CALL

The ardor and patriotism of the people were aroused, and everywhere the most enthusiastic spirit prevailed. Camp Fry, in Chicago, was the rendezvous appointed for the northern portion of the state, while Camp Wood, at Quincy, was designated for the southern. At these camps the rapidly forming "one hundred companies," named in the Adjutant-General's orders, were assembled, and soon formed into ten regiments, the 147th and the 156th, inclusive, each containing ten companies. The recruiting for these went forward with so much success that it soon became apparent that there would be more volunteers than sufficient for the ten regiments. The draft, which had been fixed for February 15th, was therefore temporarily postponed, until it could be definitely ascertained how many men would be required to fill the quota of the state.

The organization of the ten regiments having been completed, making a total of approximately ten thousand men, it was determined to continue the recruiting, sending the excess forward to fill up regiments already in the service, whose ranks had been depleted by the casualties of war and otherwise. Nearly five thousand more men were in this way supplied for the armies in the field, and assigned to old regiments. "The wisdom as well as the justice of these assignments of new

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