YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO ^p^.-^') (iAil^il^L^X^.-.-^^.^-^^-4^ he^ BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO RECOLLECTIONS OF THE "GARDEN CITY" OF THE SIXTIES BY FREDERICK FRANCIS COOK "I summon up remembrance of things past" WITH NEARLY ONE HUNDRED ILLUSTRATIONS FROM RARE PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS CHICAGO A. C. McCLURG & CO. 1910 COPYBIQHT A. C. McCLURG & CO. 1910 Published April 9, 1910 v_ Yi ^ 'r. J ^ K%t laftnflie )Piui R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY CHICAGO ACKNOWLEDGMENT The author and publishers of this book are indebted to the Chicago Historical Society for its generosity in allowing the use of a large number of contemporaneous pictures from its collections, many of them after unique examples of old color-prints. FOREWORD IN putting these memories of a bygone Chicago between the covers of a book, it is less the aim of this old-time newspaper reporter to supply first-hand material to compilers of matter-of-fact histories, than to shed what light may be his on the psychology of a staid yet sur charged period, now difficult for those who were not of it to realize; rebuild for the mind's eye a vanished city; re store to its streets their varied hfe ; rehabilitate passed types in their proper setting; recall with a due regard for values some of the moving events of a memorable epoch : and so provide a faithful transcript for whomsoever may be in terested in the "Garden City" of a classic past as a some what unique social integral, or feel moved to re-people it in fancy with the offspring of his imagination. It is a saying that imder Napoleon every private carried a marshal's baton in his knapsack. Whenever, in these days, the writer in his Gotham exile responds to the lure of his old stamping-ground, and reckons not a thou sand miles against a chat at the Chicago Press Club with the all too few surviving old-timers, he has the feeling that to the last fledgling among its hospitable members, there are preenings for flights into the empyrean, with an eye single to the production of the Great American Novel. It was not so in other days. We, of the earlier time, saw the things about us through a tenuous and almost colorless atmosphere — for we lived in a present without a past. Local history was then all in the making. Quite a bit is now in retrospect, and all the upper air, the realm X FOREWORD of visions, is filled with a beguiling efflorescence, wherein may be discerned, by eyes anointed, the shades of vociferous assemblages, by grace of one of which there rose to im mortal heights the inspiring figure of Abraham Lincoln; the heroic manes of a titanic conflict between freedom and slavery, in which Chicago bore so worthy a part; the lurid spectres of a great fire; the grim apparitions of baffled conspirators ; the tragic wraiths of a hideous holocaust ; the genii, who, to awaken in our people a sense of the beau tiful, fashioned for a few brief months an enchanted city out of dream mist ; and, commingling with these, the my riad spirits of masterful men and helpful women, associated with the giant city's epoch-making beginnings. Now from "haunts" of this sort there issue minute microbes of wondrous sheen, that in a manner come to possess the brain of such as are hospitable to wizards of their kind, and therein weave into the warp of prosaic reality a woof of rare imaginings. Thus great art is born — sometimes. Chicago is to the unthinking a synonyme for Material ism. Yet, of a truth, she is a very Mother of Idealism. Unfortunately she cannot yet hold all she nurtures, nor always realize the visions she inspires. For the present, therefore, she must needs content herself with the role of prolific matrix, whose issue on occasion answer the beck- onings of older centres, in the hope of a fuller expression — not, however, always realized. The generation of Lincoln still made touch at many points with the historic past. The generation best typified by a Roosevelt is wrested from all traditional moorings, and is whirled through space by the realized fictions of a Jules Verne. Hence only heart-tugging memories remain to those whose dimming eyes are prone to blink in the garish force-light of the twentieth century; and these turn FOREWORD xi gratefully to that elder time, in whose restful half-light events are composed to softest outlines, and only the tallest peaks within range of the backward vision still reflect with a transflguring halo the light of the suns of bygone days. As in our national life the old regime is divided from the new by the Civil War of 1861, so in the minds of Chicagoans the city's past is demarcated from the present by the great fire of 1871. In respect to both it is a case of "before" or "after." Happily, the ordeal through which the nation was made to pass, exhausting as it was, left it physically intact; whereas the catastrophe that visited this community came near obliterating it, and in no respect was the destruction more complete, or so ir reparable, as in the matter of records and landmarks. Hence the ante-fire "Garden City" will exist for the future only as it may be restored from the memories of those who were of it ; and while, imf ortunately, all too little has been done to revive the Wonder City's past — to evoke, amid indigenous siu'roundings, the masterful men and stir ring events that so distinguish its virile adolescence — it is only too true that what is not soon recorded will be lost to future generations without hope of recovery. Perhaps regarding no modern foundation is it so exigent that early data be recorded and impressions pre served. Chicago is the marvel of an age that is itself the most marveUous in history. If its genesis is found in op portunity, its achievements are clearly of man. From the first it sought to stand on its own feet, and wherever the ground gave way (and fathomless areas were differentiated from possible anchorages for "prairie schooners" by signs of "no bottom") it jauntily put jack-screws under itself, laid new foundations, and, Antaeus-like, having renewed xii FOREWORD its strength by contact with a somewhat more solid sub stratum of Mother Earth, went courageously forward to new conquests. It was surely through no accident that "Long John" Wentworth stalked into the infant city to fix the type. It was merely an effect of reciprocal attraction imder a nat ural law of fitness. And even as this Titan loomed in manifold ways among the living, so now his monument in Rosehill Cemetery (shrewdly erected by himself to make sure of its height) dominates the memorials of the sur rounding dead. "Long John," even up to the time when first elected Mayor, had a way of outgrowing, as well as outwearing, his clothes ; and Chicago, having acquired the habit by imitation, has continued ever since to outstrip her habiliments. Of New York it has been said that it suffers from congestion. Of Chicago it may be said even more pertinently that it is afflicted with chronic indigestion — a condition arising from the impossible task of properly as similating all that nature and man combine to crowd into it. It is a gratifying reflection that, shortly after the fire, I felt moved to go about among the older settlers to revive and preserve their impressions of early days; and these reminiscences, to something like fourscore issues, were pub lished in the Times of Wilbur F. Storey (with which paper the writer was then connected) under the uniform heading of " Bygone Days." The series included the recol lections of Gurdon S. Hubbard, then far and away the oldest inhabitant — his advent dating back to 1818 • when, outside of the stockade known as Fort Dearborn the only white family's habitation was John Kinzie's. These reminiscences were prepared with care; and as much then recorded was stiU matter of first-hand knowledge, and hence subject to contemporary correction, the series mav FOREWORD xiii be accepted as embodying fairly trustworthy data. Later a file of these published memoranda, together with a rare volume or two about early Chicago, was deposited with the Chicago Historical Society, where the historian of the future may find it worth his while to consult them. Now, a full generation later, the writer is undertaking to supplement these older reminiscences of others with some recollections of his own. These date back to 1862 — a strenuous war time — and while the presentation of de tached events or epochs, however salient or complete in themselves, may suffer in comparison with the sustained narrative, they should nevertheless, if fairly informed with the spirit of their day and hour, possess something more than a passing interest. Not many had better opportunities to know the young city both in its shadows and its lights; for I was the first of a class with roving commissions, now usual enough, known as "night reporters." Before coming to Chicago I had travelled quite extensively for a youngster of twenty, over territory then rapidly becoming tributary to the as piring city — namely, the States of Illinois, Iowa, Min nesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan ; furthermore, I had spent several months in each of its two most ambitious north western rivals of earlier days. Galena and Dubuque. By this experience I was enabled to gauge the young giant's grasp of empire where it was most poignantly felt, and knew by report somewhat about most of the men who in those days made Chicago the focus of Western attention and interest. On arrival (after working my way "before the mast" on a lumber schooner from Saginaw, Michigan, where my peregrinations had stranded me) I found myself in the midst of the men who practically constituted the first gen- xiv FOREWORD eration of settlers. With few exceptions, all were still in the prime of life. Not above a dozen names in any manner conspicuously identified with the city's origin or develop ment to something over 100,000 inhabitants were missing from its directory; and it was my privilege, as a jom-nalist, to come in contact with most of those, whose race is now all but run. Of this old guard only a few stragglers remain — as was only too evident at the old settlers' reunion, on the occasion of the city's recent "forf'-issimo centennial celebration — and soon the hne that demarcates the old settler from his fellows must be moved up a full decade, to provide material for future foregatherings. F. F. C. New Yoek City, February 1, 1910. NOTE IT is my pleasure to have known Mr. Cook during the period which he recalls in this volume. It is an ad vantage, in judging of its merits, that I was a fellow- worker in journalism during the same period, and that we saw and heard and did much together. Mr. Cook, in those days, half a century ago, was an alert, keen, ob servant, well equipped reporter. The reporter has un usual advantages for knowing what is going on in his local world. No event escapes him. He knows the causes and consequences of events. He is made the repository of secrets and the receptacle of rumor and gossip. Indeed, he is so well acquainted with human motives that he knows what makes the wheels go round in business, politics, society, and art, as in Hamlet's characterization of the players, "they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the time ; after your death you were better have a bad epi taph than their ill report while you live." All this was spe cially true in the Chicago of half a century ago, for at that time the city was so small that it was within the possi bilities of any smart reporter personally to know every one of prominence in it, and to be aware of all that was goiug on. In preparing this transcript of Chicago's past, therefore, Mr. Cook has been not only well equipped for his task, but he could truthfully say, in marshalling events, "Magna pais fui." As I have already intimated, half a century ago Mr. Cook and I were reporters together, bent upon the same assignment or enthusiastically com peting for "scoops." Since those days he has drifted away XV xvi NOTE from his early moorings while I still swing with the tide at the old anchorage. His book recalls to me the stirring events of "the sixties" forcibly, accurately, and interest ingly. It will furnish valuable material for any future history of Chicago, and to this extent it is a distinctly important public service. To the reader of the present, who only knows Chicago in its virile, forceful manhood, it should be interesting to read of it when it was an en thusiastic stripling, girding up its loins for the race. Per sonally, his book takes me over familiar highways and by-ways, and I am glad to congratulate him and help to introduce him to its readers. George P. Upton. Chicago^ January 15, 1910. CONTENTS V^TAR-TIME MEMORIES Chapter I. Rising of a People Chapter II. Preparations for the War . Chapter III. The War Face at Home . Chapter IV. Suppression of the " Times " Chapter V. Political Strife Chapter VI. A "Copperhead" Convention Chapter VII. The Pulpit as a War Force Chapter VIII. The Work of the Women . Chapter IX. The Part of the Singers . Paoe The Underworld . The Underworld (Coniinued) . The Underworld (Concluded) . A Retrospect A Bird's-eye View . The Business Centre An "Oldest Settler" Celebration A Memorable Army Reunion . Early Literature and Art Early Amusements Something About "Scoops" A People's Party Regime L.UN TENTS —Continued Page "The Good Old Times" .... . 272 The Spoils of War • • . . . . 289 The Tragedy of Popularity .... . 296 A Comedy of Contrasts ..... . 804 The Lincoln Funeral ..... . 316 A Lincoln Seance ...... . 321 Wilbur F. Storey, Editor of the "Times" . 331 The Old "Lake Front" .... . 839 Sharp-corner Rhapsody ..... . 845 An Early Sociable ...... . 352 A Hardscrabble Romance . . . . . . 359 By Frost, Flood, and Fire . . . . . . 363 ILLUSTRATIONS Page Portrait of the Author, Fred. Francis Cook Portrait of Col. James A. Mulligan ..... Facsimile of the Cover of "The Ellsworth Requiem March," showing an Authentic Portrait of Col. Elmer E. Ells worth ....... The Union Defence Committee, organized in 1861 The Chicago Zouaves at Drill .... Portrait of Col. John L. Hancock Portrait of Hon. Iliomas B. Bryan . "Old Abe," the Eighth Wisconsin's War Eagle Confederate Prisoners at Camp Douglas Portrait of Col. (later Gen.) Benjamin J. Sweet . Portrait of Hon. Buckner S. Morris Plat of Camp Douglas The Court House in 1860 Portrait of Dr. N. S. Davis Portrait of Deacon Philo Carpenter The "Wigwam," where the Republican National Convention of 1860 Challenged Slavery by the Nomination of Abraham Lincoln Interior of the "Wigwam" during the Republican Conven tion of 1860 The Soldiers' Memorial in St. James's Church Portrait of Rev. William W. Everts . Portrait of Rev. W. H. Ryder. Portrait of Rev. Robert CoUyer Portrait of Rt. Rev. Dennis Dunne . Froniiapiece 12 1418 263030 46 48546666 78 9294 949698 ILLUSTRATIONS — Omtinued Portrait of Rev. Robert H. Clarkson Portrait of Rev. O. H. Tiffany. Portrait of Rev. William Weston Patton . The Northwestern Sanitary Fair of 1865 . Portrait of Mrs. Mary A. ("Mother") Bickerdyke Portrait of George F. Root .... Facsimile of the Cover of "The Battle-Cry of Freedom" Portrait of Frank Lumbard .... Portrait of Jules G. Lumbard .... Sunnyside, the High-toned Road-house of Lake View Portrait of " Long John " Wentworth Portrait of William B. Ogden . Portrait of Levi D. Boone Portrait of Thomas Hoyne Portrait of Dr. Charles Volney Dyer Portrait of Judge Mark Skinner Portrait of Deacon William Bross The Lincoln Funeral Procession in Chicago Reception of the Remains at the Court House Views from the Court House Dome, in 1858, Looking South and Southwest ...... Views from the Court House Dome, in 1858, Looking North and Northeast .... Residence of Ezra B. McCagg . The Mahlon D. Ogden Property Bird's-eye View of Chicago in the Sixties Views in the Early Shopping District Street Scenes before the War . The Sherman House The Tremont House ILLUSTRATIONS — Continued Page Portrait of Gurdon S. Hubbard 198 Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Cly bourne. Types of the Pioneer 206 The Clyboume Mansion 208 The Grand Army Reunion of 1868 at Crosby's Opera House 214 Portrait of "Black Jack" Logan 222 Benjamin F. Taylor 228 Street Scenes in the "Bygone Days" .... Portrait of George P. Upton ...... Portrait of Francis F. Browne ...... McVicker's Theatre, " Home of the Tragic Muse " . . 244 Wood's Museum and Theatre ...... 244 Portrait of Joseph Medill, Chicago's "Fire-Proof" Mayor . 256 Portrait of George M. Pullman 260 Lake House, Rush Street Bridge, and River Mouth . . 278 Portrait of James H. Bowen ...... 286 Portrait of John V. Farwell 286 Portrait of William F. Coolbaugh 298 Portrait of Rev. Dwight L. Moody ..... 306 Portrait of Robert G. Ingersoll 312 Arrival of Lincoln's Body in Chicago .... 318 Portrait of Charles H. Reed ...... Portrait of Leonard Swett ...... Portrait of Hon. Isaac N. Arnold 328 Portrait of Wilbur F. Storey 332 Views on the Lake Front 340 The Lake Front — Park Row and the "Marble Terrace" , 342 First Congregational Church ...... 354 St. Paul's Universalist Church . . . . . 860 Old Building of the First Baptist Church . . . .360 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO WAR-TIME MEMORIES CHAPTER I RISING OF A PEOPLE The Call to Arms — Enthusiasm for Enlistments — Great War Meetings — Leading Citizens to the Fore — Notable Ora tors — "Mat" Carpenter, "Dick" Yates and Others — A Con flict OF Passions — Attitude of Northern Democrats — Causes that Led to Germans and Irish Taking Opposite Sides — Why the Early Zeal of the Latter Turned to Disaffec tion — The Ellsworth Zouaves — Tragic Death of their Young Leader. DURING the war for the Union, Chicago was ever a stage on which one event followed another with startling rapidity, often picturesquely, and always dramatically. As a prelude to the great conflict, it was here, in 1860, that a National Convention in the name of Freedom challenged Slavery to a struggle for supremacy by the nomination of Abraham Lincoln; and here also that another National Convention pronounced the war on Freedom's side a failure, when the slaughter had gone on for more than three years. It was in Chicago that a great rebel host was in durance — an ever-present men ace to life and property, — and for the liberation of this unorganized and unkempt horde a conspiracy was hatched, 1 2 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO though happily only to be effectually scotched. Here, again, a leading newspaper was suppressed by military edict for alleged rebel sympathies ; and it was in Chicago that inspired singers armed the nation with "The Battle Cry of Freedom" and many another war pffian, that strengthened the cause of the Union as an army with banners. ENTHUSIASM FOR ENLISTMENT The ceaseless roll of the drum not only rallied the patriot by day, but reminded him of his duty a good part of the night — especially in the vicinity of the Court House Square, filled with recruiting tents. And, when ever a great victory was celebrated, or the wail of disaster was heard in the land, and it became urgent once again to fire the hearts of the home guard to added enlistments, the doors of Bryan Hall, fronting the square, were flung open, great crowds surged within, and, while patriotic eloquence moved the assembled patriots to transports of enthusiasm, their united voices, vibrant with the emo tions of the hour, preceded or followed each speaker with the "Star-Spangled Banner," "Hail Columbia," "Amer ica," "The Battle Cry of Freedom," "John Brown's Body," or other stirring lyrics of the war. These great meetings were often protracted till midnight; but, be the hour what it might, there was no thought of adjournment until Frank Lumbard, in answer to a unanimous call, had stepped gallantly forward, given some general orders about the way he wanted everybody to sweep into the chorus (as if that were necessary) , and sung "Ole Shady" with the uplifting fervor he alone could give it. Those were great days for Frank; and seldom was a meeting called until its promoters had made sure that he and his famous war quartette could attend. RISING OF A PEOPLE 3 NOTABLE ORATORS FOR THE CAUSE When his engagements permitted. Mat Carpenter was brought down from Milwaukee, and Dick Yates, Gover nor (father of a later Governor of Illinois), was called up from Springfield, to be orators-in-chief. One who could always be depended upon to hold his hearers was "Long John" Wentworth; another was Tom Hoyne. Others frequently heard were Senator Lyman Trumbull, the Hon. E. C. Lamed, the Hon. Isaac N. Arnold (at this time Chicago's sole representative in Congress), Emory A. Storrs, Wirt Dexter, B. F. Ayer, Colonel Edmund Jiissen, Casper Butz, Colonel John L. Hancock, the Hon. George C. Bates, the Hon. S. K. Dow, the Hon. John C. Dore, A. C. Hesing, Revs. W. W. Patton, Robert CoUyer, W. W. Everts, O. H. Tiffany, R. W. Patterson and W. H. Ryder, Judge J. B. Bradwell, the Hon. John N. Jewett, John Lyle King, future Judge Sidney Smith, Colonel Van Arman, William F. Coolbaugh. PRESIDING OFFICERS The list of presiding officers at various times included such well-known citizens as the Hon. Thomas B. Bryan, John V. Farwell, the Hon. Julian S. Rumsey (Mayor at the outbreak of the war) , the Hon. J. B. Rice and the Hon. R. B. Mason (both subsequently Mayors), Judges John M. Wilson and Henry Drummond, the Hon. W. B. Ray mond, and Deacon (subsequently Lieutenant-Governor) William Bross. In the beginning of the struggle the name of William B. Ogden (from a business point then far and away Chicago's first citizen, as he had been its first Mayor) was included in this list; but, as the struggle advanced, "constitutional scruples" made him withdraw from the firing line of support. Then the place of first citizen fell 4 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO by common consent to the Hon. Thomas B. Bryan, and a well deserved honor it was. The list of Vice-Presidents included almost everybody on the Union side in any man ner conspicuous in business or the professions; while es pecial care was taken to include as many names as possible with Democratic antecedents. Among the more noted in this class I recall the following: Thomas B. Bryan, Potter Palmer, J. H. McVicker, David A. Gage, William F. Coolbaugh, Thomas Hoyne, George L. Dunlap, Marshall Field, Daniel O'Hara, John R. Walsh, Henry E. Hamil ton, W. K. McAUister, M. F. Tuley, Benjamin F. Ayer, James W. Sheehan, Gilbert C. Walker, Isaac N. Milliken, E. G. Asay, T. M. Harvey, H. D. Colvin, John N. Jew ett, J. W. Doane, S. M. Nickerson, Gen. U. F. Linder, C. L. Woodman, Philip Conley, W. J. Onahan. SOLDIER ORATORS IN THE MAKING In the list of orators, the reader whose memory runs only with the political regime that followed the war will miss the names of men without whom in later days no meeting on one side or the other was complete, namely those of General John A. Logan, General Richard J. Oglesby, and Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll for the Repub licans, and Generals John C. Black and M. R. M. Wallace for the Democrats. But these men were engaged in mak ing history then — not in celebrating its epochs and lay ing up reputations with the sword that should stand them in good stead with the people in subsequent piping times of peace. Unhappily, for many a year the war was fought all over again on every busting in the land, and charges and counter charges, if only with tongue or pen, were de livered with all their old-time fierceness. RISING OF A PEOPLE S MATTHEW CARPENTER, A POPULAR SPEAKER Mat Carpenter stood conspicuously above the rest in public favor as a speaker. At this time he was a practising lawyer in Milwaukee, was known as a "War Democrat," and afterwards became the Republican Senator from Wis consin. He had been a close friend of Senator Douglas; and this fact, aside from his great talent, gave uncommon value to his services in holding his fellow Democrats in line. Carpenter was beyond doubt the highest type of orator (as distinguished from great debaters like Lincoln and Douglas) the West then could show, for Robert G. Ingersoll, who at this time was in the field, had his oratori cal spurs still to win. In after years, though acknowledged one of the ablest lawyers in the Senate, and rated also among its most skilful debaters, he never quite rose to such heights of eloquence as when, in an atmosphere vibrant with hfe-and-death issues, he moved multitudes with ap peals to uphold the arms of the defenders of the Union. His was a leonine head, set on a superb body. His voice was full, musical, far-reaching, and few better than he un derstood how to master an audience and move it to his will. BITTER PARTY FEELING Nothing could be more misleading or unjust than to judge the attitude of Northern Democrats during the war in the light of the negative party feeling of to-day. In those strenuous times any exhibition of reasonableness was unhesitatingly stigmatized as cowardice, and men were wholly swayed by their prejudices, heated by friction into blinding passion. Not only does this apply to the immedi ate war time, but to many years before as well as after the great struggle. It was in 1859 that the steamer Lady Elgin was wrecked on Lake Michigan, off Winnetka. 6 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO Many of the male victims were members of an Irish mili tary organization; and I have a very distinct recollection that the horrors of that catastrophe were much mitigated for many Republicans (including my own miserable partisan self) by the reflection that the Democratic vote was thereby reduced to the extent of a hundred or more. ATTITUDE OF FOREIGN-BORN CITIZENS Up to the war the country's foreign-born population was composed almost wholly of, and divided about equally between, immigrants from Germany and Ireland; and while both, in the main, sought these shores because of op pressive conditions at home, these conditions were in the case of the former chiefly political, while in that of the lat ter they were largely economic. Hence the immigrants from the first country represented a superior class, and those from the latter an inferior one. Thus antecedent conditions determined that while a majority of Germans should be intensely anti-slavery, Irishmen in an ap proximate degree should be pronounced in their pro-slavery sentiments. That the reactionary Catholic hierarchy of that time exerted a pro-slavery influence over its devotees, there is little room to question; though the factors of chief- est determination were clearly economic, or more broadly speaking, sociological. The German immigrant, when not of the scholarly class, usually possessed at least a fair education; and, when he did not take to farming, found employment in the more advanced industries. Nine-tenths of all immigrants from the Green Isle were at best adapted only to the commonest labor, and so came often not only in close contact, but even in direct competi tion with blacks, both bond and free. On the Southern and Western rivers, for example, while the raftsmen (in char- RISING OF A PEOPLE 7 acter comparable to the cowboy of the plains) were gener ally native Americans of the harum-scarum sort, the roust abouts on the steamboats, as well as the laborers about the wharfs, when not negroes, were almost without exception Irish. The latter at this time constituted everywhere. North and South, the lowest white strata in the active labor market; hence there arose among them an intense desire to keep the negro in his place as slave. GERMANS AND IRISH ON OPPOSITE SIDES Whatever the aversions among the highest toward the lowest in the social scale, thej'" are seldom comparable to the unreasoning prejudice, often rising to blinding hate, that manifests itself in the lower ranges toward those regarded as a grade beneath them. Where the distance that sepa rates an upper from a lower stratum yields a perspective sufficient to "lend enchantment to the view," there fre quently intervenes a sort of benevolent haze, through which such commonplaces as dirt and grime not only become the handmaids of art, as "lovely bits of local color," but the sources of a moving sentiment : as when the negro in slav ery times was seen through the glamour of "Uncle Tom's Cabin"; or, in these later days, the slums are envisaged through a University Settlement romance. Thus, while among the comfortably circumstanced and well-disposed people of the North, either native or German-born, there had grown up before the war a strong sympathy for the slave, which invested him with a halo more or less of a misfit, there developed among the Irish a tendency dis tinctly in the opposite direction. This was due to a variety of cooperating extraneous causes, but also in no small de gree to that primitive instinct which demands for its sat isfaction that somebody be kept in his place to be looked 8 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO down upon. Accordingly, in judging the attitude of Irishmen toward a war having for one of its ultimates negro emancipation, with possible political equality, due allowance should be made, and all the more credit awarded to that considerable number who rose manfully above all these influences, to enroll themselves among the champions of liberty and union. I certainly hold no brief in plea of the attitude of the mass of Irishmen during the war. Since, however, in the interest of a proper understanding of the political situation in war-time Chicago, I have ventured to touch upon this subject, fairness demands that all the light possible be shed upon it. Time often brings not only charity but clarity; and a sufficiently wide induction may force the conclusion that, given similar conditions, all peoples will act in pretty much the same way. The German idealist, who stood so valiantly for freedom, equal rights, and equal opportun ities for the negro in America, in his native coimtry fre quently disgraces himself as a fanatical Jew-baiter. A similar phenomenon is observed in enlightened, republican France; while the aristocracy of Magna Charta England not only held Ireland in brutal subjection for centuries, but during our war was strongly pro-slavery in its sym pathies. MUTUAL ANTIPATHIES The fact that so considerable a number of the sons of Erin enlisted on the side of the Union, and this more par ticularly at the outset, in no manner contravenes a conten tion that in the mass (and this more conspicuously after the President's Emancipation Proclamation) they were distinctly antipathetic to the cause of the "Black Abolition ists." The true test of their feelings would come when placed where they could make easy choice of sides. To RISING OF A PEOPLE 9 such purpose Missouri offered itself at the beginning of the war as ideal proving ground: and while it is generally conceded that it was the German who saved that State to the Union cause, an Irish rally to the same consummation is conspicuous by its absence. And here another motive to swing the Irishman to the Southern side suggests itself, — namely, his natural affinity with the easy-going, toddy- drinking Southerner; and, per contra, his temperamental antipathy to the more sluggish, beer-drinking German. And because the Irishman and the German constituted al most the entire foreign population at this time, it followed as a matter of course, that whatever "Hansi" espoused "Pat" was "ferninst," and vice versa. In those days the latter might vary his whiskey with ale, but with beer, never ; and the latter beverage could be had only in places patron ized exclusively by Germans. Since then much has happened. Not only does the Hi bernian, if bibulously inclined, now line up with the most capacious Teuton as a consumer of lager ; but even sauer kraut, with a souppon of Limburger, does not in these days come amiss to him. In our foreign-born polyglot, the Irishman no longer looks up, but distinctly down; for in nearly all ranks of labor he is now top-sawyer, invariably the "walking delegate"; and none excels him in getting a "hustle" out of his Italian, Pohsh, Hungarian, or Croatian successors as wielders of the pick and spade, or luggers of the hod. ACTIVITY OF OPPOSING FORCES This somewhat psycho-sociological digression has seemed necessary in order to set before the reader in its true light the political situation in war-time Chicago. With the exception of a considerable Southern-born admixture, the native population was in the main loyal to the Union 10 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO side, while the foreign-born population was divided into opposite camps, with an appreciable preponderance of numbers on the Irish side. Whereas, the north division with its dominant German population, and the Milwaukee Avenue region with its Scandinavian beginnings, were ever enthusiastic for the Union and the abolition of slavery, all that region which lies between Archer and Blue Island Avenues (excepting a German cluster about Twelfth and Halsted Streets) was never more than lukewarm, and on occasion distinctly hostile to the prosecution of the war. "Whenever there was a notable Union victory, the North Side would burst spontaneously into a furor of enthusiasm, while matters down in the densely populated southwest region would be reduced to a mere simmer. But no sooner was there a Rebel victory than it was the turn of Bridge port and its appanages to celebrate ; and these demonstra tions generally took the form of hunting down any poor colored brother who might have strayed inadvertently within those delectable precincts. A CONTRAST IN LEADERSHIP German leaders, like Colonel Edmund Jiissen, Dr. Ernst Schmidt, A. C. Hesing, Lorenz Brentano, Friede- rich Rapp, Casper Butz, George Schneider, Prof. Julius Dyhrenfurth, Emil Dietzsch, Louis Huck, Peter Schuttler, Jacob Beidler, F. A. Hoffman, Hans Balatka, Fred.Letz, Ernst Pruessing, Henry Greenebaum, John G. Gindele, Louis Wahl were either speakers at war rallies, or, with many another prominent compatriot from the Fatherland were never absent from a list of vice-presidents. But I search my memory in vain to recall the names of con spicuous Irishmen, outside of the fighting ranks who stood stoutly for the cause of the Union, unless glorious RISING OF A PEOPLE 11 old Tom Hoyne, James W- Sheehan, John R. Walsh, and other bearers of Irish names, but born in America, be credited on the side of Erin; while, from among less known men who subsequently rose to more or less prominence, the names of W. J. Onahan (who sometimes spoke at war meetings), Philip Conley, Hugh Maher, Daniel McElroy, T. J. Kinsella, John TuUy, and the Prindeville brothers alone occur. IRISHMEN LOYAL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR That the Irish disaffection, so marked in the later years of the war, was a state of mind that grew logically out of the progress and political developments of the struggle, when the emphasis of appeal shifted from an unconditional Union to one modified by emancipation, with possible equal rights for the black man, has perhaps been sufficiently pointed out. No class was apparently more enthusi astic for the defence of the flag which symbolized the Union of States, when fired upon at Sumter, than the Irish. Few regiments were more quickly filled than those recruited under Irish auspices: and that this enthusiasm was not a mere flash in the pan, is well shown by the spirit in which discouragements were disregarded and obstacles overcome. As soon as war was a certainty, this call was issued : "Rally! All Irishmen in favor of forming a regiment of Irish volunteers to sustain the Government of the United States, in and through the present war, will rally at North Market Hall, this evening, April 20th. Come all! For the honor of the Old Land, Rally! Rally ! for the defence of the New ! (signed) James A. Mulligan, Alder man Comiskey, M. C. McDonald, Captains M. Gleason, C. Moore, J. C. Phillips, Daniel Quirk, F. McMurray, Peter Casey ; Citizens Daniel McElroy, John TuUy, Philip Conley, T. J. Kinsella." It is rather surprising to note the name of "Mike" (M. C.) McDonald, the notorious gambler, recently de- 12 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO ceased, among the signers ; and still more that of Alderman Comiskey, who in the later years of the war was one of the most outspoken "Copperheads" in the city. THE IRISH BRIGADE There were some odds and ends of Irish military or ganizations, known as Montgomery Guards, Emmet Guards, and Shields's Guards, under the command of those grouped as "Captains" in the call, and what there was of these organizations responded almost to a man; so that, at the meeting, in a couple of hours 325 men were enlisted; and in a few days a complete regiment and more, known as "The Irish Brigade." But the rush to arms under the first and second calls was so great, and so quickly were the regiments allotted to Illinois placed in the field, that there was no room for this Irish contingent, and many another, among them several regiments composed exclusively of Germans. But such was the spirit that animated these sons of Erin, that they determined to maintain their or ganization and bide their time. Meanwhile their gaUant Colonel, James A. Mulligan, had hied him to Washington, and after much ado, persuaded the^Secretary of War to ac cept the "Irish Brigade" as an independent organization outside of the assigned quota. It wa? mustered in as the Twenty-third Illinois, June 5, 1861, and left for the field on the fourteenth of July. THEIR POOR EQUIPMENT I have heard not a few "old and reliable" citizens de scribe the scenes of enthusiasm that accompanied the de parture of the Irish Brigade, and the brave showing they made in their new uniforms, with their gallant leader. Col onel MuUigan, at their head. No one may question the By Courtesy of the Chicago Historical society COL. JAMES A. MULLIGAN (Commander of "The Irish Brigade") RISING OF A PEOPLE 13 enthusiasm, for the regiment was largely made up of well- known young men about town; but their appearance is an other matter; and as a picture of the times, the hurry and inadequacy with which everything had to be done, I take the liberty to quote this paragraph from the Tribune of the morning following the regiment's departure : "Although in material the men are a credit to any section, they are in outfit a disgrace to Chicago as a city. Cook as a county, and Illi nois as a State." From what can be gathered, the one uniform article of apparel was a green shirt ; and as this had done duty for a month or more in what was euphoniously known as " Fon- tenoy Barracks," an old brewery on Polk Street, the rest can be imagined. As likely as not they left for the field of glory — which, in a brief month was to be also the field of death for so many, at Lexington, Missouri, — in common box cars ; for that, in the crying lack of transpor tation, is the way many of the early regiments departed for the front. THE ELLSWORTH ZOUAVES Since Chicago had boasted for a year or more, and up to within a few months of the opening of hostilities, the possession of so famous a military organization as the Ells worth Zouaves, it might well be supposed that it was also to the fore in the matter of military organizations in gen eral. But the state of things was lamentably otherwise. Indeed, it was probably the very proficiency of these Zouaves, under their brilliant young commander, which, in stead of taking the form of a stimulus toward the promo tion of other organizations, acted directly as a deterrent, because of the discouraging comparison to which any at tempt on the same lines in the local field would inevitably 14 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO be subjected. In 1859, at the age of twenty-two, Elmer E. Ellsworth was assistant paymaster of the State. He was a military enthusiast, and seeing that the Illinois militia was in a deplorable condition, he reorganized, by way of ex ample, an old Chicago company under the title of United States Zouave Cadets. Ellsworth exacted total abstinence from the use of liquor, and regular attendance at driU three times a week. He thus in an incredibly short time brought his command to such proficiency that, during an exhibition tour which included all the larger cities of the East, it was everywhere proclaimed the model military company of America, while the popularity of its com mander rose to a pitch quite unique in the history of the country. But as in that time of peace a military career outside of the regular army offered no opportunities of solid ad vancement to an ambitious young man, the hero of the hour felt constrained to disband his organization, to continue the study of the law in the Springfield office of Abraham Lincoln. The disbandment took place in October, 1860. Early in the Spring of 1861, Captain James R. Hayden effected a partial reorganization. It had been EUsworth's ambition to organize a mihtia regiment on the fines of his company, and now Captain Hayden took up this work. In addition to his own, there was part of a company under Captain John H. Clybourne when hostilities began, and these, under the command of Colonel Joseph R. Scott, con stituted part of the hastily organized skeleton of a regi ment that was rushed by order of Governor Yates under General H. K. Swift, to hold the key to the control of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers at Cairo. TO THE MEMORY OF COL. E.E. ELLSWORTH WHO FELL AT AL iXANDfUA. VA. MAY H'lBei. ;3r A. Ji V^JS^S . SADIY TIE BELLS TOU THE DEATH OF THE HERO." PUBLISHED BY AJUDSONHICCINS.CHICAGO. SONC BY A.B TOBEY. By Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society "THE ELLSWORTH REQUIEM MARCH" (The Cover Shows an Authentic Portrait of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, Chicago's Youthful Hero, the First Soldier Killed in the Civil War) RISING OF A PEOPLE 15 DEATH OF COLONEL ELLSWOETH Young Ellsworth accompanied Lincoln to Washington for the inauguration. He was still in the East when the call for troops was issued. So great was his reputation, that the New York Fire Zouaves elected him their Colonel, and this was the first full regiment to be sworn into the service. It was also among the first to arrive for the de fence of the Capital, and its brilliant commander was the first soldier, among the hundreds of thousands that were to follow, to yield up his life for his country. While pass ing through Alexandria he caught sight of a Rebel flag. Indignant at this flagrant display of disloyalty, he rushed forward to haul it down, and was shot in the act by its em bittered defender. Ellsworth's death under such appealing circumstances gave an indescribable shock to the country, and went far to open Northern eyes to the bitterness of the struggle before them. There is little doubt that in the un timely death of this brilliant tactician the cause of the Union lost a man who, through the exceptional oppor tunities before him, would have risen to high distinction. CHAPTER II PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR Illinois' Lack of Readiness — How General Swift Equipped his Troops — Precautions against Rebel Sympathizers — Work OF THE Union Defence Committee — Capture of Guns — Cap tain Stokes' Ruse — Before Bull Run too many Regiments Offered — The State's Response to the Call for More Men — Governor Yates Tells what the State has done — Protests AGAINST Excessive Demands — Distinguished Illinois Soldiers — The Board of Trade's Splendid Record — Illinois Organ izations IN THE War — Chicago's Contribution of Men — Some Paradoxes in the Course of the Struggle. IT is a matter of history that the South, thanks to its friends in the Buchanan cabinet, was at the outbreak of the war far better supplied with arms and ammunition than the North ; and, perhaps, no part was in a worse phght than Illinois. Therefore, in the light of the State's tran scendent record in the war, the first efforts to master an appalling situation warrant some details. On April 19, 1861, four days after the first caU for seventy-five thousand men. Governor Yates telegraphed to General H. K. Swift of the militia, with headquarters at Chicago, as follows : "As quickly as possible have as strong a force as you can raise, armed and equipped with ammunition and accoutrements, and a com pany of artillery, ready to march at a moment's warning." The next day a messenger from the Governor arrived with these further instructions: "Take possession of Cairo at the earliest moment. Have your ex pedition start as if going to Springfield via Illinois Central Railroad. 16 PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR 17 The state of feeling in Southern Illinois may require the utmost de spatch and secrecy. Captain John Pope [one of the future com manders of the Army of the Potomac] will join your expedition at some point." HOW GENERAL SWIFT EQUIPPED HIS TEOOPS In his report of this expedition to the Governor, made a month later. General Swift naively says : "As you did not advise me in any of your orders, either by tele graph or by your special messengers, as to when, where, or how the troops I was ordered to raise and start with in such haste were to be supplied with ammunition for both infantry and artillery, with rations, camp equipage, army stores, and horses for artillery, I considered that your orders, to he consistent, gave me authority to provide the troops, as far as possible, with ammunition for defence, and all other needful and useful military equipment, appendages, and appliances; for with out these the troops would have been worse than useless. Therefore, to supply these, my only remedy was to avail myself of the aid and cooperation of patriotic citizens, which I am happy to say was cheer fully extended, and whose active exertions, in conjunction with Quar termaster R. M. Hough, enabled us to move upon so short a notice." PRECAUTIONS AGAINST REBEL SYMPATHIZERS Within two days a force was got under way, accompa nied by four brass six-pounder guns and forty-six horses. As the southern part of the State was believed to be a hot bed of Rebel sympathizers, and there were rumors that a body of these had designs against the lUinois Central RaU road bridge over the Big Muddy, some sixty miles north of Cairo, Captain Hayden and his company of Chicago Zouaves were detached for its protection. As showing the state of mind of the community, it was reported to General Swift on his arrival at Cairo, that a force of not less than five hundred Rebel sympathizers was gathering at Carbondale, to move to the destruction 18 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO of the bridge; accordingly he detached another company with a brass cannon, to reinforce Captain Hayden. WORK or THE UNION DEFENCE COMMITTEE When it was imperative, in the early days of the strug gle, that something approaching military order be brought out of the civil chaos in which Chicago, like every com munity in the land, found itself, the people's purpose crys tallized into a form known as the "Union Defence Com mittee," a body composed of leaders in various walks of life. There were among its members high-pressure drivers hke James H. Bowen, R. M. Hough, C. G. Wicker, Thomas Hoyne, John C. Dore, Julian A. Rumsey; and these were fittingly balanced by the judicial minds of Judges Thomas Drummond, John M. Wilson, George Manierre, Mark Skinner, Van H. Higgins, and Grant Goodrich ; while the generous-hearted citizen class was represented in a general way by such varied and notable examples as Thomas B. Bryan, E. W. WiUard, L. P. Yoe, A. H. Burley, George Schneider, E. C. Earned, John Van Arman, and H. D. Colvin; with Governor Yates as chairman ex officio. It was through this administrative group that the first regi ments were placed in the field ; that civihans were organized into effective sub-committees; and that Chicago earned a reputation for "doing things" at a time when many things needed very much to be done. ILLINOIS' INABILITY TO EQUIP SIX REGIMENTS While it is outside the scope of these recollections to go into details of enlistment that can only be set forth ade quately in voluminous reports, it is yet important to a proper appreciation of Chicago's place in the drama of the war, that its position relative to the larger fiejds, first of the State, and then of the Nation, be briefly set forth. By Courtesy of the Chicago Historiccil Society THE UNION DEFENCE COMMITTEE, ORGANIZED IN 1861 (Through this Representative Body of Chicago Citizens the First Regiments were Placed in the Field, Civilians Organized, and Chicago's Reputation for "Doing Things" Established) PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR 19 On the fifteenth of April, 1861, there was a call for seventy-five thousand militia, of which the quota of Illinois was six regiments. But there were only some odds and ends of companies in the State, not enough to fill a third of the quota. General H. K. Swift, of Chicago, a weU-known banker, being a militia brigadier was called upon by Gov ernor Yates, as has been shown, to proceed immediately to Cairo with whatever force he could "commandeer." This he proceeded to do, and he arrived at that point with less than one thousand men, as follows : Men Chicago Light Artillery 125 Ottawa Light Artillery 86 Lockport Light Artillery 52 Plainfield Light Artillery 72 Captain Harding's Company 83 Chicago Zouaves, Companies A and B 172 Union Cadets (German Turners) 97 Lincoln Rifles, Captain Mihalotzky 66 Sandwich Company, Captain Carr 102 Drum Corps 17 872 But few of these had arms, and the stores of Chicago had been depleted to supply them with anything that re sembled a gun. As to the State, it had altogether this remarkable coUection of "shooting irons" in its arsenal at Springfield: 362 muskets altered from flintlocks, 125 Har per's Ferry and Deneger rifles, 297 horse pistols, and 133 musketoons — whatever deadly contrivances those may have been! As for the batteries, they were without any thing resembling shot, shell, or cannister, and so was the State arsenal. Accordingly, slugs were hurriedly pre pared, and some of these improvisations are said to have made great havoc in the ranks of the enemy at Donelson. 20 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO CAPTURE or GUNS The occupation of Cairo as a move in the war game was most important. The States of Missouri and Kentucky, the one adjoining on the south, the other on the west, were both in the hands of outspoken pro-Southern governors, who had flatly refused to answer to the caU for troops. At St. Louis there was an arsenal with muskets and ammuni tion, and it was known that steps were being taken to trans fer them to the Confederacy. No sooner had the junction of the Mississippi and the Ohio been taken possession of than information came that two steamboats had left St. Louis with guns and ammunition for the South. On ap proaching Cairo these were captured, and everything on board confiscated. At the same time Illinois secured 20,000 stand of arms with ammunition from the St. Louis arsenal. Thus a very serious danger point was passed. But it re mains to be told by what daring strategy this so desirable result was brought about. CAPTAIN stokes' RUSE In those days of unpreparedness many issues freighted with incalculable consequences were wholly dependent on individual initiative, coupled with swift resolute action; and a notable exploit, illustrating the Exigencies of the ap proximately local field of operations, was the "capture" of the St. Louis arsenal, by Captain James H. Stokes of Chicago. By dint of much urging Governor Yates had se cured an order from the War Department on the St. Louis Government arsenal for 20,000 muskets with ammunition; and now the question of moment was, how could the order be made good, with St. Louis virtually in the hands of the enemy? The situation appealed to Captain Stokes, then fortunately at Springfield, and he volunteered to deliver PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR 21 the goods. So dominant was the Rebel influence in the Missouri city at this time, that he deemed it expedient, in order to reconnoitre the stronghold and take preparatory measures, to avow himself in quarters inimical to the North, as a friend of the South. But once his plans were ma tured and he inside, the Captain presented a bold front, and left those in charge in no doubt as to his intention to carry the order into effect. The arsenal authorities, whUe themselves friendly to the Union cause, did not believe it could be done, as almost everything afloat thereabouts was controlled by Southern sympathizers. Probably three- fourths of the city's business was with the South, and the first step in a move to relieve the arsenal of its stores for the benefit of the North, would most likely precipitate action on the part of the friends of the South, who could depend on both the city and State authorities to back them. THE CAPTURE EFFECTED But the Captain had taken all that part of his hazard into account, and communicated with friends at Alton, some twenty miles up the river, asking them to send a steamer at night to the arsenal wharf, with men in charge who could be trusted, and had Union fighting blood in their veins. At midnight a makeshift craft, but with stout and wUUng hands on board, tied up to the wharf, and in a couple of hours it was loaded with 20,000 muskets, 110,000 cartridges, 500 new rifle carbines, 500 revolvers and a num ber of cannon, which left but a small remainder as possible loot for the enemy. If, as the result of an alarm after its departure, the steamer should be overtaken (it was at best a very slow affair) , it was agreed by those in charge, rather than have its precious cargo fall into the hands of the enemy, to sink the steamer in midstream, and seek a friend- 22 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO ly shore as best they might. Happily such an heroic course did not become necessary; and, once at the Alton wharf, many loyal hands were in readiness to transport the cargo to a waiting train. Thus it came about that the Illinois quotas of the first two calls for seventy-five thousand men were armed through the resolute action of a single Chicagoan. BEFORE BULL RUN, TOO MANY REGIMENTS OFFERED So many regiments were being offered to the Govern ment by Illinois, that on the sixteenth of May, just a month from the first call, the Secretary of War wrote to its energetic Governor that he must understand that Ilh- nois was entitled to only six regiments of mihtia for the three months' service, and six regiments of volunteers un der a second call for seventy-five thousand men to serve for a term of three years or during the war — and that it was "important to reduce rather than increase this number, and in no event to exceed it, and if more are already en- hsted, to reduce the number by discharge." In the hght of what followed, how hopelessly inadequate the Adminis tration's conception of what was before it! Then came Bull Run and the nation's awakening to an appaUing real ity. On the heels of that disaster. Governor Yates tele graphed that sixteen regiments and a battery above its quotas were ready for service, and he added : " I insist that you respond favorably to this tender." The next day there came a caU on the nation for 500,000 men! GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKES RECRUITING AND EQUIPPING Up to the third of December, 1861, the raising and equipping of troops were under the auspices of the different PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR 23 States. Thereafter the general Government took over the entire business of both recruiting and equipping. When this took place lUinois had put 43,000 men in the field, with a reserve of 17,000 in traming camps, and of these 15,000 were in excess of the State's quotas. Under the 500,000 call the Thirty-first Infantry went into the field under Colonel John A. Logan, and the Eleventh Cavalry under Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll. TEN NEW REGIMENTS ORGANIZED On the third of April, 1862, an order came from Wash ington to suspend recruiting; but on the twenty-fifth of May, less than two months later, came a hurry call from Secretary Stanton to "organize and forward immediately all the volunteer and militia force in your State"; for a Rebel army was advancing north, while McClellan was on the peninsula in front of Richmond, and the nation's cap ital was in imminent danger of capture. Inside of two weeks five regiments for three months' home duty were organized, thus reUeving older organizations from guard duty at Camp Douglas ; and in the same period five regi ments of three-year men were sent east, including the one imder command of General Mulligan, which, since its re organization after its heroic defence of Lexington, Mis souri, had been doing guard duty at Camp Douglas, where the Fort Donelson prisoners were confined. ILLINOIS ALWAYS TO THE FORE On the thirtieth of May the Government signified its wilUngness to accept any number of independent volunteer regiments, and on the sixth of July, 1862, came a caU for 300,000 to serve for three years or the war. Then, on the fifth of August foUowing, came a supplementary caU for 24 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO 300,000 militia to serve for nine months, unless sooner dis charged. In connection with this caU it was assumed by the Government that a draft would be necessary, and the order to enroll the militia in the several States — that is, to put on the roll all names in any event Uable to a draft — immediately followed. Under these two caUs the quota of Illinois was 52,296. It had, however, to its credit an ex cess of 16,978, reducing its aUotment to 35,318, and it was on this basis that recruiting proceeded. There was a great rush to volunteer, to avoid the disgrace of the draft; and in a few days the Adjutant-General made announcement that the draft was averted. But no sooner did Washington reahze that Illinois was free (whereas the draft was prac tically inevitable in every other State) , than it cooUy an nounced that the credit for the surplus of 16,978 was withdrawn, and that the total required was 52,296 men. This in the circimistances was a facer, for only thirteen days from the date of caU was allowed to fiU the entire quota; but it was accomphshed in eleven days, while in many an other State there was resort to the draft. Immediately on the heels of this drain came an order that aU the old regi ments must be filled up to their full number by September 1, or there would be a draft. The number assigned to lUi nois was 34,719. The militia was enroUed as a precaution ary measure, but again Lincoln's State averted a draft by enlistment. GOVERNOR YATES TELLS WHAT ILLINOIS HAS DONE Other calls were met in like manner, so that early in 1865, on retiring to give place to Richard J. Oglesby, its valiant War Governor could say: "Thus it will be seen that Illinois alone, of all the loyal States of the Union furnishes the proud record of not only having escaped the PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR 25 draft without receiving credit for her old regmients, but of starting under a new call [which had come on January 17, 1865, for 300,000 additional men] with her quota largely diminished by the credit to which she is entitled by thou sands of veterans already reenlisted." ILLINOIS PROTESTS AGAINST EXCESSIVE DEMANDS It seems to have been assumed in Washington, from the readiness of the men of Illinois to enlist, that the source of supply was unlimited ; and in consequence the War De partment became exceedingly careless, not to say generous, in its apportionment of the State's quota, especially in its last caU. On the one hand it ignored aU credits of excesses over assigned quotas, and on the other it increased the State's aUotment out of aU comparison with other States. At first this unfavorable discrimination received little at tention, but finally the "carelessness" of the Provost Mar shal's department became so flagrant, especially as regards Cook County, that a halt was called and a serious account ing demanded. On one occasion a delegation went to Washington to enter a protest against this unfairness ; but Secretary Stanton refused to interfere, on the plea that it would disarrange the entire allotment, and made a strong appeal to the committee, and through them to the patriot ism of Illinois, to let the unjust apportionment stand. A FEW ILLINOIS MEN DRAFTED AS A MATTER OF FORM While it cannot be said with a strict regard for the technical truth, that every part of the State of Illinois was free from draft, it can be said that no drafted man went into the field from lUinois. Owing to grievous ir regularities in assigning the State's quotas — and because 26 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO of the fact that the demand was not made on the State as a whole, but on manifold smaU subdivisions, many of whose assigned quotas were outrageously excessive — sev eral of these minor subdivisions were subjected to a nominal draft, and a few hundred men were assembled at Spring field, but only that enlisted men might take their places. In several instances, through blunders in the Provost Mar shal's office, more men were apportioned to a sub-district than the entire enrollment, and in more than one the as signment was in excess of the entire male population. EVIDENCE THAT THE DEMAND WAS UNFAIR In only one district in the State was a new enrollment ordered, and this, as a fair sample, shows how outrageously the State was served by the Provost Marshal assigned to it: Counties Enrollment (1864) New Enrollment (1865) St. Clair 8,959 4,539 Madison 8,598 4,449 Clinton 2,372 1,483 Washington 2,682 1,709 Randolph 3,301 '. . . 