690
HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
daring riders, and its mount and equipment were the best. It received over 400 recruits to its ranks. Its achievements are an honorable part of the history of the "Army of the Potomac." Its Colonel was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, and served with distinguished ability in the Congress of the Nation. It was claimed that John F. Farnsworth was the only member of the House that the audacious Ben. F. Butler avoided challenging to debate. One of its captains, Elon J. Farnsworth, was also promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, and wag killed at Gettysburg.
The most disastrous campaign of the Fifty-second was in the winter of 1861-62 along the western end of the Hannibal & St. Jo Railroad, in Northwest Missouri. It was at Donelson and, from that victorious struggle, brought about 5,000 prisoners to Camp Douglas and 2,-000 to Springfield. From there it hastened to Shiloh's bloody field, where it first experienced the terrible shock of battle. It participated in about twenty engagements and very many skirmishes, and, in garrison, march, bivouac and battle, displayed an orderly bearing and valor, that gave it public recognition by army commanders as one of the best regiments in the field. It marched with Sherman to the sea, and through the Carolmas and Virginia, to Washington, where, with "Sherman's Bummers," it participated in the last Grand Review.
Two companies of cavalry were recruited with the Thirty-sixth Infantry, one with the Fifty-second and one (called the Kane County Cavalry), was organized by Capt. Christian B. Dodson, of Geneva. The company organized with the Fifty-second was mustered October 25, 3861, as Company H, of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry. The other companies served as escort of various Generals and on detached duty but with no regimental organization, until by order of Governor Yates, in compliance with authority from General Halleck under General Order No. 250, issued at Springfield on December 25, 1862, these three companies, with other detached organizations, were united to form the Fifteenth Regiment Illinois Cavalry. Captain Gilbert of the Fifty-second was promoted to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in this new command, his company becoming Company G; Captain Sher-rar, of Company B in the Fifty-sixth, received the rank of Major, his company being designated Company K in the Fifteenth. Company A of the same regiment became Company I in the new regiment, and Captain Doclson's was lettered Company H. January 25, 1865, the Tenth and Fifteenth Cavalry Regiments were consolidated and reorganized as the Tenth Regiment and Captain Willis was promoted to the rank of Major. A number of changes and promotions also occurred among the line officers from Kane County.
SEVENTEENTH CAVALRY.-On September 13, 1863 the War Department authorized Gen. John F. Farnsworth to organize still another regiment of cavalry in Kane County, and on his recommendation/ the colonelcy of the new organization was tendered by Governor Yates to Major John L. Beveridge of the old Eighth Cavalry. Colonel Bsveridge at once established its camp of rendezvous at St. Charles, upon the grounds formerly occupied by the Eighth, and pushed enlistments with such vigor that eight companies were mustered into service on January 22, 1864, and four more-completing the regiment-on February 12th. Six hundred and fifty horses were procured, and on May 3d the regiment moved by rail, under orders to report to Maj. Gen. Rosecrans at St. Louis, Mo. It took about 1,100 men to the field. Its arduous service was principally rendered in the 'Department of the Missouri under command of Generals Rosecrans, Grenville M. Dodge and John Pope. It was the last cavalry regiment organized in the State, and was not mustered out until February 6, 1866.
Early in the spring of 1864, the patriotic Governors of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Ohio tendered the President 85,000 men to serve 100 days, with a view to relieving from guard duty the veterans needed at the front. Of these, Illinois furnished thirteen regiments of infantry and two battalions of cavalry. One of these infantry regiments rendezvoused at Elgin and, at the request of Governor Yates and Adjutant-General Fuller, John S. Wilcox commanded the camp of organization until muster. Mrs. Lucy S. Lovel tendered the use of beautiful grounds where the great Cook Publishing House now stands, and the camp was there located and named "Camp Kane." This regiment was mustered into service June 16, 1864, with 842 men, and was mustered out October 10, 1864. So opportune and vital was the service of these commands of 100-day men that, in special orders, the President extended to them the thanks of the Government and Nation for their patriotic and effective discharge of duty. Thus it