2,076 Monroe 3,509 726 29,421 14,982 To show further how exceedingly unfair was the quota assigned to lUinois under the final call, it is only neces sary to point out that Ohio, with a population of 2,400,000, was required to furnish only 26,000 men, while lUinois, with a population of only 1,700,000, was called upon for 35,541, subsequently reduced to 32,887 men. And this further fact was brought to the attention of the Govern ment, by Governor Oglesby: THE CHICAGO ZOUAVES AT DRILL (Col. Ellsworth Organized tliis Company before the War, under Title of United States Zouave Cadets. It was Disbanded in lS(i(). and Ellsworth was Elected Colonel of the New York Fire Zouaves) PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR 27 "Under the call of July 18, 1864, we all know that the draft was enforced against Iowa. That State was then behind in her quotas. Except in a few sub-districts (townships), the draft was not enforced in Illinois, for we, including all calls upon us, were only behind as a State, 13,400, with a surplus of 35,875 three-year men, to answer a call of 52,057 one-year men. Yet now, under this call for troops, Iowa is exempt from draft, has no quota upon her enrollment and popula tion, whilst Illinois has 32,887 required from her." And this further question received no satisfactory answer : "How is it that our quota under the 300,000 call, which is said to include our credit of 35,875 men, is more than 11 per cent of 300,000, when without any credit, under the call of 500,000 men it was only 10*/io per cent.'' Please explain this." On the close of the war 3,572 officers and 68,517 en listed men credited to Illinois were disbanded. Of this number more than 20,000 received their discharges in Chi cago amidst a succession of ovations. THE state's total ENLISTMENT The fact seems to have been, unless the figures of the State's Adjutant-General were compiled under some un accountable misapprehension — and they were never suc cessfully controverted, — that when Illinois was caUed upon for a final quota of 32,887 men, she was entitled to a credit of at least half that number. Nevertheless recruiting went forward to fill the entire quota demanded, and was within less than 5,000 of completion, when by order of the War Department all recruiting ceased. The State's proud total enlistment for the war was 231,488 men, a showing both per quota and enrollment far above that made by any other State. 28 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO The following shows the different calls and quotas as signed to Illinois : Quotas for Calls Illinois April 15, 1861 75,000 6,000 July 21, 1861 500,000 42,032 October 1, 1863 300,000 27,930 February 1, 1864 500,000 46,309 March 4, 1864 200,000 18,564 July 18, 1864 500,000 52,057 December 19, 1864 300,000 32,887 Total 225,779 Total enlistment roll 231,488 Excess of enlistment over quotas 5,709 The above figures show some striking variations in the proportions demanded. Thus while in 1861, in a call for 500,000, the State's proportion was 42,032, in 1864, under a similar call, it was raised to 52,057 — and the other caUs show similar disproportions against the State. ILLINOIS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WAR The foUowing is a list of Illinois organizations, as furnished for this record by the Adjutant- General's office in Springfield. In their way, the terms of service, from three months to three years, interspersed with 100-day and one-year men, illustrate the different stages of the war, its ups, downs, and sudden emergencies, as clearly as a de tailed description : 7th to 12th Infantry, 3 months. 132nd to 143d Infantry, 100 days. 7th to 66th Infantry, 3 years. 144th to 156th Infantry, 1 year. 67th to 71st Infantry, 3 months. 1st to 17th Cavalry, 3 years. 72d to ISlst Infantry, 3 years. 1st to 2nd Artillery, 3 years. 29th U. S. Infantry (Colored Troops). PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR 29 Besides the two artillery regiments noted, there were independent batteries, all for three years, as follows : Chicago MercantUe, Springfield Light Artillery, Coggs- weU's, Renwick's Elgin, Henshaw's, Bridges', Colvin's, Chapman's; and Campbell's three-months' battery. THE BOARD OF TRADE RAISES TROOPS In giving credit for zeal and efficient service to various classes and bodies of men in Chicago during the war, the part played by the Board of Trade should not be over looked. Indeed, it probably did more to further enhst- ments than any other body of citizens in proportion to its wealth and numbers; while in the matter of example it was always a shining light and heart'^ning leader. On an occasion when the calls for troops piled so rapidly one upon another, that before there was time to fill one quota another was knocking at the door, an extraordinary war meeting of the Board was called at the request of the following members: George Steel, William Sturges, E. Akin, M. C. Stearns, Ira Y. Munn, G. L. Scott, C. H. Walker, Jr., E. G. Wolcott, and Messrs. Fhnt and Thompson. The meeting was presided over by Colonel John L. Hancock, to my mind at this time the most masterful personality in the city; and through the work there begun a number of Board of Trade regiments were recruited and as quickly as possible put in the field. A FINAL "come ONE, COME ALL" RALLY In response to the last call, the men were rendezvoused at Camp Fry, in the precincts of Lake View, under the ef ficient supervision of Colonel Hancock. To expedite the work of volunteering, the services of prominent speakers from other parts of the country were enUsted, mass meet- 30 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO ings were held in different parts of the city, scores of re cruiting offices were opened (a despatch to The New York Herald gave fifty as the number) , and to keep the enthusi asm at concert pitch, the Lumbard war quartette was kept untiringly on the move. Chicago's contribution of men Chicago at the outbreak of the war had a population approximating 100,000. Her contribution of men to the war was in round numbers about 15,000 (Cook County's total being 22,436). When it is considered that the city's total vote in 1860 was only 18,747, which in 1862, under the drain of the war had fallen to 13,670, it can easily be seen what an important part the war played in the every day life of the people, and the affairs of the city. DISTINGUISHED ILLINOIS SOLDIERS Illinois was distinguished on the roll of the Union army by its Lieutenant-General Grant, nine full Major-Gener als, 53 Major- Generals by brevet, and 125 Brigadier-Gen erals. The fuU Major-Generals were: John A. Logan, John Pope, John M. Schofield, John M. Palmer, John A. McClernand, Richard J. Oglesby, Stephen A. Hurlbut, Benjamin M, Prentiss, and Giles A. Smith. In scanning the list of Illinois soldiers who exceptionally distinguished themselves, it is interesting to note the number of Smiths who rose to high honors, for besides the full Major- General, Giles A., there are among the 53 brevet major- generals no less than seven, whereas not one other surname is duplicated; while among the 125 brigadiers there are but two Smiths left behind in the race for the higher goal. The more distinguished Smiths are Arthur A., Franklin C, George W., Gustavus A., John C, John E., Robert F., COL. JOHN L. HANCOCK i'R \ HON. THOMAS B. BRYAN PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR ,'?1 and Robert W- Among the wags it used to be said that in the multiplicity of Smiths, and other similarities to add to the confusion, such as a John C. and a John E., a Rob ert F. and a Robert W., the glory achieved by each fell uniformly upon all; and, unwilling to go to the trouble of untanghng this wealth of laurels; Uncle Sam accepted the composite Smith as the type ; and, lest injustice should be done, gave to each the honors due the entire family. Aye, but there were fine soldiers among these Smiths ! SOME PARADOXES IN THE COURSE OF THE WAR The war was in many respects a succession of surprises and paradoxes. Over and over it was the unexpected that happened, as when the Abolitionist and the Copperhead changed places in their mental attitude toward the war; for there was all along much fault-finding with its conduct on the part of both, but for very different reasons. They also changed places in what might be called their physical relation to it: for the ingrained Copperhead was not un known to turn up suddenly in one of Uncle Sam's uni forms ; while a consuming patriotism and sympathy for the slave was by no means inconsistent with an unshakable de termination to guard the home. In speaking of the movements of the militia in the early days of the war, and the secrecy that was enjoined, lest Rebel sympathizers, by the destruction of bridges and oth erwise, should prevent the concentration of troops at Cairo, the reader could scarcely avoid the impression that "Dark est Egypt" was a hot-bed of secessionism; and such it was to the mind of the Governor when he wrote his instructions. In this same "Darkest Egypt," at the beginning of the war, according to reports then current, it was easier to raise volunteers for the Confederacy than for the Union; and 32 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO there, according to report, one who later became a distin guished Union general took steps in the early days to raise a company for the Rebels. Yet, but for this "Dark est Egypt," this seething den of Copperheadism, the proud honor of heading the roll of enlistment districts for the entire Union would have fallen to Chicago. As it is, it is to the Cairo district that the glory belongs of having furnished more troops to the cause of the Union per en rollment than any other! Who can explain this paradox? CHAPTER III THE WAR FACE AT HOME Chicago Cheers Many Passing Regiments — The Eighth Wis consin's War Eagle — "Old Abe's" Behavior in Battle — Is the Star of a Sanitary Fair — His Death — Camp Douglas as A Centre of Interest — First One of Many Recruiting Camps — Then a Rebel "Stronghold" — Also Shelters Paroled Union Prisoners — A Menace to the Timid — Its Environs a Resort for the Young — Frequent Changes in its Personnel — Compared with Andersonville — Many Escapes in its Early Days — A "Gambling" Episode — An Incident Illustrates THE Lack of Vigilance — Judge and Mrs. Morris — Two Al leged Conspiracies to Liberate the Prisoners and Destroy Chicago. ALL through the struggle there was scarcely a day, and never a week, that a regiment or a battery, or two or more of their kind, did not leave or arrive or pass through the city to or from the seats of war. The Wiscon sin and Minnesota contingents had almost perforce to make a temporary halt in the city; and whenever an Iowa regi ment was ordered to the East, or a Michigan regiment to the West, it was the same. And it was seldom, when there had been notice of such prospective advent, that these mi grants were not in some manner formally welcomed, hos pitably entertained, and enthusiastically cheered on their way by a populace that thronged the line of march. There was little that appealed superficially to the eye in these realistic illustrations of "Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching," but much that went straight to the heart. There was no blazonry about these frequent repetitions — none of the 33 34 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO pomposity, glitter, or finery that on occasion enables our militia to charge with envy the heart of the caUow youth or set the maidenly bosom in a flutter. No, there was none of this, but overmuch grime and unkemptness, especially in the instance of returning regiments — either when hon orably discharged or sent home on a well-earned recruiting furlough to put on new flesh. Some regiments by the havoc of war had been reduced to mere skeletons of the originals. In these circumstances, the bullet-torn battle- flags, zealously guarded by the surviving remnant, and borne proudly aloft, reflected a glory that extended for loyal eyes to the last tatter of their war-worn uniforms. THE EIGHTH WISCONSIN'S WAR EAGLE Of the many regiments of passage the Eighth Wiscon sin received most attention, both on leaving" for the field, in October, 1861, and on its return, in the FaU of 1865; and all on account of its war eagle, the most famous Uving example of our national emblem in the country's history. When, at the beginning of the war. Company C of this command was recruiting in the lumber district at Eau Claire, a Chippewa Indian captured an eagle only a few months old; and the "boys," as true sons of the Chippewa Valley, "chipped in" to the extent of two and a half dol lars and bought it. They built a perch for their prize, named him "Old Abe," swore him into the service, and elected James McGinnis to the honor of "eagle-bearer." From that time the company came to be known as the "Eau Claire Eagles," and the command as the "Wisconsin Eagle Regiment." Long before it was ready to start for the front, young "Old Abe's" fame had spread abroad; and when the regiment passed through Chicago on its way to the seat of war, the route of passage was densely lined "OLD ABE," THE EIGHTH WISCONSIN'S WAR EAGLE (Exhibited in Chicago at the Sanitary Fair of 1863) THE WAR FACE AT HOME 35 to give it a welcome, and never was bird more enthusias tically acclaimed. HOW "old ABE" MET THE ENEMY Thereafter one heard frequently of the President's alter ego and his behavior in battle. Accordingly, when two years later the first Sanitary Fair was organized, and its promoters were casting about for attractions, it oc curred to somebody to secure "Old Abe"; and as just then there was something of a lull at the front, the bird, along with his proud bearer, was in due form granted "leave of absence on special service," and so became the fair's top- liner. Photographs of him were sold by tens of thousands ; also numerous feathers; and some that were avowed to have been separated from him by Rebel bullets brought fabulous prices. It was an article of faith with the army that " Old Abe " bore a charmed life, — that the bullet that could kill him had not been cast, — and events went far to justify this belief; for though he was always well to the front in the twenty battles and sixty skirmishes with which the "Eagle Regiment" is credited, and while its flag was shot to tat ters, "Old Abe," though frequently "ruffled," never lost a drop of blood. The fiercer raged the battle, the higher would he rise on his lofty perch, the bolder flap his wings, and the louder send forth his screams of defiance. "old ABE's" BEHAVIOR DURING LEAVE OP ABSENCE When on exhibition at the fair he made it plain that he had but a poor opinion of his surroundings — that he missed the bugle call and the roar of battle. Then it hap pened one day that a noted war orator in attendance was called on for a speech. No sooner had he got well started 36 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO than "Old Abe" rose on his perch, flapped his wings, and evidently mistaking what he heard for the famihar, terror- inspiring "Rebel yell," screeched a wUd defiance. This is probably the only instance when an orator in very fact made the American eagle scream. It was also proof that what this particular specimen needed to show him off was noise; and thereafter^ in the absence of orators of the requisite calibre, whenever it was desired to get a rise out of his high-mightiness, the young people would gather about him and deliver what probably led to the present terror-inspiring college yell. It is, perhaps, needless to add that this idol of both old and young, on his return from the war as a full-fledged, laurel-crowned veteran, received an ovation such as eagle never had before; while the waves of applause that rose from thousands of throats at every point of vantage on the route through the city, were sufficiently in similitude of the roar of battle to keep the great war bird in a high state of demonstration. "old abe's" death and apotheosis In the subsequent piping times of peace "Old Abe" became a ward of the State of Wisconsin, with headquar ters at Madison; and there grim death, which had so often spared him when so many fell at his side, called him on the twenty-sixth of March, 1881, for a final "rise" to a higher eyrie. But it was to no ordinary foe that this battle-crowned King of the Air yielded his life — to no element not the equal of his own royal dominion. It was through fire in the State's capitol that the end came by suffocation. For tunately, not a feather of "Old Abe's" body was iniured; and by grace of the taxidermist, his outward sem- THE WAR FACE AT HOME 37 blance continued for nearly a quarter of a century to re ceive the homage of the rising generation of Badgerites. But the envious Fates had decreed that no slightest vestige of so historic an exemplar of our national emblem should remain visible to mortal eye ; and so, on February 27, 1904, when the capitol was again fire-stricken, there ascended from the memorial chamber of the Grand Army of the Re public — verily as incense to the God of Battles — Wis consin's proudest possession, to join its awaiting spirit in the halls of Valhalla! And as most fitting and loyal com pany, there were consumed with it the priceless battle- flags and other cherished memorials of the State's proud share in the greatest struggle for freedom in the world's history. What an irreparable loss! Chicago's camps for recruits and prisoners Few coimtries were fever so completely or so uninter ruptedly possessed by a war as this land during the four years of our great civil strife ; and except in those parts of the South where the actual struggle took place, perhaps no locality felt its impact more directly, or lived in the pres ence of its varied accompaniments more persistently, than Chicago. Not only was this city a leading recruiting cen tre 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 sub stantial barracks, that Chicago was elected to this doubtful distinction in the first instance; and its continuance was largely due to the fact that nearly aU the prisoners captured in large bodies by the Federal arms were taken in the 38 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO West ; whereas it was the Eastern Union armies that filled Andersonville and other Southern prison camps. CAMP DOUGLAS A MENACE TO THE TIMID, A RESORT FOR THE YOUNG 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 httle in de mand for permanent improvement, though considerable ground thereabout was covered by temporary ramshackles, occupied by dealers in provisions. But for young people it was as natural on a summer Sunday afternoon to take a horse car for Camp Douglas (and a most tedious ride it was) as it is in these days for the same kind to take a trol ley for Riverview; and in this they but followed a habit that had grown upon thousands when Camp Douglas was a great recruiting rendezvous, and there were fathers, brothers, or sweethearts to visit. Furthermore, for a con siderable period after the surrender of Harper's Ferry to the Confederates, something hke seven thousand paroled Union prisoners were added to the camp's population; and untU these were exchanged, the place was doubly besieged by the personaUy interested and the merely curious. 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 imagina tion in contact with something that resembled the seat of war. QUESTIONABLE AMUSEMENTS AT THE CAMP Because of these never-failing Sunday crowds, there had blossomed in the neighborhood other attractions in the guise of "summer gardens," with all the noxious aUure- By CiHirtesy of the Cliicago Historical Society CONFEDERATE PRISONERS AT CAMP DOUGLAS THE WAR PACE AT HOME 39 ments common to resorts of this character. And so much depends on the point of view, that had this form of diver sion been reported as associated with any Southern prison pen, the inflamed Northern imagination would readily have colored it into a "heartless" or even a "fiendish" gloat. CAMP DOUGLAS COMPARED WITH ANDERSONVILLE This writer had little trouble to secure admission to Camp Douglas, where he mingled freely with the "Johnny Rebs." 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. THE camp's UNSANITARY CONDITION However, as to the charge of imsatisfactory sanitary conditions imtU matters had come to a pretty sad pass, that is unfortunately only too weU foimded. When the camp was laid out as a mustering station, a thorough sani tary system was recommended, but because it was sup posed to be only a temporary arrangement, this was not carried out; consequently, it was in this respect far from 40 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO ideal even as a rendezvous foi- the Federal recruits. Then, when it is borne in mind that the Southern clay-eating "cracker" naturaUy associates suggestions of muck with comfort, in view of the Camp's overcrowded condition, serious consequences to the health of the occupants were inevitable. But this applies only to the first half of the prison's existence. Later it was placed in an admirable sanitary condition. FREQUENT CHANGES IN THE PERSONNEL OF THE CAMP Camp Douglas, first as a rendezvous for the early en listments, 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 trans formations, 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. One day So- and-so would be in command, and such-and-such contin gents would rendezvous there; and, later, this or another regimenti would be on guard, and this or that variety of Jefferson Davis's myrmidons would be its guests ; and lo ! in the twinkling of an eye, the entire personnel would be changed, and hardly a single familiar name or feature remain. The camp was located by order of Governor Yates, in September, 1861. Previous to this, the environs of the city had been dotted with camps, hurriedly improvised, and during their temporary existence these were known as "Camp Douglas" (south of the permanent enclosure), "Camp Song," "Camp Mulligan," "Camp Sigel," "Camp Dunne," "Camp Fremont," "Camp Ellsworth," "Camp Mather," "Camp Webb," etc. THE WAR FACE AT HOME 41 THE camp's location AND COMMANDERS The permanent Camp Douglas comprised about sixty acres, just outside the southern city limits, about the pres ent Thirty-fourth Street, and facing Cottage Grove Ave nue. Its first commander was Colonel Joseph H. Tucker ; the first troops to occupy it were Brackett's Ninth Ilhnois Cavalry; and inside of a month there were nearly 5,000 men in camp. In the early part of October, Colonel Mul- Ugan surrendered to General Price at Lexington, Mo.; and then this brave Irishman was placed in charge, whUe he and his paroled regiment, the Twenty-third Illinois, were awaiting a retiu-n to the field through an exchange. In a few months they were free to reenUst, and then Col onel Tucker resumed command. About this time the cap ture of Fort Donelson brought some 5,000 prisoners to the camp. ACCESS or PAROLED PRISONERS AFTER HARPER's FERRY As an offset in the game of war, there was a surrender of something hke an army corps of Union men at Harper's Ferry; and Colonel Cameron, whose regiment, the Scottish, was among the captured, was placed in charge. Not only his own command, but most of those captured in its com pany, were brought to Chicago to do garrison duty while awaiting exchange. There were thus gathered at the camp besides the Scotchmen, the Thirty-ninth, Ninety-third, One Hundred and Eleventh, One Hundred and Fifteenth, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth New York regiments, as weU as the men of a New York battery of heavy artUlery; the Thirty-ninth and Sixty-sixth Ohio, part of the Twelfth Illinois battery, and the Second Ver mont. There were now about as many Union troops as Rebel prisoners in virtual durance, and during this state 42 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO of congestion, the barracks occupied by the Federals were burned no less than three times; whether by accident or de sign was never definitely determined. After the Union forces had been exchanged, the camp was commanded in quick succession by General Ammen, Captain Phillips, Captain Turner, General Orme, Colonel Strong, General Sweet, Captain Shurley, and Captain Phettyplace. MANY ESCAPES IN ITS EARLY DAYS In the early days of the camp as a prison, there were a number of escapes, for only a fairly high board fence stood between the inmates and liberty. But, as one humorist re marked on his quick recapture, "it was a good deal easier to get out than to stay out." At one time several score made their escape, but hardly one got back to Dixie, for their tattered butternut jeans were a constant "give-away." If without funds, they were soon compelled to come from under cover; while in cases where friends had provided the "Johnnie Graybacks" with Yankee greenbacks, the temptation to enjoy themselves after a long abstinence so frequently overcame their caution, that a goodly number were returned by way of the poUce court. At first there were only moderate restrictions on "gifts from friends"; but when turkeys were found "fatted and stuffed" with revolvers, and homespuns were discovered fined with Uncle Sam's circulating medium, more rigid examinations followed. Where it was denied those seized with wanderlust to negotiate the fence or bribe their way out, they took to digging tunnels, and by this means quite a number managed to reach the outside. As it was nearly impossible to put a stop to these burrowings so long as the floors of the barracks were near the ground, and many of By Courtesy of tlie Chicago Historical Society COL. (LATER GEN.) BENJAMIN J. SWEET (Commander at Camp Douglas; Pension Agent after the War) THE WAR FACE AT HOME 43 the diggings but a few feet from the fence, the floors were in time raised six feet or more on piles, so that the patrols could always see what was going on underneath. Finally the fence was replaced by a heavy oak stockade twelve feet in height, surmounted by a railed platform, from which the patrolling sentinels could readily overlook every part of the enclosure. There were fewer escapes after that. EXCHANGES OF PRISONERS The prisoners kept coming and going. At first Uncle Sam refused to treat with the Rebel authorities at Rich mond in any way, as savoring of recognition; but in time exchanges were duly effected. Sometimes there would be as many as 10,000 or more, and later only some skeletons of regiments. Then a new contingent would arrive; and altogether the number imprisoned aggregated over 30,000. Among those to put in a forced appearance were the "Mor gan raiders" captured in the Fall of 1863, at Salem, Ohio. These numbered something like 5,000, many of them Ken- tuckians, and were by far the joUiest lot of the various con signments. When time hung heavily on their hands they improvised "shows," had mock trials for aU manner of of fences, and did quite a trade in jack-knife handiwork, with an eye to tobacco. A good deal of the labor involved in putting the barracks on piles was done by the prisoners, as was most of the regular work of the camp. A "gambler" AMONG THE PRISONERS But there was also a "serious" side to the diversions of the "Johnnies." General Sweet, who had an eye for things unnoticed by others, began to suspect that something sin ister was undermining the morals of his charges. There was about many a look of utter dejection, as if they had lost their all, and hfe was no longer worth living. He set 44 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO to work to find the cause, and discovered that a former New Orleans gambler had improvised a faro "lay-out." We in Chicago had indulged the conceit that almost all of that kidney who infested the lower Mississippi at the out break of the war had made their way to Randolph Street; but somehow this one must have been headed off. How ever, the fact remains that the confiding "crackers" were being "robbed" in a most heartless and expeditious man ner; and it was the "ruin" so plainly written on their faces that put the commander on the scent. Discovery was fol lowed by swift action. The "lair" was surrounded, every avenue of escape with ill-gotten booty was closely guarded, and in the official report of the Adjutant-General of lUi nois it is stated that no less than $150,000 was duly con fiscated. The "banker" made a most melting plea to be aUowed to retain his gains, but all his protestations went for nought. He said he had been reared in the balmy South, amid palms and orange groves; avowed that ex perience had taught him that Uncle Sam was none too free with his coal to shield sensitive souls Uke himself against the rigors of a Northern winter, and he had looked forward with glowing anticipations to the prospect of sup plementing the frugal dole of his captors with an accum ulation of fuel of his own. That this pampered Southron had a substantial grievance in having his prospect of "money to burn" so ruthlessly dashed, may well be ad mitted; for the high quaUty of heat potential in Confed erate currency has never been seriously called in question. Toward the close of the war, when it was only too evi dent that the cause of the South was hopeless, several hun dred prisoners joined Uncle Sam's navy: this branch being selected as obviating the possibility of coming face to face with their old comrades in arms. THE WAR FACE AT HOME 45 A CONSPIRACY TO LIBERATE THE PRISONERS Much has been written about the conspiracy to liberate the Confederate prisoners, with the object of harassing the rear of the Union armies. The exact truth about this attempt may never be known, for there were political ex igencies 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 Confeder ate authorities is highly improbable. What could such a horde, even if partially provided with arms, have accom phshed, a thousand miles or more from any helpful sup port? 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 for tunes of the war, and the consequences would have fallen in the end most heavily on the heads of those who had pro moted the offence. AN INCIDENT AS EVIDENCE OF LAX SURVEILLANCE That there were not wanting opportunities for hatch ing 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 as illus trating the lax surveillance, and the ease with which inter communication was maintained, I have permission to make use of the following incident. Mr. Henry E. Hamilton, one of Chicago's oldest and best known citizens, was distantly related to Buckner S. 46 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO Morris. In the course of a settlement of some family prop erty, he had occasion to seek the ex-mayor and ex- judge, then hving on Michigan Avenue, between Washington and Madison Streets. Mr. Hamilton was accompanied by a cousin, also interested in the property, whose home was in Milwaukee. This cousin was a major in the Union army, on leave, and in full uniform. The time was evening. Their ring brought an old darkey to the door, who, on see ing a uniformed officer, appeared to be frightened out of his wits, and, in answer to their query if the judge was at home, replied in an obvious panic that he would go and see. He was gone quite a while ; and, in the meantime, the visitors standing in the open door could not fail to note considerable commotion within. Then all was stUl, and they were led by way of the hall into the back parlor, where the darkey said the judge would be pleased to see them. The old gentleman appeared exceedingly perturbed, but managed somehow to give them the information they de sired. When they were about to depart, Mrs. Morris en tered the room from the hall. She greeted the visitors in high good humor, and remarked that she felt highly flat tered to meet so distinguished an officer. Then, in a spirit of mingled raiUery and bravado, she expressed a desire to make him acquainted with some gentlemen of his own call ing. With that, to the obvious consternation of her hus band, she pushed back the folding doors and laughingly revealed a group of men, whom she introduced as Confed erate officers from Camp Douglas, temporarily out on "French leave." The situation brought about by a reck less woman's caprice was an exceedingly trying one for all the men, and the one most concerned was probably the Federal major; for as soon as they had made their exit, he exclaimed to Mr. Hamilton: "My God, Henry! Un- HON. BUCKNER S. MORRIS (Chicago's Second Mayor) THE WAR FACE AT HOME 47 less I inform on these men and set about to have them arrested, I may be shot for this." Mr. Hamilton did his best to make light of the adventure, but at the same time advised his cousin to take an early train back to Milwaukee, which he did. JUDGE MORRIS AND HIS WIFE FRIENDLY TO THE PRISONERS Mrs. Morris had charge of the distribution of clothing sent to prisoners by their friends in the South. Through this service she became a frequent visitor at the camp, and naturally made many acquaintances among the inmates. She is spoken of as a woman of extraordinary charm, one whom it was difficult to resist; and it is possible that she had somewhat to do with assisting her friends to an oc casional "outing." It is said that the camp authorities sometimes permitted officers to visit their friends in the city under an honor pledge. But aside from this, it was pretty weU estabhshed that the guards found it conducive to their prosperity to close an eye occasionally. The judge was treasurer of the local "Sons of Lib erty," a secret organization whose ulterior purposes remain a moot question. That it was distinctly unfriendly to the war may weU be affirmed, but between such a state of feeling and overt acts of treason there is a considerable margin; and there is little trustworthy evidence that the organization ever contemplated giving substantial assist ance to the South. TWO ALLEGED CONSPIRACIES According to the record there were two conspiracies hatched in Canada to liberate the Rebel prisoners at Camp Douglas. It was in connection with the second that Judge Morris was arrested, tried, and found not guUty. The first 48 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO was at the time of the Democratic Convention in August, 1864. The reason for choosing this occasion, it is alleged, was that it afforded an exceUent opportunity, without ex citing suspicion, for gathering a force to cooperate with the prisoners to effect their escape. The vigilance of the camp authorities is supposed to have nipped this affair in the bud. No arrests were made. The next "conspiracy" was timed even more auspiciously: it was simultaneous with the presidential election; but whether formed by 'Copperheads or "Black Republicans" it would be hazard ous to decide. At all events, the reported danger led the authorities to strengthen the defensive force at the camp. Among the "conspirators" arrested were Colonel G. St. Leger Grenfell, Colonel Vincent Marmaduke, Colonel Ben Anderson, and Captains Castleman, CantrUl, and Raphael S. Semmes. Although these had all been active fighting men, accustomed to command (Colonel Grenfell having been at one time the raider Morgan's chief of staff) , it was eminently fitting to this whole business that they should consent to serve under one "Brigadier-General" Charles Walsh, of the " Sons of Liberty," in the ceUar of whose house in the southern part of the city many revolvers are alleged to have been found ; but through an oversight they were never put on exhibition. OBJECTS OF THE SECOND CONSPIRACY The objects of this "conspiracy" are reported by wit nesses at the trial in Cincinnati to have included the fol lowing choice examples of operations: "To attack Camp Douglas, release the prisoners, and with their aid seize the polls, allowing none but Copperheads to vote." Not con tent with this infringement on the inalienable rights of By C'ourtcsj- of tlic Cliicago Historical Society PLAT OF CAMP DOUGLAS THE WAR FACE AT HOME 49 American citizenship, "the baUot boxes were to be stuffed, so that the vote of the State might be declared for McClel lan." Then, and not until then, the city was to be "utterly sacked, burning every description of property, except what they could appropriate for their own use, and that of their Southern brethren; to lay the city waste [though, accord ing to programme, already destroyed by fire] and carry off its money and stores to Jefferson Davis's dominions." And the official report of General Sweet, the Commander at Camp Douglas, is scarcely less melodramatic. This highly esteemed soldier is credited with a most lively im agination, and, although a teetotaler, it is affirmed that he sometimes "saw things" in their absence. SENTENCES OF THE CONSPIRATORS Colonel GrenfeU was actually sentenced to death by the court. "Brigadier-General" Walsh was sentenced to three years, and Raphael S. Semmes to two years, in the penitentiary. But strange to say, none of these sentences went into effect: although, to save appearances. Colonel Grenfell was banished for a short time to the Dry Tortugas — by a climatic inversion Uncle Sam's war-time Siberia. Both "conspiracies" were alleged to have been plotted in Windsor, Canada, by Jacob Thompson, of Missis sippi, Secretary of the Interior under President Buchanan ; and he is reported to have been supplied with plenty of money to carry out his nefarious schemes. Considering the state of Jefferson Davis's exchequer, if Thompson real ly had "plenty of money," it must have been of the Con federate variety, quoted about that time at thirty cents a bushel. 60 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO HARDSHIPS INFLICTED ON JUDGE MORRIS While Judge Morris was awaiting trial in Cincinnati a daughter died at his Chicago home. Permission was given him to attend the funeral; and it was under a military escort that the grief -stricken father entered the room to look for the last time on the face of his beloved child. That great injustice was done to Judge Morris in sub jecting him to a trial under charges implying all manner of moral turpitude, a trial which through the costhness of defence in a far-off city brought about his financial ruin, became in time the settled public opinion, and was can didly voiced by Captain Shurley, a successor to General Sweet as Commandant of Camp Douglas, in these words : "History should do justice to Judge Buckner S. Morris. He was entirely innocent." It is not pleasant to reflect that Mrs. Morris, so loyal to a misguided section of her country, should not have shown more of the same spirit to her aged husband in the days of his adversity. She was a Kentucky Blackburn, a sister of both the Senator and that Dr. Luke Blackburn who during the war was accused — without warrant, let us trust — of a desire to poison Northern wells, and who was subsequently one of Kentucky's Governors. It is suf ficient to say that during the judge's later years, so full of heart-breaking memories, Mrs. Morris made her home -with her brothers. CHAPTER IV SUPPRESSION OF THE "TIMES" General Burnside Suppresses the Official Organ of the City — Its Editor far from Displeased — Danger of a Local Rebel lion — The "Tribune" Threatened with Destruction — Col onel Jennison in Charge of its Defences — Mass Meetings FOR and against THE OrdER JuDGE DrUMMOND FoRBIDS Further Action by the Military — Appeal to the President — The Order Rescinded. ONE of the most exciting events in the annals of Chi cago was the suppression of the Times, on June 2, 1863, by military edict. General Ambrose E. Burn- side, chiefly distinguished for a magnificent pair of side- whiskers, had command of the department which included Chicago, with headquarters at Cincinnati; and from thence, on June 1, 1863, there issued a mandate, excluding the New York World from the mails within his military juris diction; and an order to General Sweet, Commander at Camp Douglas, to take charge of the Times office and prevent any further issues of that notorious Copperhead sheet. THE EDITOR NOT DISPLEASED To caU this order a blunder is the mildest characteriza tion that can be applied to it. The unthinking mass of Re publicans hailed it with delight, and gave it stout support. But the more sober-minded leaders of the party fuUy ap preciated its menace not only to civil liberty, but to law and order. Perhaps the one personally least concerned in this crisis was the owner and editor of the Times, Wilbur F. Storey. It required no prophet to predict that the order 61 62 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO would not stand; and in the meantime it gave the paper a country-wide notoriety, while the act served only to give color to the often reiterated charge (that for which the pa per was suppressed), namely, that "the war, as waged by military satraps of the administration, was a subversion of the Constitution and the people's rights under the law." To the Copperhead leaders the order came as a god send. Through an irresponsible military zealot they had at one bound been fixed in the saddle, booted and spurred, with the hated "abolition" enemy divided, distracted, and on the run. Let it be remembered that Chicago was in fact a Democratic city; that it had a Democratic Mayor and Council; and that the Times was the municipahty's of ficial organ. DANGER OF REBELLION The order was in effect a declaration ot martial law. Only by a military force could it be carried out and main tained, for the entire civil machinery, including the United States Court, was opposed to it. Another step, and the city, the State, and wide areas beyond might be in the throes of a civil war within a civil war. As soon as the news of what was to happen spread among the people, the strain between the opposing sides became threateningly tense, and with "Copperheadism" most resolutely to the fore ; while on every side one heard the threat, which grew with each hour, "If the Times is not allowed to publish, there will be no Tribune." As soon as the news of the intended suppression reached the Times office, every department received a rush order, and the press (this was before the days of stereo typing, and the dupUcation of "forms") was set in motion at the earliest possible hour; whUe the issue as fast as printed was bundled out of the bmlding into safe quarters SUPPRESSION OF THE "TIMES" 63 for distribution. A horseman was sent to Camp Douglas, with orders to speed to the office as soon as a detachment of the garrison was seen to leave the camp. He arrived shortly after two o'clock with the report that the " Lincoln hirelings" had started; and within an hour a file of soldiers broke into the office and formally took possession. When everything had been brought to a standstill, and the place put in charge of a care-taker, the troops departed; but word was left that at the first sign of activity they would return. They did return shortly, on an unfounded report that an attempt was being made to issue a supplementary edition. A MASS MEETING All through the day great crowds were gathered about the Randolph Street entrance of the publication office ; and by evening the thoroughfare from State Street to Dear born Street was a solid pack of humanity. Meantime the city had been flooded with handbills calling upon the people to resent this military interference with the freedom of the press, and making announcement that a mass meet ing in protest of the order would be held on the north side of the Court House Square in the evening. When the time for this meeting came, and a thousand oft-repeated cries of "Storey," "Storey," had met with no response, the crowd spontaneously moved two blocks west to the Square, where by eight o'clock an estimated crowd of twenty thousand people was gathered, which was to the full the city's total voting population. The situation certainly called for serious, deliberate, and concerted action on the part of all law-and-order- loving citizens. While the rank and file of the opposing currents stood face to face in sullen, menacing opposition, the conservative leaders of both sides were in council to 64 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO avert threatening trouble. At a mob demonstration the Copperhead faction would undoubtedly have had a numer ical advantage, besides having the partisan police on its side. But this was at least partly offset by the fact that the militia had been placed under arms, and could be depended on to side with the war party; and, moreover, in any protracted struggle, there was the Camp Douglas garrison to f aU back upon, though any considerable with drawal from that Rebel stronghold might in the circum stances have been a hazardous adventure. SPEAKERS ADVISE PRUDENCE The greatest concern was lest the meeting fall into the hands of irresponsible Copperhead demagogues who might inflame it to action. A favorite speaker with the Demo cratic masses was E. W. McComas, an ex-Lieutenant- Governor of Virginia, and editor of the Times under a former regime. He called the meeting to order, and de voted his introductory remarks to a counsel of prudence. Then he introduced Samuel W. Fuller as chairman, who spoke, at considerable length in the same strain. After Fuller came G^eneral Singleton, a fiery Democratic war horse from the central part of the State, under whose lashings of the administration the meeting was brought close to the danger line. He was followed by E. G. Asay, another Democrat, in a more conciliatory vein. Then came Wirt Dexter, a prominent Republican lawyer, with the message that steps were being taken by leading men from both sides to have the Burnside order rescinded. He voiced in no uncertain tones the opposition of the con servative element of his party to this military interference with the freedom of the press, and assured the crowd that the measures to be taken would surely result in the Presi- THE COURT HOUSE IN 18G0 (Nucleus of Business Centre, Political Rallying Plac Highest Point of Observation) SUPPRESSION OF THE "TIMES" 55 dent's rescinding the order. This speech had an exceUent effect on the assemblage, and the danger point was passed. ANOTHER MEETING ASKS THE RESCINDING OF THE ORDER While the mass meeting was in progress outside, another was taking place in one of the court rooms. Judge Van H. Higgms was at this time a stockholder in the Tribune, and its property was in danger. Largely through his efforts prominent men from both sides had been brought together, and Mayor Sherman was called to the chair. The meeting was addressed among others by Judge Van H. Higgins, Senator Lyman Trumbull, Congressman I. N. Arnold, and Wirt Dexter for the Re publicans; and by WiUiam B. Ogden, S. S. Hayes, A. W. Arrington, and M. F. Tuley for the Democrats. On motion of William B. Ogden, Chicago's first Mayor, the foUowing preamble and resolution were adopted : "Whereas, In the opinion of this meeting of citizens of all parties, the peace of this city and State, if not also the general welfare of the country, are likely to be promoted by the suspension or rescinding of the recent order of General Burnside for the suppression of The Chi cago Times: therefore "Resolved, That upon the ground of expediency alone, such of our citizens as concur in this opinion, without regard to party, are hereby recommended to unite in a petition to the President, respectfully asking the suspension or rescinding of the order." When one contrasts this negative and colorless declara tion with any word pro or con that might have been sent to the President as expressive of the sentiments of the passion-blown crowd outside, one feels instinctively that all the elements that entered into the problem before the meeting of leaders were weighed with the utmost care, and the equation reduced to its dynamic minimum. 66 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO THE RESOLUTIONS FORWARDED TO THE PRESIDENT On motion Messrs. Wilham B. Ogden, Van H. Hig gins, A. C. Coventry, Hugh T. Dickey and C. Beckwith were appointed a committee to promote the circulation of the petition among the people. The resolutions were at once forwarded to the President, with an additional tele gram signed jointly by Senator Trumbull and Congress man Arnold, praying him to give the voice of the meeting immediate and serious consideration. JUDGE DRUMMOND FORBIDS FURTHER ACTION BY THE MILITARY And still further action was taken to restore the bal ance between the civil and military powers so rudely dis turbed. The courts were appealed to, and shortly after midnight Judge Henry Drummond of the United States Court, issued a writ directing the mUitary authorities to take no further steps to carry into effect the Burnside order. No man stood higher in the community than Judge Drummond. In issuing the order his honor spoke these pregnant words: "I may be pardoned for saying that, personally and officially, I desire to give every aid and assistance in my power to the Government and to the administration in restoring the Union. But I have always wished to treat the Government as a Government of law and a Govern ment of the Constitution, and not as a Government of mere physical force. I personally have contended, and shall always contend, for the right of free discussion, and the right of commenting under the law, and under the Constitution, upon the acts of officers of the Govern ment." COLONEL JENNISON PROTECTS THE " TRIBUNE" OFFICE How serious the menace to the Tribune was regarded may be judged from the fact that the correspondent of the SUPPRESSION OP THE "TIMES" 57 New York Herald closed his despatch for the night, "At this hour the Tribune still stands." None were more alive to the danger threatening their property than the owners of this resolute war paper. According to reports the old Clark Street rookery opposite the Sherman House, and within sound of the clamor of the great assemblage, had been transformed into an arsenal, with Colonel Jen nison, of "Jayhawking" notoriety, in command. This whilom lieutenant of "Ossawattamie" Brown, during the trying "Bloody Kansas" days, was endowed by the mass of Republicans with an almost superhuman prowess; and at the same time was a veritable red rag to the Copperhead bull. He was togged in quite the present cowboy fashion ; and whenever seen on the street was followed by a crowd of gaping admirers. Armed men, according to rumor, had been quietly smuggled to the lofts of various build ings about the Tribune; and, in case the journalistic stronghold was attacked, on a word from this leader they would strew Clark Street with Copperhead corpses. These reports, however small their foundation, had no doubt a salutary effect on the more timid. That Colonel Jennison was en rapport with the deni zens of a number of upper floors in the neighborhood, there is no manner of doubt. There were human wild beasts to subdue in that vicinage ; and, as a hunter who could track the "tiger" to his lair, the Colonel had few equals. A MEETING IN SUPPORT OF SUPPRESSION The Democrats having had their inning, there was a gathering in force of Repubhcans on the following even ing, their obvious object being to call to account those members of the party who had memorialized the President to imdo the work of Burnside. When Senator Trumbull 68 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO imdertook to address the meeting he found the crowd in a very ugly mood. He was frequently interrupted, again and again charged with consorting with "traitors," with aiding and abetting the enemy, whUe over and over again there were cries, "We want Jennison," "Jennison is the man for us." On the same evening a meeting, at which practically all the newspapers of the city were represented, was held in New York, with Horace Greeley in the chair, and the Burnside order was denounced in no uncertain terms. On the following day, June 4, General Burnside an nounced that the President had rescinded both the World and Times military order. The result was that the circu lation of the Times was largely increased. CHAPTER V POLITICAL STRIFE Chicago's Vote as well as that of the State Opposed to the W^AR — The Legislature Prorogued to Prevent the Passage OF Peace Resolutions — Ultra Abolitionists and Copper heads — Similarity op Salient Characteristics — Deacon Carpenter and Dr. N. S. Davis as Types of Opposed Leaders — Republicans more Apologetic than Democrats for their Ex tremists — Unpopularity of So-Called "Nigger" Churches — Various Shades of Anti-War and Disunion Sentiment — The Author's Opportunities for Forming Opinions — The Psy chology op the Copperhead. IT was by weight of character rather than of numbers that Chicago was able during much of the four years of the war to present a bold, if not always a fear-inspiring front to the enemy ; for there were times when the numer ical balance was distinctly against such an attitude. In the Spring of 1860, when there was little thought of war, out of a total vote of 18,747, John Wentworth, Republi can, defeated Walter S. Gurnee, Democrat, by a majority of 1,267. In the following spring, at the very height of the Fort Sumter excitement, out of a total vote of 14,677, Julian S. Rumsey, Republican, defeated Thomas B. Bryan, Democrat, by a majority of 1,463. Then, in 1862, under the influence of the war, out of a total vote of 13,670, Francis C. Sherman, Democrat, defeated Charles N. Holden, Republican, by a majority of 1,188; and again in 1863, out of a total vote of 20,346 (a remarkable in crease in the aggregate vote), Francis C. Sherman, Demo crat, defeated so formidable a rival as Thomas B. Bryan, heading a Union ticket, by a majority of 588 — whereas 69 60 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO two years later (the election having in the meantime been changed from annual to biennial), with the final victory of the Union arms assured, out of a total vote of 16,505, John B. Rice, Republican, defeated Francis C. Sherman, the perennial Democratic candidate, by a majority of 5,649. THE WHOLE STATE OPPOSED TO THE WAR When to the above showing it is added that in the most disastrous period of the war the whole State showed an implied opposition to the war, by electing what was stigmatized as a Copperhead Legislature, and that this not only elected a United State Senator distinctly opposed to the war, but was prorogued by Richard Yates, the resolute War Governor, on a technicahty, to prevent it from memorializing Congress to call a "Peace Conven tion" — which in the circumstances was equivalent to an avowal of sympathy with disunion, — the stress during 1862, 1863, and the greater part of 1864, under almost uninterrupted defeats in the eastern field of operations, can be measurably realized. FRANCIS c. Sherman's wavering character Francis C. Sherman, a rather negative character, at the beginning of the war was an avowed War Democrat, and his son, Francis T., a very resolute character, led a regi ment into the field, and returned as General Sherman. As time went on, the elder became less outspoken for the war; and the fact that he permitted himself to head a party dominated by its peace-at-any-price element, made his position, to say the least, an equivocal one. In this, however, he only reflected the average of his party: which through loyalty to a name, and dislike of its opponents, permitted a determined minority to place it in a position POLITICAL STRIFE 61 pregnant with disaster to the cause of the Union. And so, as one discouraging factor is added to another, the wonder grows how the good fight was fought to a tri umphant end. EFFECT OF THE FIRING ON FORT SUMTER Whoever studies the scant records that escaped the fire, cannot fail to be surprised at the many names promi nently associated with the first uprising for the Union, which, by the Summer of 1862, had come to be classed among the disaffected. Many of this number, and especi- aUy those of Southern birth, took a leading part in the early demonstra,tions for the Union, in the evident hope of breaking the force of the impact between the contending parties, and, for a time, met with some success in tempering the resolutions adopted at Union meetings. But when Sumter was fired on, all talk of concessions to or compro mise with the secession spirit came at once to an end, and only the tocsins of war could get a hearing. Then, when in the preparatory steps for the defence of the Union, com mittees were appointed, it no doubt happened that names were included whose bearers not only rendered no active service, but the rather, as the struggle went on, either hedged themselves about with constitutional objections to the war, or assumed an attitude that, by those whose hearts and souls were bound up with the cause of the North, was held to give substantial "aid and comfort" to the enemy. CONSERVATIVE ATTITUDE OF MANY REPUBLICANS It is in the light of the strong reaction, especiaUy among the Irish on account of the negro, that the conserv ative, nay, apologetic, attitude of a considerable element in the Republican party must be sought. With the solid 62 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO South in rebeUion, it would not do to sohdify needlessly the Northern .discontent; and hence the moral issue in volved with the Emancipation Proclamation, now ever held in such a strong light, was rarely brought to the fore, except by the old-line Abolitionists, who, on occasion, stood hardly higher in favor with the mass of Republicans than the detested Copperheads. AGGRESSIVENESS OF THE ABOLITIONISTS It was far more through a bold front and the invin cible logic of events, than by force of numbers, that the Abolitionist became a determining factor in the issue of the war. He was as often a malcontent as a supporter of the administration. It was ever too slow for him, too much given to looking on all sides 'of the questions pre sented for solution. For the Abolitionist there was ever and always but one side. And even when the slave had been freed, so far as a presidential proclamation could effect his freedom, there was no end to the fault-finding by the more aggressive wing of the abolition party, which, until the close of the war, and the death of Lincoln, fre quently failed to fuse with the Republican party. MOST REPUBLICANS NOT ABOLITIONISTS "While it would not be true to say that the bulk of the Republican party did not endorse the Emancipation Proclamation, it yet remains to say that in pubhc a ma jority of its members seldom went beyond standing for it as a war measure. They accepted the fact, and on the whole, gladly; but their anti-slavery sentiments would never have moved them to urge the measure insistently, except at most as a help in crushing the Rebellion. No, POLITICAL STRIFE 63 those who were Abolitionists in principle, and by word and deed bore testimony to their faith, were neither numerous nor highly esteemed of the community in general ; and the few churches from whose pulpits the sinfulness of slavery was proclaimed, were often as much out of favor with Republicans as with Democrats. UNPOPULARITY OF ABOLITION CHURCHES In every considerable town in the North there was generally one "nigger church," — that is, one pulpit from which slavery was in some degree proclaimed a sin; but it was seldom a leading one in any community or denom ination. And a church that would be "nigger" in one place, in another might well be held quite innocent of any covert designs against the "peculiar institution": it was merely that a "nigger church" was a necessity to the suspicious pro-slavery mind; and churches often were caUed "nigger" on the merest rumor that the minister was not altogether sound on the main question. The writer, prior to coming to Chicago, spent the first year of the war in Galena, then a city of about twelve thousand inhabitants. From that city came the General of the Army, U. S. Grant, four Major-Generals, to wit, John A. Rawhns, John E. Smith, Jasper A. Maltby, and A. L. Chetlain, with lesser mUitary lights in due propor tion; its Congressman, E. B. Washburne, was the Repub lican leader of the nation's House of Representatives; and in this burg, so distinguished in the annals of the war for freedom, a Congregational minister (one of the noblest men and most eloquent preachers) was excluded from aU regular pulpits, and relegated to a third-rate haU, because he dared to avow himself an Abolitionist. 64 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO VARIOUS DEGREES OF ABOLITIONISM Before the war, and in the early days of the struggle, abolitionism was of many degrees. To many Democrats all Republicans were indiscriminately "black Abohtion- ists"; by Republicans themselves many shades were dis tinguished, and the darkest variety was usuaUy excluded both from party councUs and the feast where "loaves and fishes" were served; whUe among those who frankly avowed themselves Abohtionists, only those were recog nized as of the true faith who were in some sort connected with the "Underground Ra;ilroad," and could be depended upon to aid and abet any hazardous rescue work. The writer has been at some pains to hst those Chi cagoans who, in the trying days, were not only willing to stand up and be counted, but belonged to the inner or esoteric group, and the following make up the total he has been able to distinguish: Zabina Eastman, Philo Car penter, Dr. C. V. Dyer, Allan Pinkerton, L. C. P. Freer, James H. Collins (died before the war), Calvin DeWolf, the Rev. L. F. Bascomb, S. D. Childs, H. L. Fulton, N. Rossiter, and J. B. Bradwell. NORTHERN OPPONENTS OF THE WAR When beginning this war-time sketch, the writer had it in mind to go into some details regarding a goodly number of well-known Chicagoans, who in those days of frenzied partisanship and bitter, biting speech, were frankly denounced by their "nigger-loving," "black abo lition," "Lincoln hirehng" fellow-citizens as "Rebels," "venomous Copperheads," or "miserable dough-faces." Some of these men in later years rose to very high places on the bench, in political hfe, and in affairs generaUy. Much has been forgiven, and it is surely best that more POLITICAL STRIFE 65 be forgotten, especially where the hostility was imphed rather than brazenly expressed. DR. N. S. DAVIS One opponent of the war I feel moved to mention, how ever, and that chiefly because of an element of the p.er- sonaUy picturesque. WhUe the war was waging, intel lectual or moral scruples to its prosecution were to the deeply stirred loyal masses simply inconceivable; and, when expressed, were blimtly stigmatized as the merest subterfuges to conceal ulterior, sinister motives. Yet I am flrmly persuaded that that immovable Jacksonian Democrat (and a very Old Hickory, too, in appearance), dear old Dr. N. S. Davis, opposed the war on grounds of constitutional construction and none other: for, being a York State man, he had no controlling Southern family affiliations. The good doctor lived long enough to be well remembered by a later generation; and few in Chicago have died in greater honor. But in his virUe manhood he was a chronic storm centre; and it was only because he was so much besides a Copperhead that his so fre quently ill-timed "constitutional" fulminations met with toleration. The doctor was one of those crystallized natures who find it impossible to change, especiaUy imder any form of menace or compulsion ; and this immutability applied even to his apparel, particularly to that relic of the Websterian age, the swallow-tail. In general practice he was easily the leading physician of the city, and he gave much of his time to the poor. Behind a face set in those war days to the rigidity of adamant, there yet breathed one of the kindliest of natures, with open, helpful hands. Yes, the doctor was essentially what is commonly called a "char- 66 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO acter," bristling with all manner of points. There was not an ounce of spare flesh on his body; and in manner as well as in feature, he typified the economy of incisiveness. In the eyes of his patriotic neighbors he was a gross political misfit. By all character signs, considering his York State nativity, he should have been an uncompro mising, dyed-in-the-wool Abolitionist ; for not only was he a temperance advocate of the strictest sect, but in many other respects had that itching for reforming things gen erally so characteristic of his ultra-political opponents, AU this made it difficult to account for him; it put him distinctly in a class by himself; and it was above all others the people who naturally were most in accord with him in his various innocuous "fads" who felt most outraged, because it was one of their very own peculiar kind who so provoked their loyal wrath. DEACON CARPENTER Deacon Philo Carpenter, of the same grim, unyielding stock, an uncompromising Abohtionist, stood most dis tinctly at the opposite pole to Dr. Davis. When these two came to close quarters, as happened not infrequently, — more especiaUy during the first year or two of the war, — however fiercely the battle might be raging in Dixie, atten tion was instantly diverted to the passage-at-arms between these exemplars of concentrated inexpugnability. In the records of the early days of the war the name of Dr. Davis occurs frequently on committees, and he was by an act of the Legislature made chairman of a State medical board to pass upon applicants for positions as surgeons for the State organization; and later he accepted the position of surgeon to the Eighteenth Regiment. But from this he soon resigned, probably for the reason that w-'^^p,' DR. N. S. DAVIS DEACON PHILO CARPENTER POLITICAL STRIFE 67 he was no longer in sympathy with the war as conducted by the administration. HE DECLARES HIS ATTITUDE Dr. Davis stood so high with his party that he was chosen one of the delegates-at-large to what was generally stigmatized as the "Copperhead National Convention," of 1864. His general attitude is well summed up in the fol lowing extract from an address delivered by him during the Convention week, before the "Invincible Club," and reported in the Times: "I deny that slavery has caused the war, but attribute it to the pride, self -righteousness, and Pharisaism of the Christian Churches of the North, which have corrupted the pure religion of the heart, and substituted for it a bigoted fanaticism, that stands ready to wrap itself in the mantle of self -righteousness, and arrogantly exclaim to all who do not obey its dictates, 'I am holier than thou.' . . . From the com mencement of this conflict, I have, for one, entirely eschewed the word loyal as having no place in the vocabulary of a Republican people. There is one sense, and one only, in which the word loyal has any legi timate place whatever among a Republican people. It is the last and most insignificant definition that is given to it by that old lexicogra pher, Noah Webster, which is 'obedience to law; faithfulness to law.' In that meaning of the term it may be used by a Republican people. But if you attach that meaning to the term, who are the loyal party? Who are those who have been faithful to the Constitution and to the laws of the Republic? Who and what party, in spirit, in temper, and in acts, have trampled not only the law of the land, but the Constitu tion itself, under their feet ? WTio are the men that have thus trampled law and the Constitution imder their feet? Are they in the Demo cratic party? Are they in the great conservative portion of the peo ple?" DEACON carpenter's ACTS AS AN ABOLITIONIST I have spoken of Deacon Philo Carpenter as standing most conspicuously at the opposite pole to Dr. Davis. 68 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO Something more should be said of this veritable chip from Plymouth Rock. The Deacon (he was deacon emeritus in his last years) came to Chicago in 1832, and was largely instrumental in organizing the First Presbyterian Church. Later he moved to the West Side, and there joined the Third Church. As an ingrained Abohtionist he attended the Anti-Slavery Convention in Cincinnati in 1850, and was a stanch supporter of The Alton Observer, whose bold stand for the slave cost the editor, Love joy, his life. Ac cordingly, when, in 1851, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church decided to keep in fellowship with slave-holders, he led a protest; and when in consequence, by order of presbytery, their names were read out in church, he arose and annoimced that on the following Sab bath public worship would be held in the adjoining chapel, built by himself, and to which he still held title. At this time, under the lead of Henry Ward Beecher and others of his kind, the Congregational body was regarded as most aggressively anti-slavery; and so the good Deacon organ ized the First Congregational Church, from which one hun dred and forty-one churches have since sprimg. It soon became known as the "nigger church," and in the circum stances only the stanchest kind of anti-slavery people had the courage to cast their lot with it. Meantime the Deacon had organized an "underground railroad," by means of which something like two hundred slaves fornid their way to freedom; and in many other ways he left his fellow- citizens in no doubt as to his position in the country's great moral crisis.* I shall speak in another place of the work of the church and its distinguished pastor, in the days of the war, * In 1846 and again in 1847 Deacon Carpenter ran for Mayor on a straight Abolition ticket against Democratic and Whig candidates, and received 229 and 238 votes, out of 1,997 and 2,739 respectively. POLITICAL STRIFE 69 AMIABILITY OF DAVIS AND CARPENTER Fifty and more years ago the state of the body politic, as well as the primitive form of the social organization, evolved men of the stamp of Dr. Davis and Deacon Carpenter to accepted leadership; and in a mental retro spect they dominate the mass as from commanding pedestals. Physically all gristle and bone; intellectually alert, though narrow; in matters of principle grimly un yielding — they were yet at heart so kindly that children often declared them "just like one of us." These char acteristics were frequently conspicuous among circuit riders; they also distinguished judges on the bench; but, above all, marked on the one hand the uncompromising Abolitionist, and on the other, the inflexible Copperhead. The rapidity with which, under democratic equality of opportunities, and in a transforming climate, our enormous polyglot alien additions are modified to an ap proximately uniform American physical standard, is a matter of general observation ; and there is little doubt that certain native types, once so common as to represent na tional characteristics, are disappearing in what may be caUed nature's efforts to modify all exceptional expressions to a national composite. Certain it is that the type of men of which the above-mentioned were conspicuous examples is rapidly disappearing. This type was evolved probably by the efforts of man to overcome with rather inadequate means the stubborn resistance of primeval nature. LEADERS OF OPPOSITE PARTIES NEARLY EQUAL IN FORCE In his reportorial days the writer came frequently in contact with those who were the natural leaders in the storm and stress of the slavery agitation period, and who subsequently also stood in the forefront of the conflict of 70 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO passions aroused by the war. Again, in these later years, he has had fair opportunity to come in touch with a class of men who have achieved leadership in shaping and con- troUing the country's stupendous economic forces; and while he would hold the dynamic total of these so different Titans to be about equal, their respective modes of expres sion (the one all centripetal, the other as distinctly cen trifugal) are so opposed, that a comparison, except in terms of mass or energy, is out of the question. The John Browns looked neither to the right nor the left — all was concentrated on the goal; while the mind that creates and controls a modern octopus needs all the eyes of Argus as well as the hundred hands of Briareus. GREAT men's INFLUENCE ON HISTORY So much has happened during the past half -century, that one may well ask whether men create crises or crises produce men: whether all is chance, or there is an outwork ing through a higher power. Man is at best a short-sighted mortal. Except through an enormous retrospect, it is ¦given to few to discern victory in defeat — moral regen eration through physical cataclysm. Had Bull Run been a decisive triumph for the North, the Confederacy might have collapsed then and there; and one may well wonder what sort of a Union there would now be. Again, had McClellan stood less in fear of Quaker guns, who can tell what might have happened? And Lincoln the martyr is a far more potent influence for the humanities than a Lincoln going to his grave in senile decrepitude. WHAT CONSTITUTES A GREAT MAN James Bryce, the philosophic author of "The American Commonwealth," in a recent talk fior publication con- POLITICAL STRIFE 71 travened the idea frequently advanced that great men and great crises come together, by contending that such a remarkable opportunity for exploitation of intellectual power as the French Revolution, failed to produce a single man of the first rank. In view of this dictum, one may well ask how human greatness is to be defined. For ex ample : is only that great which is organically constructive, or in the sphere of mind creative ? Again, is only that great which endures, and is no commensurate rank to be as signed to agencies of destruction? Yet, cruelly as it was done, what Frenchmen have wrought as did the Jacobins? Almost the last vestige of the rule Napoleon has disap peared from the earth; yet the yeast of the Revolution is stiU at work wherever men seek to translate their dreams of liberty through action into reality. And, in the last analysis, who was it freed the American slave? Of a verity, it was John Brown ; and Abraham Lincoln but signed the mandate that went forth from the scaffold at Charleston. The blow struck at Harper's Ferry shook the "peculiar institution" from base to turret, morally depolarized each particular atom of the anachronistic structure, and so doomed it to inevitable collapse. We see in John Brown one of the world's greatest iconoclasts — a very Thor of destruction; and though earthly "constructive immortal ity" be denied him, yet "his soul goes marching on," to inspire unborn generations to strike, however bhndly, for their inalienable rights. BOTH PARTIES APOLOGETIC FOR THEIR EXTREMISTS Both parties in the North did their best all through the war to squelch their fire-eaters. Indeed, except in a few notable localities, hke the "Western Reserve" in Ohio, and Owen Love joy's district in Illinois, the Republican party 72 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO was far more apologetic for its extremists, its Garrisons and PhiUipses, its Ben Wades and Love joys, than the Democratic party for its Storeys and Vallandinghams, its Mahoneys and "Brick" Pomeroys. And even as the Re publican party was not an abohtion party fuUy and frankly until long after the proclamation of emancipation, — indeed hardly until it discovered its halo in the transfig uring death of Abraham Lincoln, — so it may be said that in somewhat similar fashion and degree the Democratic party was no more a disunion party, the main body of each being forced into a somewhat alien attitude by the course of events and the domination of a masterful minority. But at the present time a striking difference may be noted in the outworking from this indeterminate middle ground; for whereas the Republican party is now most desirous to stand in the estimation of posterity as the unreserved and undivided exponent of freedom during the war, the Democratic party of the North has entirely with drawn from any attitude of implied Rebel affiliation, and now probably frankly doubts if it really ever had any. AN IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF THE PERIOD NOT YET ATTAINABLE Thus far the history of those times has been written mostly by extreme partisans; while for a just estimate and the forming of an impartial judgment, the material (which will be found to consist largely of private corre spondence) is not yet accessible. Meantime there is urgent need for well-considered contributions, based upon per sonal observations and experience; and it is because his opportunities for the study of underlying sentiments and motives that joined issue in those remarkable days were somewhat exceptional, that the writer is moved to include POLITICAL STRIFE 73 in these reminiscences some impressions of that history- making period, THE author's FACILITIES FOR FORMING OPINIONS First as compositor and then as reporter, the writer was associated with Chicago's four leading dailies of the war period, to wit: the Tribune (most outspoken anti- slavery), the Times (semi-secession), the Journal (con servative Republican), and the Post (an exponent of war Democracy). In the composing-rooms of these papers there was never the slightest restraint on expressions of opinion, though it may go without saying that opinions found their freest utterance when in harmony with the attitude of the paper for which service was rendered ; and because newcomers preferably sought employment in the atmosphere politically most congenial to them, the law of natural or preferential selection in time brought the com posing rooms into comparative harmony wjith the editorial rooms. This gives us a body of nearly two hundred, ap proximating mentally to the professional class, and in their expressed opinions uninfluenced by extraneous considera tions. Obviously, we have here ideal premises for credible conclusions. THE WAR NOT FOR EMANCIPATION Then, let it be said, that until well toward the close of the war, the writer, as an outspoken Abolitionist, found even in the composing-room of the Tribune little political fellowship. On every hand there was explicit denial that the war was waged with any special intent to free the slaves — that concomitant of the struggle being almost invariably alluded to apologetically as an incident en tirely beside the real issue. It is the fashion nowadays to 74 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO speak of the Emancipation Proclamation as a call to arms that met with an acclaiming response to enlistment. Ac cording to my observation it came as near paralyzing the whole enlistment machinery as any event of the war. Few outside of a comparatively small percentage of original Abolitionists defended it except upon grounds of matter- of-fact expediency or necessity — as strictly a war meas ure, made possible under extraordinary war powers — while such echoes as came from former associates in the field (and were usually made common composing-room property) generally expressed dissatisfaction over the situation, and often with the added avowed that, had they known the war would "degenerate" into one of "freedom for the nigger," they would not have enlisted. In time these adverse reports from the army wore away, the minor being absorbed in the major problem, namely, how to suc ceed under any conditions. A RANGE OF COPPERHEADISM To a somewhat greater degree than there was out spoken abolition sentiment in the composing-room of the Tribune was there undisguised disunion avowal in that of the Times — and this conspicuously ordy from those who were Southern-born or had hved in the South, and who were members of the order of Knights of the Golden Circle. This was a band of would-be conspirators, who met at dead of night (among other places) on the upper floor of the McCormick block, southeast corner of Dear born and Randolph Streets. In most Northern communities at this time, the ma jority of the compositors on the Times would have been denounced as Rebel sympathizers. But, brought as they were here into direct relation and contrast with the real POLITICAL STRIFE 75 article, many shades of differences were readily apparent. When with Republicans, these pseudo-sympathizers might be fierce denouncers of the war and all that it stood for; but in the presence of extremists of their own kind they would so double on their tracks as to land almost squarely in the Union camp; and often such a query as, "What has become of Jack, or Billy?" would be answered in the song- slang of the day, "Gone for to be a sojer." The out-and-out Southerners could be trusted to know their own kind, precisely as I had no doubt about the standing of my Repubhcan confreres on the slavery ques tion; and not only did they keep well together, but would say to me privately that they preferred my outspokenness to the now hot, now cold, attitudes of their supposed friends.EVEN COPPERHEADS WOULD HAVE REPELLED SOUTHERN INVADERS It is almost a pity that this Copperhead pudding was never subjected to the test of eating, by a Southern in vasion of the North. In such event, I make no doubt, not one in a score would have felt other than dismay, and sprung to the defence with the readiest "Black Republi can," Indeed, the majority of my acquaintances who joined the Union ranks were Democrats, Of course, in the later days of the war the large bounties so freely of fered were potent inducements to enlistment; and not in frequently, sad to relate, the most consuming patriotism was attached to a string with a "bounty jumper" at the end. COMPLEXITY OF THE WHOLE MATTER I am fully alive to the apparent contradictions in this presentation of a peculiar state of things — its obvious 76 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO "in-and-out" character. But the paradoxical complexity of the subject, its many-sidedness founded on a multi plicity of equations, makes it exceedingly difficult to blaze a straight, undeviating way through such a passion-swept tangle. Certain it is that any judgment which generahzed "Copperheadism" as unmixed secessionism would be egre- giously misleading. M. Taine, when working on his "French Revolution," exclaimed to a friend: "Let me once frame the true psychology of a Jacobin, and my book is written," An even more complex puzzle, I imagine, will confront the future historian who seeks to synthesize all that is comprehended under the chameleon term "Cop perhead," Be the future judgment what it may, it will be far afield if the conclusions are not based on the premise that the "nigger," if not actually in plain view, was al ways somewhere hidden "in the wood pile" — which may be taken as another way of saying that among the Demo cratic masses in the North, antipathy to the negro out weighed every other consideration. CHAPTER VI A "COPPERHEAD" CONVENTION The Democratic Convention op 1864 thus Stigmatized — In cidents OF THE Memorable Gathering — "Long John" Chal lenges Vallandigham and Overwhelms Him in Debate — Unrestrained Denunciation of the War at Improvised Mass Meetings — Lincoln Accused of all Manner of Enormities — Characteristic Utterances by Leaders — Reported with Ap probation BY THE Chicago "Times" — McClellan's Candidacy Fiercely Assailed in Convention — A "Knock-down" Argu ment BY Harris of Maryland — A Sudden Reaction — Inter esting Episodes. THE Democratic National Convention held in Chicago in 1864 was to many people an event of ominous im port. When it is considered that on the one hand was the South holding the Union armies well in check; and on the other, a party in the North, constituting at least three- sevenths of its population, whose chosen representatives in Convention assembled solemnly declared the war then wag ing for the preservation of the Union a failure, it can be readily imagined that the avowedly Union element found itself in a discouraging pass, and seldom more so than at the time of this extraordinary gathering. While the attitude anathematized as "Copperhead ism" may remain a more or less disputed question in the sphere of political psychology, certain it is that this "ism" was often extremely aggressive, even though its temerities were as a rule wholesomely tempered by the ebb and flow of the tide of war. And so, when for the nonce the va rious disgruntled segregations found themselves com ponents of an enormous aggregation, under circumstances 77 78 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO particularly favorable for kindling a "fire in the rear" of the Union armies, the brands thus adventitiously thrown together threatened a general conflagration. UNRESTRAINED SPEAKING OUTSIDE THE CONVENTION In the deliberations of the Convention, which took place in a huge auditorium specially erected for the occa sion at the southern end of the lake front, restraint of speech was for obvious reasons deemed advisable ; but out side, at impromptu gatherings about the leading hotels, most of the speakers (when addressing what can be char acterized only as howling mobs) lashed themselves into paroxysms of denunciation of everything in any manner tending to give encouragement or effective support to the war. GREAT EXCITEMENT DURING THE CONVENTION Ordinarily the Union sentiment, by virtue of the supe rior character of its avowers, was safely in control in Chicago. But against this mighty influx, representative of whatever was extreme in the various sections from which it was drawn, the local Union element was com pelled to stand passive, and let the whelming wave of op position sweep over it. The shibboleth of the hour was "Peace at any price"; and when the one side charged that such an attitude was treason to the nation, the other re torted that coercion was treason to the Constitution. In the Republican press this political submergence of the city was usually spoken of as a Rebel invasion; and when in addition to so much that was disquieting, the air was fiUed with rumors of plots for the release of the 10,000 or more "Johnny Rebs" in durance at Camp Douglas, it is within bounds to say that the substantial classes were in a state of mind bordering on panic. By Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Sntiety THE "WIGWAM," WHERE THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION OF 1860 CHALLENGED SLAVERY BY THE NOMINATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN (On Market Street, between Lake and Randolph Streets) A "COPPERHEAD" CONVENTION 79 REACTION Under the spur of irresponsible leadership, the great gathering was turned into a political debauch — to be swiftly followed by sobering reactions. The partisan rage so long pent up under repressive local conditions (else where even more than in Chicago) having freely spent itself in what was for the time an unrestraining environ ment, soon gave place to uneasy afterthoughts. It was noticeable that many prominent Democrats who thereto fore had been accounted Southern sympathizers, or at least as among those who occupied positions of "benevo lent neutrality," bore far more hghtly thereafter on their constitutional objections to the war; and with the progress of the presidential campaign, whose issues were set in ever more clearing lights by the steady advances of the Union armies, the peace talk became less and less pronounced ; so that with the advent of the Ides of November, the reelec tion of Abraham Lincoln, which looked dubious enough to many of his supporters at the date of nomination, be came a triumphant acclaim. PARTISAN FEELING STIRRED UP In passing judgment on the attitude of individuals during those trying years, the fact should never be lost sight of that partisanship was a very different thing then from what it is to-day — that party feeling now with dif ficulty kept lukewarm was then continuously at the boihng point. Great issues make politics a personal affair. Men ranged on opposite sides would hardly recognize each other, and the commercial boycott was a common phenomenon. Republicans spoke of their opponents seldom otherwise than as "Copperheads," "traitors," or "rebels"; whUe Democrats retorted with "nigger-lovers," "black Aboli- 80 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO tionists," or "Lincoln hirelings." Nobody permitted him self to discriminate. The Sherman House, most centrally located, was the headquarters of the ultra leaders. Here Vallandigham and his immediate retinue put up; and here also was to be found the Indiana delegation, which, under the cloud- compelling leadership of the "Tall Sycamore of the Wa bash," was the most blatant of them aU. A triumphant mob surged at all hours about this hostelry, and its cries of "Speech!" "Speech!" would bring to the balcony first one and then another of the popular favorites — the measure of acclaim with which their appearance was greeted being usually in proportion to lengths of time they had served in some "Lincoln bastille." On the floor of the Convention the hot-heads were forced to be somewhat on their good behavior, for whatever was said went on record ; but when these extremists found themselves in the presence of an irresponsible mob, eagerly responsive to the hottest kind of anti-war sentiment, they readily yielded to its spell and indulged freely in abuse of everything that stood for the struggle for the Union, though the hne was generaUy drawn at open support of the Rebellion. SOME OF THE NOTED SPEAKERS One of the most outspoken was an interesting specimen from Iowa, known as the Rev. Henry Clay Dean, but better known as "Dirty Shirt" Dean, because of his con stitutional aversion to clean linen. (AU his aversions, by the way, were based on the Constitution.) Iowa's "Copper head" par excellence was, however, one D. A. Mahony, editor of The Dubuque Herald. I happened in the office of that paper on the day the Rebel ram Merrimac sank the wooden frigates in Hampton Roads, and can never A "COPPERHEAD" CONVENTION 81 forget the exultant glee with which he burst into the pres ence of the staff to announce the news. Another for whom the crowd went wild was "Brick" Pomeroy, of The La Crosse Democrat, a paper that achieved an extraordinary circulation because of its outspoken Southern sympathies. Other favorites besides those mentioned were "Fog Horn" Bill AUen, of Ohio; Senators Bright and Fitch, and Gov ernor Hendricks, of Indiana; Senator Richardson and General Singleton, of lUinois; and could Wilbur F. Storey have been persuaded to overcome his habitual re serve and exhibit himself, he no doubt would have cast all the rest in the shade. "long John's" triumph over vallandigham It must be said to the credit of "Long John" that he stood almost alone in fearless and pronoimced opposition to this "Copperhead" exploitation. He knew he could " joUy " any crowd they might bring against him; therefore he boldly challenged C. L. Vallandigham, the most fearless and the brainiest among the firebrands, to a pubhc discus sion of the issues. The tourney duly came off in the Court House Square, the speakers addressing an enormous crowd from the north steps. Under the circumstances the debate was a decisive triumph for the home giant. Vallandigham confined himself almost entirely to dry con stitutional quibbles, that soon paUed on the crowd, which at best could catch only a word here and there; while "Long John" megaphoned his Union and War paeans to the farthest hmit of the vast assembly; and to such good effect, that every reserve of Union sentiment in his pres ence was roused to enthusiastic approbation. This ap parent turning down of their foremost champion caused deep chagrin among the large body of delegates who over- 82 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO looked the vast assemblage from the vantage of the south ern balcony of the Sherman House, and there was free expression among them that Vallandigham committed a tactical blunder in consenting to appear under conditions for him so obviously disadvantageous. DESCRIPTION IN THE "tIMEs" OF OUT-DOOR MEETINGS On the morning following one of the evening gather ings during the Convention week — a "Copperhead orgy" the Republican papers called it — the Times described the outbreak as follows : "The demonstration last night was not a meeting merely; it was a whole constellation of meetings. The grand centre of the city — Randolph, Clark, Washington, and La Salle Streets, about the Court House, as well as the Court House Square — presented one solid mass of human beings; and these were independent of crowds that had gathered in Bryan Hall and other halls. During the entire evening there were at all times five speakers holding forth to these tens of thousands of assembled citizens." SAMPLE OP THE SPEECHES Of the utterances of the speakers who harangued the great mass from different improvised rostrums — the prin cipal ones being the east and south balconies of the Sher man House — the following extracts from the Times re ports are fair samples : Hon. John J. Van Allen — "We do not want a candidate with the smell of war on his garments. The great Democratic party should have resisted the war from the beginning." Hon. S. S. Cox, of Ohio (later of New York) — "Abraham Lin coln has deluged the country with blood, created a debt of four thou sand million dollars, and sacrified two millions of human lives. At the November election we will damn him with eternal infamy. Even Jefferson Davis is no greater enemy of the Constitution." INTERIOR OF THE "WIGWAM" DURING THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION OF 1860 A "COPPERHEAD" CONVENTION 83 Ketchum, of New York — "We want to elect a man who will say o e South, 'Come back; we will restore to you every constitutional privilege, every guarantee that you ever possessed; your rights shall no longer be invaded; we will wipe out the Emancipation Proclamation; we will sweep away confiscation; all that we ask is that you will come back and live with us on the old terms.'" Hon. W. W. O'Brien, of Peoria — "We want to try Lincoln as Charles I. of England was tried, and if found guilty will carry out the law." Hon. John Fuller, of Michigan — "Are you willing to follow in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln, the perjured wretch who has vio lated the oath he took before high heaven to support the Constitution and preserve the liberties of the people?" Stambaugh, of Ohio — "If I am called upon to elect between the freedom of the nigger and disunion and separation, I shall choose the latter. You might search hell over and find none worse than Abraham Lincoln." Hon. H. S. Orton, of Wisconsin — "In Wisconsin Lincoln has no party, except his oflScers and satraps — that is all there is left. I pledge you my word, that that is all that is left in the State of Wis consin.* The collectors of the revenue, the assessors and their de pendents, are all the strength that Abe Lincoln has in these free States. Are they to rule over us.^ Are you going to submit to it? [Cries of "No." "No."] God bless the draft. It proves that we have touched bottom, and got to the last ditch, the last man and the last dollar. The stars of heaven are blotted out, the moon will refuse to shine, the sun will rise no more in the fair firmament of the American Republic." G. C. Sanderson — " It is time this infernal war should stop. Have we not all been bound hand and foot to the abolition car that is rolling over our necks like the wheels of another Juggernaut? If the Southern Confederacy, by any possibility be subjugated by this abolition admin istration, the next thing they will turn their bayonets on the free men of the North, and trample you in the dust." * Little more than two months later, out of a total vote of 149,343, Lincoln had a majority over McClellan of 17,574. 84 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO C. Chauncey Burr, of New York, editor of The Old Guard — "Argument is useless. We have patiently waited for a change, but for four years have lived under a despotism, and the wonder is that men carry out the orders of the gorilla tyrant who has usurped the presi dential chair. The South cannot lay down its arms, for they are fight ing for their honor. Two million of men have been sent down to the slaughter pens of the South, and the army of Lincoln cannot again be filled." Hon. and Rev. Henry Clay Dean, of Iowa ¦ — " The American peo ple are ruled by felons. With all his vast armies Lincoln has failed ! failed! failed ! FAILED ! And still the monster usurper wants more victims for his slaughter pens. I blush that such a felon should oc cupy the highest gift of the people. Perjury and larceny are written all over him. Ever since the usurper, traitor, and tyrant has occupied the presidential chair the Republican party has shouted war to the knife, and the knife to the hilt. Blood has flowed in torrents, and yet the thirst of the old monster is not quenched. His cry is ever for more blood." THE REASON FOR MC CLELLAN- WORSHIP NOT APPARENT The McClellan-worship of the Democratic party was a curious exhibition of contradictions and stultifications. Why was he pitched upon as leader? Was it because he was a Democrat? So were Generals Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Thomas, Logan, McClernand, Corse, Bragg, Sloeum, Hancock, Sickles, originally; and many of them remained Democratic partisans to the last. Indeed, the names of Generals Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Thomas, and Hancock were all prominently mentioned as possible Democratic nominees in 1868; and up to a few months be fore the time to make nominations, it seemed in doubt which ticket Grant would head. Hancock's turn came twelve years later. Furthermore, all those mentioned were suc cessful leaders, while McClellan had little else than defeats to his account. But, perhaps it was this that distinguished A "COPPERHEAD" CONVENTION 85 him in Democratic eyes. Ostensibly the party espoused his cause on the alleged ground that the administration had not supported him in the field because he was a Democrat. Did the Democratic party, then, want him to succeed — to whip the South? However, be this or that as it may, what happened was that McClellan was raised into a Demo cratic idol, and songs with a "Little Mac" refrain not only became the staple of the variety shows and free concert saloons, but during the last years of the war held the same place at Democratic meetings that the "Star Spangled Banner" or "The Battle Cry of Freedom" did at Re pubhcan raUies. So far as the leaders are concerned, they probably argued hke this: "One of our own sort would stand no chance with the masses. We must have a soldier; but a successful one would not serve our purpose, nor is there any likelihood that we could get him to stand on the kind of platform we are determined to adopt." So it was McClellan or a civilian. Harris's indictment of mc clellan "Little Mac's" selection did not, however, go wholly unchaUenged. It was fought in the Convention by the extreme wing tooth and nail. Its utter absurdity was un- fiinchingly shown up by Congressman Harris, of Mary land. "Do you want McClellan because he is a great soldier?" he shouted. "Why, he has never won a battle. [Great uproar.] Does he stand for liberty? Why, the military oppression under which Maryland suffers was in stituted by him. It was he that struck the first blow. . . . The sons of Maryland were imprisoned by that devil McClellan; and all the charges I can make against Lincoln and his administration, I can make against 86 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO McClellan." Harris was frequently interrupted; he knocked down a delegate who sought to stop him; and it was not until he had declared that he was armed and pre pared to defend the right of free speech to the death, that he was permitted to finish his indictment of the Democratic hero, namely: that he had ordered General Banks, if neces sary, to suspend the habeas corpus; that he had declared the President had the right to abohsh slavery as a war meas ure; that he had taken steps to arrest the Legislature of Maryland; that he was a mere tool of Abraham Lincoln, who "combined with military incapacity the fact that he interfered with and destroyed the civil rights of the people." But McClellan was nominated, and the platform not only declared the war a failure, but demanded that "im mediate efforts be made for a cessation of hostilities." But this part the candidate disavowed in his letter of acceptance. appearance of the KENTUCKY DELEGATION A scene in Hopkinson Smith's capitally dramatized novel of "Colonel Carter of CartersviUe" presents a group of "Colonels" and "Judges" from the South, just come to town to assist in the settlement, according to the "code," of an affair of honor. That group strikingly recalls the appearance of the Kentucky delegation on their arrival at the Tremont House. Each carried an old-fashioned carpet bag; and when they had doffed their dusters, there was pre sented the oddest assortment of notables ever seen off the burlesque stage. I gazed at them in amazement, and shall never forget the gravity with which Sam Turner stroked his foot-long beard, the suavity with which he invited them to register, nor the wink and squint he cast my way, saying plainly, "Did you ever?" Some rose gaunt and A "COPPERHEAD" CONVENTION 87 swarthy to six feet and over; others had successfully de voted much spare time to an accumulation of breadth of beam ; while every thinkable shape and size between these extremes, or outside of them, was characteristically repre sented. " General C — , I am going to give you Room X," quoth the genial Sam. This general's name was one of the best known in the Border State. AU during the war its bearer had been conspicuously on the fence, and on which side he would eventually land had been debated the country over for so long that the question became tedious. Indeed, so big with possibilities for either side did he loom in the chronicles of the early war days, that one instinctively looked among the giants for a reply to Sam's announce ment; and, failing there, turned naturally to the broad- beamed heavy-weights, only to scan their Bourbon adver tisements to equal failure. Then, to my inexpressible surprise, it was a manikin in a trailing duster who ex claimed in a piping treble, "All right, Mr. Clerk." Siz ing up aU there was of him, including the duster, I could not help wondering why it should ever have occurred to any one that it could possibly matter on which side of the fence "General C — "of Kentucky climbed down. WHY THE CONVENTION ALARMED THE REPUBLICANS To show with some detail why the gathering of the Copperhead hosts in national convention was a source of profound apprehension to all who favored the prosecution of the war, it may be said: that the shiver which Grant's repulse at Cold Harbor, with its frightful sacrifice of life, had sent over the North, was stUl felt in the people's inmost marrow; that the General's operations before Petersburg had so far proved a distinct failure ; that only a few weeks 88 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO before, Lee had felt sufficiently strong to detach a force of 20,000 men to pass around the Federal lines and make its way into the suburbs of Washington, seriously threatening the national Capital, which a bold attack might well have taken, so denuded was it of troops to strengthen the assaulting lines of Grant, hundreds of miles away; that Sherman's campaign against Atlanta still hung in the bal ance ; that a draft was proceeding in many States in spite of the offer of generous bounties to volunteers ; that there was trouble in Lincoln's cabinet, resulting in the resigna tion of Chase ; and, finally, that the value of the greenback, the country's barometric currency, was reduced to a specie value of about forty cents. HOW THEIR FEARS MAGNIFIED TRIFLES Under the tension of a situation so full of disquietude, it is perhaps not surprising that every obstructing mole hill was magnified into a mountain, and that every trifling circumstance with a possibly treasonable imphcation should be endowed with portentous significance. I weU remember the ado there was in the Republican press aU over the country, because the Richmond House was the first among the large hotels during convention week to announce "Cot accommodations only." This was construed into proof positive that it was the name so intimately associated with the Rebel cause that preferably turned Copperhead steps to it. To be sure there was the fact that the rates were somewhat lower than at the hotels more centrally located, and the further circumstance that it was nearer the prin cipal railway station; but to take such uninteresting details into account did not at this time suit the Republican book. If, however, any admirer of Jefferson Davis did select the Richmond because of its suggestive name, he probably fled A "COPPERHEAD" CONVENTION 89 its hospitable precincts, if by any chance made aware that the hostelry took its name from the man whose fortune it absorbed, from Thomas Richmond, one of Chicago's most enterprising and honored citizens, who was an ingrained Abolitionist, an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln, and in his own person claimed a large share of the credit (as set forth in a monograph) for the issuance of the Emancipa tion Proclamation. CHAPTER VII THE PULPIT AS A WAR FORCE Self-sacrificing Services of Leading Clergymen — Rev. Robert Collyer's Efforts in Behalf of the Men in the Field — Dr. Robert H. Clarkson's Forceful, Loyal Leadership — Memo rial OF St. James's Church to its Fallen Heroes — Dr. W. W. Patton as a Promoter of Emancipation — Dr. W. W. Everts A Stalwart Baptist — Dr. R. W. Patterson, Presbyterian — Dr. W. H. Ryder, Universalist — Drs. T. M. Eddy and O. H. Tiffany, Methodists — Vicar-General Dunne a Conspicuous War Priest — Abolitionism Forces Orthodox Tolerance for German Freethinking — The Sunday Theatre — A Million aire Romance that Harkens back to the. Stage. NO class of Chicago's citizens deserves more credit for zeal and self-denial during the great crisis than its clergy. As in the forum, so in the pulpit, there were strong personalities in those days. Only one remains at this writing by which to gauge his war-time contempo raries. That one is grand old Robert CoUyer, who to-day, at eighty-seven, probably has more calls on his time to meet outside engagements than any other minister in the country, and still fills both pulpit and pew as few others in these days. Like Joseph Jefferson, who was the last link that bound the present generation to the great stage stars of the past, Robert CoUyer grows riper and mellower with each added year; and a half -century hence the old folks of that time will boast to their grandchildren of the good fortune that enabled them to see the one as Rip Van Winkle, and hear the other tell of the time when he worked at the anvU, making good, honest horseshoes during the day, and preaching stanch Methodist sermons at night. 90 THE PULPIT AS A WAR FORCE 91 But in the ratio that he came less in contact with the fire of the forge, and so had more time to meditate upon the divine love, he came also to stand less in fear of the un quenchable fires of the nether- world ; and finally, when the "call" came to give up the one for good and all, he let the other die out also. OTHER NOTED MINISTERS The great names of Beecher, Parker, Chapin, Storrs, Bellows, and their congeners in the East, were most cred itably supplemented in Chicago, besides Robert CoUyer, by such men as Robert H. Clarkson (Episcopal), W. W- Patton (Congregational), Robert W. Patterson (Presby terian), W. W. Everts (Baptist), T. M. Eddy and O. H. Tiffany (Methodist), W. H. Ryder (Universalist), and Dennis Dimne (Catholic). DR. R. H. clarkson's ENTHUSIASM Deserving of a grateful remembrance as are all these, I feel like giving first place to Dr. Robert H. Clarkson, of St. James's Episcopal and later the revered Missionary Bishop of Nebraska and Dakota, because he had clearly the most to overcome, with the possible exception of Father Dunne. As to the attitude of the denominations repre sented by the others, there was never any question ; but in the Episcopal fold, there was here and there, because of its intimate affiliations with the aristocracy of the South, an appreciable lukewarmness, and aversion to "bringing poli tics into the pulpit." One might have hesitated to define the position of his bishop ; but there was never any question where Robert H. Clarkson stood. His voice from the first was a trumpet call, and he fairly swept his church with him, notwithstanding some rather important hold-backs. There were in his congregation, which was by far the most 92 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO select in the city, such stanch supporters of the war as Judge Mark Skinner, E. B. McCagg, and E. H. Sheldon; and with these at his back, he missed no op portunity to fill the young men of his parish with his own noble enthusiasm. Once, in his zeal, he made the promise from the pulpit that the church would rear a memorial to those of the congregation who fell in defence of their country; and this promise was in after years fulfiUed, though he himself, on the close of the war, had been called to another and wider field of usefulness. A MONUMENT TO SOLDIERS OF HIS CONGREGATION When the time came, some years before the fire, to give effect to Dr. Clarkson's promise, the commission for an appropriate memorial was given to a prominent New York firm of architects, and from their design it was buUt at a cost of fifty-five hundred dollars. And it would seem as if even the ruthless fire fiend had respect for the honored dead, for the only part of St. James's Church that escaped destruction was the waU of the tower against which the Soldiers' Memorial was built. It was blackened, but was otherwise undamaged. It is still in good condition, is a part of the new church, and on Memorial Day, All Saints' Day, and Easter Day, it is decorated with fiags and flow ers. The Memorial is a beautiful piece of work; and the names it perpetuates show the class of young men St. James's Church sent into the field under the stimulus of its patriotic rector, and who freely gave their lives that their country might live. They are: Lucius Sherman Larabee, Edward Hanson Russell, William De Wolf, John Harris Kinzie, Thomas Orchard, Frank M. Skin ner, Peter Preston Wood, Louis DeKoven Hubbard, and Charles H. Hosmer. .r^nr THE SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL IN ST. JAMES'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH (Uninjured by the Fire and Forming Part of the Reconstructed Kdifice, at Cass and Huron Streets) THE PULPIT AS A WAR FORCE 93 DR. PATTON's work AS AN ABOLITIONIST Another whose work stands out conspicuously is the Rev. W. W. Patton, D. D., of the First Congregational Church. Dr. Patton was an uncompromising Abolitionist, and he had at his back a congregation after his own heart. Of the origin of this "nigger church" I have spoken at some length in connection with that abolition war-horse. Deacon Philo Carpenter. This church believed thoroughly in the efficacy of prayer in bringing about moral results. For many years, the Fourth of July was dedicated to prayers for the freedom of the slave. For a month prior to the inauguration of President Lincoln it held daily prayer meetings ; and later the church sent resolution after resolution to the President, to sustain him in his work and to turn his thoughts to emancipation. Finally, Dr. Patton was instrumental in calling a public meeting, at a critical time, to urge the President to free the slaves; and he was chairman of the committee that bore the adopted resolu tions to Washington. That Dr. Patton and his supporters made a strong appeal to the President may go without saying; and it is a noteworthy coincidence that the same issue of the Chicago papers which published the com mittee's report on their mission also contained the Emanci pation Proclamation. So effectively did this valiant soldier of the cross labor among his own people for the cause so near his heart, that out of a membership of 755 of both sexes, 69 of its youths joined the army. In the lists of speakers at war meetings the name of Dr. Patton was seldom absent, for the words of few carried more conviction to the hearts of his hearers ; while his posi tion as Vice-President of the Northwestern Sanitary Com mission afforded rare opportunities for the display of his exceptional executive powers. 94 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO DR. EVERTS'S RECORD HE SAVES CHICAGO UNIVERSITY The Rev. W. W. Everts, D. D., of the First Baptist Church, was another who could always be depended on to strike straight from the shoulder. He left LouisviUe, Ky., in 1859, because of his anti-slavery views. Although his congregation was loyal to him, he felt he must have a freer field than a Southern pulpit afforded; and though he was absent when the secession crisis came to a head, it is said that the influence of the people of his old congregation was most effective in holding Kentucky to the side of the Union. Dr. Everts was probably the most forceful preacher in the history of the city's pulpit. He was ortho dox to the core, a man of profound convictions and of undaunted courage. When he came to the First Church, it was heavily in debt, as were most Chicago churches at that time. He said to his people that the debt must be paid, and the task was accomplished at a single meeting. This unprecedented success put heart into other ministers. Dr. Ryder made public acknowledgment that the pre cedent saved St. Paul's Universalist Church. Scores of congregations all over the West made a hke acknowledg ment, and Dr. Everts was frequently caUed upon to help save sinking ships. Then there was the Baptist (now the Chicago) University. When Dr. Everts came to the city, the denomination was about to give up the enterprise as too heavy a load to carry. The doctor said it must not be done; and it was largely through his efforts that the University was put on an active and enlarged basis. But such was his orthodoxy, that, had it been revealed to him what sort of "heresies" were to proceed from his nurshng, through the grace of Rockefeller endowments, he would surely have stayed his hand and let the University perish. The chapter on "Early Chicago Literature" in this REV. WILLIAM W. EVERTS ma REV. W. H. RYDER THE PULPIT AS A WAR FORCE 95 volume, is Uluminated by scintillations from the iridescent pen of "January Searle." In the early sixties this re markable aviator into the realms of hyperbole, in a book entitled "Chicago Churches," delivered himself as follows: "From 1859 the march of the First Baptist Church has been a regal progress through triumphant arches, and over roads strewn with flowers and the glorification of redeemed souls and the acclamation of angels." If the foregoing could be reduced to its earthly equivalents, it would un doubtedly tell the exact truth about Dr. Everts's remark able work in his chosen field. Of his labors in the Union cause I have already spoken in general terms. At one time the situation brought about by Northern defeats made it imperative that every veteran serve at the front. Volun teers for an emergency corps were caUed for, to enable the Camp Douglas garrison to take the field. None were more active than Dr. Everts in filling the ranks; his own congregation furnished a large contingent; and when the command took possession of the camp, he served as its chaplain. DRS. EDDY, TIFFANY, RYDER, AND PATTERSON For the Methodists, Drs. T. M. Eddy and O. H. Tif fany stood out conspicuously. Dr. Eddy was a trenchant, forceful speaker, while Dr. Tiffany joined to a high intel- lectuaUty a gift of oratory now seldom equalled in the pul pit. He was untiring in his zeal for the cause of the Union, and gladly accepted places on commissions to visit the men in the field with a view to improving their physical wel fare — though, in such circumstances, he never failed to sustain their patriotism with his fervid eloquence. Rev. W. H. Ryder, D. D.,of St. Paul's Universalist Church, was a frequent speaker at Union meetings. Next 96 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO to Chapin he was regarded as the most gifted minister in his denomination in the country; and in championing his "all-saving" views, he was not only qualified to repulse the attacks of his able opponents — for those were days when liberahsm in rehgion threatened souls with damna tion, and had to be fought to the death — but frequently carried the war into the enemy's ranks with distinguished success. He was a stanch supporter of all that the war stood for, even among the most advanced; else he might well have heard from Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, of his congregation. Dr. Robert W. Patterson of the Second Presbyterian Church started out in life a Garrison Abolitionist, but that leader's radicalism in rehgion brought about something like a reaction in the pupil. Dr. Patterson was, however, never other than a loyal supporter of the Union, and his exceptional height, and impressive manner, made him everywhere a conspicuous figure. He was sometimes al luded to as "Deacon Bross's preacher," and that should be a sufficient guarantee of his place among the champions of the war. DR. COLLYER S EFFORTS IN BEHALF OF THE SOLDIERS I have already referred to the Rev. Robert CoUyer in connection with this group of masterful men. Quite a few interesting legends have grown up around this brainy and muscular Christian. It is doubtful if, when Sumter fell, he covered his pulpit with the fiag and announced there would be no more preaching, as all must go to the war ; but it is a fact that Unity Church in those days showed many flags that might have been so used ; that he preached from the text, " He that has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one"; and it is also true that during the first year K^ 4 .. ff^*^' ¦" REV. ROBERT COLLYER THE PULPIT AS A WAR FORCE 97 of the struggle this hot-hearted patriot was seldom in his pulpit, but, as the representative of the Sanitary Commis sion, visited many camps on the Potomac, at Donelson and Pittsburg Landing, in Missouri; and while he every where heartened the men to their tasks, his reports on the condition of the sufferers in the field moved the people at home to ever greater efforts of relief. His Yorkshire burr was a bit broader in those days than now, but that only added a deeper note to his heart-stirring eloquence. He was a Garrisonian Abolitionist, brought to that view in his earlier Methodist days through the inspiration of Lucretia Mott; and while he did not go the length of the few who made slavery the sole burden of their message, he permitted none to doubt his position, and on all fitting occasions spoke the convictions of his heart. And it is to Eh Bates, a member of his Unity congregation, that Chicago and the nation are indebted for St. Gaudens' immortal statue of Lincoln. FATHER DUNNE AND BISHOP DUGGAN As a class the Catholic clergy were not noted for their support of the war, and for that reason the unqualified position of the Rt. Rev. Dennis Dunne, pastor of St. Patrick's Church and Vicar- General of the diocese, was all the more conspicuous. It is said that Bishop Duggan as sisted Colonel Mulligan in raising his regiment. Be that as it may, certain it is that httle was heard from the Bishop's palace in the later years of the struggle, whUe one was never at a loss in placing his Vicar-General. Not sat isfied with helping to fUl up other mihtary organizations. Father Dunne set about in the Summer of 1862 — by which time a considerable lukewarmness was already noted among his compatriots and co-rehgionists — to organize what was known as the "Irish Legion," which finally took 98 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO the field as the Ninetieth Illinois, with Father KeUy for its chaplain. AU honor to these sturdy priests, who found no difficulty in being loyal to both their church and the imperilled country of their adoption. THE OLD ORTHODOXY SELDOM A BRINGER OF COMFORT The way in which the present generation differs from its fathers in respect to religion, and the influence this dif ference is hkely to have on the social order and individual conduct, is to-day the absorbing concern of reflective minds. The decision, whether the present is on the whole better than a given stage in the past, depends largely on one's point of view; but that this is in a general way a hap pier world for aU sorts of people admits of no doubt. To a comparatively few exalted souls religion has always been a source of supreme happiness ; but to the many who failed of inward experiences to support an inherited belief — so full of the direst threatenings for indulgence in even the most innocent diversions^ — uncompromising orthodoxy brought little comfort and often much trouble of mind. This is not the place to go into the psychology of the re ligion of half a century ago; but the character and influ ence of the old faith as a force standing over against the things of the world (as illustrated in war-time Chicago) may well caU for some attention. The period was the fruitage of a seedtime when the American pulpit still enlisted the Boanerges of the intel lect. Men of parts believed implicitly in an inerrant Bible ; and what httle "higher criticism" worked its way to the Middle West was wise enough to remain within the shelter ing walls and shady walks of the academy. The great, serious, native middle class, therefore, had as yet no mis givings as to the letter of the Word; and any doubts there By CouitcNy of the Chicago Historical Society RT. REV. DENNIS DUNNE THE PULPIT AS A WAR FORCE 99 might be were confined to forms of interpretation: as, for example, to the saving efficacy of different forms of baptism. TOLERANCE TOWARD SABBATH-BREAKING GERMANS The native American element derived from an Enghsh- speaking ancestry, and inheriting the Protestant faith, was sufficiently dominant to entitle it to be spoken of as the arbiter of the social order. Yet more than a third of the city's population was Catholic, chiefly Irish; while proba bly a fifth part was rationalistic German. But these dif ferent classes hardly affected each other socially, in terms of interacting modes of thought. So long as the beliefs of the community did not infringe on his Sunday amusements, the agnostic German did not in the least concern himself about them; and what to a casual observer might have seemed like a native indifference about German doings was equally marked. Indeed, considering the serious attitude of American evangelicism toward Sabbath observance, few of the paradoxes of the times are more remarkable than the tolerance of German violations of strict Sabbatarian notions. ITS TWO CHIEF CAUSES However, one need not go far to find a cause. The un compromising Sabbatarian in the pulpit, and to a less degree in the pew, was pretty certain to be anti-slavery if not an out-and-out Abolitionist; and the free-thinking. Sabbath-breaking German was invariably of the same po litical brand. This coincidence brought the Sabbatarian face to face with a serious dilemma. Everything was con ceived intensely in those days, and here was a battle royal to be fought between two sets of convictions that seemingly admitted of no compromise. But the abohtion issue was too 100 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO urgent to take a second place; and so the German was left unmolested in the enjoyment of his diversions, lest he be pushed where he would not hesitate, on local issues, to make common cause with pro-slavery CathoUcism. This was re garded as even less American than the Teutonic ideas, and was generaUy spoken of as an adjunct to Rome, for the Pope was at this time still a temporal potentate, as weU as the spiritual head of the Roman hierarchy. But there was yet another factor favorable to tolerance. To an even greater degree than to-day, all the section lying west of North Clark Street, and north of Chicago Avenue, was German territory, precisely as the southwest was Irish; and these delimitations gave to the city an aspect of three distinct municipalities. Nothing could be more ab horrent to the evangelical mind of half a century ago than a Sunday theatre. It was bad enough that pubhc opinion compelled the toleration of week-day performances, but a Sunday stage exhibition in competition with the pulpit led to visions of Hades. Had the promoters of the German Sunday theatre attempted to locate their annex to perdi tion at this time in any native section of the city, there would, no doubt, have resulted a determined effort to stop the performance; but being on the North Side, southeast corner of Wells and Indiana Streets, made it in a sense extra-territorial; and when some years after the war (by which time many centuries-old restrictive fences had come down) there was some talk of giving Sunday performances in Enghsh at a South Side place of amusement, the Prot estant pulpit spoke with no uncertain voice, and the idea was significantly scotched. How different this from the Chicago of to-day! By Courtesy of "The Churchman" REV. ROBERT H. CLARKSON REV. O. H. TIFFANY THE PULPIT AS A WAR FORCE 101 STAGE PEOPLE THE GREAT-GRANDPARENTS OF A MULTI MILLIONAIRE While we are upon the subject of the German theatre, a digression from the field sociological may be permitted. The performances were generally of a high order — su perior, in fact, in point of histrionic talent to those at McVicker's, Chicago's only American theatre till well along in the middle sixties ; and this excellence was due in no small degree to the Kenkels, husband and wife. The performances being limited to Sunday evenings, there was naturaUy little to keep the pot boiling, and it was much of the time pretty hard sledding for this excellent couple. It might be going too far to say that in German theatricals in those days the "talent," like the country schoolmaster, "boarded roimd" among the patrons; or, like the country parson, was paid in turnips and like delectables; but cer tain it is that on more than one occasion helpful hands were needed to keep the proverbial wolf at a respectf xU dis tance. Yet through the whirling of time, by which as start- hng contrasts are brought about in real life as on any mimic stage, it came to pass that a granddaughter of these struggling Komodianten married the only son (now de ceased) of the richest man this city of multi-millionaires has produced; and she and her children are the heirs of what is beheved to be the largest fortune ever accumidated in a mercantile pursuit. WHY FREE-THINKERS TOLERATED BOTH PURITANS AND ROMANISTS To the rationalistic German — as a rule a chUd of the Revolution of 1848 — the Protestant American, whose re- 102 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO ligion was the result of personal experience, was a complete enigma; and when not believed to suffer from some form of delusion, he was credited with little sincerity. But the Catholic Church he thought he understood. This typified for him priestcraft, with a background of the torturing Inquisition, and any allusion to it quickly provoked his wrath. But his hatred of everything that savored of Jesu itism seldom took the form of active propagandism, for the reason that Rome was tolerant of a liberal Sabbath; and this attitude, as against the American Puritanism, en forced something like an armed peace, fairly suggestive of a coalition. The German free-thinker, the product of a reaction from the objective horrors of the Inquisition rather than the subjective influence of a haunting orthodox theology, concerned himself little about mere questions of Biblical errors or mistaken interpretations; and so it was left for the American Ingersoll, with his unpleasant mem ories of a repressed orthodox chUdhood, to throw his gauntlet in the face of the defenders of an inerrant Bible ; and this attitude, so startling to the average American of the time, was to the rationalisic Teuton simply a source of wonderment that the great infidel should care to go to all the trouble. GERMANS OF THAT DAY LARGELY TINGED WITH SOCIALISM And there was stiU another vital difference between the orthodox American and the radical German, with whom he was so intimately bound up in the matter of abolitionism. If you scratched deep enough, you would be very apt to find under the revolutionary Teutonic cuticle some variety of sociahst or communist. A conspicuous example of this class was Dr. Ernst Schmidt, in every respect a large •ito,:'* REV. WILLIAM WESTON PATTON THE PULPIT AS A WAR, FORCE 103 personality, and an uncompromising type of the born iconoclast; and as proof how thoroughly the German of that time was inoculated with sociahstic ideas, and how ready to bring them to the fore when there was absence of more burning questions, it may be mentioned that in 1879, when the Doctor ran for Mayor against Democratic and Republican candidates on a straight Socialistic ticket, he received no less than 11,829 votes out of a total poll of 66,910. It may be well to remember this formidable pro portion when the militant reformer threatens the com munity with an early Socialistic deluge. The last time the Chicago Socialists were heard from in a municipal elec tion, they cast 13,429 votes out of a total poll of 335,930 ; and in the last presidential election 17,712 votes out of a total poll of 378,535. In other figures : while in 1879 the Socialists polled approximately one in six, their proportion in the last municipal election was only one in twenty-five, and in the presidential election one in twenty-one. CHAPTER VIII THE WORK OF THE WOMEN Women's Share in the Civil War — Individual Women who Served — The "Soldiers' Rest," the "Soldiers' Home," the Sanitary Fairs — Officers under Matron-General Dix — Work done for the Soldiers by Young Women — The Sanitary Fair of 1863 — The Sanitary Fair of 1865 — "Mrs. Parting ton" Expresses her Feelings — Relics of Slavery and the War Exhibited at the Fair — Arrival of General Sherman and General Grant — An Enthusiastic Reception to Each — Mrs. Bickerdyke's Arraignment of Men who would not Help. THE present generation of strenuous young women often fosters the belief that its grandmothers were mere stay-at-homes, who not only expected the men to do the fighting, but to look after all the rest of the try ing things that follow in the train of a call to arms. Yet the story of the war for the Union, especially in its begin nings, when everything was in a state of chaos, would be an infinitely sadder one but for woman's spontaneous share. . The struggle beginning in 1861 was a people's war. There were no armed hosts ready to spring at each other's throats at the word of command. When the nations of the Old World set out to kill each other, woman has but smaU share in the preparation for the combat. All is ready or, at any rate, is supposed to be ready. Every man drawn into the struggle is disciplined to hardship, and knows his exact place in the huge machine set in motion. And every part is trained. How different this from our internecine struggle! Women alone knew anything about nursing; and of these, as a rule, only the mothers of families. 104 THE WORK OF THE WOMEN 105 INDIVIDUAL WOMEN WHO SERVED When nurses were called for, it was out of the very heart of the situation that Mrs. D. M. Brundage, of this city, having given her four sons to the cause, added her own services. And it was the same when Mrs. Upright, of Rockford, a very mother in Israel, having sent seven sons into the field, declared she had three more to answer the next call, and when these left she would go with them. The early regiments, hurriedly gotten together, in adequately provided with even the essentials to a soldier's well-being in the field, soon fell into a perilous state ; and from every camp there came appeals for nurses. From the first, brave women stood ready to give their lives for the cause. The credit of being the first to volunteer as nurses in Chicago is given to the Misses Jane A. Babcock and Mary E. M. Foster. And within a week after the fall of Fort Sumter, at a meeting held at the Briggs House and presided over by the Rev. Robert CoUyer, a number of mothers and sisters of the men who were being hurried to the front were organized into a nursing corps. Among these were Mesdames J. S. Kellogg, Mary Evans, A, M. Beaubien, E. S, Johnson, E. B. Graves, and Annette Sleightly. Shortly after, Mrs. P. E. Yates was appointed presiding matron of the military hospitals at Cairo, where most of the men recruited in Chicago were rendezvoused. Mrs, Yates selected for her assistants the Misses Jane A. MiUer, L. B. Slaymaker, Mary E. Babcock, Adehne Hamilton, and Teresa Zimmer. Miss Dorothea L. Dix, of Massachusetts, had been ap pointed "Matron-General" of the army by Secretary of War Cameron; and this very competent and energetic leader in turn appointed Mrs. D. P. (Mary A.) Livermore and Mrs. A. H. Hoge her representatives in the West, and 106 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO these two forceful women soon gathered about them an efficient corps of helpers. Among the many women held in grateful remembrance by the men in the field, because of untiring service in their behalf, besides those already mentioned, one most readily recalls: Mrs. Myra A. Bradwell, Mrs. O. E. Hosmer, Mrs. Henry Sayers, Mrs. J. H. Woodworth, Mrs. J. W. Steele, Mrs. C. W. Andrews, Mrs. J. Long, Mrs. M. A. Burnham, Mrs. Reuben Ludlow, Mrs. N. H. Parker, Mrs. C. P. Dickinson, Mrs. J. O. Brayman, Mrs. Ambrose Foster, Mrs. Joseph MediU, Mrs. E. S. Wadsworth, Mrs. E. Higgins, Mrs. F. W. Robinson, Mrs. A. Foster, Mrs. E. H. Cushing, Mrs. Jerome Beecher, Mrs. W. H. Clark, Mrs. Smith Tinkham, Mrs. J. K. Botsford, Mrs. W. E. Doggett, Mrs. C. N. Holden, Mrs. J. H. Tuttle, Mrs. Lawrence, Mrs. E. W. Blatchford, Mrs. I. Greenfelder, Mrs. George Gibbs, Mrs. E. F. Dickinson, Mrs. Elizabeth Blackie, Mrs. Dr. IngaUs, Mrs. O. D. Ranney, Mrs. J. M. Harvey, Mrs. C. M. Clark, Mrs. H. L. Bristol, Mrs. J. M. Loomis, Mrs. J. C. Shepley, Mrs. Sarah E. Henshaw, Mrs. Elizabeth Porter, Mrs. Colonel Sloan, Mrs. C. C. Webster, Mrs. Ehzabeth Hawley. THE "soldiers' REST," THE " SOLDIERS* HOME," THE SANITARY FAIRS It was by women of this group that the "Soldiers' Rest" was founded in the first stages of the struggle. Here hundred of thousands of meals were served to the brave boys in blue ; for there was never a regiment permitted to pass through the city without entertainment. It was also through their efforts that the "Soldiers' Home" came into being whUe the war was still in progress ; that the two great Sanitary Fairs were organized and brought to a successful THE WORK OF THE WOMEN 107 issue ; that camp hospitals were equipped and supplied with nurses and medical supplies, and the men with such coveted luxuries as onions, pickles, and chowchow, to supplement the regular menu of "sow-belly" and hardtack provided by Uncle Sam. All this was before the time of scientific food preservation, and only the "cove" oyster was canned. EXPENDITURE BY THE BOARD OF TRADE AND BY SOLOMON STURGES For a considerable period almost every detail necessary to put the men in the field depended on private initiative. The Board of Trade fitted out a number of regiments, while Solomon Sturges, at a cost to himself of twenty thou sand dollars, put in the field the " Sturges Rifles" ; and that was but one of his many contributions. Not only was Mr. Sturges the largest giver to the war in Chicago, but it was said that he contributed more than any man in the country. That, however, may be questioned. When, near the close of 1864, the doctors informed this sturdy patriot that his hour had come, he insisted they were mistaken, as he could not die untU Richmond was taken. Grant was then before Petersburg, and it would have been pleasant to say he had made good the old gentleman's contention. WOMEN OFFICERS UNDER MATRON-GENERAL DIX Aside from her official position as a representative of Matron-General Dix, the one to whom probably most credit is due for energizing the local f emmine forces in sup port of the fighting sex, is Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, an extraordinarily dominant personality. Her husband, the Rev. D. P. Livermore, editor of a Universahst paper, was well above the average of men, both in stature and mental force, and also very active in aU manner of pubhc affairs; 108 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO but he never quite succeeded in establishing his identity independent of Mary A. Such was the separatist state of the religious mind, that had Mrs. Livermore been a less personality, the majority of the women with evangehcal affiliations, who so wiUingly accepted her leadership, might well have refused to follow, because of her heretical belief in ultimate universal salvation. Mrs. A. H. Hoge, who shared official honors with Mrs. Livermore as a representa tive of the Matron-General, was also a very forceful personality, with an executive talent of a high order; and another who was ever in the forefront as an efficient leader and worker was Myra, the talented wife of Judge J. B. Bradwell, and latter a "limb of the law" on her own account. Men of the stamp of Thomas B. Bryan, Mark Skinner, and E. B. McCagg, were called to the head of the various movements to ameliorate the hardships of the struggle, and virtually gave all their time and much of their substance to further the work. But these effective personalities by no means obscured the light of the women in positions behind them; for not only were aU details left in their hands, but many of the larger initiatives were due to their experience as home managers or to their intuitive foresight. WORK DONE FOR THE SOLDIERS BY GIRLS Among the younger generation — the sisters and sweet hearts of the "boys" who had responded to their country's call — the desire to render service equaUed that of their elders. There was lint to pick (this was before the days of antiseptics) ; and who shall say that many a wound (fid not heal the quicker for the precious "magnetism" im parted to the filaments by sympathetic maidenly hands? There were all manner of other hospital equipments, such THE WORK OF THE WOMEN 109 as bandages, sheets, pillow slips, etc., to be provided; and in its furtherance that indefatigable patriot, J. H. McVicker, set up a battery of thirty sewing-machines on an upper floor of his theatre. There was always opportunity for service at the "Soldiers' Rest," where all departing, returning, or passing regiments were entertained; and many a brave lad took with him a pleasant memory of fair ministrants decked in red, white, and blue scarfs, who favored them so generously with cheering smiles and ap petizing "goodies." THE SANITARY FAIR OF 1863 Prior to the two great Sanitary Fairs, held respectively in 1863 and 1865, there was held in the early days of the war, with the idea of developing "sinews," under the man agement of Mesdames Livermore, Hoge, and Hosmer, what was known as a "Festival." Then, in 1863, followed the Sanitary Fair which was to prove the parent of a numerous progeny aU over the country, in aid of the Sani tary Commission. To this President Lincoln contributed the perfected draft of his Emancipation Proclamation,* * There appears to be a good deal of confusion and not a little misinformation extant, with reference to Emancipation Proclamation " originals," and their dis position and fate. The one sold at, and for the benefit of, the first Chicago Sani tary Fair, was undoubtedly the first clean draft carefully copied by the President for final approval by the Cabinet; and there is evidence that it was with great reluctance that he finally placed this priceless document at the disposal of the fair. According to all late references that have come under my notice, it was bought in at auction by Thomas B. Bryan, and presented by him to the Soldiers' Home. The manuscript was deposited by the Board of Managers of the Soldiers' Home in the "fire-proof" building of the Chicago Historical Society, where it was destroyed in the fire of 1871. That it was not aUowed to perish without an heroic struggle is evidenced by a letter from Col. Samuel Stone, assistant secretary and librarian of the Historical Society, who, when the alarm of fire was given on the morning of October 9, 1871, rushed to the Historical Society. He writes : " I at tempted to break the frame of the Proclamation and take it out. But the frame no BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO which sold for three thousand dollars, and thereby won for the liberator a hugely magnificent gold watch, which had been offered as a prize to the one whose individual gift should represent the highest money value. It was duly presented to the President by the Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, Chicago's Congressman, in his best Chesterfieldian man ner, on behalf of the committee of ladies who bore it to Washington. The recipient is reported to have acknowl edged the gift with one of his best stories ; but what it was all about the ladies cotJd never be got to tell. THE SANITARY FAIR OF 1865 Then, in 1865, it was determined to hold another fair, and on a much larger scale, a part of the proceeds to go to the Soldiers' Home, and the remainder to the Sanitary Commission. It was at first proposed to open it on Wash ington's Birthday, and to close it on the day of Lincoln's second inauguration. But the work, under a committee from each church and every sort of secular organization, as sumed such proportions, that the thirtieth of May was then fixed upon for the opening. Meantime Lee had surren dered, an event that was soon followed by the assassination of the President; and the corner-stone was laid in silence and sadness. Although the war had come to a sudden close, there was stiU great need of funds to care for the disabled; was so stout it was not easily done; and just as I was making the attempt there came another blast of fire and smoke, . . . The entire building and everything surrounding it was one mass of flame, the fire burning every brick, apparently." But there is another "original," and a very real one, extant. It was pre sented by the President to the Albany Army ReUef Bazaar on January 4, 1864, and was sold by the bazaar to Gerritt Smith, the famous Abolitionist, for $1 100. Mr. Smith in turn presented it to the United States Sanitary Commission. In 1865,' by action of the legislature of the State of New York, it was purchased from the eemmission for |1,000, and ordered to be deposited in the State Library, where it now is. ivi ^r THE NORTHWESTERN SANITARY FAIR OF 1865 (The Building was Erected (in Dearborn Park, now Occupied by the Chicago Public Lilirary, with Bryan Hall as an Adjunct) THE WORK OF THp WOMEN 111 and so a building was erected, which completely covered the old Dearborn park, now occupied by the public hbrary ; while Bryan Hall served as a trophy-hall adjunct. Con tributions were received from all over the world: from England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, China, Japan, and it proved an extraor dinary success. The Hon. Thomas B. Bryan was the active manager, assisted by most of the ladies I have men tioned; Mrs. W- T. Sherman had personal supervision of one of the departments; General Grant presented "Jack," the horse he rode whUe Colonel of the Twenty-first lUinois Infantry; Iowa farmers contributed four hundred acres of land ; Lincoln's log cabin was imported, and erected in aU its primitive uniqueness; Harriet Hosmer sent her statue of Zenobia; Carpenter his painting of "The Signing of the Emancipation Proclamation"; Bierstadt his "Rocky Mountains"; Professor Goldwin Smith presented a valu able painting; and famous literary men sent the manu scripts of their inspirations. Horace Greeley wrote : "Office of the Tribune, "New York, May 7, 1865. "My Dear Sir: " I have your note and circular. I enclose herewith as many photo graphs of myself (half a dozen) as will probably be required to glut the market. As to Arms or Trophies, not having used the former in our late terrible struggle, I have had no opportunity to acquire the latter. "I am yours, "Horace Greeley." "mrs. Partington" expresses her feelings "Mrs. Partington," having been invited to express her feelings, gave utterance to the following: "Dear Sir: — Perhaps you don't know Isaac has gone to the con tented field; he was grafted last fall in one of the wings of the army; 112 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO I suppose the flying artillery. I wrote to Mr. Stanton, telling him not to put Isaac where he would get shot, as he wasn't used to it. I know what influenza you must have with the President, and I write this to you to get Isaac on a furlong, so he can get his mended pantaloons; for he writes me two of their 'parrots' hurst their breeches, and I think what an awful thing it would he if Isaac was a parrot. When Isaac used to sing T want to be an angel' I did not think he would be so soon with the 'Swamp angels' down in Charleston. He says the war will be over soon, and he will come back a Victoria. I'm sure I wish it was over, or had not been commenced yet. " Yours, "Ruth Partington." A daily paper called The Voice of the Fair was pub lished by the management, and a bound file of this unique souvenir remains in possession of the Hon. E. B. Sherman, one of its editors. WAR and slavery RELICS ON EXHIBITION Bryan Hall was draped with flags, and here many unique relics were exhibited. Among these was a beU from the Mississippi plantation of Jefferson Davis, which had formerly caUed his "hands" to their daily tasks: it was here used morning and night to open and close the fair. Hardly less interesting was a rusty iron collar that had decorated the necks of slaves. But the relic that attracted most attention was a sign with the legend " Libby & Son, Ship Chandlers," — a fearsome reminder to not a few who looked upon it here, of days and months of unut terable suffering in Richmond's prison. On the centre of the stage, in solemn state, rested the catafalque whereon in his last sleep had reposed the nation's martyr. As show ing how the trophies from Rebel lands displayed here in such numbers, were regarded at the time, I will let The Voice of the Fair speak, as it truly reflects not only the THE WORK OF THE WOMEN 113 feehng of the day, but also the manner in which it fre quently found utterance : "And here too have come the foul and loathsome emblems of trea son and slavery — the exponents of that hellish monster, begotten in fraud, conceived in wickedness, born in violence, rapine, plunder, and cruelty, and swaddled aU over with a pestilential garment, whose warp was treason, whose woof was shameless lies, and baptized in the blood of Liberty's martyrs." ARRIVAL OF GENERALS SHERMAN AND GRANT The chief events among many stirring incidents that marked the progress of the fair were the arrival on dif ferent days, fresh from their hard-won victories, first of General Sherman and later of General Grant. To a gen eration whose enthusiasms, for lack of emotional issues, are necessarily somewhat perfunctory or altogether artificial — as when a candidate is vociferously acclaimed in a nomi nating convention for the best part of an hour — it is not easy to convey through the medium of words a sense of the spontaneous, irresistible uprush of feeling that in the hour of final victory marked every possible occasion for a dem onstration. The four years of suspense were well calcu lated to engender a form of popular hysteria. By a slow, costly, death-charged process of selection, two men had risen above all others to leadership. In their hands had come to rest the fate of the nation ; and now, in the hour of supreme triumph, these two were Chicago's guests! AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION TO EACH The reception of General Sherman, if not so elaborate as that tendered the Lieutenant-General, was not one whit less enthusiastic. In both instances any difference was simply a case of less or more opportunities afforded by the programme. When General Sherman arrived, cannon 114 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO boomed a salute, and the hero of the hour, on alighting from the train, found huBself in the midst of a frenzied populace, which no restraining force could keep within bounds. Happily the march to the fair was shorter than that through Georgia. At the buUding the General was received in fitting terms by Mayor Rice ; then a poem — well, "Old Tecumseh" was never known to fhnch before any ordeal, whatever the suffering it might entail. Two days later, on the tenth of June, it was General Grant's turn to face the music, and this in quite a literal sense. The hero of Appomattox was received by the Mayor and CouncU, and by delegations from every kind of organization, headed by the Board of Trade. "Fight ing Joe" Hooker, himself no mean hero, as commander of the department was present with his staff, and it devolved on him to deliver the formal address of welcome ; for this was in effect a military reception, with salutes of cannon, and an escort from every branch of the service. General Grant, as became the occasion, rode literally at the head of the army, and he bestrode his old war-horse "Jack," donated by him for the benefit of the fair. General Sherman had taken his medicine as became the occasion, by entering heartily into the spirit of it — and again and again his face was wreathed in smiles, with, per haps, a suggestion of the sardonic, whUe the glitter in his eye was a chaUenge to ever fresh enthusiasms. But Grant was hterally in "The Wilderness" once again. He sat his horse as grimly as if all the forces of Lee were in ambush before him, and there Avas no opening line in sight on which to fight it out. To a man as diffident as the Grant of those days — he in time overcame his reticence, as he did many things — it was indeed trying to face such a turbulent human sea with its waves upon waves of ever higher rising By Courtesy of Ihe Chica^'o llistoriral SocieU" MRS. MARY A. ("MOTHER"! BICKERDYKE (Organizer of Jlilitary Hospitals and Friend of the Soldiers) THE WORK OF THE WOMEN 115 enthusiasm. But all this was as nothing to the ordeal that awaited him inside the building, when he found himself face to face with the city's young and exuberant beauty, strewing the way to the platform with flowers. GENERAL GRANT DECLINES TO MAKE A SPEECH After the addresses of welcome General Grant was naturally caUed upon for a speech, but declined. General Sherman was then caUed on, and said: "I have always been wUhng to do anything the LieutenantrGeneral asked me to do, but he has never asked me to make a speech." To this Grant replied, "I have never asked a soldier to do anything I could n't do myself." The net proceeds of the fair were about four hundred thousand dollars; while the Sanitary Fairs in different parts of the country — offspring of the first held in Chi cago in 1863 — netted nearly five million dollars, MRS. bickerdyke's ARRAIGNMENT OF MEN WHO WOULD NOT HELP While still on the theme of the work of the women in behalf of the men in the field, I cannot refrain from going outside the local record to say a word about Mrs. Mary A. Bickerdyke, of Cleveland, who visited Chicago more than once, when things seemed to need stirring up a bit. "Mother" Bickerdyke — the name by which she was best known among the camps and hospitals of the army — was nothing if not fearless and original. At one time she had charge of the Gayoso Hospital, at Memphis, and by keep ing every one connected with it up to a strict line of duty, made it a model for other military hospitals. She had the head of one of the field hospitals discharged. He appealed to General Sherman, Commander of the department, who 116 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO asked, "Who caused your discharge?" The answer was, "It was that woman Bickerdyke." "Oh," was the reply, "I can do nothing for you; she ranks me." As the name Bickerdyke might suggest, its bearer was afraid of nobody, and least of all, of a man. When she wanted to stir the stay-at-homes up to their duty, she went after them in this fashion : "You merchants and rich men, living at your ease dressed in your broadcloth, knowing little and caring less for the sufi'erings of the soldiers from hunger and thirst, from cold and nakedness, from sick ness and wounds, from pain and death, all incurred that you may roll in wealth, and your homes and little ones be safe, — you refuse to give aid to these poor soldiers, because, forsooth, you gave a few dollars some time ago to fit out a regiment ! Shame on you — you are not men — you are cowards. Go over to Canada ! This country has no place for such creatures." Mrs. Bickerdyke was with the Army of the Tennessee .at Mission Ridge, and was the only woman in the field hos pital there. Thence she went to the field hospital near Chattanooga, where she was joined by Mrs. Eliza A. Porter, an accomplished lady, who had been sent hy the Northwestern Sanitary Commission at Chicago, and was thereafter her constant associate. She attended Sherman's army in the Atlanta campaign, and was afterwards called to NashviUe and Franklin to nurse the wounded in those terrible battles. Later she organized the supply depart ment of the hospital in Savannah, and followed Sherman's army through the Carolinas. CHAPTER IX THE PART OF THE SINGERS Both North and South Sustained by Inward Forces — Causes of Illinois' Preeminence among the States in Filling its Quotas — The Brothers Frank and Jules Lumbard — Influ ence of their Quartette on Enlistments — Chicago and the More Immediate West Roused to a High Pitch of Patriotic Sacrifice — "The Battle Cry of Freedom" — Frank Lumbard AND "Ole Shady" — A Letter from Jules about the Song — Generous Services Unrequited — An Appeal. AS the great war crisis lengthens in mental perspective, some matters that once loomed large in the fore ground recede vaguely into colorless shadow, while others, through a better informed estimate of values, grow in self-illumining proportions. On the side of the South, the underlying feeling which unheedingly forced the issue to an arbitrament by the sword, and there after sustained the "lost cause" to the bitter end, was an overweening pride, the result of a long-fostered sense of caste superiority. On the side of the North the sensi bilities involved were of a more impersonal character — a patriotism comprehended under the symbol of Union, and here and there touched with a sentimental regard for the condition of the slave. When it is remembered that the South beheved as thoroughly as the North in the justice of her cause, it is possible to see that her pride, joined to the feeling that she was defending her homes, made a con dition where powers of resistance and endurance were distinctly less in need of extraneous stimuli than was the case with the sjTithesis of feehngs that kept the Northern 117 118 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO armies at their accepted task ; and hence extrinsic influences to enthusiasm were far more important as supports to the cause of the Union than to that of the enemy. Neither side in those days understood the other, and each sadly mis calculated the other's staying powers. For the inward forces that sustained the North in its long struggle the South had no vision whatsoever. To it the Northern peo ple were prideless, shop-keeping "mudsills," in whose eyes only the dollar had value. It credited no depths of senti ment to descendants from a Puritan ancestry; knew nought of the sacrificial possibUities of a freedom-loving Ger man ideahsm — founts whose uprushings coidd be trans lated into deeds through the alchemy of song and story. Who of that time, for example, can forget the emotional thriU produced by Dr. Hale's "Man Without a Country," or estimate in fighting terms the services of a man like George F. Root, an inspired singer, who fitted hunself to the hour as steel to flint? The South was stimulated by thoughts of chivalry, and panoplied in those quahties that exalt men in the eyes of sentimental womanhood. With the North fought all the invisible hosts of the historic past whose blood has enriched the soil of freedom ; all the spirits of martyrs who for imperishable ideals found death at the stake ; and when the strength and fortitude which these ex amples inspired were failing, they could be revivified by those stimiUi which excite emotions that most readily spur to action. causes of ILLINOIS' EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE ENLISTMENT The exceptional position of lUinois among her loyal sister States, as the only one whose quotas were placed in the field without resort to the draft, has been frequently attributed to the fact that it gave Abraham Lincoln to the GEORGE F. root (Composer of " The Battle-Cry of Freedom,' and Other Inspired Songs) THE PART OP THE SINGERS 119 nation, and so had a special incentive to sustain him in his arduous task. But, as I attempt to evaluate the various influences that joined in the proud result, certain other fac tors urge themselves for recognition. If the great Presi dent was an inspiration to enlistment among the intensely loyal, it must not be forgotten that he was also hated and revUed as none other: and that between his ardent sup porters and his envenomed detractors, there was a consider able middle zone occupied by a class who might be moved only by some form of self-interest or extraneous excitation. The lure of large bounties was in the later years of the war all over the land ; and while this might hold a strong posi tion in the background of intention, it was of the first importance to the work of enlistment that something out of the common should stir the blood and help to fix the resolution. Who was it that said, "Let me write the songs of a people and I care not who makes its laws"? But great songs have no fixed habitation. Indeed, frequently they are popularized far from the scene of their birth: so much is due to the manner of their exploitation — so frequently to some exceptional interpretation. Was it merely a coin cidence that the maker of the war's most inspiring lyrics, and their "creators" (as the stage people say) and most gifted celebrants were local co-workers? These battle pasans were heard in Chicago, where they were born, as nowhere else. If inspiration requires a congenial atmos phere for spontaneous expression, there was much here to call it forth. THE BROTHERS LUMBARD AS SINGERS The Lumbards, Frank and Jules, were notabihties years before the war. Through these gifted brothers sing- 120 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO ing had fairly got into Chicago's blood; and so all was ready to give a whole-hearted welcome to the gift of the muses, as a form of emotional expression suited to the hour. Jules G. Lumbard, in his prime, was regarded as one of the finest bassos in the country; and to this rare gift for tune added a presence that happily still makes this master- singer in his hale old age one of the marked figures of the city. Frank's voice was a sonorous tenor ; and, if not quite the equal of the brother's in purity, it had a quality aU its own, a triumphant heartiness that irresistibly compelled his auditors to f oUow where he led, and to ring out the chorus as if the life of the country depended on each individual doing his very utmost. THEIR SINGING OF "tHE BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM" Mr. George P. Upton shared to the fuU the emotions of the hour. In his recently published "Musical Mem ories," through which those who were of the elder time can so truly live many experiences over again, he thus asso ciates these singers with some significant incidents : "When President Lincoln issued his second call for troops, 'The Battle Cry of Freedom' occurred to him [Root] as a motive for a song, while he was reading the document. He dashed it ofi" hurriedly the next morning at the store. There was to be a public meeting on the same day in the Court House Square. Frank and Jules Lumbard, who were the singers laureate of the war period, came to the store to get something new to sing. The Doctor gave them 'The Battle Cry.' They ran it over once or twice, went to the meeting, and shouted it in their trumpet tones, and before the last verse was finished thousands joined in the refrain. It spread from that Square all over the coun try. It was heard in camps, on the march, upon the battle field. It became the Northern Marseillaise. I heard it sung once under pe culiar circumstances, when I was with the Mississippi flotilla, acting as correspondent for The Chicago Tribune. There was a transport in convoy of the fleet, with troops on board. One evening, as I sat "m: .-f .¦< ^<^^^ 'rixo,;--v.^ '^x ., 1 By Courtesy of the Chicago Histoncal Societj COVER OF "THE BATTLE-CRY OF FREEDOM" (Written by George F. Root at the Time of Lincoln's Second Call for Troops; First Sung by Frank and Jules Lumbard in the Court House Square, Chicago) THE PART OF THE SINGERS 121 upon the deck of the gunboat wondering what would happen next day, for the Confederates were in our immediate vicinity behind strong batteries, I heard a clear tenor voice on the transport singing 'The Battle Cry of Freedom.' As the singer's notes died away on the even ing air, the response of 'Dixie' came across the water from an equally clear tenor. As soon as he had ceased the first singer continued the concert by a vigorous shout of the song which declares the intention to 'hang Jeff" Davis on a sour apple tree, as we go marching on.' There was no song of the war time that equalled ' The Battle Cry ' in popularity and patriotic inspiration." THE INFLUENCE OF THEIR WAR QUARTETTE When defeat followed defeat, and hearts were wrung to the breaking point, there was in the wide territory tribu tary to Chicago no instrumentahty to rouse men to re newed action — to ever higher duties and sacrifices — comparable to these rarely gifted singers. No rally for the Union within a wide radius was complete without the promised presence of their war quartette; and whensoever they were advertised to appear, there was never a question as to the success of the meeting, for then the whole country side for fifty miles around would be on hand to follow their lead in "Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom." Frank, the quartette's leader, was an incarnation of optimism, an embodiment of the spirit of enthusiasm; and, whatever the situation, however oppressed the hearts of the people, he possessed the gift to impart his own high spirits to his sur roundings. He just did things in a big, exuberant way; dispelled clouds and made the sun shine in spite of itself ; forced men and women to sing and sing again, and so turned heart-heaviness into sacrificial rejoicing. ILLINOIS^ EXCEPTIONALLY FAVORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES One must have been of the day and hour to realize what shght fiUip to the sensibilities often led to resolutions preg- 122 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO nant with the issue of life or death. Each successive call filled the country with a feverish unrest, which might, as circumstances determined, settle into a dispiriting depres sion or rise to a fervid exaltation. Those communities that were without forceful leaders or other incentives to action had no recourse but to face the draft : a proceeding without sentiment. On the other hand, a locality so favored as Illinois, whose lode-star was a Lincoln, which had the ef fective leadership of a great War Governor, and was furthermore uplifted by the exceptional influences noted, found in these demands upon it only occasions for renewed and greater efforts ; and until the task set before it was ac complished, all other matters were thrust aside. UBIQUITOUSNESS OF THE LUMBARD QUARTETTE I have spoken of the part taken by the men of the Board of Trade, of the meetings held under their direc tion, and the extraordinary enlistment machinery set in motion by them. In all this, and much besides, the Lum bard quartette was ubiquitous. From alternating between gatherings at Bryan and Metropolitan Halls, there would be a rush to the train to meet an engagement at Urbana or Springfield, Peoria or Freeport, Rockford, Galesburg, Dixon, or Aurora. Then back to Chicago, where further rallies waited on their inspiriting presence. And when Illi nois had rushed its quota to a triumphant conclusion, and adjoining States were making strenuous efforts to escape conscription, the quartette would answer a summons from Janesville or Madison, Wisconsin; Indianapolis or Terre Haute, Indiana; or Grand Rapids or Lansing, Michigan. And when there was nothing special in the recruiting line to keep them at home, there were loud caUs from the various camps of the men from lUinois in the field; and FRANK LUMBARD, TENOR JULES G. LUMBARD, BASSO (Chicag-o's Famous Singers of War-time Lyrics) THE PART OF THE SINGERS 123 SO all the days of the four years of conflict were busy as well as helpful ones for the Lumbards. CHICAGO STIRRED BY MUSIC IN THE WAR TIME It is not easy to interpret to an overworked age like the present, in which the stimuli to the emotions must be strained to the snapping point in order to produce any appreciable effect, what simple means sufficed to move men to great enthusiasms, when their sensibilities had not been rendered callous by over-much artificial excitation. Though we are not a spontaneously musical people, as are most Europeans, there was in the war time an outburst of patriotic song on the slightest provocation, shared in by everybody, anywhere and everywhere; while all the great war meetings had the appearance of mannerchor reunions. In defence of the Wagner music drama (in which even a dragon has his "motif") it has been con tended that primeval man was more of a singing than a talking biped. EMOTIONS OF SERFS AND SLAVES EXPRESSED IN SONG We see this iUustrated by the chants in which abor igines demonstrate their feelings. Because the serfs un burdened their hearts through music, fitted a melody to every task of drudgery, as well as to their scant pleasures, there is for the behoof of the modern composer an almost inexhaustible store of spontaneous Russian folk-music to draw upon for symphonic elaboration; and when the American Tschaikovsky shall arrive, he may well find his richest nuggets among the plaints wrung from the heart of the African in our slavery days. Therefore, taking into account the naive character of the community, together with the storm and stress of the times, it should 124 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO not be difiicult to understand why the Lumbards, through their exceptional gift, became the voice of a popular emo tion — nay, its apotheosis — and, rather than the many honored above their deserts, deserve to be held in grate ful remembrance by their compatriots; and, above all, by the people of the Middle West. JULES LUMBARD's LETTER ABOUT "OLE SHADY" And this brings me to where a word about the song with which the name of Frank Lumbard is so intimately associated may be of interest. Few themes in Chicago's "bygone days" are so suggestive of romance or story as "Ole Shady" — an idyllic note in a procession of war's alarms. Its origin is shrouded in mystery, its author is unknown, and probably, like Topsy, it "just growed." Innumerable legends have been woven around it in con nection with its famous interpreter — most of them pure inventions. With the view of giving the song all the basis of fact possible in the circumstances, I communicated with Jules, the superb basso of the quartette, and the only sur vivor that links the present to those inspired bards who, led by the Hutchinson family, sang slavery to its doom. I give Mr. Lumbard's reply in full, for it is a veritable whiff from the spirit of those elder days, when men were truly moved out of themselves for a cause : "My dear Mr. Cook: "To your inquiry, I beg to advise that the first time we heard 'Ole Shady' it was simg by an old darky, to a banjo accompaniment, at General McPherson's headquarters, in the rear of Vicksburg, while that place was under siege by the Union forces under General Grant. My brother Frank and myself were visitors there some time before the surrender, which occurred on July 4, 1868. We brought the music of the song with us, — for it was in our ears and hearts from the first rendering by the gray-haired minstrel, — but it was I who had the fore- THE PART OF THE SINGERS 125 thought to copy the words from the dictation of the old darky, and we both took early opportunity to introduce it to Northern audiences. "I afterwards learned that the song had been previously given to the world through a Boston music-publishing house, but who its com poser was I never found out. But the sentiment of the song struck the key-note of public feeling, and it came into almost universal de mand. "One thing deserves, nay needs, to be said regarding it. And that is that it is in no sense a comic production, notwithstanding the fact that its first words are of laughter, and that most singers prefer to give it a flippant and comic interpretation. The fact remains that the song itself is one of deepest pathos, and of sublime aspiration. Its subject is unlettered, but its import is of the noblest and highest. The old man, who was born and reared a slave, is suddenly impressed with the thought that freedom has come at last: that his children are his own and not another's, and that he is at last a man among men, that he is free! And he exclaims with heartfelt earnestness and enthu siasm, ' Hail ! mighty day ! ' "As you are aware, my brother Frank and myself gave ourselves to the rendering of patriotic music throughout the war, and the enthu siasm everywhere enkindled by this song is proof of its merit, and of its being in sympathy with the sentiment of the time. But it has been belittled, and rendered almost contemptible, by the attempts of false interpreters to turn it into jest and a subject of merriment. The words already quoted, ' Hail ! mighty day ! ' are as lofty and trenchant as those of that other heaven-pointing refrain, 'Give me liberty, or give me death.' "Ever sincerely yours, "J. G. Lumbard." THE SONG Here is the song -mth which the name of Frank Lum bard is so intimately associated : "OLE SHADY" " Oh ! yah, yah ! darkies, laugh wid me ! For de white folks say Ole Shady am free. So don't you see dat de Jubilee Am a-comin', comin' .^ — Hail ! mighty day ! 126 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO Chorus: "Den away, away, for I can't stay any longer; Hooray ! Hooray ! for I 's a-gwine home ! Den away, away, for I can't wait any longer; Hooray! Hooray! for I's a-gwine home! "Ole Mas' got scared, an' so did his lady, Dis chUe he break for Ole Uncle Aby. Open de gates ! for here 's Ole Shady A-comin', comin' ! — Hail ! mighty day ! "Good-bye, Mas' Jeff" and good-bye, Mas' Stephens. Scuse dis niggah for takin' his leabings; Spect pretty soon you '11 hear Uncle Abram 's A-comin', comin' ! — Hail ! mighty day ! "Good-bye, hard work, wid neber any pay; I 's a-gwine up Norf, wha'r de good folks say Dat white wheat bread an' a dollar a day Am a-comin', comin' ! — Hail ! mighty day ! "Oh! I's got a wife, and she'm got a baby. Way up Norf in Lower Canady; Oh ! won't dey laugh when dey see Ole Shady A-comin', comin' ! — Hail ! mighty day ! Chorus: "Den away, away, for I can't stay any longer; Hooray ! Hooray ! for I 's a-gwine home ! Den away, away, for I can't wait any longer; Hooray ! Hooray ! for I 's a-gwine home ! " Who that heard Frank sing this song in the war days can ever forget the heart-bursting triumph with which he rose to — "Open de gates for here 's Ole Shady A-comin', comin' ! — Hail! mighty day !" In the war days the quartette was composed of Frank Lumbard, first tenor; John Rickey, second tenor; Charles Smith, alto; and Jules Lumbard, basso. Later John M. THE PART OP THE SINGERS 127 Hubbard, who is still in a responsible position in the Chi cago Post Office, took the basso part. FRANK lumbard's UNSELFISHNESS Frank Lumbard, however hard pressed, was never a mercenary, singing merely for hire. When in after years the war-time singer attuned himself to the exigencies of political campaigning — the work in which he is now best remembered by the many — he stiU held his talent in trust to support his political convictions, and under no circum stances coidd a money consideration influence him to sing for "the other side." To the last he was true to his po litical colors, which to his mind were identical with "Old Glory"; and I trust that the flag he so loved, and which through his inspiring celebrations was made doubly pre cious to so many of his countrymen, became his winding sheet. It was in 1882 that Frank Lumbard died. It would have been pleasant to recall that his coimtry, to the pres ervation of which he so efficiently gave the best years of his life, made suitable provision for himself and family when a last lingering illness came upon him ; or that some of the many whom by his voice he helped to rich pohtical rewards, had fittingly remembered their obligation. Frank Lumbard was a man who freely spent himself for others, with little regard for his own interests; and so his chief legacy is a memory worthy to be cherished by every lover of our reunited country. THE UNDERWORLD Professional Gambling in the Early Sixties — An Influx op Blacklegs from the South — They Give a "Rebel" Coloring TO Down-Town Life — The "Sport" of Every Sort in Those Days an "Outcast" — Is He Now "One of Us" ? — The Per nicious Influence of This Class on the Young — Lack of Legitimate Amusements — Striking Contrast in the Social Life between Then and Now — The "War Widow" — The Bounty-Jumper. PROFESSIONAL gambling, by a class frankly branded "blacklegs" — a term of reprobation now far less in common use — was exploited in war-time Chicago largely by Southerners. Indeed, if the Garden City of the early sixties could in any respect be called "fast," it was this contingent that supplied the speed; for the mass of the people, brought together from staid New England or York State, Germany, Ireland, or Scandi navia, found the fullest scope for their gaming propensities in real-estate options, with at most an occasional "flyer" on the Board of Trade, — which "pit of iniquity," like the dramatic stage of the period, was still devoted to the "strictly legitimate." The gambler of those days was a "sport" even in a Darwinian sense: a marked variation from the normal. Society had not yet followed him into the betting ring, and he differentiated himself from his more humble fellow- citizens both by his toggery and demeanor. His was usu ally a striking figure, and he "banked" heavily on his shape. When not an out-and-out swashbuckler, your 128 THE UNDERWORLD 129 thoroughbred was apt to go to the opposite extreme, and draw attention to himself by a studied nonchalance. In dress he might foUow the latest or the loudest fashion, affect the brass-buttoned claw-hammer of a former genera tion, or slosh around in the fantastic gear of a "plainsman" — since evolved into the "cowboy-hero" of classic story. But, however arrayed, your gambler was never other than a picturesque poseur, invariably "on the mash," — a pas time at which he was ably seconded by another unique species, yclept "burnt-cork artist," a bunch of whom, when not on exhibition at Metropolitan Hall, usuaUy vied with the blackleg in giving "color" to the panorama of the street. Few social phenomena are more worthy of attention than the drift in these days from old-time meanings, as well as moorings, with respect to what is broadly termed "sport." Once the gamester was a social pariah. Is it going too far to say he is now "one of us"? When an "outcast," he took every pains to emphasize his shame. To-day, he finds himself an undifferentiated unit of the "madding crowd," — as likely as not is a recognized leader in high finance; and, unable to distinguish himself morally from so many of his esteemed fellow-citizens, he no longer deems it worth his while to maintain the external dis tinctions of his whilom caste. AN INFLUX OF BLACKLEGS FROM THE SOUTH It was largely owing to the influx from the South that "sport" assumed a quite alien face in the Chicago of the early sixties, and played so conspicuous a part in the city's kaleidoscopic hfe. The swarthy, long-haired blackleg of the Lower Mississippi — acknowledged as facile princeps of the profession, and affecting the manners of his favorite 130 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO old-time victim, the high-roUing, slave-owning planter — invaded Chicago at the outbreak of hostilities in such numbers that he constituted an element to be reckoned with. Rebel to the core — though without hankerings for the hardships of army life — he was insolent to the point of defiance; and, in every situation wherein his world played a part, invariably held the middle of the stage. This element, so numerous, and so offensively in evidence by its blatant secession talk, not only worked up a good deal of Southern sympathy among the unthinking younger gen eration about town, but went far in giving the impression that Chicago was a hotbed of disaffection. Indeed, so far did this Southern gambling infiuence extend, that of aU the resorts for men-about-town, the Tremont House, under the loyal wing of mine host John B. Drake, was about the only place where one invariably heard outspoken Union sentiment. And while there was among all classes (the German element excepted) a goodly number with more or less avowed Southern sympathies, it was the gambler, in close touch with his kind in the South, who above all gave an extraordinarily aggressive tone to the local opposition to the war, and was the moving spirit in the organization of Lodges of Knights of the Golden Circle. THEY FIND MANY FOLLOWERS AMONG YOUNG MEN In those days the downtown night life was peculiarly indigenous; whereas the multitudes that to-day fill the skyscrapers, when the day's work is done scatter hither and yon by rapid transit. Most young men without local fam ily ties lived within, or immediately contiguous to, the business section. The upper parts of nearly all commercial buildings — unfit for business because of the absence of elevators — were occupied by "roomers"; while all that THE UNDERWORLD 131 part between Madison and Van Buren Streets, east of Clark, was devoted almost wholly to boarding-houses. It was this state of things that gave such an air of liveli ness to "downtown" at night. It made all of us, that were foot-free, literally "Johnnies-on-the-spot" all the time; and it was this intimate and peculiar community life, un modified by anything like home influences, that gave the gambler his opportunity to play a dominant role. In the eyes of most unattached masculinity, the "sport" with Lower Mississippi River antecedents was a prodigious personage, whose sayings and doings formed a leading topic at every rendezvous. He was particularly catered to at all but the most exclusive resorts, and it was an off-night when he failed to supply a batch of racy news items. The average yoimg man of half a century ago, as com pared with his kind to-day, was easily impressed by ex ternals ; and as in the downtown night life it was invariably the gambler on whom the lime light centred, it is small wonder that our "Johnnie" fell an easy victim to the glamour of the extravaganza in which this pinchbeck cav alier was ever the acclaimed hero. A veritable night-hawk, the blackleg was seldom on view until well along in the afternoon, and then only to do a "stunt" at sidewalk "mashing." The silly caramel girl, in her matinee finery, had as yet no existence, for the matinee itself awaited intro duction. No, when in those days you caught the flash of an eye from under some milliner's "dream," you made no mistake in assigning the wearer to the "red-light" district; for the approved street costume of the period was exceed ingly quiet, and a "symphony in color," such as may now without comment be displayed by the demurest maiden, was in those days an unmistakable class signal, and vastly in afternoon-promenade evidence. 132 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO PAUCITY OF RESORTS AND AMUSEMENTS IN THE EARLY SIXTIES No picture of downtown street life in the early sixties would be in any manner a true reflex that failed to show in high relief the part played by the Underworld — which for the nonce might well be called the Upperworld: for was it not literally on top? Even had it not so flagrantly chaUenged the eye — the men aggressively swagger, the women flaringly spectacular — it would stUl have attracted large attention, because of the absence of other "goings- on" to divide interest with it. A process of elimination from the present-day showing of any American city of say two hundred thousand inhabitants (about Chicago's ag gregate at the close of the war) will readily make this plain. There was only one permanent place of amusement, where to-day (apportioned to same population) there are half a score of various sorts, and more or less "continuous." There were no race meetings to bulk the pygmy jockey into a Goliath of popularity; no ring contests to beat the "bruiser" into pulpy notoriety; no professional basebaU to apotheosize the doubly-twisted "twirler"; no football contests to crown with bay or laurel the buttressed "centre," rock-rooted "fullback," or foot-winged "rusher"; no rowing matches to distinguish the "stroke" above his fellows; unheard of, and certainly unplayed, were such diversions as polo, golf, tennis, cricket, lacrosse, hockey, hand-ball, basket-ball, and even innocuous croquet; no such objects of adoration as champion pedestrians, long distance runners, spindle-shanked sprinters, high- jumpers, vaulters, weight-putters, or other fame-devouring athletes ; no record- or neck-breaking cyclists ; no death-courting or death-dealing chauffeurs; surely no sun-soaring aviators; and not even a billiard champion, until some years later. THE UNDERWORLD 133 when my old friend, genial Tom Foley, won that distinc tion at the first State tournament. There was not a club in the whole city for a quiet "sit-in"; no horse, dog, poul try, or flower shows ; no skating-rinks ; indeed, no popular pastimes of any sort; while even the picturesque red-shirt lads, who but a few years before had "run wid de masheen" and finished every fire with a free, all-round fight, had been summarily abolished. So it only remains to mention McVicker's Theatre, home of the tragic muse, for a "steady," with an occasional variation of circus or minstrel troupe. In these circimistances, is it matter for wonder that in the "whirl of the town," the men and women of the Underworld were the unchaUenged top-Hners? And while the shame thus flaunted no doubt acted as a deterrent on the many, on more than a few the gay plumage permitted only to those who threaded the "primrose path of dal liance," exerted a baleful fascination. EFFECTS OF THE GREAT OUTPUT OF GREENBACKS During the first year or two of the war money was extremely scarce. After that, through the steady output of greenbacks, this circulating medium reached demoraliz ing proportions, and, with the premium on gold, prices rose by leaps and bounds. This brings us to the period when, almost in a night, the centuries-old order changed into the new, in which we now live, move, and have our high- pressure being. Enter the regime of which the shoddy miUionaire is the finest flower; and from top to bottom there goes forward a steady demoralization of the com munity, through all manner of sordid and mahgn influ ences. The tremendous industrial activity that had been stimulated to supply our vast armies in far Southern fields was continued immediately after the war by such schemes 134 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO as the building of the Union Pacific RaUroad : and thus on top of the army-contract scandals came those of the Credit Mobilier — all, however, mere indices of the general state of the body social. But this, for the present, is taking us too far afield. The early spontaneous enlistments were largely of the foot-free, bolder spirits, the country's natural fighting blood. Later, as call followed call, more married men came to the fore, as the large bounties (to which were often added generous provision by communities) promised to secure those dependent on them against want. How this drain upon the conserving forces of society tended to weaken the defences that make for continence need scarcely be emphasized. And even while husbands made their exits, there entered upon the scene numbers on sick-leave or other form of furlough; and later, thousands whose enlistment had expired — devil-may-care fellows, with bulging pock ets, determined to "paint the town"; and, while many will eventuaUy reenlist, such a thing is, of course, quite un thinkable so long as there remains a desire ungratified or a greenback to squander. Not only were the authorities ex ceptionally indulgent toward folk of this sort, but, with a hope of hastening their return to the firing line, they rather encouraged them to fling their money about ; and the man ner in which they paraded their bedizened jades in open barouches, and frequently in processions, was rivalled only, as a street attraction, by the "grand entrance" of a circus. THE "war widow" About this time there came into common use the term "war widow," to denote a species of frailty quite unknown before. When the modern Ulysses went forth to battle, his Penelope, it is to be feared, did not always rise to the THE UNDERWORLD 135 possibilities of her self-denying opportunities, — neither wove by day nor undid by night, unneeded webs against the importunities of unwelcome suitors; nor yet devoted herself wholly to keeping the hearth swept in readiness for her hero's return. No, in only too many instances (espe cially in the absence of the restraining influence of chil dren) the sJ)ouse, if still young and moderately fair to look upon, made undue haste to invest her "substitute" hoard in finery for the street, approaching ever nearer in her un restraint to the devotees of pleasure. From this it resulted that outlying abodes were exchanged for "light house keeping" accommodations on the upper fioors of business blocks, hitherto consecrate to guileless masculinity. And so it came about that an evil theretofore strictly confined to "establishments" apart, intruded free-lance fashion wher ever it might find domiciliary tolerance. Prior to the irruption of the "war widow," spiders of her variety had spread their gaudy nets only in the light of day — as part of "Vanity Fair," and with an ulterior eye only to possible entanglements of over-curious "flies." But now, in the full adornment of war paint, the "bereaved" went obtrusively forth to seek her prey under the gaslight; and, in an in credibly short time this evil grew to such proportions that the police were compelled to take cognizance of it. There after frequent perfunctory "clean-ups" followed, and the "widow," with or without a war record, became an es tablished police-court habitue. THE BOUNTY- JUMPER To the degree — though with differing motive — that the famUy man was moved by exceptional monetary ni- ducements (in some cases rising above $1,500) to shoulder a musket, the chronic loafer and general vagabond also 136 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO succumbed to the temptation to enlist, but seldom with any thought of making a target of himself. As in days before the war there was an "Underground Railroad" to help runaway slaves across the border, so in these draft- and-substitute times, was there something of a like nature to aid the bounty- jumper — for a consideration. The looseness with which things were managed for Uncle Sam was most amazing; and there is little doubt that in many instances recruiting officers "stood in" with the gang, for only the most perfunctory precautions were taken to hold "substitutes" to their obligations. In Chicago the scheme was largely engineered by a coterie of Southern gamblers, who, besides getting a large "rake-off," no doubt felt they were loyally serving their cause. Hence, whUe the leaders remained flagrantly in evidence, any one famihar with the ins and outs of their entourage coiUd not fail at this time to note a remarkable absence of pickpockets, sneak-thieves, and gambhng-house hangers-on generaUy; and it was an open secret that they had found it profitable to take a vaca tion in Canada. However, long before the close of the war — indeed, as soon as the draft excitement was over — they were again in evidence at their old haunts, and not a mother's son of them was ever brought to book. At this distance the war time is apt to be regarded as one of hero isms only. Yet it was the seamy and sordid side ^ — the face distorted by lust and passion — that most insistently forced itself on the observer's attention. ADMISSION OF GAMBLERS INTO PRESENT-DAY SOCIETY Yes, "sport" was distinctly professional in the Chicago of the early sixties. There was sociaUy as yet no "fast set," or even a "smart set," to give the term a more generic meaning. There were "sporting men" surely enough, and THE UNDERWORLD 137 "sporting women" to spare, but all were of a piece, and frankly immoral. The present-day differentiation into various sporting strata, that make bewilderingly close touch, and fairly run into and over each other, until none can tell where the social status of some people begins or that of others ends — whether to class them among the elect or the "reject," as pillars of church and society or professional gamblers — had as yet no existence, and so presented no problem. The gambler in those days was as to many things a somewhat fastidious dilettante, and especially so in his re lation to "practical" politics; now he is most likely a ward or city boss, owns a racing stable, and occasionaUy seeks diversion by cornering the market. To-day, also, your big gambler is apt to be an evolution from the spawn of the purlieus, whereas in those days he was frequently an effect of social devolution — was the degenerate scion of some noble sire, — and prided himself on his blood. Many a one, had he chosen another way, might have risen to honor able distinction in the world at large; in his particular sphere he was a leader anyhow, with all that a distinction in such circumstances implies in the way of followers, rivalries, and sanguinary encounters. More than one among these "king pins" approximated to the Jack Hamlm and John Oakhurst type, and were idealized (not to say idolized) in quite the Bret Harte fashion by that large contingent whose standards were formed on the ex amples offered by writers of the Ned Buntline variety. THE UNDERWORLD (Continued) Two Notorious Gamesters — Women Who Kept "Establishments" — Murder of a Gambler by His Paramour — The Wedding of " Cap " Hyman — Opening of Sunnyside as a Highly Moral Road-House — The Class of "Ladies" Who were Present — Punctilious Decorum before Supper — Later a Champagne Revel. FROM among the many who rose to a bad eminence, two stood out conspicuously on several accounts, but chiefly because they kept things on the jump by a practice known in modern vernacular as "shooting up the town." One — and he offender in chief — was "Cap." Hyman, and the other George Trussell. Both kept their pocket artillery ever in a hair-trigger state of readiness; but, undoubtedly owing to poor marksmanship (under the somewhat common illusion characterized as "seeing dou ble") , neither ever killed anybody, if the mortuary returns may be trusted. Trussell, when sober, was a man of few words — indeed, a very sphinx of taciturnity. Hyman, on the other hand, was an excitable, emotional jack-in-the- box. It was only when in liquor that Trussell burst his shell, and got ugly and dangerous. He was tall, straight as an arrow, and might have stood as model for one of Remington's Indian-fighting cavalry officers. As a game ster he was top-sawyer among the "highest rollers," with a record of many broken "banks" to his credit. His pet aversion was Hyman; and, when it happened that both were sampling Randolph Street under full sail at the same time, everybody about was on the qui vive for something to 138 THE UNDERWORLD 139 happen. It came more than once to an exchange of shots, but, unfortunately, only projecting signs were damaged. Hyman was an insufferable egotist, and his irascible temper was forever getting the whole street into trouble. Again and again, after some ineffectual target practice on his part, the press would read the riot act to the authorities, — a proceeding which now and again resulted in a general "shake-up," but seldom until the valiant "Cap." had found it convenient to absent himself for a month or two on im portant business. WOMEN WHO KEPT "ESTABLISHMENTS" It was the vogue of the period for the gambling chiefs to have for consorts the most notorious keepers of "estab- hshments." There seemed under the circumstances a pecuhar fitness in this arrangement, — a veritable triumph for the law of natural selection, — and because of this con nection, and the large publicity given to occasional "pulls" (always made as spectacular as possible on the part of the police), these "Madams" were the tavern talk from the lakes to the Rockies. While people of this sort were in part conspicuous because of the flatness of life in general, it yet remains to be said that some of these Aspasias were rather uncommon characters, in a way quite resembling their Athenian sisters, — if only in the frequency with which they entertained statesmen of high degree. And though their doings might fall short of "pointing a moral," their sayings seldom failed to "adorn a tale," or enrich the vocabulary of the street, while more than one was credited — quite after the fashion of present-day multi-milhonaires — with attempts to moUify good St. Peter with phil anthropic bestowals of their "tainted" lucre. If any in similar wise now fills the eyes of the vulgar, it is that 140 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO modern tragedienne in real life, the "Florodora girl," — though sensationalism is now so general that no class or form of exploitation may claim a monopoly. Indeed, in quite the fashion that the gambler now per meates various strata of society, so his frail counterpart assumes many roles formerly not open to her. In those days there were no gradations of descent — no experi mental stages, as one might say, for possible ascents to giddy heights in miUionaire mistressdom; no snug secre taryships, or alluring opportunities afforded by the en chantments of the chorus. No, a single false step pre cipitated the victim straight into the depths; and this explains why the "lady boarders" of Madam's sumptuous establishment often played so conspicuous a part in the rather commonplace drama of the period. It also makes plain, — because of the eliminations by selection for "light housekeeping" that nowadays go forward in the process of descent, — why the present-day Magdalen, per police- court exhibit, is seldom other than a repulsive residuum. Society, as a censor of morals, occupied itself with no fine-spun distinctions half a century ago. It knew only good and bad. Hence that very considerable male contingent, — now more or less within its pale, which is distinguished as the "fast set," — though outwardly held in strong leash to social convenances, would yet covertly as sociate where it could enjoy a fling for its money; and, accordingly, the upper crust of the demi-world occupied an influential position toward this not inconsiderable social increment that had to be reckoned with. All that is now known as "gentleman's sport," nay, proclaimed as the "sport of kings," was then socially tabooed, along with all forms of gambling, and so received open support only from professional gamblers. Hence, much that now finds op- THE UNDERWORLD 141 portunity for exploitation imder the wing of eminent respectabihty, was then unqualifiedly condemned, and found a congenial atmosphere only in the gilded salon. MURDER OF A GAMBLER BY HIS PARAMOUR After the war, when the sporting bars began to come down, it was none other than George Trussell, thorough bred gambler and managing owner of Dexter, the "record" trotting horse of its day, who led the racing cohorts of Chicago. And additional light is shed on the status of the race track as a means to amusement at that time, when it is added that in less than a month after the tragic end of TrusseU at the hands of his "Mollie," McKeever, the gallant owner of the horse General Butler, was done to death in a foul attempt to prevent him from winning from the horse Cooley, a tragedy that closed the gates of the but recently opened Chicago Driving Park. When, however, the following year, a new course was opened, it was significantly named for the horse once owned by George Trussell — Dexter Park. The date is September 3, 1866. The horse Dexter, record-holder for trotting speed, and but recently acquired by George Trussell, had made its first appearance under the new ownership, and there was great rejoicing among the habituSs of Randolph Street, with whom TrusseU was a prime favorite. Mistress Mollie, in a barouche, sur rounded by a bevy of ladies-in-waiting under a rainbow- hued canopy of sunshades, had been the particular centre of attraction within the oval. At the close of the races George had solemnly promised "to be home early," and preside at a little dinner to be given a select company of swell patrons. But, probably because so many wanted to congratulate him on his new acquisition, he faUed to put 142 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO in an appearance, and horrible visions of faithlessness crossed Mistress Molhe's champagne-befuddled brain. Then it came over her that it was about time an example was made in behalf of her too confiding sex, of a stay-out- late; and she took pains to equip herself, so that the new household ordinance, then and there to go into effect, might be properly enforced. The Times newspaper was then published on Ran dolph Street, in the very centre of the "hair-trigger block," between Dearborn and State Streets. The report of fire arms was a happening so common, especiaUy at night, as to create no special fiurry among us; and hence, when close on midnight, a shot was heard, the city editor remarked to me quite casually (for I was before aU "shooting" re porter), "Guess Cap. Hyman is out for practice; better look into it." When, however, a moment later the sharp report was followed by a succession of piercing screams, obviously feminine, the entire reportorial outfit came to its feet to make a plunge through a devious passage to the Randolph Street entrance, from whence men could be seen rushing from all sides toward Price's livery stable, directly opposite, a bit east of the present Colonial Theatre. Some one shouted to us, "Mollie has shot George!" and, so intimately had the principals of the tragedy been associated with the day's events, that the affix "TrusseU" followed in our minds without saying. Meanwhile the shrieks continued, and, as we made our way through the crowd (for every gambling den quickly had emptied itself), we beheld a woman in white pros trate over a man's form lying within the wide entrance to the stable. And, until by main force she was torn from the THE UNDERWORLD 143 body of her dead lover, she exclaimed wildly, between shrieks, "George, have I killed you? Have I killed you?" Because of Trussell's connection with the horse Dexter, the tragedy formed a leading topic for many weeks from Maine to California. And now, when one comes to think of it, we were not so very old-fashioned after all as some might believe us; for "temporary emotional insanity" was already a firmly established habit, and a sensational trial closed with the best up-to-date denouement. THE WEDDING OF "CAP." HYMAN Whether Molhe was really married to the man whose name she bore and whose life she took, remains a moot question. But certain it is that " Cap." Hyman — Trussell being out of the way, and he now undisputed cock of the walk — shortly after the tragedy took to wife Molhe's most ambitious rival. The wedding of this delectable pair was by far the "swellest" affair witnessed in the Garden City up to that time, — weddings in general not yet rank ing among the shows of the town, — and, along with a variety of local male and female celebrities, was attended by a galaxy of "sports" of both sexes from St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville, and other Southern and Western cities. Conjointly with the wedding (which signahzed the Madam's going out of one business and into another) was the opening by the pair of " Sunnyside," in Lake View, as a high-toned road-house. And only that the staid dobbins of the period had a way of shying when they were expected to turn in for baiting, the enterprise might have proved as great a financial, as it was an unquestionable "moral" success. 144 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO OPENING OF SUNNYSIDE AS A HIGHLY MORAL ROAD-HOUSE For weeks prior to the Sunnyside opening, httle else was talked about in all but the most detached circles ; while the "boys" on the Board of Trade would have it that it was sknply useless trying to do business untU this affair was well off their hands. The guest of honor was Jack Nelson, deputy Superintendent of Pohce, and by no means in his official capacity as a keeper of the peace ; for Sunnyside — now in the heart of the north division — at that time lay as distinctly outside of his bailiwick as Kamchatka. Other officials also graced the occasion, and not a few weU-known men of business with a tincture of "sport" in their blood; but without exception they forgot to bring their wives. There was, however, no scarcity of "ladies" — the bright particular "Pearls" and "Rubies" of the demi-world; and while decollete was still under social taboo, the display of charms trespassed perilously on present-day opera-box prerogatives. There had been a heavy fall of snow, the air was sharp, and never before had Chicago witnessed such an output of sleighs, all speeding northward in the moonlight to the merry jingle of bells. The town in those days was weU supplied with all manner of outfits on runners, as sleighing parties were stUl a prime form of diversion. Besides cut ters of various styles and degrees, there were a number of contraptions capable of holding a dozen or more; and as those were days when the finest buffalo robe was about as cheap as a common horse blanket, it was a luxury now possible only to multi-miUionaires — to let the cold winds blow whUe one snuggled cosUy in the hospitable amplitude of such. Yes, it was both a night and a ride to remember ! Most members of the gambling guUd had some particular fem- By Courtesy of the Cliicago Historical Society SUNNYSIDE, THE "HIGH-TONED" ROAD-HOUSE OF LAKE VIEW (Located at Xortli Clark Street and Montrose BoidevartI) THE UNDERWORLD 145 inine "friend" (and, if of rank, perchance Madam's entire entourage) to look after. Accordingly, this kind drove straight from various "establishments" to their goal. But the undetached element, which formed about the Board of Trade contingent, gathered in force at the Matteson House, northwest corner of Randolph and Dearborn Streets. Shortly after eight o'clock, amid a fanfare of horns, and the chaff and " joUy " of a great crowd gathered to see the sight, a start was made — a huge four-horse, gondola-shaped affair, fiUed from prow to stern with roistering blades, taking the lead. As each mettle some prancer was backed by a set of musical bells (a kind now seldom heard), the charming tintinnabulation excited the hvehest interest aU along the route. This, after cross ing Clark Street bridge, lay along La Salle Street to North Avenue, thence along North Clark Street through Lake View (stUl a separate burg) , and so onward to brilliantly hghted Sunnyside, then quite new, and, somehow, seeming to my younger eyes fuUy twice as big as when last I saw it, after more than forty years, in its sad decrepitude. Hyman, when at his best, made a capital host. He was a coUege man, had enjoyed excellent social advantages, and did the honors of the occasion with the air of a Ward McAlhster. Corralling a batch of moral censors, he ad dressed us thus": " I would like you gentlemen of the press to understand that this affair will be straight to the wink of an eye-lash. AU the ladies are here on their honor, and Mrs. Hyman wiU see to it that nothing unseemly takes place. We want the best people in town to patronize Sunnyside, and will make them welcome." Mrs. H. cer tainly did her best to make everybody feel "at home." She was a good-natured body, a bit overplump for a Hebe, and as to face a very counterpart of Adelina Patti in middle life. 146 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO The company after its kind and manner was certainly "select." This applies especially to the contingents from various Southern cities, the men whereof were usually credited with mUitary handles. In those days, at any rate. Southerners were frankly sporty. THE CLASS OF " LADIES " WHO WERE PRESENT While the male guests bidden to the Sunnyside opening gave one an impression of dominance, it was plain that those of the opposite sex had been cuUed largely with an eye to abundant physical charms, now and then somewhat marred by overmuch "make-up." More than a few had evidently in fairer days enjoyed some social advantages, and these carried off their "honor" role with a manner quite natural, if occasionaUy punctuated by little touches of diablerie. But where the charms were solely physical, the efforts to do the "lady business" resulted not infre quently in breaks that bordered on the appalhng ; and one could imagine them saying to themselves, " You just wait till this honor business is over, and" — more to the same effect. PUNCTILIOUS DECORUM BEFORE SUPPER The festivities began with dancing. Usually when "Bohemia" goes in for this sort of thing the joy is truly " unconfined " ; and (in mixed sporting metaphor) , the field being "free for all," jJ'artners are deftly "caught on the fly." But things were altogether different here. You were ceremoniously introduced, engagement cards were consulted, and all the rest of the little formalities that dis tinguish like functions in the haut monde were strictly observed. Yes, the make-believe was quite tremendous. About midnight there was an intermission for supper. The many were served inf ormaUy ; but a score or so (chiefly THE UNDERWORLD 147 members of the press, and some "military" guests from out of town) , were invited to an elaborate banquet, with Jack Nelson in the seat of honor. To each male guest there was assigned a fair one to "take in," — clearly a notable reversal of the usual order where this sort are concerned, — and anything more punctilious than this af fair it would be hard to imagine. Indeed, until well along, when the champagne began to exert its dissolving effects, the decorum that clouded the feast was fairly depressing, as most of the women, fearful in their bewilderment of caution lest they put their unsure feet into forbidden depths, seldom got beyond the confidence-inspiring weather stage ; for, in the circumstances, none dared lift their con versational skirts even the littlest bit to help them in their gropings for isles of safety. I felt instinctively that the charmer assigned to me was somewhat out of the common. The something in her eye, and the superior manner in which she tossed her auburn- crowned head, carried conviction that here was a spirit that needed only a bit of well-directed encouragement to reveal the workings of an unpenitent soul. Therefore (and this purely in the line of sociological observation, of course) , one did what one might to snip here and there a constrain ing fetter; and, quick to seize the psychological moment, she boldly inquired who my favorite poet might be. I would not now hke to say whom, in this undefended emer gency, and considering my years, I distinguished above others; but I distinctly recaU with what coy fearlessness she confided to me that her own favorite was Byron — a name you never mentioned in those days unless in some mood of romantic desperation you wanted to impress peo ple with your irreclaimable depravity. Not only was I deeply moved by her confidence, but 148 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO frankly kindled to an intellectual honesty that could rise so courageously above the fettering imphcations of her unaccustomed situation ; for one less brave, less true to her ideals, in subserviency to a prescribed line of conduct that was to be "straight to the wink of an eye-lash," might have cravenly douched the lambent flame of her soul, and handed me out either N. P. Willis or George P. Morris, for it was this pair, along with the immortal Tupper and Mrs. Hemans, who above others, at this period, harried the "absolutely pure" yet passion-laden hearts of the Middle West. REVELRY AFTER SUPPER Supper over, the fair ones returned to the dance, and next day some of the Board of Trade "boys" gave it out that after the departure of the reportorial censor outfit, the hoodoo spell that had hung like a pall over the fes tivities was quickly exorcised, — and I can imagine my im penitent siren well to the fore. Even before our with drawal the affair had degenerated into a huge drinking bout. Wine had not only been served without stint by the host during supper, but after that the guests took a hand, and champagne was ordered by the case. Among others who completely lost their heads was BUly Bolshaw, of the Matteson House Cafe. When I came on him a few days later, he showed me a wine bUl above five hundred dollars, and ruefully asked what I thought of it. Your born reporter is a morahst by nature, and all are so by profession. Furthermore, if he be not also an embryo psychologist, — the reader will recall my convincing ex periment with her of the oriflame,— he has sadly mistaken his calling. For him humanity divides into types based upon elemental passions. Beneath the conventional he looks for the real. It is needless to say that this " Sunny- THE UNDERWORLD 149 side opening" furnished many an object lesson. In your typical Magdalen, multiple personalities make lightning changes — one moment a compassionate Sister of Mercy, the next, a rapacious harpy. For love she wiU give herself and all; in hate, seven devils possess her. Instinctively aware that the ties that bind her lover are of the woof of her own frailties, her poor maudhn, sentimental heart is ever a prey to hordes of green-eyed monsters. Broadly speaking, was there ever a social function, with its inevitable oversights and subtle discriminations, that did not cause heartburnings in some maidenly breast, however gentle, self-effacing, or innocent of "claims"? What then coxdd be expected where imdisciplined hearts were lashed as rudderless barks on a storm-swept sea, and "claims" on mascuhnity were thicker than pebbles on a beach? And were not all put in jeopardy to rival lures as never before, because forsooth there were muscle-hamp ering convenances to be observed? So, whUe hostages to "honor" might prevail against intolerable itchings at the fingers' ends for the time, they could not restrain nature's impulses forever; and so it is sad to chronicle, that for many days after this event, police justices were worked over- time issuing warrants of arrest for "assault and bat tery" ; while on successive mornings the old Armory Court exhibited such varied facial disfigurements that the psych ologic interest (not to mention the moral censor function) was completely lost in the shock to artistic sensibilities, when one recaUed how these animated canvasses, now so streaked and splotched, but a few nights before had daz zled the beholder with their deftly composed color schemes. THE UNDERWORLD (Concluded) A Deluge of Keno — The Police Profit Largely by the Gam- ¦ bling — Hundreds of the Players Arrested — "Colonel " Haverly, Gambler and "Man of Business" Combined — The Opening of the West Side Driving Park — Many Act on Haverly's Business Principle and "Get Left" — Cleaning OUT THE "North Side Sands" — Roger Plant's "Under the Willow" — "Why Not?" FEW who were of the Chicago of the middle sixties and in any manner "men-about-town," can have for gotten the introduction of a game that has been de scribed as consisting of one fellow calling out numbers, another after a while shouting "Keno," and a whole lot of other fellows vociferating, "Oh, h — ^U!" For months little else was talked about. Was it gambling? Ah, that was the question! The "sports" said no, as "keno" was only another name for a certain innocent German pastime called "lotto." The police, meanwhile, could n't come to any conclusion — indeed, how could they, with their "rake-off" in mind? — and so matters were allowed to drift until the craze passed all bounds. For faro and like orthodos gambling devices Chicago had never been "open" in the sense that Western cattle or mining towns are, where yoi enter the tiger's den directly from the street, and the best ground-floors are reserved for the animal's sinuous dis porting. No, faro had to be played at least one flight up, and with some pretence to closed doors. But keno! ah, that was different! First floors on Randolph Street, be tween Clark and State — then par excellence the gambling 150 THE UNDERWORLD 151 "midway" — were soon renting at exorbitant figures; and, spacious as they might be, there was seldom sufficient room to accommodate would-be patrons. On Saturday nights in particular the crowds that gathered not only blocked the sidewalks, but filled up a good part of the street; while above all the din and uproar of this congregated loaf erdom, the casual wayfarer could plainly hear the urn manipu lator's call, "Sixty-four!" "Seventy-two!" "Eleven!" " Forty-three!" or whatever might be the numbers drawn; and, over all, in due course, the triumphant "Keno!" THE POLICE PROFIT LARGELY BY THE GAMBLING An order from headquarters to "shut up" would at any time have sufficed to put aU these establishments in stantly out of business. But such a matter-of-fact pro ceeding would have brought no grist to the Armory Station police miU. Accordingly (when the scandal had finaUy made some action imperative) , realizing that even an appearance of "shutting up shop" would seriously cut down their "diwy," the powers determined to recoup by a big "puU" — with baU-bond pickings at a dollar a head for the justices, and five dollars or more per victim to the professional bailors — and all this, properly proportioned between captain and sergeants, promised to make hfe reasonably worth living to those in charge of the Armory precinct, which at this time included the entire south division. HUNDREDS OF THE PLAYERS ARRESTED The pohce selected a Saturday night, of course, and the hour when there would be most to "puU off." While practically the entire force was brought to the scene, there were yet only policemen enough to guard the various out- 152 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO lets simultaneously, with a reserve squad for escort duty, which in the circumstances barely sufficed to cope with the contents of a single establishment at a time. Hence nearly a dozen trips were made, and while the raid began before ten o'clock, it was long after midnight before the last "den" was emptied. To facilitate the baihng process, both the police justices of that day, ex-Mayor Isaac N. Milliken and ex-school teacher A. D. Sturtevant, were on hand; and the gravity with which they piled their desks with greenbacks was exceeded only by the imction with which the bailors pock eted their fat pickings. A raid so wholesale had never before been attempted, and most likely has not been seen since. The old A^'mory was a goodly sized buUding, three stories high. Soon it was packed from bottom to top with victims, and stUl they came. There was a big barn in the rear, and when that was filled, a lot were corralled in the open street, and sep arated from the thousands of outsiders drawn to the scene by a barrier of blue-coats. Sunday morning came, and still the bailing grind went on. Then an odd thing hap pened. The justices ran out of printed blanks, and it became necessary to write out the entire rigmarole on sheets of foolscap; and to this service every policemar capable of wielding a pen, and who might be spared fror guard duty, was impressed. It was by no means an ordinary "catch" that wa brought to land. As everything had been conducted for weeks with wide-open doors, many a staid burgher was caught, who had dropped in merely to see the fun. But in "the eyes of the law" that made no difference ; and while the patient wife waited by the fireside for the coming of her liege, "Smith" or "Jones" of record was eating his THE UNDERWORLD 153 heart out, while waiting through weary hours for the par ticular Jones or Smith whom he stood for, to be caUed to receive his charter of liberty. While hundreds of the weU-to-do were thus enabled to spend the Sabbath (or what was left of it) in the agitated bosoms of their famihes, other hundreds, whom the game had perchance served scurvily, were compeUed to take "pot luck" of unsweetened mush and black coffee with the turnkey until Monday morning, when they were either re leased through the good offices of friends, or joined the procession to the Bridewell, then a dilapidated rookery in the region of Franklin and Harrison Streets. "colonel" HAVERLY, GAMBLER AND " MAN OF BUSINESS" COMBINED When an old regime is passing, and a new order is struggling to take its place, there is usually some one pre pared to take the leadership. The period from the close of the war to the fire was one of travail. In a very real sense a new world was being born. The old shell, however, was not always ready to be shaken off, and this resulted in a state of things in which, despite strong counter influences, the authority of the past was still able to hold the com munity to an outward observance of established conven ances. But when the old Chicago had gone up in smoke, the "new spirit," in so far as it could be expressed by the term "sport," suddenly awoke to its opportunities, and valiantly determined that the rebirth should be fittingly informed. If this incarnation was looking for a leader, it found one ready-made in "Colonel" J. H. Haverly, of Mastodon Minstrel fame. "Jack" Haverly was the thoroughbred gambler changed with the transition then in progress into the or- 154 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO ganizer or "promoter." His kind is common enough now anywhere, and Chicago has since nurtured the species in some of its most exuberant and picturesque forms ; but a third of a century ago, Haverly was still a kind apart, and he literally " blazed the way " for the host that has since followed his somewhat tortuous and elusive trail. The problem facing the "new spirit" was in effect this: how to merge the gambler in the acceptable "business man," or vice versa, without loss of caste in either direction. It was given to "Jack" to show how it could be done. Was he not par excellence a " business man " ? — nay, a whole syndi cate of them? His minstrel aggregation had already be come a mere side speculation. He was now lessee of the old Post Office, — gutted by the fire, and transformed into a great auditorium — where, in conjunction with the ir repressible Colonel Mapleson, he shone with dazzhng effulgence as a grand opera impresario — while the gold mines that he did not own in Colorado and Utah about this time were scarcely worth mentioning. THE OPENING OF THE WEST SIDE DRIVING PARK In the ante-fire days, as has been shown, Chicago was a bit slow in the racing hne, and especially in betting on events of that sort. There had been at Dexter Park an occasional trotting day or two, varied now and then by s day devoted to running races ; but it was not until the open ing of the West Side Driving Park, in the middle seventies that a full-fledged running meeting was established, with "Lucky" Baldvdn's famous mare Molly McCarthy as the bright particular star. In addition to "Lucky's" California stable, there were several of note from bluegrass Kentucky to give eclat to the "opening." And along with the latter there came a THE UNDERWORLD 155 varied assortment of "Colonels," "Majors," "Judges," and other folk of that ilk; but as these, in spite of their reassur ing titles, were suspected of belonging to the gambling class, their example as an influence toward a larger freedom for the oppressed was negligible. In those pre-trust days one heard a good deal about introducing "business meth ods" into religion (where now the concern is how to get a bit of religion into business) , and so highly honored was the term when untainted by the virus that characterizes its degenerate offspring "commercialism," that if, by any de vice, it could be associated in the public mind with betting on races as a mode of "investment," the taboo that had theretofore overshadowed that kind of sport would be quickly removed. It was precisely here that Haverly came in. MANY ACT ON HAVERLY's " BUSINESS" PRINCIPLE TO THEIR COST "Jack," as has been intimated, was at this period sat urated with "business." At the same time, — as bearmg on the obverse side of the problem to be solved, — as a practical morahst he honestly beheved that betting on horses was in no wise more sinful than gambhng in wheat or speculating in grand opera enterprises, with its prima donna hazards: and in this he was probably not far out of the way. Accordingly, he undertook to demonstrate that this sort of thing could be reduced to a steady dividend- paying basis; and for a time the "principle" on which he operated seemed to warrant his contention. However, "Haverly luck" took him only far enough to carry a large confiding public with him into the "hole" always gaping for their kind — and left them there. The "straight" gambler in "Jack" — when uncorrupted by his "business" 156 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO alternate — easily knew better than to risk his money on the uncertainties of horse flesh. Men of that kind have no illusions about the game; and whenever their sort go out of their way to "play the races," it is a foregone conclusion that they have some kind of " inside information." But the "business" Haverly had his limitations. For a time "Jack" literaUy stormed the betting-ring. He headed every auction pool (book-making at this time was unknown in Chicago), usually with a cool thousand. This sort of race pool-buying in the open — precisely as one might buy real or imaginary wheat or pork in their re spective "rings" or "pits" on the Board of Trade — was an altogether new wrinkle in the "legitimate" gambhng game, and so absorbed public attention that the papers severally felt obliged to send an extra reporter to the races to make a record of Haverly's "investments." Of course, when the papers came to print daily tabulated reports of "Jack's" doings — just as they reported the sale of car loads of wheat or beeves, or cargoes of lumber — no Chi cagoan brought up on a diet of quotations could be sup posed to know the difference between the tweedledum of the one and the tweedledee of the other, and frankly ac cepted the game at its quotation value. Thereafter, hazards on races became a fashionable amusement, and everybody followed society into the betting-ring. What mattered th( corruption of youths? But at last there came an awaken ing of the public conscience, — and now even in New York which had set the pace, open betting on races is no longer a legahzed road to ruin. CLEANING OUT THE "NORTH SIDE SANDS " Some reference should be made, as a part of old-time underworld history, to "Long John's" exploit in clean- LONG JOHN" WENTWORTH (Chicago's Giant Mayor) THE UNDERWORLD 157 ing out the "North Side Sands." This happened in the later fifties, and I can speak from personal knowl edge only of its effects. As to the "cleaning out" there can be no doubt; and equally certain is it that it was a drama that had better been left unacted. In some aspect the social evil is bound to exist ; and sociologists are pretty weU agreed that it is best to segregate it under strict police surveillance. That "the Sands" fulfilled the first of these conditions, admits of no question; and they were a flaring scandal and a menace to pubhc order only because of in adequate police control. Probably no event in Chicago's history up to the time of the fire was as much talked about aU over the West, and so variously commented upon. The scene of the episode was an isolated sand barren, on the bleak North Shore, with Michigan Street for its centre. It was the fashion in the rough-and-ready volunteer fire department days for the "authorities" to give the men that "ran wid de masheen" and worked the brakes, on one pretext or another, a "time," — by making them in struments of "moral regeneration." I remember, when a lad in Cincinnati, witnessing one of these "law and order" diversions. A three-story tenement, which had acquired an evil name, was attacked amid a tremendous ado, and made entirely untenable, though there was no shghtest sign of fire. I happened to be near the scene when the hubbub began and saw many women fleeing the premises as for their fives, amidst the shouts and jeers of their as saUants. From this minor episode I can imagine what the major "cleaning out" must have been, regarded purely as "sport." Here was an assemblage of rookeries, none above two stories in height, and very easily demolished. The brute in the average man was far greater in those days than now. There were no doubt many es- 158 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO timable citizens connected with some of the fire companies, for they were of many degrees, including one or two regarded as quite "tony." But others were mere "fight ing" organizations, with small reference to fires; and sometimes one would get so demoralized as to caU for dis bandment. Thus it was men in many instances in no wise above the level of their victims, who in a riotous enthusiasm drove these bedraggled outcasts from their shelter, and forced them to seek refuge where none was obtainable. Yet this exhibition of barbarism in the name of high moral ity set "Long John" apart in the estimation of "good and pious people," as the defender of the home and an apostle of purity; while to the "men about town" it furnished a theme to dramatize. And what happened afterwards? Why this, that for years it made untenable for decent folk all of the South Side east of Clark and south of Madison Street ; and it was left for the fire to make an end of this state of things. South Wells, from Madison to Van Buren Street, was the centre of this aggregation of vileness ; and so evil a name did this thoroughfare acquire from its belongings, that lateri, to fit it for trade, it was, on petition of fronittn^ property owners, fumigated into Fifth Avenue. The raid took place on April 20, 1857; and while from all accounts a most wanton affair, it was not initiated without some color of law. Writs to eject several of the squatters for non-payment of ground rent had beeii placed in the hands of Sheriff John L. Wilson, and when "Long John" heard that the rookeries to be cleaned out had been marked, he thoughtfully advised that "all be marked." Then, while the ejectment under the sheriff was proceeding — though not without stout resistance — a fire got itself "accidentally" started, and this gave the THE UNDERWORLD 159 coveted opportimity for the department to "play" into the game — with his mayoral highness as a supporting presence. "under THE willow" Roger Plant's "Under the WiUow," southeast corner of WeUs and Monroe Streets, was the very core of this corruption. Originally "Under the Willow" apphed only to the corner building. But with the progress of the war — and the increase pari passu of its inevitable accom paniments — one adjoining rookery after another, both to the east and to the south, was added, until the name apphed to nearly half a block; and now Police Captain Jack Nelson dubbed it " Roger's Barracks." Patrols were never at a loss where to look for "strays" from the outlying camps — though this was by no means always the same as finding them, for Roger maintained a very thorough outpost system, and it was only by ap proaching these delectable precincts in character, as sheep ready for the shearing, that an alarm could be fore- staUed, and escape from the labyrinth by devious passages and alley-ways cut off. As for the police, they seldom troubled the place during the war years. For one thing, Roger paid his toll with exemplary regularity; and, for another, it was like "pulling in" an elephant to fill the Armory pohce station with blue-coats, who laughed a magistrate to scorn when he talked about fines and bride- weUs. Verily, it was on no such flimsy charge as being caught in a "disorderly house" that the city authorities could keep one in Uncle Sam's uniform from his "sworn duty." Roger was a diminutive Yorkshireman ; whereas Mrs. Plant, a graduate from the purlieus of Liverpool, easUy balanced two of him on the scales, with something left over. Their offspring had come mostly in pairs. 160 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO They were everywhere in and about the place ; and it was an off-day when Captain Jack Nelson did n't have a new story about Mrs. P., and her entourage. These, how ever, never found their way into print. In his small way Roger was quite a character. Call ing his place "Under the Willow" showed his sentimental side. And then there was Roger the humorist. Every window of the den displayed on a flaring blue shade, in large gilt letters, the legend "Why Not?" It is needless to say that the phrase acquired a large street currency. The place was a refuge for the very nethermost strata of the Underworld — the refuse of the brideweU. Only by seeking the bottom of the malodorous river could its in mates go lower — as they sometimes did. With time Roger began to take himself very seriously. It was not that he experienced a change of heart ; but, hav ing made his "pile," he became a landed proprietor, alleg ing that a country life was best for the morals of chUdren. He now also became a patron of the turf, and otherwise blossomed into a pattern of respectability. WeU, "Why Not?" A RETROSPECT The Chicago of 1862 — How It was Dramatized by Purveyors op Gossip — "Long John's" Doings — A Roll-Call of Old Set tlers — First Group: Very Old-Timers — Second Group: Men OF THE Thirties — Third Group : Men of the Forties — Fourth Group: Arrivals about 1850 — Fifth Group: Names Familiar To-day — A Few Men Noted for Wit or Eloquence Who had Passed Away — What Makes for the Greatness op Chicago? — Its Preeminence in Women Musicians — The Whistler of the Future. IT does not always follow that the substantial men of a community are also the most widely known and talked about. It is true to a marked degree, however, that sohdity and celebrity, in the young West, were frequently covered by the same hat. The "personal" paragraph, so conspicuous in the up-to-date twentieth-century news paper, had as yet small vogue; but the oral purveyor of personal gossip was in great form. Not then, as now, did the representative of the seller haunt the country store to drum up business, for in those days even the most insignif icant cross-roads storekeeper betook himself at least twice a year to some trade centre, mingled familiarly with its leading merchants, noted their salient characteristics, and listened to stories about them. These impalpable additions to his stock in trade, he would on his return unctuously re tail (along with the latest consignment of cove oysters, plug tobacco, or smoked herring) to absorbed listeners, picturesquely grouped amidst the impedimenta of his es tablishment. And whatever might be lacking in the 161 162 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO presentation of the protagonist was readily supplemented by one or another of his listeners. In those days every country merchant was perforce a prime story-teller (a function now largely usurped by the "drummer"), thoroughly versed in the art of dramatizing every smaUest detail to realistic effect; and hence, when any backwoods Hoosier or Sucker, Badger, Hawkeye, or Wolverine, dis embarked for the first time from canal boat or "prairie schooner" in the future Metropolis of the West, he could say with truth (as indeed he frequently did) on meeting this or that personage notable above the common: "I hearn tell on you often; I reckon I know purty much all about you." Furthermore, if the newspaper of that day was a bit slow in the matter of "personal mention" (though seldom lacking in this respect when it came to a question of scalp ing a rival quill-driver) , its advertising columns constituted a far truer reflex of the city's business with the outside than any metropolitan paper of this era, for in those days it was the wholesale merchant or jobber, rather than the retailer, who exploited his business not only in the dailies of his own city, but in scores of country weeklies. The "drummer" has changed all that; and while the great de partment stores more than compensate the big dailies for the lost patronage of jobbers, the veteran country editor looks back regretfully to halcyon days now enjoyed in his stead by the village hotel-keeper. "long John's" doings "Long John," although not strictly a merchant — ex cept as he "sold" the unwary through the columns of his very personally conducted Democrat, — was for many years far and away the "top-liner" and hero par excel- WILLIAM B. OGDEN (Chicago's First Mayor, and "Biggest All-round Man in the Northwest") A RETROSPECT 163 lence, if not always sans reproche, of Western romance and story. "Long John's doings" naturally came in tune to include much of which he was wholly innocent; but the story most often retold and redecorated to suit the jaded tastes of blase listeners referred t'o the way this mayoral giant "cleaned out" and submerged the "North Side Sands," the salient features of which have already been detailed. A ROLL-CALL OF OLD SETTLERS: FIRST GROUP Others besides "Long John," that were frequent sub jects of free-hand, cross-roads character-drawing, were three notable individuals whose advent antedated 1830; namely, Gurdon S. Hubbard (1818) , Archibald Clybourne ( 1823) , and Mark Beaubien ( 1826) . Oddly enough none of these were permanent residents from first to last. Hubbard, up to the thirties, was a frequent absentee. Clybourne had actually to be "annexed" to make him a true-blue, "blown-in-the-glass" Chicagoan ; while Beaubien spent the last decade and more of his long life in Kendall County. Clybourne, on his arrival at the "Post," in 1823, from Virginia, took root on the west side of the North Branch, about two rniles from the junction of the two branches (a locality that through him came to be known as "New Virginia") ; and while the early city limits extended considerably farther than this on the north side, the west shore of the river, so far out, was not included until the city had reached a population approximating 100,000 ; so that Clybourne did not become a citizen of Chicago until, as before said, he was nolens volens annexed. To this list of first-comers, as antedating the men of the thirties, should be added the names of John H. and Robert A. Kinzie, sons of John Kinzie, Chicago's first 164 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO bona fide settler. Neither of these, however, happened to be residents of the city in the early sixties. John H. Kin zie was a candidate for mayor at the city's first election. He died in 1865. His brother Robert in after years made Chicago his permanent home. A few others, much talked about, but gone over to the majority, were General Jean Baptiste Beaubien, Madore B. Beaubien, Wilham Cald well (The Sauganash), Russell E. Heacock, and above most, David Kennison, who died in 1852 at the extraor dinary age of one hundred and sixteen years, and was the last survivor of the historical Boston Tea Party. SECOND group: MEN OF THE THIRTIES Other notables of the "Old Guard" who arrived in the thirties, and were for the most part in hale and hearty mid dle hfe, were Wm. B. Ogden, the first mayor and the biggest all-round man in the Northwest ; as also a remark able group of other ex-mayors, including Buckner S. Morris, B. W. Raymond, Francis C. Sherman, W. S. Gurnee, A. S. Sherman (the latter died at a very ad vanced age only a few years ago), Levi D. Boone (a stalwart Know-nothing), "Long John" Wentworth (of course), Isaac L. Milliken (who started as a blacksmith and ended as a police justice) , John C. Haines, and JiUian S. Rumsey. Other old-timers calling for mention were: Alanson and James M. Adsit, Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, Jerome Beecher, Jacob Beidler, J. K. Botsford, Erastus Bowen, Ariel Bowman, C. P. Bradley, Judge J. B. Brad well, Alexander Brand, Dr. Daniel Brainard, William H. Brown, A. G. Burley, A. H. Burley, Alvin Calhoun, John Calhoun, Philo Carpenter, T. B. Carter, Judge John D. Caton, George Chacksfield, S. D. Childs, Thomas Church, W. L. Church, Francis Clark, John L. Clark, Charles LEVI D. BOONE THOMAS J' A RETROSPECT 165 Cleaver, Silas B. Cobb, "Ike" Cook (whilom proprietor of the "Young America" resort, postmaster, and above aU famous for his inexpugnable faith in the abUity of Truth to rise again, no matter how "squashed to earth") , Ira and James Couch (early mine hosts par excellence at the old Tremont), Calvm De Wolf, Hugh T. Dickey, Michael Diversey, George W. Dole, Judge Thomas Drummond, Dr. C. V. Dyer, Dr. J. W. Eldridge, Charles and Daniel Elston, Robert Fergus, Dr. John Foster, J. W. Freer, John Frink (who, with the Walkers, owned all the stage coaches in which one travelled in the forties and fifties in the West), Alanson and Charles FoUansbee, Judge Henry Fuller, Jared and John Gage, Abram Gale, Stephen F. Gale, Augustus Garrett (five times a candi date and three times elected mayor) , P. W. Gates, Samuel H. GUbert, Judge Grant Goodrich, T. W- Goodrich, Amos and S. W. Grannis, Dexter Graves, Henry Graves, Charles M., Franklin D., George M., John, Joseph H., and Moses Gray, B. F. Hadduck, E. H. Hadduck, E. M. Haines, Philip A. Hall, Colonel John H. Hamilton, P. D. Hamilton, John L. Hanchett, Charles L., E. R., Isaac D., and Isaac N. Harmon, E. W. Herrick, Judge Van H. Higgins, L. P. HUhard, Samuel Hoard, C. N. Holden, O. S. Hough, R. M. Hough, Thomas Hoyne, Alonzo Huntington, Fernando Jones, Hon. Norman B. Judd, Mark KrnibaU, Walter KunbaU, Tuthill King, Abraham V- Knickerbocker, Mathew Laflin, William M. Larrabee, Iver Lawson, WiUiam LiU, Sylvester Lmd, James Long, Alexander Lloyd, H. H. Magie, Hugh Maher, Judge George Manierre, James A. Marshall, the Morrison brothers, Adam Murray, W- F. Myrick, Walter L. New berry, Mahlon D. Ogden, Peter Page, Eh jab Peacock, Joseph Peacock, Ebenezer Peck, P. F. W. Peck, Hibbard 166 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO Porter, John and Redmond Prindeville, Asahel Pierce, James H. Rees, Thomas Richmond, Hugh Ross, George F. Rumsey, Colonel J. B. F. Russell, F. G. SaltonstaU, WUliam W. SaltonstaU, J. Y. Scammon, Peter Schuttler (whose name was on most of the wagons one saw in the early decades), George Scott, Judge Mark Skinner, George Smith (the West's most prominent banker, and who died a few years ago in London, leaving an estate estimated between $50,000,000 and $75,000,000) , George W. Snow, William B. Snowhook, Isaac Spear, Marcus C. Stearns, George Steel, Jonathan W. Steele, Gen. Hart L. Stewart, H. O. Stone, Patrick Strachan, General R. K. Swift, E. B. Talcott, Mancel Talcott, Reuben Tayler, A. D., Ezra Daniel, and William H. Taylor, David A. Thatcher, E. I. and D. O. Tinkham, John Turner, John M. Turner, Frederick Tuttle, Nelson Tuttle, John M. Van Osdell, Elijah S. and Julius Wads- worth, George W- Waite, Charles Walker, Curran Walker, Samuel B. Walker, John Watkins, General Joseph D. Webster, C. G. Wicker, Joel H. Wicker, Alonzo J. Willard, E. W- WUlard, John L. WUson, Judge John M. Wilson, Alexander Wolcott, John S. Wright, Peter L. Yoe. Of all the above only Fernando Jones and Redmond PrindeviUe are now among the living. THIRD group: MEN OF THE FORTIES Among somewhat later arrivals (the men of the for ties) the Hon. William Bross, ex-Lieutenant-governor and "deacon" extraordinary, easily took first rank, be cause — well, because he was "Deacon" Bross. Others who achieved prominence were : Addison Ballard, Chaun cey B. Blair, E. W. Blatchford, Michael Brand, I. H. Burch, Jonathan Burr, Benjamin Carpenter, William E. DR. CHARLES VOLNEY DYER JUDGE MARK SKINNER A RETROSPECT 167 Doggett, J. H. Dunham, Zabina Eastman (a stalwart among Abolitionists), Henry Farnum, C. B. and J. V. Farwell, Alexander N. FuUerton, S. C. Griggs, Phihp A. Hoyne, Hon. E. C. Earned, Robert Law, Orring- ton Lunt, ex-Mayor RosweU B. Mason, E. B. McCagg, Cyrus H. McCormick, ex-Mayor John B. Rice, Joseph T. Ryerson, Conrad Seipp, Edwin H. Sheldon, David Stew art, Daniel Thompson, A. G. Throop, Judge Murray F. Tuley, John B. Turner, John R. Walsh. FOURTH group: ARRIVALS ABOUT 1850 And stiU another group, chronologically considered, running both forward and backward some years from 1850, included the foUo'wing: Judge Corydon Beckwith, WiUiam Best, T. B. Blackstone, Chauncey, George S., and James H. Bowen, Lorenz Brentano, Hon. Thomas B. Bryan, Nicholas Clapp, R. T. Crane, Dr. N. S. Davis, John B. Drake, George L. Dunlap, David A. and George W. Gage, C. G. Hammond, Colonel John L. Hancock, T. W. Harvey, Charles H. and C. M. Henderson, A. C. Hesing, the Keith brothers, W. D. Kerfoot, S. D. Kim- bark, Henry W. King, J. H. McVicker, Joseph MediU, Ira Y. Munn, Walter C. Newberry, Frank Parmelee, Pot ter Palmer, H. H. Porter, Henry Russell, George Schnei der, John B. Sherman, Sol. A. Smith, F. F. Spencer. FIFTH group: NAMES FAMILIAR TO-DAY And lastly reference should be made to a group whose names are familiar to nearly every Chicagoan of to-day (though the majority of even these have closed their careers) but who, for the most part, were wholly unknown in 1862, or just rising into recognition within the hues of their specialties, yet in a few years were literally to dom- 168 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO inate almost every branch of commercial activity. George M. Pullman was somewhat known in connection with the raising of the Tremont House, and other buUdings on Lake Street, but his first "sleeper" was not completed untU 1863. Marshall Field and L. Z. Leiter were merely rising junior partners. WiUiam F. Coolbaugh and John Crerar were new arrivals ; Lyman J. Gage had just been promoted to the cashiership of the Merchants Savings, Loan & Trust Company; and beginners with these were: S. W. AUerton, A. M. Bilhngs, John W. Doane, N. K. Fairbank, John C. Gault, H. N. Higginbotham, Marvm Hughitt, B. P. Hutchinson ("Old Hutch"), General A. C. McClurg, Secretary of the Treasury Frankhn Mac- Veagh, O. W. Potter, Jesse Spaulding, Wilbur F. Storey (he came in 1861) , whUe Chief Justice M. W. Fuller was a rising young lawyer, along with B. F. Ayer, C. C. Bon- ney, Wirt Dexter, W. C. Goudy, Edwin Haskin, E. S. Isham, John N. Jewett, James S. Kirk, Emory A. Storrs, Lambert Tree, James M. Walker. WHAT MAKES FOR THE GREATNESS OF CHICAGO? "What makes for the greatness of Chicago?" has been a standing query ever since there was any Chicago at all to talk about. Many causes have been assigned. A goodly share may well be claimed for the men before men tioned; but an answer coming nearest the truth would prob ably be to say it was born great. Nevertheless, if special causes are to be at all considered, the one advanced by Dr. William Mason, of musical fame (recently deceased), in his interesting autobiography, should receive grave con sideration. Nearly half a century ago, and just returned from a sojourn of several years in Germany, and the com panionship of such men as Wagner and Liszt, Dr. Mason DEACON WILLIAM BROSS A RETROSPECT 169 gave a concert in Chicago ; and at a reception subsequently held in his honor, found on the feminine side "only sweet New England girls." " Where are your married women ? " he inquired. The reply was, " They are here. They were gu-ls in New England, but our fellows went after them, and they are all married now." And to this naive and charming genesis he attributes most of the greatness that has since f aUen to Chicago's lot. VerUy an unanswerable dictum, for who would be so un- gallant as to caU it in question? Besides, has not the greatness of ancient Rome been attributed to a blend sug gestively simUar? — though happily for Chicago, differing in method of courtsliip. And so, what the Sabine maidens were to the old-time mistress of the world, "sweet New England girls" are to its twentieth-century successor. And it is thus that history repeats itself. Nevertheless, the causes that apparently make for pop ulation or contribute to greatness in one instance seldom produce similar effects in others. Rome, as a site, remains where it was two thousand years ago. Its seven hills stand unmoved. Neither has Venice shifted much (though now decidedly wobbly) since it dominated the maritime world. Yet to-day these are little more than show places. And the conditions that make for intellectual centres are even more recondite and elusive. What, for example, made Boston fifty years ago one of the lights of the world, and why is that light to-day so effectuaUy hidden? And what, by the same token, got into the soil that overlays Chicago's original quagmire, that it should so conduce to the "rais ing" of great preachers, that New York might become a religious barren should either the seed or the soil's fructify ing powers give out? And again, what is there pecuhar in the musical atmosphere of the Phoenix City, that it should 170 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO produce contemporaneously not only the world's two great est women musicians, but almost the two greatest of either sex? And this in face of the fact that women, with rare exceptions, have heretofore not distinguished themselves as instrumentalists. Naturally, all the world is now look ing to the same source for the first great woman composer. Judging by what has already been done and is still doing, in creative literature, it is not only evident that Chi cago is fully up "with the procession," but may any day forge forward and give to the world the only truly Ameri can "great" that everybody is so eagerly awaiting. And yet, what this wonderfuUy creative city shoidd easUy be foremost in, it has hitherto failed to yield — a supreme master with the brush. That the incomparable Whistler should have achieved his apotheosis anywhere but in Chi cago (with which his ancestry is so intimately associated) seems an instance of ungracious artistic misfit — for what is the "mystery" (an important element in all great art) wrapped in a London fog, compared to the phantasms which so imaginative a conjurer might have evoked from any square yard of ordinary Chicago atmosphere! How ever, there is stiU hope, as there is yet time: and when the inevitable genius shall arrive, his "high noons," painted from the vantage of a thirty-story skyscraper, may rival in luring depths and haunting obscuration the most in spired nocturnes of the departed master. A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW The City and Its Court House in 1862 — The Immediate Sur roundings of the Square — The View from the Court House Dome — Why Chicago was Known as the "Garden City" — The View Southward — The Old Plank Roads. IN 1862, the year of my arrival, Chicago had an esti mated population of 120,000, distributed among its three divisions, both as to character and numbers, in about the same proportion as are to-day its approximately 2,500,000 inhabitants. The south division remains what it was then, the business centre ; but where now are several distinct foci in the general maelstrom, each comparable to the original nucleus, and sufficiently specialized to admit of geographical demarcation, the Court House in those days brooked no rivals. With its aspiring cupola, it so dom inated the town that none could help looking up to it as something superior and apart — being, in fact, the only reaUy tall object in sight, except when "Long John" hap pened to take an airing. If you wanted a hack you went to the Court House Square for it; and it was nearly the same if you were looking for a policeman, for several could generally be found hanging about there to prevent rival hackmen from murdering each other, or a combination of the pestiferous crew from doing a stranger to death, both being not infrequent happenings. Anywhere else a police man was seldom seen — outside of saloons. But, frankly, what better could one expect of men content to wear leather shields as insignia of authority? In those days the 171 172 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO force was under a marshal, and that functionary was a mere satrap of the Mayor. Accordingly, in 1857, when "Long John" came to the head of affairs, being deter mined that the "copper" should not get above his business, he put the adage, "there is nothing hke leather," to a prac tical test. Most people are aware that both "bobby" and "peeler," as slang for "policeman," date from Sir Robert Peel's ministry. But it is not so generaUy known that "copper," as another epithet of derision, is claimed to date from the mayoralty of John C. Haines, once somewhat widely known as "Copper-stock" Haines (because of some transaction in that metal), and hence its variants "cop," "fly cop," and "sparrow-cop." In a way, also, the Court House was everybody's monitor and guide. It told you when to rise, when to eat your dinner, when to knock off work, when to jubilate, when to mourn, and, above all, it helped you to locate fires ; for the clang of its great beU could be heard in almost every part of the town. Aye, how it rang pseans of victory for Donelson, for Vicksburg, and Gettysburg, and finaUy for Richmond, when that stronghold fell! And how its slow, solemn monotdne voiced the anguish of all hearts, when the body of the slain Lincoln was borne through the shrouded streets of the mourning city, to rest for a day and a night beneath the dome of the city's capitol, that a stricken people might once more look upon the trans figured face of their beloved dead! And, finally, how it clanged, and clanged, and clanged agam, on that fearful night of fire, each stroke heightening the terror that pos sessed the fleeing multitude, while the "fiend" that lashed the elements to such boundless fury, compelled it to sound its own death-knell. '^-"'iJi^-jIr'yil'! THE LINCOLN FUNERAL PROCESSION IN CHICAGO RECEPTION OF THE REMAINS AT THE COURT HOUSE A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW 173 THE IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS OF THE SQUARE In 1862 the Court House Square was surrounded by an oddly assorted architectural hodgepodge, strikingly typical of the various stages of the city's development, from the primitive "frame" of the thirties, to the new, six- storied marble Sherman House, at this time the finest building in the city, as well as one of the best appomted hotels in the country. Because of the panic of 1857, and the subsequent war, the Chicago of this period represents a status quo of nearly a full decade. Thereafter, from 1865, down to the time of the fire, the city was in an ex ceptional state of flux, and so much of the dilapidation of former days disappeared, that it was in quite a large way a comparatively new downtown Chicago that was destroyed on October 9, 1871. Where Washington Street bounds the Court House Square (then enclosed by a high iron fence), there re mained down to 1864 nearly a block of original prairie, a dozen feet below the plank sidewalk; and when, in 1863, the plot was tenanted by a winter circus, its patrons de scended to their seats as into a cellar. When, in the middle sixties, the building boom set in. Smith & Nixon erected on the site now occupied by the Chicago Opera House a fine Music HaU, which was opened, if I am not mistaken, with a concert by Gottschalk. Among other events I recaU as taking place therein was a state biUiard tournament, wherein Tom Foley, the veritable stand-by of to-day, won the State championship, — a circumstance which throws a calcium light on the status of the game at that period; a concert by "Blind Tom"; and a lecture by Wilham Lloyd Garrison, on "Reconstruction." In marked contrast to the vacant plot, and neighboring 174 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO it on the corner of La Salle Street, stood one of the taUest- steepled churches in the city, the First Baptist. This, in 1864, was taken down bit by bit and reconstructed on its present site, Morgan and Monroe Streets, there becoming the Second Baptist. In its place rose Chicago's first fine Chamber of Commerce, to be followed after the fire by a second trade-temple of similar dimensions, only the outer walls of which now remain, as the substructure to a skyscraper. The southwest corner, across La Salle Street from the Baptist church, calls for special mention. It was at this time occupied by a brick building of two stories and base ment, among the first dwellings of that material erected in Chicago. It was originally the home of P. F. W. Peck; and before it was demolished, about 1867, after a some what checkered existence, it had been some years the head quarters of the police department, with a calaboose in the basement. The old landmark was succeeded by one of the finest buildings in the city, with the Union National Bank for its chief tenant. After the fire the bank was temporarily domiciled at the northwest corner of Market and Madison Streets, which one-sided locality — with Field, Leiter & Co.'s establishment, both wholesale and retail, on the northeast corner, and the Board of Trade opposite — be came for a time the business focus of the city. Within a year or so, the old Peck residence site was rehabilitated with an even more substantial building than the one destroyed; and so this intersection, when the Chamber of Commerce had been rebuilt, became once again the city's chief business centre. In addition to the Union National Bank, then the leading financial institution in the West, the By Crmrtesy / w 1 ?o 1 ^H ^.^ <1 H > a t^ o ,,', •^ 1,' ;i ,, •-J CO O t-' ¦ ' -i 1— < n o ' v O 1 '-^n a 1—* I'HJ O. !^ ¦1 o- •<: C« ^ toi 5t? O o to k; o a. 1— 1 2; O 0 m* m !^P 1— ( 0 > 0 L^i^ 0 Ufi THE LINCOLN FUNERAL 319 for not a moment beyond the instantaneous glance to fix the image was permitted — and so what the majority carried away was at best only a jumbled composite of an awesome spectacle. Newspaper work prevented me from faUing into line until three o'clock in the morning, and even at that un usual hour so extended was the line that I was nearly an hour and a half in reaching the bier. Once within the rotunda, at every step was heard the whispered "Move on!" from a guard at one's elbow; and before one had time to take bearings, he found himself beside the casket. So dim was the light, and so indistinct all objects in the strange surroundings, that I was quite even with the face before my eyes were fully fixed upon it, and there was time only for a vague impression. This was naturally a most unsatisfactory experience. I therefore quickly fell once more into line, this time at the corner of Madison and La Salle Streets, whereas before I had begun two blocks farther east on Madison. While the double file moved at a slow but fairly even pace (first west on Madison, then north on La Salle Street, then east on Randolph, then south on Clark, then west on Washington, and thence once more through the square, up the steps, and into the rotunda) , I had ample time to pass my previous experience in review, and arrange my faculties for most effective service. APPEARANCE OF THE BELOVED FACE The momentary glance I had been able to give the face left the impression that it was exceedingly small, and I was interested to note if, under possibly more favorable conditions, this impression would be confirmed. My second view, considering the circumstances, was quite satisfactory. 320 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO There had been some abatement of pressure, and I knew just when and where to look. Also, there occurred a momentary halt just when I stood in the best position for observation. In these circumstances my original impres sion was confirmed, the face appearing much smaUer than one would expect from the unusual length of body. And upon inquiry I found that others had come away with a similar impression. A LINCOLN SEANCE Prologue: Charles H. Reed, Prosecuting Attorney — Spectacular Career — Disastrous End — The Great Seance — Murderous Assault upon Youthful Bride — Envious Widow under Arrest — Leonard Swett and Isaac N, Arnold, "Mejums" — True Inwardness of the Seance Divulged — A Carefully Chosen "Circle" — Preliminary Political Passes — Witnesses Evoked from Thin Air — Mesmeric Spell of the Materializing Influences — Helplessness of the Unhypnotic Attorney — Shade of the Immortal Lincoln Invoked — Triumph of the Triumvirate. CHARLES H. REED, for years prosecuting attor ney, sent many a rogue to the penitentiary; and, in the end, barely escaped going behind the bars him self. Reed, at his best, was a creditable prosecutor. On occasion he would buckle to and do a big stunt of effective work. But his performances, on the whole, were provokingly uneven, and dashed with a good deal of gaUery play, when the thunder was all of the sheet-iron variety. SPECTACULAR CAREER Charley saw his best days in the late sixties, when by a series of spectacular tours de force he achieved a large, if somewhat mixed, popularity. He had many admirers, also not a few friends, and one of these, shortly before his death, named him executor of his estate and guardian of his children. This led to Charley's undoing. He was a good-natured feUow, readily beguUed by the plausible into unwarranted speculations, and, by his intimates, into hurtful extravagances. After an extended career as 321 322 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO prosecutor, he returned to general practice and, in time, aspired to a judgeship, for which temperamentally, and for other reasons, he was wholly unfitted. He received the nomination of a boss-controlled convention (which put up about the worst batch of candidates ever corralled under the whip and spur of unreasoning dictation) , and although duly warned not to force himself on pubhc attention, as matters looked queer anent his guardianship, he insisted on having his way, got fearfully pounded by a united press, and the whole ticket suffered ignominious defeat. DISASTROUS END Thus discredited, matters went from bad to worse with him so that his old haunts knew him no more. In 1887, I met him at the Hoffman House, New York. He was outwardly cheery and hopeful, for he had just seen Roscoe Conkling, and the ex-senator had prom ised to put some work in his way. But the memorable bhzzard of that winter effectually closed this problematical opening, as the stalwart ex-senator succumbed to the effects of exposure. Thereafter I saw no more of Charley, nor heard of him, until the papers announced that he had forced a change of venue from Taylor's hotel, Jersey City, to what, let us hope, is a more hospitable world for his kind. THE GREAT "sEANCE" Charley Reed figured in too many cases of note to permit any detaUed mention. But one stands out so con spicuously by reason of the character of the lawyers for the defence, and the manner of their association with the case, that it seems worth while to rehearse it : and this the rather, as its true inwardness as a unique legal episode will be now a first-told tale. CHARLES H. REED, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY ("Charley" Reed was the Unwilling Victim of the Arnold- Swett "Lincoln Seance," and Later of His Own too Great Popularitj') A LINCOLN SEANCE 323 The year was 1868. A young and prepossessing schoolma'am, a recent bride, had been lured to the woods back of the old Chicago University in Cottage Grove, and there murderously assaulted by a woman, heavily veiled, who rushed upon her from a thicket. As the victim was brought nigh to death's door, the affair created a great stir, and for days absorbed public atten tion. Almost from the first suspicion pointed to a middle- aged widow residing in the southern part of the city ; and so strongly did the evidence converge upon her that she was placed under arrest and held for trial. The widow and the man who had become the husband of the teacher had been much in each other's company before the better-looking and younger school-mistress crossed his orbit — and the theory of the prosecution was that it was a case of "a woman scorned," wherein, instead of venting her wrath on the faithless swain, she had re vengefully turned on her successful rival. LEONARD SWETT AND ISAAC N, ARNOLD, " MEJUMS " The accused widow was wealthy, she had influential friends, and elaborate plans for her defence were carefully matured. Some one among her advisers had surely a happy thought — nay, an inspiration. Leonard Swett, although then a comparative newcomer in Chicago, had behind him a reputation won elsewhere, and his selection by the defence was therefore not so yery remarkable. But who in his wildest dreams had ever associated the Chesterfieldian Hon. Isaac N. Arnold with a case of this character? Besides, had he not been out of harness for so many years that only the very oldest settlers could be expected to remember that he had ever been a practising lawyer? People rubbed their eyes; the wits had their jokes; 324 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO while Emory Storrs, when asked for an opinion, remarked that there was no occasion for wonder, as a "Nancy" (a famUar sobriquet for Mr. Arnold) was often asso ciated with women's troubles. I reported the trial for the Tribune, with which paper I was at that time connected. But as no reportorial in ferences or deductions — however well founded — were permitted, only a colorless digest of the testimony was published, and the real causes that led to a disagreement remained unexplained. Now, however, as all the chief actors have made their final exit, some matters not of record but essentially germane to the case, in its trial, need no longer be withheld, A CAREFULLY CHOSEN " CIRCLE" The first step taken by the defence was a motion for a change of venue to Lake County, based on the ground that a fair trial could not be had in Cook County. This was granted. Now Lake County and, above all, its cap ital city, Waukegan, was known for its uncompromising republicanism; and in those days partisanship was a far more potent motive to, or excuse for, shady conduct than it is to-day. A jury was selected with great care, at least on the part of the defence. Joined with Messrs. Swett and Arnold was a local practitioner, more politician than lawyer, with whom every name was thorouglily canvassed ; yet it was not until the trial was well under way that Charley Reed suspected he had to deal with an excep tionally partisan-patriotic jury; though why that should count against him he could not imagine, as he was a pretty stalwart Republican himself. Nor did he divine what particular trumps his opponents had up their sleeves, or suspect how they would play them, until trick after trick had counted against him. LEONARD SWETT A LINCOLN SEANCE 325 PRELIMINARY POLITICAL "PASSEs" While the case was slowly taking its course in the court room, quiet but effective propaganda was making for the defence on the outside. For one thing the local Republican paper was sympathetically enlisted. It al luded to the learned counsel as the most intimate and trusted friends of Abraham Lincoln, and fehcitated the townsfolk on the honor of having them in their midst; while at the principal hotel counsel held nightly receptions, at which aU the conversation was reminiscent of a single personahty known to nearly everybody in middle life in that community; and it even turned out that several members of the jury had been on a quite familiar footing with the martyred President, at a time when he was best known as "Uncle Abe." Thus in most subtle manner the case was enveloped in an atmosphere sympathetically re sponsive to the defence; and then, when it was brought out that the father of the defendant had been a member of that Spartan band who in older days managed the Un derground Railroad, the defence was still further strength ened along the lines so shrewdly laid out for it. UNCANNY "influences" And truly aU this political campaigning was urgently needed, for a case more intrinsically weak, and bolstered up with flagrant — not to say pitiful — perjury, it would be hard to imagine. It is not pleasant to believe that a man so punctilious as Mr. Arnold had the reputation of being, had aught to do with the preparatory steps; nor that Mr. Swett had, though he fell easily in a somewhat different category, being a criminal lawyer by profession. Indeed, it is far more agreeable to surmise that the same fine Italian hand that mapped out the general plan of campaign, and selected counsel with an eye single to 326 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO certain effects, also looked after much besides; though there can be no question that, the trial once begun, counsel were fully cognizant of the queer material they had to deal with, and made the best of a bad situation. WITNESSES evoked FROM THIN AIR The prosecution, by its witnesses, traced the widow to the neighborhood of the scene of assault at the time of its commission and proved that she owned a dress such as the assailant wore (according to the testimony of the victim). The veU was also brought close home to her, so was the instrument of assault, and much beside. Against this an attempt was made to prove an ahbi — an alibi that refused to hang together. Next witnesses were brought forward to testify that the assailant seen by them (they lived in a small cottage in the neighbor hood) was a woman of smaller stature than the defendant, and not habited as sworn to by the plaintiff. Oddly enough these witnesses had never been heard of before as spectators of the assault, though the pohce had searched far and wide for their kind. They were a husband, wife, and two children, a girl of about nine, and a boy seven years of age, and a more pitiful sight than these little ones presented under cross-examination has seldom been seen in a court. HYPNOTIC SPELL OF THE MATERIALIZING "mEJUMs" Leonard Swett, as counsel-in-chief, piloted them deftly enough through their direct testimony. His tone was ad justed to an insinuating suavity, his manner was most fatherly, whUe Mr, Arnold smiled a benignant encourage ment, turning frequently to the jury to give them the benefit of his inward satisfaction at the conclusive demon stration of the innocence of his client. A LINCOLN SEANCE 327 In hands more deft, more suited to the occasion, the distressing pity of it aU could have been brought home to the jury with startling conclusiveness; but Charley Reed possessed no finesse, no talent for a various adaptation, and went at these children in his usual slang-whang manner, his strident voice in no wise subdued, and while he made it evident enough that the tale told by them was one learned by heart, he failed in impressing the importance of the fact on the consciousness of a jury held by the eyes of counsel for the defence — those "nearest and dearest friends of Abraham Lincoln." But the artistically arranged triumph of counsel for the defence — the melodramatic culmination for which all the preceding manoeuvres had been put in train — was yet to come, when the court for the nonce seemed to be turned into a seance, in which the spirit of Abraham Lin coln — given to ghost-walking a good deal anyway, if those who frequent "dark seances" are to be believed — was not only solemnly invoked, but dramatically evoked and materiahzed in the person of his Doppelgdnger, Leonard Swett. But how was this august wraith got into the case? the reader may ask. Oh, easy enough, as we shall see. A LINCOLN "obsession" Leonard Swett began the diversion almost with the first sentence 6f his opening speech. The prosecution, he said, had boldly charged perjury, and even hinted at collusion and conspiracy to manufacture evidence. Pray, against whom was this charged? For himself, he might consider the source, and let it go with that; but he could not keep silent when another was involved, and that one so illustrious a person as his colleague, the Hon. Isaac N. Arnold — a man whose name was indissolubly associated with that of Abraham Lincoln, a man who had been 328 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO the friend and counsellor of the martyred President, had understood him as had few others, had sympathized with him in his ideals and aspirations, and hence had, at the solicitation of many friends, because of his exceptional fitness, undertaken the congenial though arduous task of writing the great liberator's biography, a work that would go down the ages as the classic of America's heroic age. Leonard Swett was a speaker of eloquence. Tears seemed to impede his utterance, and more than one jury man was observed to whisk away a sympathetic globule. THE "influence" IS TRANSFERRED But that this was only the fore-play to an artfuUy prepared and carefully rehearsed drama, was seen the moment that Mr. Arnold had his inning. This gentleman — with his old-school manner — gravely, and with tact ful plausibility, followed the lines so adroitly marked out by Swett, but with an obvious intention to cover more ground. Indeed, it was plain he had determined to make his colleague's association with Lincoln the burden of his address, and say as little as possible about the case itself. With a fine simulation of feehng he resented the asper sions of counsel, not for himself, but for his illustrious colleague — the man who had been so near the lamented Lincoln, that he seemed to many to be the martyred Presi dent's other self, resembling him in person, alike to him in thought, inspired by the same high motives; and so completely had their personalities become merged in an intellectual and spiritual unity that .they came to voice their thoughts with almost identical mannerisms, intona tions, and forms of expression. Indeed, often when with closed eyes he followed the speech of his coUeague, he imagined himself once again Tk. %. I 1 HON. ISAAC N. ARNOLD A LINCOLN SEANCE 329 listening to the inspired utterances of the great com moner, and an image of the dead President would invol untarily present itself to his inner vision, and startle bun with its striking verisimilitude. To be sure, as Mr. Swett had been kind enough to intimate, he himself had known the great President from early manhood, and this asso ciation with the revered martyr was now his most cher ished possession; but after all, what was this relation to the intimate companionship for so many years enjoyed by his coUeague! — a companionship of heart-searchings, in which there was cemented a friendship that was never disturbed. And then in colloquial phrase, studied to suit the theme and mood of the occasion, the speaker passed from phase to phase, and stage to stage, of Mr. Swett 's association with Lincoln, giving to each its appropriate significance. THE IMMORTAL RAIL-SPLITTER STANDS REVEALED In the vernacular of the log cabin he rehearsed inci dents Ulustrative of the companionship of the two practi tioners on the circuit ; drew pictures that moved to laugh ter, of hfe at the viUage tavern when "Honest Old Abe" was the centre of every gathering; spoke interestingly of long horseback rides taken together, when all their legal and other impedimenta was stowed in saddlebags; pre sented them in the trial of causes ; brought them together into the political arena ^ — Mr. Swett always Lincoln's chief adviser and stanchest supporter — untU there came the supreme moment, when at the Wigwam, in Chicago, in the memorable Convention of 1860, Leonard Swett, the bosom friend, ralhed the forces that placed in nomina tion for President the Immortal RaU-splitter of Ilhnois, the nation's ideal of honest manhood! 330 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO I had heard Mr. Arnold address audiences on many occasions, especially during the stirring war time, and his facile periods had never evoked more than a ripple of emotion. But for once he lost sight of the formalities that usually hedged him about, and, giving a free rein to his feelings, he so wrought upon his listeners that even one so unsympathetic to Mr, Arnold's personality as myself was a bit moved by his adroitly injected panegyric. As for Charley Reed, he was mad clear through, as well as deeply chagrined. Arnold's address closed the day's proceedings, carrying Reed's closing speech over to the following morning. "So Swett is another Lincoln, is he?" fumed Charley as we left the court together. "I 'U j>ay them for that. I '11 just fall in with all they have said about themselves and Old Abe. I '11 tell the jury that the hkeness of Swett to Lincoln is perfect in all respects but one, and that is in the matter of brains, where Swett proves a complete alibi, something he has vainly tried to do in this trial." TRIUMPH OF THE TRIUMVIRATE The next morning I was on the qui vive to hear Char ley launch his thunderbolt. However, when it came to the point, his courage failed him, and — but it is not at all likely that the trial would have terminated differently had he fired his overcharged catapult. The triumvirate, constituted of Swett, Arnold, and Lincoln, was clearly too strong for him. The jury "disagreed," and people who had followed the testimony only in print, and knew not what occult "influence" had been set in operation, rubbed their eyes in a vain effort to realize how such an outcome could have been brought about. WILBUR F. STOREY, EDITOR OF THE "TIMES" A Great Editor — The "Times" Intended as Organ of Douglas Democracy — Influences Determining "Copperhead" Posi tion — Plans Frustrated by Death of Douglas — The Paper IN Financial Straits — Character of Mr, Storey — A Pur veyor of News — A Vindictive Portraiture — Insulting Epithets Applied to Storey — Refutation of the Charges of "Imaginary Liaisons," etc. — High Character of the Old Staff — Living Witnesses — Documentary Endorsement. WILBUR F. STOREY, the great editor of the Times, like many another extreme "Copperhead" — or, for that matter. Abolitionist — was a logi cal product of circumstance and temperament. He be gan his career in Chicago under a great disappointment. I give it on the authority of one who came with Mr. Storey from Detroit, and was for many years in a respon sible position on the paper, that Storey purchased the Times with the idea of making it the organ of the Douglas Democracy; and fate decreed that the first number under his control should chronicle the Senator's funeral. Storey, of course, knew where Douglas stood on the war ques tion; and had the "Little Giant" hved, it is more than probable that the course of the Times would have been quite different. INFLUENCES DETERMINING "cOPPERHEAD" POSITION It is unfortunately true that in too many instances the course of a newspaper is determined by circumstances far 331 WILBUR F. STOREY, EDITOR OF THE "TIMES" 333 his war-time record. His single aim was to make the Times a great newspaper; and he could do this only by making it pay. The grip of the Tribute on advertising was too strong to be broken. Hence he must look to cir culation for returns — and the price of five cents per copy left a handsome margin above production. Among other marked traits there was unquestionably a vein of vindic- tiveness in Mr. Storey's make-up — as there was in most strong characters in those days — but it was never shown except against his equals. He was at bottom a just man; and this, above all, in his relation as employer. He was far from over-exacting in his demands for service; while every faUure had its day in court, and was judged on its merits. He was an incarnation of frankness himself, and demanded this quality in his subordinates. Mr. Storey's faults were largely the defects of his quahties. He was through and through a Tietaspaper man. News for him, however, included the shady side of life; and in exploiting this he gave perhaps too much scope for individual license. I am certain that he never gave an order that a scandal should be salacious or made attractive to the prurient. As to the "fake" — now such a common exploit in "yellow" journalism — both the term and the practice it represents were unknown in Storey's time; whUe compared with the sensational press of the twentieth century, the Times would appear as a fairly model news paper, though probably now adjudged "a bit slow in its pace." A VINDICTIVE PORTRAITURE I am moved to go into this matter at some length for the reason that, after his death and the demise of his paper, a former employee, for reasons best known to him self, — and not unknown to others, — placed on record 334 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO an estimate of the man and of his paper that goes beyond all warrant in its vilification. As this estimate is unques- tioningly accepted by Major Kirkland, in his "History of Chicago," — and, unless shaken, is likely to become estab lished, — I feel that it is due to the memory of a man whom his employees as a rule held in esteem, that their testimony should go on record. It so happens that most of the men who came in close touch with Mr. Storey during the last dozen years of his regime are now, like myself, residents of New York. We have often discussed this onslaught among ourselves, and hoped for an opportunity to present to the world a differ ent impression of the man ; if for no other reason than that the picture so vindictively drawn is a reflection on the character of every individual who served him with loj'^al zeal. The writer referred to, not content with speaking of Mr. Storey as "a Bacchus, a Satyr, a Minotaur, aU in one," charges specifically that "imaginary haisons of a filthy character reeked, seethed like a hell's broth, in the Times caldron, and made a stench in the nostrils of decent people." REFUTATION OF THE CHARGE OF "IMAGINARY LIAISONS," ETC. While a man who held this opinion of the Times, and yet could serve the paper for nearly a score of years, is clearly disqualified from offering his mere word as evi dence on a question having moral implications, it remains to say that he was so carried away in his zeal to blacken the character of one against whom he felt a bitter personal enmity, that he departed from a safe rule of generalities, and crowned his muck-heap of vituperation with a charge WILBUR F. STOREY, EDITOR OF THE "TIMES" 333 that can be distinctly refuted by most creditable wit nesses; and this with reference to the publishing of "imag inary liaisons." For my own part I permit myself to say that for more than a half -score of years most of the local "copy" passed through my hands — for I was as sistant to four different city editors, as well as the city editor of its one-time afternoon edition, the Telegraph — and that during all that time not one hne of "imaginary" or "fake" matter of any sort or description was either published or so much as submitted for publication. The staff as a whole was one of high quality, both as to character and abUity. Of this the best proof is that a majority of those who are still among the living occupy positions of weU-earned distinction. Among the honored dead occur such weU-remembered names as Charles H. Wright, Charles Northup, and Major "Jack" Hinman, all city editors; Everett Chamberlin, John F. Finerty (Congressman), Leander Stone (later associate editor of The Northwestern Christian Advocate) , Frank Dav idson (who later held a responsible position on the Asso ciated Press) , John Finnane, George Pratt, Charles At- wood, James Chisolm, Frank C. McClenthen, Samuel Steele, and others. LIVING WITNESSES Among the living are men so well known as Horatio W- Seymour (for more than a decade telegraph and night managing editor of the Times, later editor of The Chicago Herald, then founder and editor of The Chicago Chronicle), now editorial supervisor of The New York World. Colonel Charles S. Diehl (law reporter and war correspondent) , now assistant general manager and secre tary of the Associated Press; Joseph Edgar Cham- 336 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO berlin (news editor and later managing editor) , now liter ary editor and art critic on the Mail; Fred Perry Powers (reporter, editorial writer, and Washington correspond ent), now an editorial writer on The Philadelphia Record; T. Z. Cowles (reporter and night editor), now editor of The American Economist; Cyrus C. Adams (reporter and correspondent), now editor of the "Bulletin" of the American Geographical Society, and perhaps the high est authority on matters geographical in America ; George G. Martin (telegraph editor and later managing editor), now in a responsible position on the Associated Press; Charles E, Harrington (assistant city editor), now ex change editor on The Wall Street Journal; Frank H. Brooks (reporter and special topic writer), now connected with the American Press Association. All of the above, — with one exception, — including myself, were for a number of years contemporaries on the Times. Hardly a line of "copy" went into print that did not go through one or another's hands; and hence there ought to be no mistake as to what was expected of us, or any serious flaw in our estimate of the man whom we wUhngly served. So long as one got the facts — and nothing but the facts — the manner of treatment was left by Mr. Storey largely to the writer's inclinations. This being the case, it may be said, as throwing hght on the character of Mr. Storey's traducer, that no member of the staff so persist ently drew near the line of risque — and this more particu larly in ante-fire days. Later, he was for a time the paper's London correspondent, in which capacity he sent a weekly letter, and this frequently concerned itself with some debatable matter. Now others who served in that capacity, either before or after, were such well-known writers as Joseph Hatton, the novelist, and the Rev. Mon- WILBUR P. STOREY, EDITOR OF THE "TIMES" 337 cure D. Conway; and is it conceivable that either of these weU-known writers would have accepted the post if ex pected to serve up a weekly melange of salacious gossip? DOCUMENTARY ENDORSEMENT The foUowing letter speaks for itself: Office of The Evening Mail, New York, September 16, 1909, My Dear Cook: You are right in what you say about Wilbur F, Storey in the chapter which you have prepared for your book about old days in Chicago. I worked for and with Storey for several years, part of the time as managing editor. He was always absolutely square and hon orable in all his relations with his men, so far as I could observe; and so far as his relations with me are concerned, he was "e'en as just a man as ever my imagination coped withal." I never knew him to order or connive at any kind of faking, and his ordinary attitude in news investigations was to get at the exact truth. It is true that he allowed a great deal of latitude to individual writers. That was a part of his plan. He once said to me, "What ever success I have had is due to the use of money and men. When I had little money I had to use men. I get the best there is in a man out of him." The connection in which he used this statement showed that he meant that he gave full play to whatever abilities the man had. It was never his idea to make a man do a thing as he. Storey, would have done it, but as the man himself wanted to do it when aroused and encouraged to the point of doing his best work. When he supposed that a man was doing that, he never interfered. Sincerely yours, Joseph Edgar Chamberlin, The undersigned fully endorse the estimate of Wilbur F. Storey's character and attitude as set forth by our former associates on the Times, Frederick Francis Cook and Joseph Edgar Chamberlin. Signed: Horatio W. Seymour, Charles S. Diehl, Fred Perry Powers, T. Z. Cowles, Cyrus C. Adams, George G. Martin, Charles E. Har rington, and Frank H. Brooks. 338 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO I will conclude with this extract from Fred Perry Powers: "I was a reporter on the Times from 1876 to 1880, and then an editorial writer from 1880 to 1882. I was the Washington correspond ent until 1888. I never knew of any faked news, never heard of any, and do not believe there was any, . . . The Times was remem bered as a Copperhead paper, and as such it was assumed to be capable of anything. Nobody under sixty years of age knows what the word 'Copperhead' meant when we were youngsters," THE OLD "LAKE FRONT" Early Chicago's only Gathering Place — The Sunday After noon Parade — The Elite of Boarding-house Life — Love's Young Dream — Eden Invaded: Baseball, the Exposition Building — The "Marble Terrace" — Class Distinctions Re sented — The Ogdens, Newberrys, and Arnolds in Frame Dwellings — The Nouveaux-Riches — Wood versus Marble — "Unpitying Grandeur" — Some of the Unpitying Grand. I CAME by chance upon a shabby old volume which, to my surprise, gave a pictorial glimpse of the "Lake Front" (now Grant Park) of long ago; and while it was but a poor attempt at verisimilitude, it sufficed to re caU a time when I first knew it, in 1862 — a strip of green, in places less than a hundred yards in width, with a basin for boating between its bank and the Illinois Central RaUroad tracks. Much of the South Side (between Washington and Van Buren Streets, east of Clark, except ing parts of Wabash and Michigan Avenues) now covered by skyscrapers, was then occupied by boarding-houses of aU sorts and conditions, and this "Lake Front" was practically the only breathing-place in the city. THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON PARADE On every pleasant Sunday afternoon, almost the entire unattached population would be there on parade, or other wise lending itself to the filling up of a rather gay and fes tive scene. I am not sure that wwattached is the appro priate descriptive under which to group these odds and ends of the social medium; for, on reflection, it comes 339 340 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO over me that most of the folk there were generally very much attached to somebody, or something or other — and that rather more warmly than the staid people whose fine mansions faced the esplanade thought either necessary or seemly. It was here the star male boarder came with the land lady's best looking daughter; and those of lesser distinction in the hierarchy of boarding-house life escorted other daughters, or some chance fellow-boarder of the opposite sex, — though this sort were comparatively rare in those days, for neither the mellifluous "Hello girl," nor the de mure typist, had as yet been evolved, — and so on down the list to the saucy waitress, the frisky chambermaid, and lastly the seasoned cook; though the kind who fell into the class of "help" (when they did not fall into something more embracing), usually deferred their visits to a later hour, when an indulgent moon lent her benignant counte nance to a larger insouciance than was permissible under the stricter regime of old Sol, and coquettish stars fur thered and abetted the promptings of love's young dream with merry twinklings, which plainly said, "We are not seeing anything." love's YOUNG DREAM There were no reserved seats on this "common" either to invite or detain the haughty and proud. Indeed, if I recall the situation rightly, there were no seats of any kind, except such as these heedless folk naturally brought with them. No, democratic fashion, if sit you must, you sat on the grass; and as there were no signs warning possible trespassers to "keep off," the green places were generally pretty weU worn. When possible (and it fre quently reduced itself to a question of elbow room) the swain sat on the extreme lakeward verge, his legs dangling By Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society Looking North from Park Row By Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society Looking- Northeast from near Terrace Row THE LAKE FRONT THE OLD "LAKE FRONT" 341 in space, while his "best girl," with an effusion of bhssful coyness, did the same, though not without gaUant support. And had you been intent on a stroU of observation, it would most likely have revealed a weU-packed line that reached aU the way from Washington Street to Park Row. Late in the sixties this guUeless Eden was ruthlessly invaded; and thereafter practical interests claimed it more and more for their own. First the northern part was set apart for a baseball field; then later the Exposition buUd- mg of 1873 absorbed another slice; and so because of these encroachments — and again because the old boarding- houses had nearly all disappeared — and finaUy because parks everywhere presented rival attractions, the old "Lake Front" knew its crowds no more. THE "marble terrace" But whatever offences may be charged by the captious against this one-time popular rendezvous, there was never theless much innocent enjoyment for the young people who in animated groups sauntered up and down the finely shaded walk of the avenue ; and amongst these at least — however it might be with their elders — there was little envy of those who, the world apart, dwelt in the stately "Bishop's Palace"; nor of others who farther down — where the Auditorium buUding now rears its massive front — lived in awesome exclusiveness in the much- talked-of "Marble Terrace." And mention of this "Marble Terrace" brings up a curious and interesting state of the public mind, very note worthy in those days, which bitterly resented any separa tion of class from mass by an outward show — a mode of distinction now accepted as quite a matter of course. This feeling, so strong among the masses, was shared in 342 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO no small degree by people of means, with whom its ex pression took the form of a careful avoidance of anything calculated to bring their more favored estate conspicuously to pubhc attention. Curiously enough, what is now regarded as above others a mark of ostentatious exclusiveness — i. e., the ap propriation of large areas of valuable ground with park like surroundings to accommodate a single mansion — met with little criticism in those days, or the Ogdens, the Newberrys, the Arnolds, and others of the exclusive "North Side set" would have come in for a large share of pubhc animadversion, which, I am sure, was not the case ; for in Chicago, at a time when these large areas were set apart for private use, land was comparatively both cheap and plenty. Besides, the mansions that graced these demesnes were generally of wood, and moreover did not offend by fronting obtrusively on the street. THE NOUVEAUX-RICHES The sources of this resentment against ostentation in old — or should one say young? — Chicago, are not far to seek. The mania for display, now so common everywhere, had not then manifested itself to any degree. It arose the country over after the close of the war, with the rise of a new rich class, whose dominating business charac teristics found social expression in ostentatious display. Besides, in early Chicago there were special reasons for resentment against any undue parade of fortune, inasmuch as the entire population had once stood on an even footing, not to say bare-footing. While Chicago was still a mere frontier post, both Cincinnati and St. Louis already possessed families with hereditary wealth ; and, in spite of our boasted democratic equality, we unconsciously dis- ¦'¦>m 'l"iA By Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society Park Row By Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society Terrace Row — "The Marble Terrace" THE LAKE FRONT THE OLD "LAKE FRONT" 343 tinguish between differences of birth and differences that in time arise out of what were apparently equal oppor tunities. In these circumstances it went rather hard with the would-be "aristocrat" of the early sixties who essayed to "put on style," for it grew into a habit with folk to remind him that he once tinkered or cobbled for them. Besides, it went almost without saying, under such con ditions as obtained in early Chicago, that those who emerged from the ruck did so frequently by reason of quahties that do not usually commend themselves to a carping public. WOOD VERSUS MARBLE And so it came to pass that when a number of well- to-do — and doubtless also well-meaning — folk, made common cause in the erection of residences similar in ap pearance, and "all in a row" — pretentious or impressive only because of their solid alignment for an entire block — that the pubhc mind was stirred to a great ado; and what was known to its owners as "Terrace Row" was generally referred to as the "Marble Terrace," with an especial emphasis on the "Marble" and an accentuated fhng at the " Terrace." In a way, it was the first marked departure, for residential purposes, from wood — one of the chief elements of the city's greatness — as, by this time, Chicago had risen to be the leading lumber market of the world. Therefore, "marble," even though of the Lamont sandstone variety, with at best only a marblesque appear ance, savored of pride and put a stamp of disapproval, if not of degradation, on one of Chicago's chief articles of commerce. Moreover, was it not suggestive of kingly palaces, and those "alabaster halls" through which the perfumed air stole on the olfactories of Claude Melnotte, the stage hero par excellence of those days, through the 344 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO medium of whose exuberant fancy, nascent Chicago looked upon the world of romance? As a stage effect, under such a trustworthy manager as J. H. McVicker, "marble haUs" and even "terraces" might be guiltless of offence; but the same thing in real life, on Michigan Avenue, al ready a synonym for aristocratic exclusiveness, was not to be tolerated without a vigorous protest. "unpitying grandeur" Lest the reader imagine that time and an exuberant fancy have conspired to over-color this picture, so true to half a century ago, I beg leave to submit an extract from a "Hand Book of Chicago," published in the early sixties, in which, anent this "Marble -Terrace," occurs the fol lowing: "These lofty fronts [three stories, with high basement] coming squarely to the sidewalk [they really stood back ten feet or more] have a glittering, heartless appearance, that stamps them as apt repre sentations of fashion. They have display, richness, a sort of stern, unpitying grandeur, but no warmth, no geniality. There are in build ings a species of human-like attributes, that attract or repel the observer." Naturally there will be some curiosity to learn who these people were that with so much pomp and pride set themselves apart in "unpitying grandeur." They were J. Y. Scammon, P. F. W. Peck, "Deacon" WiUiam Bross, Denton Gurnee, Peter L. Yoe, S. C. Griggs, Tut hill King, Judge Hugh T. Dickey, General Cook, John L. Clarke, and Mrs. Walker. How the future wiU deal with the reputations of these heartless offenders, may be left to the reader's imagination. SHARP-CORNER RHAPSODY Ibach and Gottlieb: a Bit of Bohemia — Saturday Night En tertainments — Precursors of Theodore Thomas — "Bio Bill" Hurlbut — "Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming" — Melodious "Plucking" — Lost Chords. IBACH was a character and Gottlieb was another. A third factor in a notable ante-fire triune was the south west corner of La SaUe and Randolph Streets, where stood a time-worn, two-story frame house, known to the Chicago of the sixties as "The Sharp Corner." So far as the "lay of the land" had anything to do with it, this par- ticidar corner was not a whit more pointed than any other thereabout. No, the acuteness was all in Ibach and Gottheb. If Ibach could answer to a baptismal prefix it never became public property ; and if Gottlieb was blessed with any sort of cognominal suffix, it remained a profound secret. Ibach was proprietor, Gottlieb factotum, and "The Sharp Corner" a Wirthschaft dear to many an old- time Bohemian, where the food was ever savory, the beer of the best, whUe the wine — but that was usually more or less by the way, so far at least as we of Bohemia were concerned. However, what really counted was that Ibach played the zither, and few have touched this bewitching instrument more sympathetically — an estimate apprecia tively emphasized when in after years Theodore Thomas presented him as a soloist at some of his summer-night concerts. 345 346 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO Ibach, a Hungarian by birth, had the musical passion of a gypsy; and when the humor of a propitious occasion reached full-tide (best evoked by liberal hbations of his most expensive champagnes) he would play as one pos sessed, with eyes in fine frenzy rolling — and they were eyes to remember — his body swaying this way and that in rhythmic abandonment to some moving cadence, while big, ecstatic tears fell unheeded on his beloved instrument. Ibach's tongue readily worked overtime; whereas Gottheb, true to his role of foil, seldom permitted himself to go beyond a laconic "Ja wohl." If the one exhibited himself as an embodiment of irascibUity, the other stood at attention as an incarnation of imperturbabUity. Ibach was short and lean ; Gottlieb was short also, but as rotund as a brownie, which goggle-eyed tribe he oddly resembled. The one would fume and storm on the slightest provoca tion, his face afire, his eyes aflame; the other held ever to a sphinx-like silence — the placidity of his vacuous visage seldom disturbed by so much as the raising of an eyelash. Ibach's explosions, when not touched off to order, were but the necessary escapes of an overstrimg temperament; and almost as quickly as an outburst came it would sub side — only there was always another waiting its turn. In one respect only did these twin stars shine in unison — both were preposterously bald. Ibach held his talent as a zitherist at f vJl value. That piercing eye of his sized up a crowd in a flash. His zither was his money-maker; and, as a rule, he would touch it only for big game — "Board of Trade feUers" being a favorite quarry. An habitue once remarked: "Why didn't you play for Jones and his friends the other night? They were much disappointed." "Vat? dose fellers! Pooh! Notting but beer guzzlers." SHARP-CORNER RHAPSODY 347 HIS SATURDAY NIGHT ENTERTAINMENTS Ibach had, however, a sentimental as well as a mer cenary side. With a few he was an extravagant Schwdr- mer; and to this kind all Saturday nights were consecrate. Then it did not so much matter if nothing more expensive than beer or wine of the Rhine was ordered ; though when ever "Big BiU" Hurlbut — he of later baseball-manage ment fame — was present (and he was seldom absent from these Saturday night assemblies) , nothing but champagne would answer; and when, as quite frequently happened, he took advantage of his generous privileges to introduce a Philistine or two, it was imderstood that they came pre pared to pay grand opera box prices for their share of the entertainment. I had a friend in Wilham Buderbach, whom a few may recall as whilom leader of McVicker's Theatre orchestra. Buderbach's physiognomy ordinarily e^^pressed about as much animation as a wooden cigar-store sign; but beneath this inexpressive, unemotional exterior, there dwelt a soul wedded to a marvellous "Cremona," and the inspira tions of the masters. One Saturday night we left the theatre together, and that gave opportunity to invite him to join the Ibach circle. Always shy and diffident, he yielded a reluctant consent; but once there, he must needs introduce his best beloved; and from that time forward, for happily many moons, Ibach and Buderbach became for us daft dreamfolk, dual well-springs of dulcet harmonies. The elect would ingather shortly after ten, and it was always a sore disappointment to me if some untoward news event compelled me to forego any part of the golden hours. As soon as an instalment of the Burschen —Ibach's German alternative for his English "feUers"— put in an appearance, Gottlieb would begin manoeuvring 348 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO to rid the place of all not duly accredited, by overmuch looking at the clock, and a superadded wiping of tables, thereby starting feelings of discomfort in all not of the elect. And no sooner was there a happy riddance than the door was locked, and so remained for aU not provided with the magic sesame. PRECURSORS OF THEODORE THOMAS Sometimes, in the interval from the last gathering, Ibach might have made some precious musical find, and would begin to whet our appetites for the coming feast with discourse upon his discovery. "You wiU hear!" he would exclaim, "it is himmlich!" — and thus would he open by anticipation the antechamber of the heaven to be later our possession. Celestial rhapsody! Ah, the reader must remember the time of which this is written. Theodore Thomas, even as a visitor, was not to rise on Chicago's horizon for yet many a year; while such luminaries as Bloomfield Zeisler and Maud Powell, veritably to the manner born, were stUl a part of the formless void. In those days artists from elsewhere were rare birds, indeed ; and almost the only in digenous music offered the general public was something on Sunday afternoons, caUed a Sacred Concert, at the North Clark Street Turner HaU (and lo! they still abide) that rang its everlasting changes on overtures to, or pot- pouris compounded of, the "Czar and Zimmermann," "Nabucho," "Robert le Diable," "Martha," "The Bo hemian Girl," "Maritana," "WiUiam Tell," "The Merry Wives of Windsor," and a few more of this delectable com pany — while what fell to our lot in this "Sharp Corner" oasis would bring joy to cultivated lovers of music even to-day. SHARP-CORNER RHAPSODY 349 "big bill" HURLBUT There were generally about a dozen for audience. A longish table was tacitly yielded to the players and such "champagnersi" as might be present — i. e.. Board of Trade "feUers" under Hurlbut's leading. The rest would be grouped about smaller tables, while Gottlieb, personify ing silence, attended to orders. Ibach invariably sat at the head of the table, Buderbach at his left, Hurlbut at his right, and the latter's immediate friends farther down. As a matter of fact, however, the real head of the table was wherever "Big BiU" sat. He completely filled the big gest chair, and had that masterful way to which subordina tion is readily yielded. Besides, he would often "blow in" (this wUl not appear as slang to any who recall his mighty chest emissions) twenty dollars or more at a sitting — the more usually depending on the turn the day's market had taken. When there was a violin accompaniment, the selec tions had as a rule a semi-classical flavor; but in his zither solos, with an eye strictly to business, Ibach would shrewd ly fit himself to the part of his audience which divided their attention between the Muse of Music and the Widow Cliquot. I It would scarcely be true to speak of "Big BiU" as a classicist musicaUy — even if a whole class by himself. Nor was he, strictly speaking, a romanticist — though in an old-fashioned way chock-f uU of sentiment. A tender love- song of Schubert's or Schumann's might now and then evoke a grunt of appreciation; but, on the whole, he was only charitably tolerant toward the masters because others enjoyed them. What he liked better was something that had the lilt of the Tyrol, or thriUed with Magyar abandon. He was, however, never completely in his element untU by easy but well calculated approaches Ibach arrived at what 350 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO may be caUed the "Way down upon the Suwanee River" or "Come where my love lies dreaming" stage. Then, and not till then, did "Big BiU" come wholly to the fore. And then, while his eyes blazed a chaUenge, and his transfigured jowl testified to a complete surrender to the hour, amidst a mighty heaving of chest, there would issue as from subter ranean depths the incontrovertible verdict, " There 's music for you!" At this stage of the fantasia it was never difficult to catch Gottlieb's eye, as, with napkin over shoulder, he stood well within range — and there would invariably fol low (accompanied by a sweep of the arm that included the entire company) the Hurlbutian laconic: "More wine!" Now, from an illumined Ibach: "Gottheb, did you hear?" From an imperturbable Gottlieb: "Ja wohl!" From an exasperated Ibach: "Himmel donnerwetter! Vy don't you bring it?" Eruptions at this stage of the champagne flow repre sented only the veriest stage thunder. Ibach knew only too well what a contrast his electrical discharges formed to Gottlieb's unshakable immobility; and he was not above throwing in a wink and other theatrical "business" to heighten the effect. Inscrutable Gottlieb — was he ever caught off guard — in mental undress, as it were? I doubt it. And yet, on occasion when some exceptionally moving cadenza flooded all hearts to suffusion of eyes, I sometimes imagined I could detect a facial flutter as of some inmost chord, oc- ciUtly touched. But it was probably an optical iUusion. SHARP-CORNER RHAPSODY 351 MELODIOUS "plucking" Ibach's Board of Trade "Lambs," though shorn so deftly, and to such luUing accompaniment, did not always undergo the operation without suspicion of ulterior de signs. Once a visitor, who had been "played" to a lively tune, turned to the maestro with the inquiry: "What do you call it when you work the strings?" "Dey caU it 'plucking' in English." "Indeed? I was under the impression it was the boys who came in for that." For a moment Ibach did not seem to see the point. Then, suddenly, with a shout: "By Jimminy, dat is goot — Gottlieb, one more bottle on the shentleman." From the "shentleman": "Gottlieb, make it two." "Ja wohl!" LOST CHORDS After the fire, Ibach reestablished himself on Fifth Avenue, in the midst of a continual hurly-burly. And al though Gottlieb was there to maintain traditions, and the zither was played occasionaUy, the old-timers sadly missed the intimate atmosphere to which they had been so long accustomed, and the old reunions somehow refused to be revived. Obviously, too much had happened in the mean time, and we were all hving in another Chicago. In con trast with the glaring effrontery of the upstart new — how soft and mellow the old, how instinct with the ineffable charm of a perfect day that is forever gone! AN EARLY SOCIABLE Mayor Rice's Eldest Daughter Gives a Party — An Editorial Edict' — First Attempt at Society Reporting in Chicago • — Buds and Belles of Long Ago — Why the Write-up Failed — An Impressionable Reporter — An Impromptu Sere nade — "Marching through Georgia" not a War-time Lyric — Rhapsodies — The Apparition of the Dreaded "Scoop." I HAVE frequently recalled with amusement, not un mixed with a glamour of youthful sentiment, a sohtary experience as a "society" reporter. As it was also the first attempt in Chicago to make a newspaper "story" out of a private "sociable," some account of what happUy proved a futile essay urges itself for a place in these recol lections. It was, I think, in the Summer of 1866. John B. Rfce, the whilom actor and theatrical manager, — than whom no one in the community was more esteemed, — was Mayor at the time ; and, no doubt because of her position, his eldest daughter decided to give a "party" to some of her girl friends. How any inkling of the affair came to the ear of our city editor still puzzles me, for in those days hints of coming events of that nature were never "accidentally" dropped into newspaper offices by caterers, florists, modistes, or "friends of the family," as has been known to happen in these later times. The hour was near mid night. I had just "turned in" what was undoubtedly a graphic and more or less picturesque account of a spec tacular police raid on Roger Plant's "Under the WUlow," southeast corner of Monroe Street and Fifth Avenue — 352 AN EARLY SOCIABLE 353 at that tune one of the most talked about, if not actually one of the wickedest places on the continent — and, in the capacity of "night reporter," was about to return to my duties in the nether world, when the city editor, making ready to leave the office, turned with the query, "Can you spare the time to run down to Mayor Rice's house? I am told his eldest daughter [one of five, all of whom subsequently married prominent Chicagoans] is giving a party. I would n't trouble you, but aU the rest of the; feUows are gone for the night." FIRST ATTEMPT AT SOCIETY REPORTING IN CHICAGO Hardened as I was to "doing" all manner of "func tions" then a la mode — especially of the sort that were later passed upon by a police magistrate — this request fairly took me off my feet, and I could only gasp, "What kind of a report do you want?" "Oh, mention the decorations if there are any, describe some of the most picturesque toilettes, but above all get a hst of those present." I laughed outright, for I felt certain that my superior was having a bit of fun with me; but to my dismay dis covered that he was in dead earnest, for he added, "Mr. Storey wants things of this sort written up hereafter — wants more attention paid to society matters, as some of the papers do in New York — and as this is the first opportimity we 've had since he spoke to me, I wish you would make all you can of it." BUDS AND BELLES OF LONG AGO It was a genial, moonlight night, as, in a dubious state of mind, I salhed forth. As I approached the Wabash Avenue residence (on the northwest corner of Adams, 354 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO as I recall it) the wide veranda was fairly ahve with the city's budding beauty, while many more, equaUy ready to burst into radiant womanhood, filled the brilliantly lighted parlors. I trust the gentle reader wiU credit me with presenting the vision in approved society reportorial style. Besides, it should be remembered that the writer viewed the scene with the eyes of imaginative youth; and, as in these reminiscences he is pledged to reproduce things as he saw them, nothing less rhapsodical would at all answer. But what a contrast this pictiu'e to that other beheld by him an hour or two before! Many of those dragged ruthlessly to prison were even as these favored maidens stiU yoxmg, and once perchance gave an equal promise of fair womanhood: yet a few months of "Under the Willow" had sunk them to the lowermost depths. WHY THE WRITE-UP FAILED Taking a firm grip on what courage there was in me, I approached the house and rang the bell. Soon an ap parition, all in white, stood before me to inquire whom I wished to see. "I desire to see Miss Rice," I faltered. "I am Miss Rice," came pleasantly from smiling hps. "What can I do for you?" "I represent the Times, and have been sent to make a report of your party." "Oh, no, no," was her cry, full of alarm. "Please don't." Then with a graciousness that placed me com pletely at her mercy, — and how much better this, than if she had curtly told me to go about my business, as some in similar case are foolish enough to do, with consequences that one can readily imagine, — "Why, it is only a gather ing of a few of our friends, just girls, you know, and the affair is n't in the least worth mentioning." 12I/!H nO% Ofc O > HhH O> o ao AN EARLY SOCIABLE 355 "But," I made bold to say, for I must needs save my face somehow, "anything promoted socially by a daughter of the mayor is, in a way, of interest, and a public affair." "Ah, that 's just it," was her reply, with a manner even more captivating. "If I were not the mayor's daughter it would not matter so much. But you see, I have invited only friends from the neighborhood. It means nothing now, but should anything get into the papers about it, it wiU make no end of trouble, for then people wiU think it was reaUy important, and some would surely fed slighted, don't you see? Oh, I am sure you won't say anything about it, wUl you now?" and there was a sug gestion of tears in her voice, if not in her persuading eyes. Now what was a feUow in my situation to do? Stern Duty on one side, a Pleading Vision on the other. How ever, between ourselves, this susceptible youth was more than half wiUing to be out of it aU on any reasonable excuse, for even with the gracious lady's cooperation ^ — which was, of course, out of the question — he would have felt as one might who has drawn an elephant, and is at a loss at which end to tackle his prize; for in those days journahsm was stiU so ridiculously in durance to verisi- mihtude that the reportorial imagination generaUy de manded at least a few facts to start with. Accordingly, pleading maidenhood easily won the day. AN IMPROMPTU SERENADE Then, as with many thanks and a beautiful white rose for his reward, this chronicler regained the open, he was arrested by what in all these more than forty following years has seldom failed to recaU itself along with any thought of Wabash Avenue — a vision of a summer's night, wherein tree-bordered vistas lie bathed in softest 356 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO moonlight, the air is tremulous with reverberating song, and all the near spaces are haunted of sylphs and houris — or whatever bevies of joy-breathing "buds" stood for in the vernacular of a rather impressionable young man in nascent Chicago. Wabash Avenue residences, in this ante-fire period, generally stood back of the street hne some distance, and I had not yet reached the gate, when a glorious baritone, vibrant with natural fervor, broke in upon the sUent night with a startling challenge. It was stUl blocks away to the north, and as it slowly drew nearer, the rhythmic cadences were frequently punctuated by sounds that be tokened that the avenue was awakened with the progress of the singer. Coming nearer, the voice sweUed ever more in volume, accompanied by a maiden chorus from the crowded veranda of "Oh, listen, isn't it glorious!" Gradually it was made out that the voice belonged to a strapping troubadour, who sat sidewise on the unsaddled back of a ponderous Percheron, going at a most leisurely pace. Beauty vied with beauty in applause as he passed ; and stiU he sang, on and on, as from an overcharged soul, until fainter and fainter the last notes were lost in the farthest distance. "marching through Georgia" Then there arose on the veranda a chorus of inquiry as to the song, but no one seemed able to make answer. In after years, it is said, "Old Tecumseh," in desperate self-defence, frequently made it a condition in the accept ance of an invitation to do him honor, that "Marching through Georgia" be omitted from the programme. Many people, without giving thought to the fact that this lyric celebrates one of the closing events of the war, imagine an EARLY SOCIABLE 357 that this aftermath paean of victory was one of the songs that cheered the men for the Union in the field; whereas it came to general notice in the subsequent piping times of peace through the favor it found at Grand Army "camp fires." However, whatever its loss through too much repetition, when simg as a premiere by so rich and full-throated a singer as ovu" serenader, on a moonhght night, and in such company, it possessed a power to move, which, for this chronicler at least, has since been hardly siu'passed by a passion-laden Wagner crescendo. NOW HONORED GRANDMOTHERS And that galaxy of maidenhood! An oldish codger cannot help wondering if any of the stately dames of the Chicago of to-day — its honored grandmothers, of a verity — by any chance, and mayhap because of the epi sode of the song, recall this party of the mayor's eldest daughter? In place of the "soiree" — aU sorts of latter-time "functions" were decked out in French finery in those imleavened days — there appeared in the Times a rhap sody on the midnight singer, but with aU allusion to hiis fair auditors carefuUy omitted. And few happenings could throw a more informing side-light on the provincial charjacter of the Chicago of that day, than the fact that such a "disturbance" could go unheeded of the "copper on the beat." APPARITION OF THE DREADED " SCOOP " It was well for Miss Rice's peace of mind that her "party" did not happen a few months later, for any ex hibition of reportorial gaUantry, such as was on that occasion permitted this scribe at smaU risk to himself. 368 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO would then have involved consequences fairly inhibitive. Not only did Mr. Storey's edict to have "things of that sort written up for all they were worth," go into full force, but other papers were quick to follow the lead of the Times; and so the reporter would inevitably have had before his distorted vision the baleful spectre of the dreaded "scoop," an apparition before which much repor torial impedimenta of a saving grace has unhappily f aUen by the way. A HARDSCRABBLE ROMANCE An Historic Episode of the " No Bottom ! " Period — Hard scrabble SEEN from the Court House Cupola — Legendary Vagueness as to Locale — Historic Precedent — Chicago Chronicles Completed — Cataclysmic Catastrophe Over whelms THE Hapless Heroine — Advent of the Indomitable Hero — Reckless Rescue from a Worse than Watery Grave — A Romance Redolent of the Soil, Rich in Local Color — Dramatic Denouement — Happy Hardscrabble Honeymoon. HARDSCRABBLE," as a term indicative of human abodes, had a fascination for me from the moment I heard it mentioned, which was almost immediately on my arrival in Chicago, although at the time nothing was further from my thought than to suspect that it once played a part in a most fascinating romance — perhaps the earliest of record, as it is certainly the most characteristic, in the annals of Chicago. In 1862 this meUifluous appellation was still in com mon use as indicative of a "locality," though exceedingly hazy and elusive as to boundaries. " Over there is Hard scrabble," quoth a volunteer informant (whom I met by chance on the balcony of the old Court House cupola, on the occasion of my first ascent) as from the vantage of our overlook he included in his gesture most of the un inhabited region between the then Southwestern plank road (now Ogden Avenue) and the Archer Road. How ever, whUe his outstretched arm, as if it were a divining rod, halted waveringly at different points in the arc, it seemed to hold most convincingly to the region round about West Twentieth Street and the river. 359 360 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO LEGENDARY VAGUENESS AS TO LOCALE In the interest of geographical exactness — though equaUy because moved thereto by the glamour of romance — I have consulted many putative authorities, and inter viewed no end of "old settlers" (in days when there was still one of some sort in the jacket of every other man you met), but to little purpose. Most of them would repeat the fluent descriptive with an air reminiscent of knowing all about it; but when it came to a question of latitude and longitude, of metes and bounds, they imme diately lost themselves in generahties. "It 's hke this, you see," they would explain. "There were only a few cabins and an old tavern there; and when the last disappeared as a landmark, there was n't much left but prairie ; and so when we say 'out Hardscrabble way' we just mean any where for a mUe or two around." Students of history need not be told that most of the famous places of the world have intertwined with their more or less legendary origins some episode of stirring romance, savoring of the time and soil, and rich with local color. Therefore, because Chicago is now almost second to no city that ever was, it seems not only fitting, but quite essential to a complete ensemble, that it be able to show somewhat in the same line; and with such intent, this chronicler, with what he trusts is becoming modesty, would submit for time's unerring verdict an episode which, in his humble opinion, meets every requirement for historic approbation. CATACLYSMAL CATASTROPHE OVERWHELMS THE HAPLESS HEROINE Om* incident dates back to the earliest days of "no bottom" signs. One of the belles of the period, most fair By Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society OLD BUILDING OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Now Used by Second Baptist Church By Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society ST. PAUL'S UNIVERSALIST CHURCH A HARDSCRABBLE ROMANCE 361 to look upon, was daintily tip-toeing her way over some wobbly planks thrown haphazard across Lake Street, when by mischance she lost her footing. To what fate such a catastrophe might lead only those could realize who shudderingly recalled other like cataclysms thereabout. From all sides rose cries o;f consternation. Many were rooted where they stood ; others vainly sought for courage with which to fly to the rescue ; while some even moved to improvise a derrick. RECKLESS RESCUE FROM A WORSE THAN WATERY GRAVE However, all this good-intentioned much-ado had no needed help in it, and the hapless maiden would surely have met a fate it appals one to contemplate, had it not been for the bold initiative of a young man only just ar rived in town, and who as yet knew not why catastrophes hke this paralyzed the brain and leadened the feet of old settlers. No, happily the caution of the prudent was not yet his; and so, with that utter disregard of consequences to store- clothes that ever marks the true hero in great emergencies, he rushed headlong over the wobbling planks, grasped the maiden by such impedimenta as he could most readily lay hold of, and successf idly restored her to terra firma and the arms of her friends: but not, it is pleasant to add, before the chivalrous youth had escorted his deeply blush ing prize to a near-by pump and assisted in reheving her of some unnecessary portions of communal real estate. Now, I fearlessly submit, could the imagination con ceive a situation more characteristic of nascent Chicago — more redolent of its soU, more rich in depths of local color (the precise shade in the original Lake Street I have un fortunately been unable to ascertain), in short, more typi cal as a genetic romance, to be bound up for aU time with 362 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO those other transactions in real estate that so distinguish the early annals of the future "greatest" — than this epoch-marking episode. HAPPY DENOUEMENT And when to other grounds that give this romance a warranty to high distinction, there is added a train of sub sequent events the outcome of which every fair reader with the intuition of her sex will have already divined — begin ning with other chance meetings (happily under less strenuous conditions), soon followed by the regulation number of Sunday night "sittings up," and the whole cul minating with the Rev. Jeremiah Porter's blessing, — surely nothing more should be required to hne up this episode with those indissolubly associated with the great cities of the past, and immortalized in classic story. And now, at last, we arrive where "Hardscrabble" hurtles into our romance; for it was to this euphonious locality, according to a veracious chronicler of the period, that the young people repaired to spend their honejonoon. But why, I have asked myself times out of mind, did these happy folk, of all places, choose "Hardscrabble" in which to exhale their bliss? It coidd hardly have been because of any special remoteness "from the madding crowd," because almost anywhere about Chicago in those days would have served such a purpose equally well. No, I rather incline to the opinion that the reason for the choice was in some subtle manner associated with the name, as bringing up a vision of their first meeting. BY FROST, FLOOD, AND FIRE A Trio of Elemental Incidents — An Unprecedented Blizzard — Yet the Actor Bandmann Begs for an Added "Frost" — Heroic Rescue of a Train — An Extraordinary Deluge — The River A Raging Torrent — A Dare-Devil Horseback Adventure — A Most Veracious Episode of the Great Fire — Its "Warping" Effect on Genial Isaac Spear — The End of the Book. THE thirtieth of December, 1863, recaUs itself vividly. There was a terrific blizzard that piled the snow in almost impassable drifts, while the thermometer registered thirty-four degrees below zero — probably the lowest temperature in the city's record. One notable incident connected with the storm was the staUing of a Michigan Central passenger train, a few miles south of Hyde Park station — a locality then still a wilderness, though to-day a populous part of the city. The train was hterally snowed out of sight, and two brave feUows — apparently facing certain death in what, hap pily, proved a successful effort to inform the outside world of the train's whereabouts, and the distressing plight of its captive occupants — were the heroes of the hour. It was known to the railway people that a train was shut in, somewhere between Michigan City and Hyde Park, and they had been fully alive to the necessity of effecting a rescue; but it was not untU these men, more dead than alive, made their appearance at the Hyde Park station, twenty-four hours after the train was "lost," that intelligent direction could be given to measures of rehef; and even then, another twenty-four hours elapsed 363 364 BYGONE DAYS EST CHICACrO before a rescuing party, duly provisioned, succeeded in literally digging its way to the storm-beleaguered sufferers. The train was crowded with people who had looked for ward to spendmg New Year's Day in Chicago — per chance in the bosom of their families or with friends — and not only was this privilege denied them, but it actuaUy be came a question whether they could be reached in time to save their lives, for as long as the bhzzard continued at top blast, all means to helpfulness were paralyzed. TUMULTUOUS APPLAUSE PLEA FOR A " FROST " The storm had set in about dusk. At first its increase was gradual, but, with the advance of night, it rose to ever greater heights, and doubled and redoubled its fury. Sometime before eight o'clock, as I made my way to McVicker's Theatre, the state of things was even then de cidedly disagreeable. Daniel Bandmann was filling his first Chicago engagement. The play was "Narcisse," in which he had made quite a hit; and, in spite of untoward weather, he faced a goodly-sized audience, which, as the play proceeded, became more and more demonstrative. Under other circumstances, Mr. Bandmann would un doubtedly have bowed his most graxiious and grateful ac knowledgment, but it was only too obvious that the applause, which became ever more frequent, continuous, and vociferous, arose from other causes than mere admira tion for his art — that, in short, it was due to "cold feet," and such numbness of body generaUy as could be overcome only by frequent and violent exercise. As the performance drew its congealed length along, the tumult increased to such extent that the disturbed actor, with chattering teeth, implored the audience — though to small avaU — to per mit the play to proceed to the earliest possible conclusion. BY FROST, FLOOD, AND FIRE 365 It is probably a unique instance in which an actor actuaUy pleaded with his audience for a "frost," and this on top of one already in full blast. En passant: After an interval of forty years, my eye caught Bandmann's name on a New York theatre poster, and, moved thereto by memories of the long ago, I dropped' in to see him do a "stunt" in a continuous performance, it being the simulated tipsy scene from "David Garrick." Y/es, it was the same Daniel, made up to look almost as young as of yore, with accent unchanged ; yet I could not escape the reflection that a wide and deep gulf of dis appointed hopes lay between that blizzard night of his buoyant young manhood, and the rigors of the unrewarded winter of his life. (His death followed a few months later.) BUCKING AGAINST A DAKOTA BLIZZARD Emerging from the theatre on that eventful night, the Spartan band that had held out to the last — fortunately for them not a few had taken earlier departures — found itself in the clutches of a terrific Dakota bhzzard, unpos- sible to face. The streets were deserted of all things living, save the hapless theatre throng so suddenly projected into them. The mighty storm shrieked his pitiless blasts into their ears, struck their faces with a fierce vindictiveness, — and those who hved any considerable distance from the theatre were compeUed to seek refuge m near-by hotels. Only here and there was a dim light discernible. My lodg ings were on Randolph Street, near Franklin, and I was a full hour making the distance of half a mile. It was a case of "bucking" the storm aU the way; and, as it was 366 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO impossible to face the icy particles thait assaUed you like fine shot from a blunderbuss, the entire distance had to be backed over, whUe nearly every doorway was turned into a temporary hospice. I should have made my way on Dearborn, as far north as Randolph Street, but unfor tunately turned west on Washington, and thus laid myself open to the charges that gathered double and treble strength in the open Court House Square, and seemed to shoot directly down from the embattled dome — for once, hterally, the city's "storm-centre." Never shaU I forget the effort it cost to make that one block to Ran dolph Street. Of what use were doorways here? Indeed, many were buried out of sight by huge snow-drifts, and all were fully exposed to the blast. No, the entire dis tance had to be fought without a break, and when, finally, I reached the Sherman House comer, it was as one beaten to a complete standstill. The scene within was one of extraordinary animation. Scores were clamoring for rooms that could not be provided. "Ladies first," was the order; wives were unceremoniously separated from their lords, and the latter were lucky if they secured a "shakedown" anywhere. There was the same state of things when I got to the Briggs House on my westward struggle; also at the Metropolitan Hotel opposite, and at the New York House beyond. Everywhere people were clamoring for refuge. All cars had stopped running hours before ; and, besides the theatre crowd, scores of busi ness men who had lingered downtown until they found all means for getting home suddenly cut off, helped to sweU the hapless throng. When finally arrived at my goal, I found the entire Bohemian tribe that made up the boarding-house contin gent huddled about the great stove in the sitting-room. BY FROST, FLOOD, AND FIRE 367 afraid to invade the polar temperature of their bedrooms, with their northern or western exposures — and the rattle of windows, and the fierce swish of ice-shot against the panes was indeed well calculated to dismay the stoutest heart. And so we turned the night into an "experience meeting." A MIGHTY DELUGE Speaking of storms — it is not easy to imagine the stagnant Chicago River of the later sixties a raging tor rent, yet such, for several days, it was, when parts of the city barely escaped the fate of a whelming flood, only to be, a few years later, overtaken by fire. A heavy, late snowfall was foUowed by a week of almost ceaseless rain, until the situation suggested experiences possibly in line with those of Father Noah. The Desplaines River broke wildly over its banks, and much of the territory between that stream and the Chicago River — once known as Mud Lake, and "reclaimed" by the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal — was for the nonce returned to its pristine estate. Indeed, all the region south of Twenty- second Street of both the south and west divisions — except the ridge marked by Cottage Grove Avenue — pre sented an almost unbroken expanse of water, wherein the Stock Yards had the appearance of a group of islands; while Bridgeport suggested a Happy Hoohgan Venice, with improvised rafts for gondolas. Every packing and slaughter house in that section — most of them fortu nately deserted because of the recently established Stock Ya^rds — was well up to its second story in water, and busmess of every sort was completely suspended. For a time the entire local staffs of the papers were converted into "marine" reporters, and a wet, disagree able time we had of it, "poling" about on improvised rafts 368 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO among the carcasses of animals — for practicaUy every Paddy's squealer in Bridgeport had been transformed into a vagrant corpse. It was during this crisis that the lowering southern sky, of an early evening, was hghted up to a degree that indicated a large fire. It was difficult to locate a blaze, in those ante-electric-fire-alarm days, especiaUy on a murky night. However, as the experienced watchman in the Court House dome sounded no alarm, it was evident that the conflagration was outside the city limits, and could, therefore, be only at the Stock Yards, the city's pride and joy. As, in view of the state of the roads — or rather their entire disappearance — no fire engines could be got out there to reinforce the local equipment (entirely in adequate to cope with a general conflagration) , there was danger that the entire "improvement," aggregating many millions in value, might be destroyed; for no fire burns more fiercely than one fed on fat hogs. A DARE-DEVIL FEAT The Yards were accessible at this time by a single hne of steam cars only, and by a dirt road running south from the Archer Road, by way of what is now Halsted Street. From the Transit House no information could be had, except that "everything seemed to be burning at the west ern end of the Yards." As the evening drew on, the re flection grew apace, and it became plain that somehow, somebody for the paper must get out to the Stock Yards. As there was no train until near midnight, only one way seemed at aU feasible. It was decreed that I mount a horse — a dare-devU feat, attempted but a few times in my hfe, and then in broad daylight, on a safe road. Be sides, let it be recorded as a matter of history, that a man BY FROST, FLOOD, AND FIRE 369 on horseback was an unwonted apparition in the Chicago of that period; for the saddle-bag days were in the past, and riding for exercise or pleasure was stiU in the future. So, in a dubious state of mind, I hied me to Price's hvery stable, near the site of the later ill-fated Iroquois Theatre, where my request for a firey but tamed steed was met with a shake of the head — and the gratuity, that, if they had one, they wouldn't let it go on such a trip. But I finaUy did get a raw-boned affair — a sort of "left-over" from a past era — arid rode gallantly into the sky-flamed night. The streets were in a terrible plight, and the only safe footing was on the State Street horse-car tracks. On the Archer Road the boating conditions were only middling; but on what was later Halsted Street it would have been "clear sailing" for any properly equipped navigator. Ex cept the distant conflagration, there was not a flicker of light between the Archer Road and the Stock Yards. Somewhere there was supposed to be a dirt road, but it was more than a foot under water, and, on either side, were ditches from six to eight feet deep. My Rosinante exhibited a decided aversion to making trial of this un known sea. However, by dint of much diggmg of heels on my part, it went rather gingerly forward. There was a fence on either side beyond the ditch, and that, by the reflection of the fire, served as a passable guide. When, however, we had made about half a mUe of this water-way, the fences suddenly disappeared; and as, about the same time, the fire had died down to a mere fficker, my steed came to the conclusion it would stop the foolishness, and turned squarely about. Because my whUom prof ession — through a flood of "best seUers" — has, in these days, become a very synonym 370 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO for invincible courage (with a princess attachment as re ward), I devoutly pray that no gentle reader wUl take stock in the "nature fakir" theory that a horse knows "intuitively" the state of mind of its rider. Perish the inference! However, as I had neither whip nor spur, mere valor stood no chance, opposed to unimpeachable horse sense; and furthermore, as all threatenings of a general porcine holocaust had disappeared, I reluctantly gave the craven beast his "head" — where his tail should have been. Appearances aside, this was weU, for the "conflagration" turned out to have been confined to a lot of tumble-down sheds of an earher settlement, that were probably set on fire to get them out of the way. A ROARING RIVER Any sort of current in the river was in those days a startling phenomenon. Therefore, to see it scooting along, at ever so many miles an hour, had something un canny about it — as if the dead had come to life. It actu ally "roared," so that in the silence of the night one could hear it a block away ; and as it was everywhere bank-high, South Water Street, after the flood, had a hne of cellars to pump out. The surface of the river presented a hurt ling, swirling mass of oddly mixed flotsam and jetsam. All manner of slaughtering paraphernaha made a part of the crush. An entire "incline" — along which hogs had been driven to an upper floor — came bulging along, tearing small craft from their moorings, and seriously endangering the bridge piers; while a rakish procession of Bridgeport outhouses made their way exuberantly to the lake. The chief source of apprehension was that the foundations of grain elevators would be undermined; and, in one instance, a catastrophe was narrowly averted. BY FROST, FIRE, AND FLOOD 371 In these days, whenever I am asked what I find in the Chicago of the present most in contrast with the past, I invariably point to the phenomenon presented by its river. Not only does the stream that once wriggled its oozy length towards the lake, now by grace of a $30,000,000 dramage canal, seemingly defy the law of gravitation by flowing in swirling eddies "upstream," but among all the rivers, on the banks of which historic cities have had their rise — the Tiber or Arno, the Thames or Seine, the Danube or Neva — none equals in perennial clearness the freighted course that draws its heaven-blue tide directly from the ample bosom of Lake Michigan: a perpetual miracle, and Chicago's first great step towards the inevit able " City Beautiful." WARPED BY THE GREAT FIRE Thousands will recall genial Isaac Spear, Chicago's pioneer watchmaker, for he outhved most of his contempo raries. Now Isaac was quite diminutive, and withal so abnormaUy bandy-legged as to attract ready attention. He was in the midst of the great conflagration, of course, and, at one time — according to the story — became so absorbed in the catastrophe that he stood at a point of imminent danger as one transfixed. A kindly newsboy, alarmed at the situation, rushed gallantly forward, and tapping Isaac on the shoulder, shouted above the din and roar of the on-rushing elements, " Say, Mister, if you don't come away you'll burn." The caution not having had the desired effect, the youngster dashed to the rescue a second time, again gave anxious warning, and stiU Isaac remained rooted. On returning to a safe position, the would-be rescuer noticed to his horror the little man's pecuhar de formity. Screening his face from the scorching blast, 372 BYGONE DAYS IN CHICAGO he once more charged the consuming heat, and, while literaUy dragging his quarry to a place of safety, shrieked in his ear, "For God's sake, come away, you're warping!" Mr. Spear was so fond of a good story as to be even willing that it should be at his own expense; and when, by chance, in after years, the talk turned on the warping effect of the great conflagration, — and there happened to be guileless strangers about, — he was wont to cite himself as a startling example, solemnly contending that before the fire he was as straight as an Oregon pine. These three "Gesta Chicagorum" bring our annals to a close. The Arctic narrative, so suggestive of North Pole experiences, has an obvious timeliness; and, in view of what gay Paris has so recently undergone, has the valorous flood incident; while the closing episode, so in stinct with Spartan fortitude and an invincible veracity, may weU serve to spur the present generation to stoutly resolve that their own hazards shaU in nowise suffer in comparison with those that shed such lustre on "Bygone Days in Chicago." THE END INDEX INDEX Aberdeen Street, 180 Abolitionism. See under Civil War (polit ical strife) AboUtiom'sts, 31 Actors, Grerman, 101; tragedians, 246, 247; comedians, 249, 250 Adams, Cyrus C, reporter and corre spondent of Tinws, 336, 337 Adams House, 194 Adams Street, 180, 181 Adjutant-General of Illinois, 27, 28, 44 Adsit, Alanson and James M., 164 Agnew, Sheriff-elect, 271 Akin, E., 29 Aiken's Museum, 245 Albany Army Relief Bazaar, 110, note AUatoona Pass, 216 Allen, "Fog Horn" Bill, 81 Allerton, S. W., 108 Alton, Illinois, 21, 22 Alion Observer, (The), 68 Ambrose & Jackson (colored), caterers, 175 "America," 2 American Economist, 330 American Express Company robbery, 255 American Fur Company, Gurdon S. Hubbard's connection with, 201 American Greographical Society "Bulle tin," 336 American physical standard, 69 American Press Association, 336 Ammen, Gen., 42 Amusement halls, scarcity of, 266; after fire, 312 Amusements in the early sixties, 132; early, 243-250. See afoo Theatres, etc. Anderson, Col. Ben, 48 "Anderson's," a restaurant, 175 Andersonville, Camp Douglas compared with, 39 Andrews, Mrs. C. W., 106 Anti-Slavery Convention in Cincinnati, 68 Archer Avenue and Road, 10, 179-181, 359, 368, 369 Architecture, 173-179. See also Brick, Frame, Marble, Stone_ Aristocrat of the early sixties, 343 Arlington, minstrel perfonner, 245 Armory Station Police Court, 149, 151, 253 Army of Georgia, 216 of the Cumberland, 212, 216 of the Tennessee, 212, 216 Reunion of 1868, 211 Arnold, Isaac N., as a war orator, 3; speaker on suppression of Times, 55 ;_ presented watch to Lincoln, 110; arrival in the thirties, 164; residence on North Side, 178; "Mejum" No. 2 in Lincoln "Seance," 323-329 Arnolds, the 342 Arrington, A. W., 55 Art and artists: Whistler's ancestry closely associated with Chicago, 170; early art in Chicago, 240-243 Asay, E. G., 4, 54 Associated Press, 175, 335 Astor House in New York, 195 Atkinson, General, 202 Atmosphere, clearness of, 177 Atwood, Charles, 335 Auditorium building, 196, 341 Auditorium tower, 177 Aurora, 111., 122 Ayer, Benjamin F., 3, 4, 168 Babcock, Miss Jane A., nurse in Civil War, 105 Miss Mary E., army nurse, 105 Balatka, Hans, 10 Baldwin, "Lucky," 154 Ballard, Addison, 166 Ballast, citizens who served as, 284 Ballet dancmg, 247-249 Ballingall, Patrick, 186 Balls, in Metropolitan Hall, 176 Bandman, Daniel, 247, 364, 365 Banks and banking, Greorge Smith prominent in Western, 166; Lake St. centre of, 183 ; grouped about Board of Trade, 185; Randolph St. forms a "centre," 186; failures after panic of 1873, 257; W. F. Coolbaugh's connection with, 297-300. See also First National, Union National, etc. Baptist Church in Chicago. See First Baptist Church, Second Baptist Church, etc. 375 376 INDEX Baptist University. See Chicago Uni versity. Barnum's circus, 268 Barracks (temporary). See Camp Doug las (temporary barracks) Barrett, Lawrence, 247 Bartow, Mary A. Wright, 242 Bascomb, Rev. L. F., extreme Abolition ist, 64 Baseball on Lake Front, 341. See also Hurlbut, "Big BiU" Bates, Eli, gives St. Gaudens' statue of Lincoln, 97 George C, 3 Batteries, independent, 29 "Battle-Cry of Freedom," first sung in Chicago, 2; at Republican rallies, 85; written by Root and sung by the Lumbards, 120, 121 Bauer, Julius, pianos, 175 "Beats," equivalent for "Scoops," 251 "Beau Hackett." See Bowman, — Beaubien, A. M., army nurse, 105 Gen. Jean Baptiste; 164 Madore B., 164 Mark, arrived in 1826, 163; "Kept tavern like the devU," 194; occupied one of Chicago's earliest two houses, 201; at Hubbard silver wedding, 205 Beckwith, Judge Corydon, member of committee on Times suppression, 56; arrived in the fifties, 167; entertain ed Douglas, 200 Beecher, Henry Ward, 68 Jerome, 164 Mrs. Jerome, 106 Beef first shipped from Chicago in 1835, 202 Beidler, Jacob, 10, 164 Belknap, General, 214, 216, 217 Best, Wilham, 167 Betting on races, 155, 156 Beveridge, Gen. John L., Lieut.-Gov., 292 Bickerdyke, Mrs. Mary A. ("Mother"), stirred things up in Chicago, 115; outranked Sherman in hospital mat ters, 116; at Mission Ridge, Chat tanooga, Atlanta, etc., 117 Bierstadt, painting of Rocky Moun tains, 110 BUliard tournament. State, ^33, 173 Billiards, game played by McDevitt and Dion, 176 Billings, A. M., 168 "Bishop's Palace," 195, 341 "Black Abolitionists," 8 "Black Crook," played after the war, 248 Black Hawk War, 202 Black, Gen. John C, 4 "Black Republicans," 48, 75 Blackburn, Mrs. Morris a daughter of Dr. Luke, 50 "Blacklegs," from the South, 128, 129 Blackstone, T. B., 167 Blair, Chauncey B., arrived in the forties, 166 General, 214 Blatchford, E. W., 166 Mrs. E. W., 106 "Bhnd Tom," concert by, 173 Blizzard of December, 1863, 363 et seq. Blue Island Avenue and Road, 10, 180 Board of Trade. See Chicago Board of Trade. "Boarders' Paradise," 309 Boarding houses, ISi, 339 "Bobby," origin of slang term, 172 "Bohemia" at "Sunnyside," 146 "Bohemian Girl," music from, 247 Bohemians, Old-time, 345 Bolshaw, Bflly, of the Matteson House Cafe, 148, 186 Bonfanti, ballet dancer, 248 Boniface, Gage an ideal, 300 Bonney, C. C, 168 Boone, Levi D., arrived in the thirties, 164 Booth, Edwin and Wilkes, 247 Boston Tea Party, last survivor of, 164 Botsford, J. K., 164 Mrs. J. K., 106 "Bounty Jumper," 75, 135, 136 Bowen Brothers, House of, 285, 286 Chauncey, 167 Erastus, 164 George S., 167 Col. James H., member of Union Defence Committee, 18; arrived about 1850, 167; ostensible pur chaser of site for Pullman, 261 ; type of the makers of Chicago, 285-288 Bowman, — ^("Beau Hackett"), writer in the sixties, 228 Ariel, 164 "BoTO that ran wid de masheen." See Fire companies. Brackett's Ninth Illinois Cavalry, 41 Bradley, C. P., 164 Bradwell, Judge J. B., as a war orator, 3; extreme Abolitionist, 64; arrived in the thirties, 164 INDEX 377 Bradwell, Myra A. (Mrs. J. B.), activity for the soldiers, 106; "limb of the law," 108 Bra^g, General, 84, 216 Bramaid, Dr. Daniel, 164 Brand, Alexander, 164 Midiael. 166 Brayman, Mrs. J. O., 106 Brentano, Lorenz, 10, 167 Brick buildings, early, 174; first business structure, 202; oldest in city, 206 BrideweU, the, 153 Bridgeport, 10, 180, 267, 368, 370 Bridges' Battery, 29, 236 Brigadiers after the war, 290 Briggs House, 105, 194, 212, 366 Bright, Senator, from Indiana, 81 Bristol, Mrs. H. L., 106 Brooks, Frank H., reporter and special topic writer of Times, 336, 337 Phillips, 311 Bross, William (Deacon, later Lt.-Gov.), as a presiding oflBcer, 3; member of Second Presbyterian Church, 96; ar rived in the forties, 166; reception to Generals Grant, Sherman, etc., 220; residence in Terrace Row, 344 Blown, John, influence on emancipation, 70,71 William H., 164', Browne, Francis F., editor of The Lake side Monthly and The Dial, 239, 240 Brundage, Mrs. D. M., 105 Biyan HaU, 2, 82, 111, 112, 123, 175, 176 Bryan, Thomas B., as a presiding officer in war time, 3, 4; member of Union Defence Committee, 18; defeated for office by J. S. Rumsey, 59; gave for relief of soldiers, 109; bought draft of Emancipation Proclamation, 109; manager of Sanitary Fair of 1865, 110; arrived about 1850, 167 Biyant and Stratton's Business College, 175 Bryce, James, 70 Buchanan wing of Democracy, 332 Buck & Raynor's drug store, l75 Buderbach, William, 347 Building operations, 173-177, 179-196, 342,343. See afeo "Long John tract," Pullman, town of, etc. Buildings of 1862, contrasted with those of to-day, 192-196 BuU's Head, 181 Burch Block, 193, 233 Burch, I. H., 167 Burley, A. G., 164 Burley, A. H., 18, 164 Burnett House, Cincinnati, 194 Burnham, Mrs. M., 106 Burnside, Gen. Ambrose E., suppression of the Times, 51-58 "Bumt-cork tribe." See Minstrels. Burr. C. Chauncey, of New York, 84 Jonathan, 166 Business centre of Chicago. See Chi cago Business directory, I. D. Guyer's His tory, a sort of, 232 "Business," interpreted by Col. Haverly, 155, 156 Butterfield, General, 214 Butz, Casper, 3, 10 Byron, an unmentionable poet, 147 Cairo, lUinois, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 31, 32, 105 Caldwell, WUliam (The Sauganash), 164 Calhoun, Alvin, 164 John, 164 Calumet Lake and Swamp, 260, 286 Cameron, Col., at Camp Douglas, 41 Secretstry of War, 105 Camp Douglas, regiments from, 23; rebel prisoners at, 38-49; (temporary barracks), 40, 179; soldiers from, seize Times office, 53; conspiracy for release of rebel prisoners at, 78; garrison replaced by volunteers, 95 Dunne, 40 Ellsworth, 40 Fremont, 40 Fry, 29 Mather, 40 Mulligan, 40 Sigel, 40 Song, 40 Webb, 40 Campbell's Battery, 29 "CampbeU's" hair jewelry, 175 Canada, invasion of, 193 Canal Street, intersection with Lake, 206 "Cancan" dancers from Paris, 265-268 CantriU, Capt., 48 "Caramel contingent," 246 Carbondale, lUinois, 17, 223 Carpenter, Benjamin, 166 Cnicapo artist, painting of "Signing of the Emancipation Froclamabon," 110 Deacon PhUo, as an Abolitionist,_67-69; as a church member, 68; arrived in the thirties, 164 Matthew, 3, 5 378 INDEX Carr, Capt., 19 Carrier system introduced in 1866, 186 Carter, T. B., 164 Cartwright, Peter, 305 Casey, Capt. Peter, 11 Cass, Governor, entertained at Lake House, 195 Castleman, Capt., 48 Catafalque, Lincoln's, H3 CathoUc Church, as viewed by Grerman freethinkers, 102 hierarchy, 6 CathoUcs, constituted one-third of Chi cago's population, 99 Caton, Judge John D., arrived in the thirties, 164; at Hubbard sUver wed ding, 205 Cemetery, Lincoln Park in part a, 178 Centre Avenue, 181 Chacksfield, Greorge, 164 Chamber of Commerce. See Chicago Chamber, etc. Chamberlin, Everett, 335 Joseph Edgar, news editor and later managing editor of Times, 335; en dorses character of Storey, 337 Chanfrau's Mose, 249 Chapin, Universalist minister, 91, 96 Chapman's Battery, 29 Character, homage to Lincoln's, 275; demand for men of, 277 Chattanooga, Field Hospital near, 116 Chetlain, Maj.-Gren. A. L., 63 Chicago, business centre erf: intersection of La Salle and Lake Streets, 174; La Salle and Washington Streets, 176; history of location of, 183-196 Characteristics as a city: reputation for fc"doing things," 18; birthplace of war lyrics, 119; causes for great ness, 168-170; bird's-eye view, 171- 182; dramatic tastes, 243-250; climatic conditions, 260, 363-368; in the "good old times," 272-286; financial^ strength, 298; successes due to indigenous forces, 304; re sentment against ostentation, 342; present contrasted with past, 371; "City Beautiful," 371; as a grain, lumber, and packing centre, 180; MarshaU Field an example of mer chant-genius of, 187; Gurdon S. Hubbard an epitome of qualities from origin, 199; in literature and art, 227-242; lumber market, 343; illustrated by "Hardscrabble ro mance," 361 ; See also special heads. as: Architecture, Art and artists. Boarding houses, Business centre. Gamblers and Gambling, Ministers, PoUtics, Social evil, etc. City HaU, 266 City lunits, 163, 178 City Treasurer, David A. Gage elected, 302 CivU War in. See Civil War Court House. See Court House debt, 229, 230 Fire Companies, 133, 157, 158, 177 HHstoiy: roU-caU of old settlers, 163- 168; OTOwth of city from Court House Square as a nucleus, 171-182; changes in business centre, 183- 189; the city's iron age, 192; the city's marble age, 193; Gurdon S. Hubbard a maker of, 197-205; Army Reunion of 1868, 212; his torians of early period, 229-236; growth of land values Ulustrated, 281 ; completion of Union Pacific RaU road of transcendent importance, 286; Lincoln's funeral, 316-320; Kirkland's "History of Chicago," 334; "Hand Book of Chicago" in early sixties, 344; See aZ«o Civil War, Fire of 1871, Germans, Irish, etc.. Panic of 1857, Settlers (Old) North Division or Side: German pop ulation of, 10; " 'Sunnyside' now m centre of," 144; one of the most fashionable parts of city, 163; city limits on, 163; seen from Court House dome, 178; residents near Rush and Ontario Streets, 179; building line halts at North Avenue, 181; most of business originally on, 183; wiped out by fire, 188; Mc- Cormick_ reaper factory on, 196; most of city's business before 1830 on, 202; "North Side set," exclusive, 342; See also "North Shore Sands" Northwest Section, inhabited by Ger mans, 10, 100; practicaUy unsetUed, 181 Police, raid of "North Shore Sands," 157-159; leather shields worn by, 171; origin of slang terms for, 172; headquarters in O. F. W. Peck house, 174, 255; Hall's police court sketches, 239; See also Nelson, Jack Politics.^ See Politics Population: distribution in 1862, 171; development since 1846, 229; in 1864, 243; m 1855, 245 INDEX 379 Chicago — continued Post Office, transformed into an audi torium, 154; carrier system intro duced, 186; where now stands First National Bank, 195 Social affairs: Party of Mayor Rice's daughter, 352-358 South Division or Side: a portion un tenable for decent folk, 158; the business centre, 171; seen from Court House dome, 177, 178; salient features, 179; effect offire, 188; few constructions of note in 1862, 195; flood in, 367 Southwest region inhabited by Irish, 10 Streets: surrounding Court House Square, 171-177; seen from Court House dome, 178-182; muddiness of, 361 et seq. ; See also names of in dividual roads and streets West Division or Side: seen from the Court House dome, 178; contained more than half the city's population, 188; flood in, 367 Chicago Avenue, 100 Chicago Board of Trade, regiment raised by, 29, 107; at Sanitary Fair, 114; assisted by Lumbard Quartette, 122; "boys" attend opening of "Sun nyside," 144; at Market and Madi son Sts., 174; moved to Washington and La SaUe Sts.,184 ; group of banks about, 185; reception to King of Sandwich Islands, 269; periodical attacks of direct grain shipments to Europe, 287, 288; "Fellers" and 'Lambs" at, "The Sharp Comer," 346, 351 Chicago Chamber of Commerce, first erected on site of First Baptist Church, 174; established at Wash ington and La SaUe Sts., 176 "Chicago Chnrches," book by "January Searle," 95 Chicago Clearing House Association, 286, 297 Chicago Driving Park, 141, 179 Chicago Historical Society, draft of Emancipation Proclamation depos ited in, 109, note Chicago Light Artillery, 19 Chicago Mercantile Battery, 29 Chicago Opera House, 173 "Chicago, Present and Future Prospects of " 229 Chicago River, North Branch of, 163, 180, 181, 184; South Branch, 180; West Branch, 208; flooding of, 367- 371 Chicago, South. See South Chicago Chicago Times (The). See Times Chicago Tribune (.The). See Tribune Chicago University (originally Baptist University), saved by Dr. Everts, 94; founded by Stephen A. Douglas, 178; murderous assault near, 323 Chicago Zouaves, 17, 19 ChUds, S. D., extreme Abolitionist, 64; arrived in the thirties, 164 Chisolm, Jim, reporter, 241, 255, 266, 335 Christian fellowship, 310 ' 'Christy Minstrels," 245 Church, Thomas, 164 W. L., 164 Churches, Abolition, 63 of Chicago, -pulpit as a war force, 90-103; See also under names of churches, as: First Baptist; First Congregational; First Presbyterian; St. James Episcopal; Third Pres byterian Cincinnati, Anti-Slavery Convention at, 68; Burnside's headquarters at, 51; compared with Chicago, 342 Circuit Court Clerkship, Norman T. Gassette's campaign for, 292, 293 Circus, 133; near Court House Square, 173; an important factor in the fifties, 244, 245; Barnum's on Lakfi Front, 268 City HaU. See under Chicago City Hotel, 194 Civil War, Chicago's part in: National Republican Convention, 1860, 1; enthusiasm for enlistment, 2; no table orators and presiding officers, 3-5 ; attitude of Germans and Irish, 6-12; the Ellsworth Zouaves, 13-15; first call for troops, _ 16; Chicago Zouaves protect Illinois Central RaUroad bridge, 17; work of Union Defence Committee, 18; list of Chi cago military organizations, 19; capture of guns at St. Louis arsenal, 20, 21; Government undertakes re cruiting and equipping, 22; ten new regiments organize!, 23; troops fur nished by Illinois, 24-28; Board of Trade raises troops, 29; Chicago's contribution of men, 30; distin guished Illinois soldiers, 30, 31; contributions of "Darkest Egypt," 380 INDEX Civil War — continued 31, 32; troops from other States pass through the city, 33, 34; "Old Abe" at Sanitary Fair, 35, 36; Chicago's camps for recruits and prisoners, 37; Camp Douglas and other camps, 38-44, 179; conspiracy to Uberate the prisoners, 45-50; suppression of the Times by Burnside, 51-68; political strife, 59-76; Democratic National Convention of 1864 ("Cop perhead Convention"), 77-89; 'Copperhead " position of the Times, 331, 332; work of the ministers, 90- 98; support of Gierman citizens, 99- 103; work of the women in hospitals and at Sanitary Fairs, 104-116; part of the singers: G. F. Root, the brothers Lumbard and others, 117- 127; effect on bmlding, 184; de moralization foUowing, 128-160, 205, 248; Army Reunion of 1868, 211- 226; writers of war period, 231-239; effect on political machinery and administrative life of Chicago, 289- 295 Clapp, Nicholas, 167 Clark, Mrs. C. M., 106 Francis, 164 John L., 165 Clark Street, boundary of Court House Square, 82, 176;' boarding house dis- tnct east of, 131, 339; mtersection with Randolph, 160, 183; with Wash ington, 175, 245; woodland east of, 178; intersection with Twelfth Street, 196. See also North Clark Street Street Bridge, 145 Clarke, John L., residence in Terrace Row, 344 Clarkson, Robert H. (Rector of St. James Episcopal Church), enthusiasm for the war, 91, 92 "Clary, 'Colonel,'" 266 Claude Melnotte, Fechter's, 249 Cleaver, Charles, 165 Chnton County, IU., 26 Clyboume, Archibald, arrived in 1823, 163; presence of Mr. and Mrs., at Hubbard silver wedding, 206; the Clyboume mansion, 206, 207 Mrs. Archibald (Mary Galloway), ar rived m 1826, 206; lived to see the twentieth century, 207; Indian alarm, 208, 209 Avenue, 181 Capt. John H., 14 Cobb, Sflas B., 165 Cobbs, old settlers,198 CoggsweU, Gen. WUham, 214, 216 , Coggswell's Battery, 29 Colbert, Elias, 239 Cold Harbor, Grant's repulse al, 87 Collins, James H., extreme Abolitionist, 64 CoUyer, Robert (Unitarian clergyman), as a war orator, 3; originaUy a Meth odist blacksmith, 90, 91; efforts on behalf of the soldiers, 96, 97; pre sided at organization of nursing corps, 105; at Decoration Day ser vices, 237 Colonial Theatre, 142 Columbian Exposition, 242 Colvin, Harvey D., Mayor, as a presiding officer, 4; member of Union Defence Committee, 18; People's Party, re gime of, 265-271 Colvm's Battery, 29 Comedians, 249, 250 Comiskey, Alderman, 11, 12 Concerts, lectures, etc., given in churches 311 Summer night, 345; sacred, 348 Confederate prisoners at Camp Douglas. See Camp Douglas Congregational Church, First. See First Congregational Church Congressman-at-large for Illinois, 220, 221 Conklmg, Roscoe, 322 Conley, Phflip, 4, 11 ConwOT, Moncure D., 337 Cook County, 25, 30, 324 Cook, Fred Francis (the author), year prior 'o the war m Galena, 63; asso ciated with Chicago's four leading daUies, 73; "Shooting reporter," 142; arrived m 1862, 171; mter- view with Marshall Field, 190; with L. Z. Leiter, 191; report of the Hub bard sUver wedding, 203, 204; in terview with Mrs. Archibald Cly bourne, 207; encounter wilh Gen. Sherman, 217-220; with Gen. Lo gan, 220-222; assisted by Mrs. Lo gan, 223-226; some "scoops nego tiated" by, 252-263; report on grain shipment to Europe, 287, 288; reported lectures of Ingersoll for Times, 313-315; Lincoln "Seance" for Tribune, 324; on staff of Times, under Storey, 336, 337; first attempt at society reporting, 352-358; in bliz- INDEX 381 Cook, Fred Francis — continued zard of 1863, 363-366; expedition to Bridgeport, 367-371 Gren., residence in Terrace Row, 344 Cook, "Ike," proprietor of the "Young America" resort, 165 Coolbaugh, WUliam F., as a war orator, 3; arrival in Chicago, 108; example of tragedy of popularity, 296-300 Cooley, race horse, 141 "Copper," "fly-cop," "sparrow-cop," origin of slang terms, 172, 357 "Copperhead National Convention." See Democratic National Conven tion of 1864 "Copperheadism" and "Copperheads," 12, 31, 48, 52, 54, 60, 76; mfluences determining position of Times, 331- 338. See also under CivU War (pohtical strife) Corse, Gen. John M., 16, 84, 292 Cottage Grove Avenue, 41, 177, 179, 323, 367 Couch, Ira and James, 165 Court House, nucleus of business centre, 171; bell rung for battles, etc., 172; views from dome of, 177-182, 194; stone for buUding, i93, 194; done in confectionery, 210; winter cLreus opposite, 245; Hardscrabble seen from cupola of, 359 Court House Square, recmiting tents in, 2; mass meeting, 53; debate be tween "Long John" Wentworth and C. L. Vallandigham, 81; centre of city, 82, 171; "Copperhead orgy" in, 82-84; surroundings m 1862, 173- 177; Clark Street frontage, 183, 361 Coventry, A. C, 56 Cowles, T. Z., reporter and night editor of Times, 336, 337 Cox, General, 214, 216, 217 Gen. J. D., 216 Hon. S. S., 82 "Crackers," 44 Crane, R. T., 107 Credit MobUier scandals, 134 Crerar, John, arrival in Chicago, 168 Croatian laborers, 9 Croft, General, 214, 216 Crosby's Opera House, John Wright's 'WeU" resort in, 176; most im posing "art temple" in coimtry, 186; Army Reunion of 1868 at, 213 et seq.; baUet dancing at, 249 Cuba's Spanish dancer, 248, 249 Cunarders moored along prospective docks of Calumet, 287 Cushing, Mrs. E. H., 106 Cushman, Charlotte, 246 Custer, General, 216 Dakota blizzard, 366 Dana, Charles A., 239 Dancing. See also Ballet, Cancan, etc. Davenport, E. L., 247 "David Garrick," 365 Davidson, Frank, 335 Davis, Col. George R., County Treas urer, Congressman, 292 Jefferson, 82; beU from plantation of, 113 Dr. N. S., opposes the war on consti tutional grounds, 65 et seq.; appear ance, dress, standing as a physician, 65, 66; amiability, 69; arrived about 1860, 167 Dean, Rev. Henry Clay ("Dirty Shirt"), 80,84 Dearborn Park, site of Soldiers' Home and Public Library, 110 Street, intersection with Randolph, 53, 74, 142, 145, 183, 194; news- pajpers and resorts on, 185, 186; minstrels on Washington St., near, 245; Times moves to, 185, 252; in tersection with Washington St., 258, 366 Decoration Day, 1870, 236 Democracy, more prevalent to-ds^ than in past, 278, 279, 282; of early society, 342, 343 Democrat (The), conducted by "Long John" Wentworth, 162 Democratic National Convention, 1864, 48, 77-89 party, orators, 4; "People's Party" in room of, 264 Democrats. See under Civil War (polit ical strife) Denver, David A. Gage in, 303 Desplaines River, 208, 260, 261; Gage's farm on, 301; flood, 367 Desplaines Street, 192, 312 De Wolf, Calvin, extreme AboKtiomst, 64 ; arrived in the thirties, 165 WUliam, 92 " Dexter," race horse, 141 Park, named for horse "Dexter," 141; trotting at, 154; located on "Long John tract," 179 Wirt, as an orator, 3; -speaker on sup pression of Times, 64, 55; lawyer, 168 382 INDEX Dial, The, a critical force in America, 240 Dickey, Judge Hugh T., 56, 165; resi dence in Terrace Row, 344 Dickmson, Mrs. C. P., 106 Mrs. E. F., 106 Diehl, Col. Charles S., law reporter and war correspondent for Times, 335, 337 Dietsch, EmU, 10 Dillon, John, comedian, 247 Dion, Joseph, bUliard player, 176 Display, mania for, 342 Diversey, Michael, 165 Diversy, LUlfc, 235 Dix, Miss Dorothea, "Matron-General" of the Army, 105, 107 "Dixie," Upton's account of singing of, 121 Dixon, Arthur, and "Irish Repubhcans," 293-295 detective, 256 Dixon, IU., 122 Doane, John W., 4, 168 Doggett, WiUiam E., 167 Doggett, Mrs. W. E., 106 Dole, George W., 165 DoUar more worshipped than now, 280, 282 Donelson, "Johnny Rebs" from, 179 Doniker, ministrel performer, 245 Donoghue, John, 212 Dore, John C, 3, 18 Douglas, BUl, veteran policeman, 266 Camp. See Camp Douglas. Democracy, Times intended organ of, 331, 332 Stephen A., friend of "Mat" Carpen ter, 5; founded Chicago University, 178; had headquarters at "Young America," 186; met Lincoln at home of Gurdon S. Hubbard, 200; Lmcoln forced the issue against, 273; Cool- baudi friend of, 300 Dow, S. K., 3 Dowie, not a home-grown product, 304 Downtown street life. See Street liJEe Draft for troops by Grovernment, 24-27 Drake, John B., host of the Tremont House, 130, 194, 300; arrived about 1860, 167 Dress, variety worn by old settlers, 206 Drummond, Judge Henry, as a presiding officer, 3; issues writ on Burnside order, 66 Judge Thomas, 18, 165 Dry goods trade in State Street, 186 Dry Tortugas, 49 Dubuque Herald (The), 80 Ducat, Gen. A. C, 290 Dufferin, Lord, city's guest, 269 Duggan, (Catholic Bishop), 97 "Dundreary," Sothem in, 249 Dunham, J. H., 167 Dunlap, Greorge L., 4, 167 Dunne, Rt. Rev. Dennis (Pastor of St. Patrick's Church), overcomes prej udice against war, 91; organizes "Irish Legion," 97 Dyer, Dr. C. V., ejrtreme Abolitionist, 64; arrived in the thirties, 166; at Hub bard sUver wedding, 206 Dyhrenfurth, Prof. Juhus, 10 Eastman, Col. Frank A., 292 Zabina, extreme Abolitionist, 64, 167 Eau Clahe Eagles. See Eighth Wis consin Regiment Eddy, T. M. ^ethodist minister), 95 Edward, King, entertained at Ridimond House, 194 Edwards, J. T. & E. M., jewelers, 175 Egan, Dr. Wm. B., 186, 229 "Egypt, Darkest," 31 Eighteenth Regiment, 66 Street, 180 Eighth Wisconsin Regiment's war eagle, 34-37 Eldridge, Dr. J. W., 166 Eleventh lUinois Cavalry, 23 EUiott, detective, 266 EUis, detective, 256 EUsworth, Col. Elmer E., 14, 15 EUsworth Zouaves, The, 13 Elston, Charles and Daniel, 166 Emancipation Proclamation, 62, 74, 93; draft presented by Lincoln to Sani tary Fair, 109, note "Emancipation Proclamation, Signing of," painting by Carpenter, 110 Emmet Guards, 12 Employer, self-made, 282 Episcopal attitude towards the war, 91 Evans, Mary, amw nurse, 105 Evarts, WUliam M., 274 Evening Mail, New York, 337 Evening Post, 185 Everts, WUliam W. (Pastor of First Bap tist Church), as a war orator, 3; noted war minister, 91; efforts to save Chicago University, 94 Exposition buUdmg, 1873, 341 Factories, scarcity of, 195 Fairbanks, N. K., 168 INDEX 383 Fairs, held in Metropolitan Hall, 176 Faktaff, Hackett as, 246, 249 Farnum, Henry, 167 Faro "lay-out" at Camp Douglas, 44; secrecy observed in playing, 150 FarweU, C. B., arrived in the forties, 167 Farwell, John V., as a presiding officer, 3; arrived in the forties, 167; fire loss in 1869, 193; supported Moody, 305 Fechter, Charles, German actor, 247; as Claude Melnotte, 249 Fergus, Robert, arrived in the thirties, 165; pubhshed first city directory, 244 "Festival," preceding Sanitary Fairs, 109 Field, Leiter & Co., moved from Lake St. to Market and Madison Streets, 174, 188; located at State and Wash ington, 187; determined city's retaU focus, 189; dissolution of partner ship, 190. See also previous firms, Pahner, Potter; Palmer, Field, Lei ter & Co. MarshaU, as a presiding officer in war time, 4; name famUiar to-day, 168; determined retaU focus of Chicago, 187; dominating power in firm, 189; objected to publicity, 190, 191. See also Field, Leiter & Co. and L. Z. Leiter. Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, 301 Fifth Avenue, South WeUs Street, fumi gated into, 168; Ibach on, 361; in tersection with Monroe, 352 Finane, John, 336 Finerty, John F., 335 Fire alanus, 368 Fire-arms, frequently used in Randolph St., 142 Fire companies. See under Chicago Fue loss m 1868, 193 Fire of 1871, left scanty records, 61; clanging of Court House bell during, 172; destroyed a new "down town," 173; destroyed North Side estates, 179; changed shopping centre, 188, 189; "curtain raisers precedmg, 193; draft of Emancipation Proc lamation destroyed in, 109, note; Joseph MedUl mayor during, 264; loss of J. H. Bowen's fortune m, 286; scarcity of haUs after, 312; Isaac Spear on, 371 First Baptist Church, Dr. Everts pastor of, 94, 96; replaced by Chamber of Commerce, 174 Congregational Church, organized by Deacon Carpenter, 68; war record under W. W. Patton, 93 National Bank, 185, 186, 196, 299 Presbyterian Church, Deacon Car penter instrumental in organizing, 68 Fitch, Senator from Indiana, 81 Flint, of Chicago Board of Trade, 29 Florence, BiUy, 249 Foley, Tom, bUUard champion, 133, 173, 271 FoUansbee, Alanson and Charles, 165 Fontenoy Barracks, 13 Foreign-born citizens, attitude of, 6 Forrest, Edwin, 247 Fort Dearborn in 1818, 197; embodied in a confection, 210 Donelson, capture of, 41; prisoners at Camp Douglas, 23, 179 Henry, prisoners from, 179 Sumter, 59, 61, 96 Foster, Mrs. A., 106 Mrs. Ambrose, 106 Dr. John, 165 Miss Mary E. M., nurse in CivU War, 105 Frame buUdings dating from the thirties, 176 Franklin Street, 153, 188, 196, 365 Free-lunch resorts, 176 Freeport, IU., 122 Freer, Joseph Warren, arrived in the thirties, 165 L. C. P., 64 Freethinkers, German, 101, 102 Free-thinking Society, 311 French Revolution, 71 Frink, John, owner of Western stage coaches, 166 Fry, Camp. See Camp Fry Fuller, Judge Henry, 165 John, of Michigan, 83 Chief Justice, M. W., 168 Samuel W., 54 Fullers, old settlers, 198 FuUerton, Alexander N., 167 Fulton, H. L., extreme Abolitionist, 64 "Functions," 357 Fur trade. See under American Fur Company, Galloway famUy, Hub bard, Gurdon S. Gage brothers, at the Massasoit, Tre mont, and Sherman hotels, 196, 300 Gage, David A., as a presiding officer, 4; arrived about 1860, 167; example of the tragedy of popularity, 296. 300-303 384 INDEX Gage, George W., 167 Jared and John, 166 Lyman J., cashier of Merchants Sav ings Loan & Trust Company, 168; with First National Bank, 299 Gale, Abram, 165 Stephen F., 165 Galena, BL, 63 RaUroad, 181 Galesburg, IU., 122 Galloway family sojourn at "Hard scrabble," 206-209 Gamblers and gamblmg, 128, 132, 136, 137, 150-156, 186 "Garden City," 143; why Chicago was known as, 177; reverts to beginnings, 203; history of, 230 Garden City Hotel, 195 Garrett, Augustus, three times elected mayor, 166 Garrison Abolitionist, R. W. Patterson, a, 96; Robert CoUyer a, 97 Garrison, Wilham Lloyd, lecture on "Reconstruction," 173 Grassette, Norman T., campaign for Cir cuit Court clerkship, 292, 293 Gates, P. W., 166; foundry of. 196 Gault, John C, 168 '"General Butler," race horse, 141 Georgia, Army Society of, 212 German idealism, 118 loyalty, 130 population, 10 societies, picnics in Lake View, 181 Theatre, 100, 101, 247 Turners, 19 Grermans, attitude towards the war, 6-10; tolerance toward, 99 et seq.; support Sunday _ theatre, 100; freethinking and socialistic tendencies, 101-103 Gibbs, Mrs. George, 106 Gilbert, Samuel H., 165 Giles Brothers, remove from Lake to State St., 188 GUmore, Col. R. A., 292 Gmdele. John G., 10 Gleason, Capt. M., 11 "Good old times," 272 Goodrich, Judge Grant, 18, 165 T. W., 165 Goss & PhiUips Sash and Door Factory, 196 Gtossip, in place of personal paragraphs, 161 r -B r Gottlieb, factotum of "The Sharp Cor ner," 345 et seq. Gottschalk, concert by, 173 Goudy, W. C, 168 Grain elevators, 180 Grand M>era. See Opera. Grand Pacific Hotel, King of Sandwich Islands at, 268 Grannis, Amos and S. W., 165 Grant, Lt.-Cfen. Ulysses S., distinguished Blinois soldier, 30; came from Gfa- lena, 63; originally a Democrat, 84; repulsed at Cold Harbor, 87; pre sents "Jack" to Sanitary Fair, 111; reception at Sanitary Fair, 113-115; quartered at Tremont House, 212;" nominated in Crosby's Opera House, 213; at Army Reunion ol 1868, 214, 215, 220 Graves, Dexter, 165 E. B., army nurse, 105 Hen^, 165 Gray, Cliarles M., Franklin D., Greorge M., John, Joseph H., and Moses, 165 J., wigs, 175 Great men's influence on history, 70, 71 Greeley, Horace, presides at meeting denouncing Burnside's order, 58; sends photographs to Sanitary Fair, 111 Greenbacks, effects of the great output of, 133 Greenebaum, Hennr, 10 Greenfelder, Mrs. I., 106 GrenfeU, Col. G. St. Leger, 48, 49 Griggs, S. C, 169; residence in Terrace Row, 344 3. C. & Co. (predecessors of A. C. Mc Clurg & Co.), bookstore burned in fire of 1868, 193; Phillips' descrip tion of establishment, 233 Guest, — , Scotchman, 308 Guns captured by Capt. Stokes, 21 Gurnee, Denton, residence in Terrace Row, 344 Walter S., 59 Guyer, I. D., 232 Hackett, J. H., as Falstaff, 246, 249 Hacks, hired at Court House Square, 171 Hadduck, B. F., 165 E. H., 166 "HaU Columbia," 2 Haines, E. M., 165 John C. ("Copper-stock Haines"), mayor, 164, 172 Hair jewelry, 235 Hale, Dr. Edward Everett, "Man with out a Country," 118 INDEX 385 HaU, Fred, 239 PhUip A., 165 Halls, scarcity after fire, 312 Halsted Street, 260, 368, 369 HamUton, Miss Adeline, army nurse, 105 Henry E., 4, 45 Col. John H., 165 P.D., 165 Hamlet, first night of a new, 246 Hamlets galore, 247 Hamlin, Jack, 137 Hammond, C. G, 167 Hampton Roads, battle of, 80 Hanchett, John L., 166 Capt. S. F., clerk Probate Court, 292 Hancock, Col. John L., 3, 29, 84, 167 "Hand Book of Chicago," 344 Harding's (Capt.) Company, 19 "Hardscrabble" located between Archer and Blue Island Avenues, 180; the GaUoways' sojourn at, 207-209; a "Hardscrabble" romance, 359-362 Harmon, Charles L., E. P., Isaac D., and Isaac N., 165 Harney, Greneral, 214 Harper's Ferry, surrender of Union men at, 41 Harrington, Charles E., assistant city editor of Times, 336, 337 Harris (Congressman from Maryland), indictment of McCleUan, 85, 86 Harrison, Carter H., Sr., 176 Harrison Street, 153, 195; intersection with Halsted. 266 Harte, Bret, 227 Harvey, Mrs. J. M., 106 T. M., 4 T. W., 167 Haskin, Edwm, 168 Hatton, Joseph, the novelist, 330 Haverly, "Colonel" J. H., gambler, im presario, and promoter, 153-156 Haverly Opera, House, 313 Hawley, Mrs. Elizabeth, 106 Hayden, Capt. James R., 14, 17, 18 Hayes, S. S., 55 Heacock, RusseU E., 164 Hemans, Mrs., 148 Henderson, Charles H., 167 C. M., 167 Hendricks, Grovemor of Indiana, 81 Henshaw, Mrs. Sarah E., 106 Henshaw's Battery, 29 Herrick, E. W., 165 Hesing, A. C, 3, 10, 167; owner of Staote- Zeitung, 264 Higginbotham, H. N., 168 Higgms, Mrs. E., 106 Van H., 18, 165 Hight, Miss Jenny, Chicago's first baUet dancer, 247-249 HUliard, L. P., 165 Hinman, Major "Jack," city editor of the Tirnes, 335 Hippodrome, North's, 246 History as written in the forties, 229-23 L "History of Chicago." by I. D. Guyer, 232 "Histoiy of lUmois," 229 Hoard, Samuel, 165 Hoffman, F. A., 10 Hoffman House, New York, 322 Hoge, Mrs. A. H., representative of Ma tron-General Dix, 105; associated with M. A. Livermore, 108; one of managers of "Festival," 109 Holden, C. N., defeated by F. C. Sher man, 59; arrived in the thirties, 165 Mrs. C. N., 106 "Honest Abe," significance of, 273 Hooker, Gren. Joseph, "Fighting Joe," at the Sanitary Fair, 114; at Army Reunion of 1868, 214, 215; heads Lincoln funeral cortege, 317 Hopson, E. J., miUinery, 175 Horseback riding, 369 Horse racing, 154-156. See also Dexter Park, West Side Driving Park Hosmer, Charles H., 92 Harriet, sends "Zenobia" to Sanitary Fan-, 110 Mrs. 0. E.. activity for soldiers, 106; one of managers of "Festival," 110 Hospitals, work of the women in the mflitaiy. 104-116 Hotchkiss. Gen. Charles T.. City Clerk, Pension Agent, 292 Hotels, impromptu gatherings at, 78; Chicago noted for excellence of, 194, 195, 243; during Army Reunion of 1868, 212; David A. Gage, hotel- keeper par excellence, 301, 366. See also names of chief hotels as Briggs, Lake, Matteson, Richmond, Sherman, Tremont, etc. Hough, O. S., 165 R. M., 17, 18, 65 Howard, General, 214 Hoyne, PhUip A., 167 "Thomas, as a war orator, 3; as a pre siding officer, 4; stood for the Union, 11; on Union Defence Committee. 18; arrived in the thirties, 165; on historical committee of lyceum, 229 386 INDEX Hubbard, Gurdon S., arrived in 1818, 163; hospitahty of home at La Salle Ave. and Locust St., 198; In dian traits, 199; friendship for Lin coln and Douglas, 200; business experiences, 201, 202; sUver wedding, 197, 198, 203-206, 210 Mrs. Gurdon S. (the first), death in 1838, 201 Mrs. Gurdon S. (the second), char acter, 198; long life, 210, note. See also Hubbard, Gurdon S. John M., in Lumbard quartette. 127 Louis DeKoven, 92 Hubbard & Co., GUbert, building, 193 "Hubbard's trafl," 201 Huck, Louis, 10 Hughitt. Marvin. 168 Hungarian laborers, 9 Huntington, Alonzo, 165 Hurlbut, "Big BUl," 347, 349, 350 Maj.-Gen. Stephen A., 30 Hutchinson, B. P. ("Old Hutch"), 168 famUy, war time singers, 124 Hyde Park, 178, 258, 286, 287, 363 Hyman, "Cap.," gambler, 138, 139, 142; wedding, 143; opening of "Sunny side," 142, 146 Ibach, proprietor of ' 'The Sharp Corner," 345 etseq. Illinois and Michigan Canal, 203, 260, 367 Central Railroad, 16; bridge over Big Muddy, 17; station at foot of Lake St., 196; tracks on Lake front, 339 Constitutional Convention of 1869, 297 delegation to Republican National Ckmvention of 1860, 275 Indians, 199 River, 208 Southern, 17 troops, raised for CivU War, 12, 16, 19, 22-32, 118, 122; Southern conspir acy in, 49; originaUy opposed to the war, 60; Owen Lovejoy's district in, 71; Logan Congressman-at- large for, 220 Indiana delegation to Democratic Con vention of 1864, 80 Street, 100, 157 Indians, Gurdon S. Hubbard's trading with, 201; Mrs. Clybourne's adven ture with, 208, 209 Individualistic era, 283 Industries, a history of Chicago's, 232 IngaUs, Greneral, 214 IngaUs, Mrs. Dr., 106 IngersoU, Col. Robert G., orator for Re publicans, 4; leads 11th Blinois Cavalry, 23; throws gauntlet in face of defenders of Bible, 102; pro tagonist of infidelity, 311-315 Insurance interests on La SaUe Street, 185 Inter Ocean, 186 "Invmcible Club," 67 Iowa, troops for CivU War, 27; regiments pass through Chicago, 33; farmers contribute to Sanitary Fair, 110 Irish, attitude towards Uie war, 6-12, 61 ; constituted one-third of Chicago's population, 99 Brigade, The, 11, 12 comedians, 249 "Irish Legion." See Ninetieth BUnois Regiment military organization, 6 "Irish Repubhcans," Arthur Dixon's, 293-295 Iron age, the city's, 192 "Iron Brigade," 216 Isham, E. S., 168 Island No. 10, prisoners from, 179 Itahan laborers, 9 "Jack," Gen. Grant's horse, 110, 114 Jackson HaU, John Wentworth's, 262 Jacobin, psychology of, 76 Jacobson, Col. Augustus, Clerk Superior Court, 292 Janauschek as Lady Macbeth, 246 "January Searle." See Phillips, Gteorge Is. "Jayhawking," 57 Jefferson, Joseph, last link between stage of past and present, 90; name m Chicago Du^ctoiy for 1839, 244; m "Rip," 249 Jennison, Col., 57, 68 JesseU, E. A., auctioneer, 175 Jewett, John N., as an orator, 3; as a pre siding officer, 4; name famihar to day, 168 "John Brown's Body," 2 "John Phoenix," 227 "Johnnie GrayWks,'' 42 "Johnny Rebs" at Camp Douglas, 78 Johnson, E. S., army nurse, 105 Jones, Femando, 165, 166 Journal, conservative Repubhcan paper. 73; located on Dearborn St., 186; B. F. Taylor on staff of, 238 Judd, Norman B., 165; nominated Lin coln for president, 274, 275 INDEX 387 Juliet, Adelaide Nielson as, 249 Jussen, Col. Edmund, 3, 10 Kean, Charles, 247 Thomas, W., 247 Keith brothers, 167 KeUey, Father, chaplain of Ninetieth Blmois, 98 KeUogg, Mrs. J. S., army nurse, 105 Kelly, minstrel performer, 245 Kendall County. IU., 163 Kenkels, German actors, 101 Kennedy, detective, 256 Kenney, detective, 256 Kennison, David, last survivor of Boston Tea Party, 164 Keno, 150-153 Kentucky delegation arrives at Tremont House. 86. 87 element in Chicago. 45 refuses caU for troops. 20 Kerfoot W. D., 167 Ketchum, Democratic speaker from New York. 83 KunbaU. Mark, 165 Walter, 165 Kunbark, S. D., 167 Kmg, Henry W., 167 John Lyle, 3 TuthiU, 166; residence in Terrace Row, 344 Kingsbury HaU, 245 KinseUa, T. J., 11 Kinzie, John, Chicago's first bona fide settler, 164; log house of, 201, 210; in massacre of 1812. 241 John Harris. 92, 163, 164 Robert A., antedated men of the thir ties, 163, 164 Kirk, James S., 168 Kirkland, Major, "History of Chicago," 334 Klokke, Capt. E. F. C, Clerk County Court, 292 Knickerbocker, Abraham V., 165 Knights of the Golden Circle, 74, 130 Lady Elgin, steamer, 5 Laflin, Matthew, 166 Laflins, old settlers, 198 Lake County. 324 Front, Barnum's Curcus on, 268; dur ing Lincoln's funeral, 3l7 House opened in 1836, 196; best hotel in the West, 202 Michigan, 201, 203, 260, 371 Lake Street, intersection with Centre Ave., 181; as boundary of business area, 183-185; financial interests centred at intersection with La Salle, 186, 187; uniformity of sky hue, 192; mtersection with Wabash Ave., 193; with State St., 194; with Randolph St., 196; lUinois Central Station at foot of, 196; real estate values at intersection with La Salle, 262; intersection with Canal, 206; A. H. MiUer's jewelry store on, 233; robbery on, 256; depth of mud in, 361 View, Camp Fry in precincts of, 29;. "Sunnyside" itt, 143; a separate burg, 145; thickly wooded, 181 Lakeside Monthly, The, edited by F. F. Browne, 240 Lamont marble, 193, 194, 196 sandstone, 343 Landowner, the "hold-fast," 281 Larabee, Lucius Sherman, 92 Larmon block, 175 Lamed, E. C, 3, 18, 167 Larrabee, WiUiam M., 165, 227 La Salle Avenue (North La Salle Street), Hubbard mansion on, 197 Street, boundary of_ "grand centre" of _ city, 82; sleighing on, 145; buildings on, 174-176; intersection with Lake, 183; intersection with Madison, 319; intersection with Randolph, 345 Latin Quarter fashion, 242 Laughton cabin at Hardscrabble, 209 Law, Robert, 167 Lawrence, Mrs. 106 Lawson, Iver, 165 Lawyer, Lincoln not a type of the average, 272. See also famous Chicago law yers, as: Arnold, I. N.; Storrs. Em ory; Swett, Leonard, etc. Leather shieltk worn by poUcemen, 171 Lee, sends force to Washington, 88; sur render of, 110 Leiter, Levi Z., 168, 189-191. See also Field, Leiter & Co. and Pahner. Field. Leiter & Co. Leon, minstrel performer, 245 Letz, Fred, 10 Lexington, Missouri, 13, 23 "Libby and Son, Ship Chandlers," sign with legend, 113 Lfll, William, 165 & Diversy's beer, 235 388 INDEX Lincoln, Abraham, received nomination for President in Chicago, 1; Ells worth studied law with, 14; effect of his death on Abolitionists, 62; in fluence as a martyr, 70, 72; reelec tion of, 79; speeches against, 82-84; majority over McCleUan. 83. note; charges against, 85, 86; trouble in Cabmet of, 88; friend of F. Rich mond of Chicago, 89; received appeal of Dr. Patton and others, 93 ; presented draft of Emancipation Proclamation to Chicago S^tary Fair, 109 and note; to ^bany Army Rehef Bazaar, 110, note; log cabin eidiibited, 110; catafalque edibited, 113; given to the nation by Blinois, 118; nominated in "Wigwam," 196; guest of Gurdon S. Hubbard, 200; part in Black Hawk War, 202; sig nificance and character, 272-277; funeral and lying in state, 286, 316- 320; Lincoln "Seance" conducted by Isaac N. Arnold and Leonard Swett, 322-330 "Lmcoln bastUe," 80 Lincoln Park, in part a cemetery, 178; ghosts walk in, 181 Rifles, 19 Lind, Sylvester, 165 Linder, Gen. U. F., 4, 186 Literature, Chicago's prospective great ness in, 170; early examples, 227, 228; historian of 1846, 229-231; the early sixties. 231-236; Ben- jamm F. Taylor, poet, 236, 237; George P. Upton, 238; other writ ers of the war period, 238, 239; Francis F. Browne, editor of The Lakeside Monthly and The Dial, 240 "Little Frank." See McClenthan "Little Mac." See McClellan "Little Mac," songs with refrain. 85 Livermore, Rev. D. P., editor of Univer sahst paper, 107 Mary A. (Mrs. D. P.), one of Dr. Ry der's congregation, 96; representa tive of Matron-General Dix in tiie war, 105-108; one of managers of the Sanitary Fairs, 109 Lloyd, Alexander, 165 block, 193 Henry D., 261 Lockport-Lamont quarries, 193 Lockport Light ArtUlery, 19 Locust Street, 197 Logaii, Gen. John A., as a war orator, 4; leader of the Thirty-first Blinois In fantry, 23; distinguished Illinois soldier, 30; originally a Democrat, 84; at tile Army Reunion of 1868, 212, 214, 215, 220-222; as a poU- tician, 222-225 Mrs. John A., example of her tactful cooperation, 222-226 John A., Jr., 225 Long, Mrs. J.,106 James, 165 ' 'Long John." See Wentworth "Long John tract," 179, 301 Loomis, J. M., hatter, 175 Mrs. J. M., 106 Lord & Smith's drug store, 236 "Lotto," "Keno" another name for, 160 Lovejoy, Owen, editor of The Alton Ob server, 68, 71, 72 Lower Mississippi, "Blackleg" of, 129, 131 Ludlow, Mrs. Reuben, 106 Lumbard, Frank and Jules, war time smgers, 2, 119; "The Battle Cry of Freedom" first sung by, 120, 121; Jules' letter about "Ole Shady" as sung by Frank, 124-126; character and death of Frank Lumbard, 127 quartette, 122, 126, 127 Lumber district, present, 180 market, 343 Lunt, Orrington, 167 Lyceum organized, 229 McAllister, W. K., 4 McArthur, Gen. John A., 292 "Macbeth," 246 McCagg, E. B., gave for rehef of soldiers, 108; arrived in the tiurties, 167; residence on North Side, 179 McCleUan, Gen., on the peninsula near Richmond, 23; conspiracy for elec tion of, 49; nomination. 84; Harris' indictment of. 85. 86 McClenthan. Frank C. ("Little Frank"), reports a secret conference, 270; on staff of Times, 335 McClernand, Maj.-Gen. John A., 30, 84, 214 McClurg, Gren. A. C, name familiar to day, 168; distinguished exception to "spoUs system," 290 & Co. (A. C), succeeded S. C. Griggs & Co., 233 McComas, E. W., 53; editor of Times, 332 INDEX 389 Mc(x)ok, General, 214 McCormick, Cyrus H., arrived in the forties, 167; his reaper factory, 196; owner of Times, 332 McCormick's block, 74, 186 McDevitt, John, billiard player, 176 McDonald, M. C. ("MUce"), 11, 12 McDoweU, General, 214 McEhoy, Daniel, 11 "McGary, Jim," 266 McKeever, "MoUie," 141 Mackmac, 201 McMurray, Capt. F., 11 MacVeagh, Franklin, Secretary of the Treasury, 168 McVickar, Brock, 239 McVicker, J. H., as a presiding officer, 4; battery of sewing machines, 109; arrived about 1850, 167; located theatre in "shanty town," 244; as an actor, 249; bondsman for D. A. Gage, 303; mentioned, 344 McVicker's Theatre, Ciucago's only American theatre in middle sixties, 101, 103; on its present site in 1862, 195, 244; orchestra, 347, 364 Madison County, EL. 26 Street, boundary of boarding-house section, 131; comer of Market and, 174; Dearborn and, 185; N. E. comer of Market and. 188, 195; McVicker's Theatre in, 244; inter section with La SaUe, 319; "Board ers' Paradise" in. 309 Street Bridge, 196 Madison, Wis., burning of the capitol at, 36 Magees, old settlers, 198 Magie, H. H., arrival in the thirties, 165, 166; residence on North Side, 179 Maher, Hugh, 11, 165 Mahony, D. A., editor of The Dubuque Herald, 80 MaU, going for, 186 MaU, The, 336 Maltby, Maj.-Gen. Jaspar Q., 63 Manierre, Cfcorge, 18. 165 Mann, Gen. O. L.. Collector Intemal Revenue, 292 Manners of early Chicagoans, 227 Mansions of old famihes, 342 Manufactories, 196 Map of Chicago, Gurdon S. Hubbard's, 201; rehef map m 1868, 210 Mapleson, Colonel, 154 Maible. Dan, comedian, 249 "Marble Terrace." See Terrace Row "Marching through Georgia," 366 "Maritana," 348 "Mark Twam," 227 Market Street, business focus for a time at intersection with Madison, 174; removal of Field, Leiter & C!o. from, 188; Garden City Hotel at. 195; "Wigwam" on. 196 Marmaduke, Col. Vincent, 48 Marshall, James A., 165 "Martha," music from, 247 Martin, George G., telegraph editor and later managing editor of Times, 336, 337 Mason, RosweU B. (ex-Mayor), as a pre siding officer, 3; arrived in the for ties, 167 Dr. WUliam, 169 Massacre of 1812, 201; painting of, 241 Massasoit House, 195 Mastodon Minstrels, 153 Matteson, Andrew, 332 House, 145, 194 House Cafi, 148, 186 Medill, Joseph, arrived about 1850, 167; "scoops The Chicago Tribune, 257-260; "fire-proof" Mayor, 264 Mrs. Joseph, 106 Sam, manager of the Tribune, 259 "Mejums," Leonard Swett and Isaac N. Arnold, 323 Melnotte, Claude, 343 Merchants Loan Savings & Tmst Com pany, 168 Mercy Hospital, 232 Merrimac, Rebel ram, 80 "Merry Wives of Windsor," 348 Methodist Church in Chicago. See under Eddy, T. M. and Tiffany, O. H. Metropolitan Block, 176 Hall, 122, 129, 176 Hotel, 194, 366 Michigan Avenue, tree-lined, 177; whole- sde and jobl)ing trade diverted to, 185; Riaimond House on South Water St. and, 194; as far as Harri son St., 195; "Marble Terrace" on, 232; elite residence street, 339, 344 Central train stalled by storm, 363 City, Ind., 363 regiments in Chicago, 33 sand hUls seen from (>)urt House dome, 177 Middle West, religion in, 98; poets ad mired by, 148; Lincoln choice Qf,,27.4 Mihalotzky, Captain, 19 "Military craze," ?9l 390 INDEX Military driUs in Lloyd block, 193 Miller, A. H., jewehy store, 233 Miss Jane A., army nurse, 105 Milliken, Isaac L., 164 Isaac N., ex-Mayor, 4, 162 MiUionaires, Chicago's first, 281 Milwaukee, 3, 5 Avenue (formerly Northwestern plank road), 10, 181 Ministers of Chicago: during war time, 90-100; greatness as compared with those of New York, 169. See also Clarkson, CoUyer, Dunne, Everts, Moody, Patton Minnesota remments in Chicago, 33 Minstrels, in the early sixties, 133; noted performers in, 245. See also Christy Minstrels, Mastodon Minstrels Mission Ridge, 115 Mississippi Valley, 260 Missouri, 9, 20 " MoUy McCarthy," race horse, 164 Monroe County, IU., 26 Street, intersection with WeUs, 158; with Morgan St., 174; near Fifth Ave., 246, 352 Montreal, 201 Moody, Dwight L., aggressive evangelist, 304-311 Moore, Capt. C, 11 "Morgan Raiders," 43 Street, 174 Morning Post, 185, 231 Morris, Judge Buckner S., accused of conspiracy to Uberate Confederate prisoners, 47-50; arrived in the thirties, 164 Mrs. Judge B. S., in charge of clothing for Confederate prisoners, 47 George P., favonte poet of Middle West, 148 Morrison brothers, the, 165 Mose, Chanfrau's, 249 "Moses, mistakes of," 313 "Mowbray, J. P." See Wheeler, A. C. "Mucker," 204 Mud in Lake Street, 361 Lake, 367 Mulligan, Col. James A., organizes the Irish Brigade, 11, 12; at Lexington, Mo., 23; at Camp Douglas, 41 Mrs. (Gen.) J. A., Pension Agent, 292 Munn,IraY.,29, 167 Murder of George TrusseU, 141 ; ' 'scoop" for the Times, 252; near Chicago University, 323 Murray, Adam, 166 Music in Chicago, war time singers, 117-127; great women musicians, 170; musical criticism, 238; before Theodore Thomas, 348, 350. See also Lumbard, Jules and Frank; Min strels, Opera, etc.; Root, G. F.; Upton, G. P. Music Hall, Smith & Nixon's. See Smith & Nixon. Myers, Sam., comedian, 247 Myrick, W. F.. 165 Napoleon, 71 Prince, 235 "Narcisse," play at McVicker's, 364 National Bankers' Association of the West and Northwest, 297 Negro emancipation. See under Slavery Negro, Irish reaction against, 61 Nelson, Jack, Police Captain, 144, 147, 160, 228 New England girls in Chicago, 169 New Orleans gambler at Camp Douglas, 44 New Virginia (or VirginiaviUe), 163, 206 New Year's Day, 1864, 364 et sea. New York Battery of heavy artillery, 41 Central RaUroad, 258 Chicagoans resident in, 334 denounces Burnside's order, 58 " Evening Post, 222 Fire Zouaves, 14 Herald, 30 House, refuge from blizzard, 1863, 366 State Legislature, purchased draft of Emancipation Proclamation, 110, rwte World (The), 51, 68 Newberry, Walter C, arrived about 1850, 167 Walter L., early arrival, 165; residence on North Side, 179 Newberrys, old settlers, 198, 342 Newspapers, report Haverly's "invest ments" at the races, 156; advertising columns a reflex of city's business, 162; Dearborn St. a centre for, 186, 186; something about "scoops," 261-263; every pubhcation a party organ, 283; Moody not taken seri ously by, 307, 308. See also Demo crat, Evening ^ Post, Inter-Ocean, Journal, Momirm Post, Republican, Staats-Zeitung, Times, Tribune, etc. Nickerson, S. M., 4 Nielson, Adelaide, as Juliet, 249 INDEX 391 ' 'Ni^er churches." See Churches, Aboli tion Night life m Clhicago, 130 reporting, 262 Ninetieth Illinois Regiment ("The Irish Legion"), 97, 98 Ninety-third Illinois Regiment, 41 Ninth lUinois Cavahy (Brackett's), 41 North Avenue, 145, 181 Branch of Chicago River. See North Branch Chicago Rolhng MUls, 181 Clark Street, 100, 145 Division (or Side) of Chicago. See Chicago Levi J., erected a hippodrome, 245 Market HaU, 11 Shore Drive, 163 "North Side Sands," cleaning out the, 156-168, 163 North Water Street, 178 Northern Democa'ate, 5 Pacific financial bhzzard, 257 Northwestern Christian Advocate, 335 Northwestern Flank Road. See Mil waukee Avenue Sanitary Commission, Dr. Patton Vice- President of, 93; Robert CoUyer representative of, 97; benefited by Sanitaiy Fairs, 109, 110; sends Mrs. E. A. Porter to field hospital work, 116 Nouveaux riches, 342 'Nym Crmkle." See Wheeler, A. C. Oakhurst, John, 137 O'Brien, W. W., of Peoria, 83 Ogden Avenue (formerly Southwestern Plank Road), 181, 359 Mahlon D., arrived in the thirties, 165; residence on North Side, 179; at Hubbard sUver wedding, 205 WiUiam B. (first mayor), as a presid ing officer, 3; speaker on suppres sion of Times, 55; arrival in the thir ties, 164; residence on North Side, 179 Ogdens, old settlers, 198, 342 Oglesby, Gen. Richard J., Governor of Bl., soldier-orator in the making, 4; War Governor, 24; notifies govern ment of excessive IUinois_ draft, 26; distinguished lUinois soldier, 30 O'Hara, Daniel, 4, 186, 228, 264, 266, 267 Ohio, Army Society of the, 212, 216 troops for Civil War, 26 "Old Abe,'' war eagle of the Eighth Wis consin Regiment, 34-37 Old Guard (The), 84 Old Planters' House, St. Louis, 194 settlers. See Settlers "Ole Shady," as sung by Frank Lum bard, 2, 124-126 O'Mahony's Fenian army, 193 Onahan, W. J., 4, 11 One Hundred and Eleventh lUinois Regi ment, 41 Hundred and Fifteenth Blinois Regi ment, 41 Hundred and Twenty-fifth New York Regiment, 41 Huncired and Twenty-sixth New York Regiment, 41 Ontario Street, Rush and, 179 Opera, grand, introduced by Mapleson and Haverly, 154, 156 House restaurant, 210 selections from, 348 Orators for the cause, notable, 3 in the making, soldier, 4 Orchard, Thomas, 92 Orme, Gen., 42 Orton, H. I., of Wisconsin, 83 Osborne, Gren. Thomas 0., Postmaster, 292 Ottawa Light ArtUlery, 19 Owen's Sdon Shingle, 249 Packing business, centre for, 180; Gur don S. Hubbard first in, 202 district, building in, 184 P^e, Peter, 165 Samuel, artist, 241 Painting and painters. See Art Palmer, Field. Leiter & Co., succeeded by Field, Leiter & Co., 187 Maj.-Gen. John M., 30, 214 Potter, as a presiding officer in war time, 4; arrived about 1850, 167; succeeded in the dry goods business by Field, Leiter & Co., 187. See also Palmer, Field, Leiter & Co. Panic of 1857, 173, 192 of 1873, 191, 267, 286 Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867, 286 Park Row, 317, 341 Parker, Mrs. N. H., 107 Parmelee, Frank, 167, 228 "Partington, Mrs.," letter to Sanitary Fair, 111 Patterson, Robert W. (Pastor of Second Presbyterian Church), as a war orator 3; supporter of the Union, 96 392 INDEX Patton, W. W. (Pastor of First Congre gational Church), as a war orator, 3; work as an Abolitionist, 91, 93 "Peace Convention," 60 Peacock, Ehjah, 165 Joseph, 165 Pearce, J. Irving, 257, 258 Peck, Ebenezer, 165 P. F. W.. arrived in the thirties, 165; home finaUy occupied by Police headquarters, 174, 255; residence, in Terrace Row, 344 Pecks, old settlers, 198 Peel, Sir Robert, terms "bobby" and "peeler" derived froilii, 172 "Peeler," origin of slang term, 172 Pennsylvania Railroad, 268 Pension Agents, 292 People's Party, 264-271, 302 Peoria, IU., 122, 311 "Peregrine Pickle." See Upton, G. P. Petersburg, Grant's operation before, 87 Phettjnplace, Capt., 42 Philadelphia Record, 336 PhUanthropy, 280, 281 PhiUips, George S. ("January Searle"), 95, 231-236 Capt. J. C, 11, 42 Pierce, Asabel, 166 Pinkerton, Allan, extreme Abolitionist, 64 Plamfield Light ArtUlery, 19 Plank Roads, the old, 180-182 Plant, Roger, 159, 160, 353 Poetry, early Chicago, 236-238 Police Department. See under Chicago Polish laborers, 9 Politics, of Germans and Irish, 6-10; People's Party regime, 264-271; in formative days of Lincoln, 273; present ideals higher than past, 278; affected by CivU War, 289-296; "SpoUs of war," 289-295; Dixon's "Irish Repubhcans," 293-295 Pohtics of war time. See under CivU War (pohtical strife) "Pohuto." See WUkie, Franc B. PoUc Street, 13 Pomeroy, "Brick," 72, 81 Pope. Maj.-Gen. John, 30, 214 PopiJation. See under Chicago Porter, Mrs. Eliza A., army nurse, 116 Mrs. Elizabeth, 106 Hibbard, 166 H. H., 167 Rev. Jeremiah, 362 Post, 73, 332. See also Evening Post, Morning Post Post Office. See under Chicago Postmaster, office of, 291 Potter, O. W., 168, 18 PoweU, Maud, 348 Powers, Fred Perry, reporter, editorial writer, and Washington correspond ent of Times, 336, 337 Prairie, bounding Court House Square, 173; areas of, 181 schooners, 230 Pratt, George, 335 Prentiss, IV&j.-Gten. Benjamin M., 30 Presbyterian Church, General Assembly of, 68; bmlding used for "cancan, 266 Churches. See First, Second, Third, etc. creed affected by IngersoU,_ 312, 315 President, Lincoln's nomination for, 274 Presiding officers, 3, 4 Press, Dr. C. H. Ray, editor of, 276 Press Club, Times on site of, 252 Preussing, Ernst, 10 Price, Gen., MiUigan surrenders to, 41 Price's hvery stable, 142, 369 Prince of Wales, Edward. See Edward, King PrindeviUe, John and Redmond, 11, 165, 166 "Promoter," a species nurtured in Chi cago, 154 Promoters, Col. Bowen one of Chicago's reaUy great, 287 Provost Marshal's blunders with regard to troops, 26 Public officers, men of high character now demanded for, 277 PuUman Company stodc, 257; build manufacturing town, 260 George M., name famUiar to-day, 168; connection with Third National Bank, 257, 259 location of town of, 260-263 "Pullman's Bank." See Third National Pulpit as a war force, 90 "Quincy No. 9," 177 Quirk, Capt. Daniel, 11 Racing. See Horse racing Raftsmen on Western rivers, 6 RaUroad stations rookeries, 196 "RaU-splitter of lUmois," 329 Randolph County, 111., 26 Street, "faro" played on, 44; Court House entrance on, 53; McC!ormick block, S. E. corner of Dearborn and, INDEX 393 Randolph Street — continued 74; boundary of Court House Square, 82; rendezvous for gamblers, etc., 138, 142; Times in 'Tiaur-trig- ger" block between Dearborn and State, 142; Matteson House at N. W. comer of Dearborn and, 145; "keno" between Clark and State on, 150; buUdmgs in 1862 on, 175-177; boundary of business area, 183; Times leaves for Dearborn, 186, 252; intersection of Dearborn and, 186; Lloyd block at N. W. cor. of WeUs and, 193; Matteson House at N. W. cor. of Randolph and Dearborn, 194; Schuttler's wagon factory, Randolph and Franklm Sts., 196; "Wigwam" between _ Randolph and Lake Sts., 196; Wiggers' picture frame shop on, 234; intersection with La Salle St., 346; near Franklm 365, 366 Randolph Street (West), 312 Ranney, Mrs. O. D., 106 Rapp, Friedrich, 10 Rawlms, Maj.-Gen. John A., 63. 214 Ray, Dr. Charles H., editor of Chicago Press and Tribune, 239; tribute to Lincoln's character, 276 Raymond, B. W., arrives in the thirties, 164 W. B., 13 Real estate, prices affected by movements of Field, Leiter & Ck)., 188; by craze of 1836-37, 202; by panic of 1873; by location of town of PuU man, 260-262; land the road to riches, 281 Rebel army advancing North, 23 flag, Ellsworth haub down, 14 host in Chicago, 1 prisoners at Camp Douglas. See Camp Douglas sympatWers in Southern BUnois, 17 Recrmting and equipping of troops, Grov ernment undertakes, 22, 23 camp (temporary). See Camp Doug las (temporary barracks) tents, 2 Reed, Charles H., spectacular career as prosecuting attorney, 321; the Lmcohi "seance," 322. 324. 327, 330 Rees, James H., 166 Religion m the Middle West, 98. See also Churdies, Freethinkers, Inger soU, Ministers, Moody, etc. Renwick's Elgm Battery, 29 Reporters, moralists by nature, 148; mania for "scoops," 251; niglit vigU advanced, 256; in partnership with omniscience, 287; and tiie "Irish Repubhcans," 294. 295. See also Newspapers, "Scoops" Reporting, first society, 353 et seq. Rejyublican (later the Inter-Ocean), 185; Fred HaU a writer for, 239; Charley Wright reporter for, 266 Repubhcan National Convention, 1860, 1, 273-275 orators. 4 party of Blmois, 223 press ado over Richmond House an nouncement, 88 State Central Committee, 286 Repubhcans. See under Civil War, ("Irish Repubhcans," political strife) Resorts, Dearborn Street centre for, 186. See also "Young America" Restaurants in Dearborn Street, 186. See also Matteson House Cafi, Resorts, "Young America," etc. RetaU trade, new centre on State St., 185, 189 Rice, Billy, minstrel performer, 245 Dan, better known than the President, 245 John A., 300 John B., Mayor, as a presiding officer, 3; defeated F. C. Sherman for office, 60; reception to Sherman and Grant, 114; arrived in the forties, 167; actor-manager, 244; his daughters, 353; residence, 353 et seq. Miss, 354 et seq. Rice's Theatre, 186 "Richard HI," 246 Richardson, Illinois Senator, 81 Richmond House, aimounces "Cot ac commodations only, " 88; on South Water St. and AUchigan Ave., 194 Richmond. McClellan before, 23 Solomon Sturges' desire for capture of, 107 Thomas, friend of Abraham Lincoln, 89; arrived in the thirties, 166 Rickey, John, in Lumbard quintette, 126 RinggoM Place. See Twenty-second Street, 179 "Rip Van Winkle," Jefferson in, 90, 249 Ristori, 246 Riverside. 261, 302 Riverview, 38 Roads, old plank, 180-182 394 INDEX Robbery, American Express Company's, 265 Robinson, Chief Alexander, 208 Mrs. F. W., 106 "Rock of Chickamauga." See Thomas, Gen. George H. RockefeUer endowments, 94 Rockford, IU., 122 Roepenatii, actor at Grerman Theatre, 247 Rolling MiUs, North Chicago. See North Chicago, etc. "Romance. A H^dscrabble," 369 Root. George F., inestimable services as a war-time singer, 118; writes "The Battle-cry of Freedom," 120 Root & Cady's music store, 175 RosehUl Cemetery, 237 Ross, Hugh, 166 Rossiter, W., extreme Abohtionist, 64 Roustabouts, Irish, 7 Rumsey. George F.. 166 JuUan A., on Union Defence C!om- mittee, 18 Julian S. (Miiyor at outbreak of war), as a presiding officer, 3; defeats T. B. Bryan, 59; arrived in the thirties, 164 Rush and Ontario Streets, 179; and Kin zie Street, 195 Street bridge, 196 RusseU, Edward Hanson, 92 Henry, 167 Col. J. B. F., 166 Ryder, W. H. (Pastor St. Paul's Uni versalist Church), war orator, 3; acknowledges aid of Dr. Everts, 94; most gifted minister of his denomi nation next to Chapin, 96 Ryerson, Joseph T., arrived in the forties, 167 Sage of Princeton, 278 Sage, RusseU, 283 St. Clair County, IU., 26 St. James Episcopal Church, imder Dr. Clarkson's rectorate, 91; Soldiers' Memorial in, 92 St. Louis, capture of the arsenal at, 20; sports attend opening of "Sunny side," 143; important trading centre, 201; proposed as site for PuUman, 260; families of wealth, 842 St. Patrick's Church, Dennis Dunne, pastor of, 97 St. Paul's Universalist Church, W. H. Ryder pastor of, 91, 96 Salem Scudder of J. H. Mc\^cker, 249 SaltonstaU, F. G., 166 WUham W., 166 Salvation Army methods, 306 Sanderson, G. C, 83 Sandvirich Company, 19 Islands, Kmg of, 268 Sanitary (Commission, Northwestern. See Northwestern Fan- of 1863, "Old Abe'" at, 36; draft of Emancipation Proclamation con tributed by Lincoln, 109; watch presented to Lincoln by I. N. Ar nold, 110 Fair of 1865, to aid Soldiers' Home and Sanitary (Commission, 110; buUding and contributions. 111, 112; reception to Grant and Sherman, 113-115 Sayers, Mrs. Henry, 106 Scammon, J. Y., arrived in the thirties, 166; residence in Terrace Row, 344 Scandinavian population, 10 SchUling, Alexander, 242 Schmidt, Dr. Ernst, supports the war, 10; socialistic tendencies, 102; runs for Mayor, 103 Schneider, Greorge, 10, 18, 167 Schofield, Maj.-(ien. John M., 30, 212, 214, 220, 221 Schuttler, Peter, loyal German, 10; ar rived in the thirties, 166; residence on South Side, 180; wagon factory, 196 "Scoops," somethmg about, 251, 367, 358 Scxitcmnan, aUegorical painter, 241 Scott, General, entertained at Lake House, 195 George, 166 G. L., 29 Col. Joseph R., 14 Scottish Regiment, Cameron's, 41 Sculpture, 242 "Seance, Lincoln," 321-330 Secession. See under Civil War. Second Baptist Church, reconstructed from First ChureJi buUding, 174 Vermont Battery, 41 Ward, 293 Seipp, Conrad, 167 Semmes, Capt. Raphael S., 48, 49 Serenade, 365-357 Settlers (Old), RoU caU of, 163-168; "oldest settler" celebration, 197- 210, 342 Seward, W. H., nominated by Evarts, 274 INDEX 395 Seymour, Horatio W., of the Chicago Times, Herald, Chronicle, and New York World, 335, 337 Shakespeare, dominated dramatic stage, 246 "Sharp Comer, The," 346-361 Shaw, Annie C, 242 Sheehan, James W., 4, 11, 239, 332 Sheldon, Edwm H., 167 Shepley, Mrs. J. C, 106 Sheridan, (jren. PhU., 176; quartered at Tremont House. 212; at Army Re union of 1868, 214, 215, 220 Sherman, A. S., 164 detective 256 E. B., editor of The Voice of the Fair, 112 Francis C. (Mayor), presided at Times meeting, 65; defeated C. N. Holden and T. B. Bryan, 59; defeated by J. B. Rice, 60; arrived in the thirties, 64; manufacturer of bricks, thrice mayor, owner of Sherman House, 207 Gen. Francis T., 60, 292 House, headquarters for leaders of Democratic National Convention of 1864, 80, 82; finest buUding m city, 1862, 173; frame buUdings adjoin ing, 176; opened in 1860, 194; Gage brothers at, 195; owned by F. C. Sherman, 207; General Thomas quartered at, 212; conference of "People's Party," 269; David A. Gage mine host extraordinary at, 300; m blizzard of 1863, 366 John B., 167 (3en. William Tecumseh, originaUy a Democrat, 84; at Atlanta, 88; at Sanitary Fair, 113-115; "ranked" by Mother Bickerdyke, 116; at Army Reunion of 1868, 212, 214, 217, 220; wearied of "Marching through (Georgia," 366 Mrs. W. T., supervises department of Sanitary Fah, 110 Shields's Guards, 12 Shipping on the river, 184 Shopping district. Lake Street, 183; dianged to State Street, 185 Shot-tower near Lake and Desplaines Streets, 192 Shurley, Capt., 42, 50 Sickles, Gen., a Democrat, 84 Smger (Company building occupied by Field, Leiter & Co., 188, 189 Singers in war time, 117-127 Singleton, Gen., 54, 81 Skinner, Frank M., 92 Judge Mark, on Union Defence (Com mittee, 18; member of St. James Episcopal Church, 92; gave for relief of soldiers, 108; arrived in the thirties, 166; residence on North Side, 179; at Hubbard silver wed- dmg, 205 Slaughter houses. See Bridgeport, Union Stock Yards, etc. Slave songs, 123. See also "Ole Shady" Slavery. See under Civil War (pohtical strife) Slaymaker, Miss L. B., army nurse, 105 Sleighing popular, 146 Sleightly, Annette, army nurse, 105 Sloan, Mrs. (Col., 106 Sloeum, (Jen., a Democrat, 84; at Army Reunion of 1868, 214 Smith, Arthur A., 30 Charles, in Lumbard Quartette, 126 Chicago officers of that name, 30, 31 Frankhn C, 30 Greorge, the West's most prominent banker, 166 (Sen. George W., 290 Gerritt, 110, note Maj.-Gen. GUes A., 30 Prof. Goldwin, presents painting to Sanitary Fair, 111 Gustavus A., 30 Hopkinson, "Colonel Carter of Carters viUe," 86 John C, 30 Maj.-Gen. John E., 30, 63 Mark, 249 Robert F., 30 Robert W., 30 Judge Sidney, 3 Sol A., 167 & Nixon's Music Hall, 173, 186 Snow, (Jeorge W., 166 Snowhook, WUliam B., 166 Snow storm, 1863, 363 Sociable, an early, 352 et seq. Social events. See under Hubbard, Gur don S., Rice, J. B. evU in Chicago, 157. See also "North Side Sands," "Sunnyside," "Under the WUlow," Underworld, The Socialists m Chicago, 102, 103, 191. See also Schmidt, Dr. Ernst. Society affairs, 352 et seq. as a censor of morals, 140 Soldier orators in the making, 4 INDEX Soldiers, Dr. Collyer's efforts in behalf of, 96; work of the women for, 104-116; effect of bounties on morals of, 134 in politics, 289-292 "Soldiers' Home," founded, 106; re ceives draft of Emancipation Procla mation, 109; receives part proceeds of Sanitary Fair, 110 Soldiers' Memorial in St. James's Church, 92 "Soldiers' Rest," 106, 109 Solomon, (5en. E. S., clerk District (Court, 292 Solon Shingle, Owen's, 249 Songs, war, born in Chicago, 119. See (dso "Battle Cry of Freedom," etc. Sons of Libertr, 48 "Sophocles," Donoghue's, 242 Sothem as Dundreary, 249 South Branch of Chicago River. See Chicago River. Chicago, 286, 287 Division or Side. See Chicago Water Street, business area bounded by, 183; Board of Trade, 184; GU bert Hubbard buUding, corner of Wells and, 193; Richmond House, corner of Micjiigan Ave. and, 194; first warehouse on, 202, 370 Southern House, St. Louis, 194 rebeUion. See under Civil War (poht ical strife) Southerners, Irishmen's affinity for, 9; gambling exploited in Chicago by, 128, 136 Southwestern Plank Road. See Ogden Avenue Spaulding, Jesse, 168 Speakers at Democratic National (Con vention of 1864, 80-84 at war raUies, 10 Spear, Isaac, watch maker, 166, 371 Spencer, F. F., 167 Spuitual heredities, 275 SpoUs of war, 289-295 "Sport," professional in early sixties, 136 Sporting characters, favorite resorts in Dearborn Street, 186 Springfield, Blinois, 3, 16, 19, 26, 28, 122 Light ArtUlery, 29 Staats-Zeitung, 185, 264 Stage coaches in the West, owners of, 165 Stage, the. See Actors, "Theatre, etc. Stambaugh, of Ohio, 83 Stanton, Secretary, call for troops, 23 "Star-Spangled Banner," sung at Re pubhcan raUies, 2, 85 State Bank of BUnois, 202 Historian of lUinois, 228 Street, 53, 142; becomes city's retaU centre, 185-190; City Hotel on, 194 Steams, Marcus C, 29, 166 Steel (leorge. 29, 166 Steele, Jonathan W., 166 Mrs. J. W., 106 Samuel, 336 Stephens, Capt. "Jack,'' Clerk Criminal Court, 292 Stereotyping forms, Chicago's first essay at, 252 Sterner, Albert, 242 Stewart, A. T., of New York, 189 David, 167 Gen. Hart L., 166 StUes, Gren. I. N., City Attomey, 290, 292, 311 Stock company of twentieth century, 260 Exchange buUding, 176 Yards. See Union Stoci Yards Stockton, Gen. Joseph, 290 Stokes, Capt. James H., 21, 22 Stone, H. O., 166 Leander, 336 Col. Samuel, Assistant Sec'y and Libra rian of Chicago Histoncal Society, 109, noU Stoneman, (Jeneral, 214 Storey, WUbur F. (owner and editor of the Times), during the suppression of the Times by Burnside. 61. 63; Democrats not apologetic for. 72; as a "Copperhead" speaker, 81; arrived in 1861, 168; did not con sult counting room, 190; lending a hand at a "scoop," 253; withholdmg his hand from the Pulhnan "scoop," 262; impressed by idea of direct grain shipment to Europe, 287; "(Copperheadism" and cluiracter, 331-338; edict on society "scoops," 358. See also Times Storrs, Emory, notable orator for the cause, 3; name famUiar to-day, 168; opinion on "Nancy" Arnold, 324 Story-telling by country merchants, 161, 162 Strachan, Patrick, 166 Streat, Harry, 246 Street life in Chicago, 131, 132 Streets. See under (Chicago Strong, Col, 42 INDEX 397 "Sturges Rifles,'- 107 Sturges, Solomon, gifts to the war, 107 WUham, 29 Sturtevant, A. D., 152 "Summer gardens" near Camp Doug las, 38 Summit, 301 Sumter, Fort. See Fort Sumter Sunday afternoon concerts at Turner HaU, 348 afternoon parade, 339 night dances in Lloyd block, 193 observance of, 99-103; pleasure seek ers, 181 theatre supported by Grermans, 100 Sunday Tribune, 238 "Sunnyside" in Lake View, opening of, 143-149 "SwaUow-laUs," worn by Dr. N. S. Davis,_66; by old settlers at Hub bard sflver wedding, 205 Sweet, Miss Ada, Pension Agent, 292 Gren. J. B., commander at Camp Douglas, 42, 43, 49; Pension Agent, 292 Swett, Leonard, "Mejum" No. 1 in Lin- cohi "Seance." 323-330 Swift, Gen. H. K., 14, 16, 17, 19, 166 Taine, author of "French Revolution," 76 Talcott, E. B., 166 Mancel, 166 "TaU Sycamore of the Wabash," 80 Tanneries on North Branch, 181 Taylor, A. D., Ezra Daniel and WUliam H., 165 Benjamm F., poet, 227, 236-238 Reuben, 166 Maj. Woodbury M., Clerk Supreme Court, 292 Taylor's Hotel Jersey City, 322 Tea, first carload brought by Union Pa cific Railroad, 266 Telegraph, 335 Temperature, lowest in 1863, 363 Terrace How ("The Marble Terrace"), where the Auditorium now stands, 195, 196; "palatial residences," 234; described, 341-344 Terry, (jeneral, 214 Thatcher. David A., 166 Theatre-going a serious business, 246 Theatres, only one American in middle sixties, 101, 103; two in 1857, 244; opened at 7:30, 247. See also Cros by's Opera House, German Theatre. McVicker's Theatre, Rice's Theatre, Wood's Museum and Theatre; (dso Actors, BaUet, Minstrels, Music, _ Opera, etc. Third National Bank, htiuidation of, 257-260; organized by J. H. Bowen, 286 Presbyterian Church, 68 Thhty-fifth Street, 178 Thuty-first lUinois Infantry, 23 Thirty-fourth Street, 41 Thirty-ninth and Sixty-sixth Ohio regi ments, 41 Thirty-ninth lUinois Regiment, 41 Thirty-second Street, 179 Thomas, Gren. George H., oririnaUy a Democrat, 84; at tiie Sherman House, 212; at Army Reunion of 1868, 214-216, 220 Theodore, summer night concerts, 345, 348 Thompson, Daniel, 167 Jacob, aUeged conspiracy of, 49 , of Chicago Board of Trade, 29 Throop, A. G., 167 Tiffany, O. H. (Methodist minister), as a war orator, 3, 95 Times, suppression by Burnside, 61-58; report of N. S. Davis' speech before "Invincible Club," 67; a semi-seces sion paper, 73, 74; account of Dem ocratic demonstration, 82; in centre of "hair-trwger" block, 142; leaves Randolph St., 185, 262; report of dissolution of Field, Leiter & Co., 190-192; attitude towards Logan, 226; F. B. Wilkie musical critic for, 238; actor graduates from composing room of, 247; inauguration of society reporting in Chicago, 353 et seq.; some important "scoops" for, 252- 263; report of People's Party con ference, 269; published IngersoU's lectures, 311-313; influences deter mining "(Copperhead" position, 331; under direction of W. H. Storey, 332-338. See also Storey. W. F. Tinkham. E. I. and D. O., 166 Mrs. Smith. 106 ToUe. George, surgical instruments, 175 Tragedy of popularity, 296 staple pabulum, 246 Transit House, 368 Tree, Lambert, 168 Trees, abundance in Chicago, 177 398 INDEX Tremont House, arrival of Kentucky Delegation at, 86, 87; Union senti ment outspoken at, 130; Ira and James Couch hosts at, 165 ; raising of, 168; oppositetheJtmmai office, 185; under J. B. Drake, 194; under the Gage brothers, 195, 300; during Army Reunion of 1868, 212, 218, 220; had a mortgage on everything Re pubhcan, 301 Tribune, report on Irish Brigade, 3; affected Dy suppression of Times, 52- 57; outspoken anti-slavery paper, 73, 74; removed from Clark St., 185; report of Army Reunion, 217-222; of Logan's campaign for (Congress man, 223; connection with Greorge P. Upton, Dr. C. H. Ray, Fred H Jl, and Horace White, 238, 239; Shake spearean critics in composing roomof , 246; "Unde Joe" MedUl "scoops," 257; H. D. Lloyd connected with, 261; Dr. Charles H. Ray, editor, 276; Moody invades office of, 308; grip on advertising, 333 TrumbuU, Lyman, as a war orator, 3; speaker on the suppression of the Times, 66-68 TrusseU, Gleorge, gambler, 138; owner of "Dexter," 141; murdered by MoUie McKeever, 142, 143 Trust, better taskmaster than individual employer, 282 Tucker, (Col. Joseph H., 41 Tuley, Judge Murray F., as a presiding officer, 4; speaker on suppression of Times, 55; arrived in the forties, 167 TuUy, John, 11 Turkeys stuJBFed with revolvers, 42 Turner, Capt., 42 HaU, North Clark Street, 343 John, 166 John B., 167 John M., 166 Sam, 228 Sam, Clerk of the Tremont House, 86, 87 Turners, German, 19 Tuttle, Frederick, 166 Mrs. J. H., 106 Nelson, 166 Twelfth lUmois Battery, 41 Street, 10, 196 Twentieth Street, 359 Twenty-first Blinois Infantry, (Jen. Grant in command of, 110 Twenty-ninth United States Infantry, (Colored Troops), 28 Twenty-second Street (Ringgold Place), 179, 301; region south of, 367 "Uncle Abe," 325 "Under the WUlow," 169, 160, 362, 354 Underground railroad, 68, 136, 325 Underworld, the, 128-160 Union Cadets ((jerman Turners), 19 Defence (Committee, 18, 286 National Bank, 174, 185, 257, 297 Pacific RaUroad, buUding of, 134; completion of, 286 Park, 181 Stock Yards, occupy portion of "Long John tract," 179; fire at, 368 United States (Commissioner to Paris Universal Exposition of 1867, 286 Sanitary Commission, 110, note Zouave Cadets, 14 Unity Church, Robert CoUyer's preach ing in, 96, 97. See also CoUyer, Robert "Unpitying grandeur," 344 Upright, Mrs., of Rockford, 105 Upton, (jeorge P. ("Peregrine Pickle"), account of "The Battle Cry of Free dom," 120; as an essayist and mu sical critic, 238 Urbana, IU., 122 Vallandigham, C. L., Democratic party not apologetic for, 72; leader of Democratic National Convention, 1864, 80; debate with "Long John" Wentworth, 81 Van AUen, John J., 82 Van Arman, (Col John, as a war orator, 3; on the Union Defence (Com mittee, 18 Van Buren Street, 131, 232, 339 Vandalia, 201 Van Higgins, Judge H., 55, 56 Van OsdeU, John M., 166 Vice-Presidents, 10 Vicksburg, the Lumbards at, 124 Views from the Court House dome, 177 Virginiavflle. See New Virginia Vcice of the Fair, 112, 113 Wabash Avenue, tree-lined, 177; Lake St. and, 193; near Van Buren St., 232; near Adams St., 353, 355; residences on, 339, 366 River, 201 Wading an alternative for walking, 182 INDEX 399 Wadsworth, Elijah I. and Julius, 166 Mrs. E. S., 106 Wahl, Louis, 10 Waite, C. C, 300 George W., 166 Walker, Charles, 166 Curran, 166 C. H., Jr., 29 GUbert C., 4 Mrs., residence in Terrace Row, 344 James M., 168 Samuel B., 166 Walkers, owners of Western stage coaches, 165 WaU Street Journal, 336 WaUace, Gen. M. R. M., 4; County Judge, 290, 292 Waller, Mrs. Emma, 246 Walsh, "Brigadier-General" Charles, 48,49 John R., as a presiding officer, 4; stood for the cause of the Union, 11; arrived in the forties, 167; newspa per and book stand, 235 Walters, Horace, 300 "War Democrat," 5 War Department, recruiting ceased by order of. 27 songs. 2 "Warvridow." 134, 135 Ward's RoUing MUl, 181 Warren, WUham, comedian, 249 Washburne, E. B., came from Galena, 63 Washington (County, IU., 26 Washington, Lee sends fore* to, 88 Street, as a boundary of (Court House Square, 82, 173, 176; Board of Trade at intersection with LaSalle, 184; the Times at intersection with Mad ison, 185; retaU centre at uitersec- tion with State, 187; buUdings south of, 195; tuimel, 196; winter circus and minstrels on, 245; east of Clark, 339; to Park Row, 341 Waterman, (Col A. N., Judge, 292 Watkms, John, 166 Waukegan, 324 "Way Dovra Upon the Suwanee River,'' 350 Wealth m land, 281 Webster, Mrs. C. C, 106 Daniel, entertained at Lake House, 195 Gen. Joseph D., 166; CoUector In temal Revenue, 292 WeUand Canal in process of buUdiag, 288 WeUs Street (South), name changed to Fifth Avenue, 158; intersection with South Water St., 193; with Randolph St., 193; near Monroe St., 245 Wentworth Avenue, 179 "Long John," Mayor, as a war orator, 3; defeated by W. S. Gurnee, 59; debate with VaUan- digham, 81; cleaned out "North Side Sands," 166-169; hero of Western romance, 162, 163; arrived m the thuties, 164; kept the "cop per" down to business, 172; owner of "Long John tract," 179, 301; at Hubbard sUver wedding, 205; pro prietor of old "Jackson HaU," 252 Wentworths, old settlers, 198 West, exuberant spirit of, 240 West Side Drivmg Park, 154 Western Army Headquarters, 175 Avenue, 181 "Westem Reserve" in Ohio, 71 Western Union Telegraph Company, 175 vernacular, 227 Wheeler, A. C, city editor of The Morn ing Post, 231, 232 Whistler famfly, inticoately associated with Chicago, 170 James McNeU, 170 "White Fawn," played after the war, 248 White, Horace, Editor of the Tribune, 222 Whitney Street, 97 Wholesale trade in Lake Street, 183; in Wabash and Michigan Avenues, 185 Wicker, C. G., 18, 166 Joel, 166 Wiggers' picture frame and lcK>king-glass shop, 234 "Wigwam," on Market between Ran dolph and Lake Streets, 196; Leon- ara Swett at, 329. See also Republi can National (Convention, 1860 WiUde, Franc B., 238 WUlard, Alonzo, 166 E. W., 18, 166 WUliams, Barney, Irish comedian, 249 WUhs, N. P., favorite poet of Middle West 148 WUson, John L., Sheriff, 158, 166 Judge John M., as a presiding officer. 3; on the Union Defence (Committee. 18; arrived in the thirties, 166 Windsor, Canada, 49 Wmdsor, W., 201 Winnetka, 5 Winter circus, 245 Winter of 1863, 363 et seq. 400 INDEX Wisconsin Eagle Regiment. See Eighth Wisconsin Regiment regiments in Chicago, 33 Wolcott, Alexander, 166 E. G., 29 Women in the CivU War, work of, 104- 116 musicians, two greatest, 170 who kept "establishinents," 139 et seq. Wood, Peter Preston, 92 Wood versus marble as buUding material, 343 Woodman, C. L., 4 Wood's Museum and Theatre, 246 Woodworth, Mrs. J. H., 106 Wright, Charles Northrup, city editor of Times, 253, 335; reporter for Tri bune, 255, 256 John, proprietor of "Anderson's" and of resort in Crosby's Opera House, 175 John I., arrived in the thirties, 166; the Delmonico of early Chicago, 210 Mary A. (now Bartow), 242 Yates, Mrs. P. E., matron at Cairo, 105 Richard ("Dick" Yates, Governor of Blinois), as a presiding officer, 3; orders regiment to Cairo, 14, 19; Chairman of Union Defence (Com mittee, 18; reports on Illinois quota, 24; locates site of Camp Douglas, 40; prorogues "(Copperhead Legis lature," 60 Yoe, Peter L., 18, 166; residence in Ter race Row, 344 "Young America," Ike Cook's resort, 165, 186 Young Men's Christian Association, 307 Zeisler, Fanny Bloomfield, 348 Zimmer, Miss Teresa, army nurse, 105 Zither playing, 345 et seq. Zouaves. See Ellsworth Zouaves Illlllllllllllllllllllllliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii i& lllilliililillilillilllilliillillillillll ^ 3 9002 00588 0563 ^ Tice-GCMP m AMERICAN HISTORY (y/iiC^— V.MING «^,in- BY NEH