Joseph Pannell Taylor's Wife's Brother Was a Union Army General-- Part 1: Nathaniel McLean

From Find-A-Grave.

Remember, Joseph Taylor was the brother of President Zachary Taylor.

NATHANIEL COLLINS McLEAN

BORN:  2 February 1815 in Ridgeville, Ohio

DIED: 4 January 1905 in Bellport, New York

BURIED:  Woodland Cemetery Bellport, New York

Law degree from Harvard.  Practiced law in Cincinnati, Ohio, and organized the 75th Ohio Infantry when the war started.  Commissioned colonel on September 18, 1861.  Led regiment during operations in western Virginia and a brigade at the Battle of Cross Keys June 8, 1862.

At Second Battle of Bull Run and promoted to brigadier general in November 29, 1862.

More.  --Old Secesh

Thomas Morris Chester-- Part 4: After the War

After the war, Chester moved to England where he earned a law degree.  When he returned to the United States, he became an activist in Reconstruction Louisiana politics, where he became the first black in the state to practice law.

While he would accomplish much over his life before is death of a heart attack in 1892 at the age of 58, his legacy endures as the only black Civil War correspondent for a major newspaper who provided a perspective that was reflective of both  the black troop experience and the crucial final year of the war.

Chester effectively captured the frustration  of black veterans who believed their contributions to Union victory went largely  unnoticed," wrote Gary  Gallagher, a history professor at the University of Virginia who has written several books on the war.

Some years after the war, Morris wrote about the Battle of New Market Heights outside of Richmond, where a brigade of lack troops fought bravely against Confederate forces:  "It is a source of complain, and very justly too, that the colored troops and their officers have not received their meed of praise from the chroniclers  of events in the army, for their splendid advance and gallant bearing."

(Meed means a deserved share or reward.  I hadn't heard the word before.)

Ultimately,  14 black soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor for their valor in the battle.

--Old Secesh

The Charles Wayne Home in Elgin, Illinois-- Part 1

From the Historic Elgin site.

433 Division Street

This is the home that Harley Wayne's son built in Elgin.

SIGNIFICANCE

Harley Wayne (born April 30, 1823) married Ellen Dietz (born February 24, 1823) in Marengo, Illinois, on April 30, 1848.  They had two children, a daughter named Ida who died just before her third birthday and a son, Charles, who was born in Union, Illinois.

When Charles was six years old, his father was killed at the Battle of Shiloh at Pittsburg Landing in Tennessee, on April 6, 1862.  Harley Wayne was captain of Company D. of the 15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

After her husband's death, Ellen continued living in Union, Illinois, until her son Charles completed his education at the University of Chicago in 1880, where he was president of his class.  Charles entered the  law office of A.B. Coon, a prominent   Illinois attorney practicing in Marengo. and by 1882, Charles had passed  the state bar  examination.

By 1883, Charles, along with his mother, Ellen, moved to Elgin where he bought a house at 433 Division Street from William H. Bullard, a builder in Elgin.

Continued on December 1, 2021.

--Old Secesh

Oh Those Civil War Generals-- Part 5: Prewar Professions

First number Union, second one Confederate.

LAWYER/JURISTS (Many of whom were also politicians):  126 (22%)  //  129   (30%)

PROFESSIONAL SOLDIERS:  197  (34%)  //  128 (30%)

BUSINESSMEN:  116 (20%)  //  55  (13%)

FARMERS/PLANTERS:  23  (4%)  //  42  (10%)

FULL-TIME POLITICIAMS:  47  (8%)  //  24  (6%)

EDUCATORS:  16  (3%)  //  15  (3%)

CIVIL ENGINEERS:  26  (4%)  //  13  (3%)

OTHERS:  32  (5%)  //  19  (4%)

**********************

TOTAL:  583  //  425

Them's the Figures.  --Old Secesh

Edward Bragg's Law Book Found-- Part 2: Raised Two Companies and Commanded the Iron Brigade

When news of the outbreak of the Civil War reached Wisconsin, Edward Bragg was defending a woman in a murder trial in Oshkosh, Wisconsin,   Once court was adjourned, he returned to Fond du Lac and raised an entire company of men for immediate service at the battlefront.

The training took place at Camp Hamilton in Fond du Lac, located where Playmore Park now sits on East Division and North Seymour streets.

Bragg stayed behind when the men left to tie up loose ends of his law practice, but then raised another company in June for the 6th Regiment Wisconsin  Volunteer Infantry and was elected its captain.   The regiment spent most of the war as the part of the famed  Iron Brigade  in the Army of the Potomac.

Joan Brusoe, a volunteer at the library,  recalls her great-grandfather's story of walking from Green Bay  to Fond du Lac at age 10 1/2  to join Bragg .  She says he became the drummer boy, but got dysentery at the Battle of Vicksburg.

Possessing a commanding presence, Bragg eventually rose to the command of the Iron Brigade, known for their Black Hats, from June 1864 to February 1865.  Known as one of the best brigades in the Union Army,  the unit suffered the highest percentage of casualties.

--Old Secesh

Edward Bragg's Law Book Found in Fond du Lac-- Part 1

From the May 17, 2018, Fond du Lac Reporter "Fond du Lac attorney general Edward Bragg's record book found" by Sharon Roznik.

Buried in a cardboard box in the newspaper archive room of the Fond du Lac Historical Society's library, the book smelled old and felt weighty, wrapped in archival paper to keep  the dust out.

Letters on the spine spelled "E.S. Bragg", the name of Fond du Lac's general who took part in  in every major Civil War battle in the east except Gettysburg.

Born in 1827, Edward S. Bragg was a Fond du Lac defense attorney whose practice  traveled a wide circuit through Northeast Wisconsin.

Bragg made this log starting in 1882.  It contains expenses for his clients who were among the movers and shakers of early Fond du Lac history.

--Old Secesh

Col. John Edgar Gurley, 135th USCT-- Part 7: After the War

After he was discharged from the Army, John Gurley went back to Wisconsin, but this time settled in Platteville (not far from Shullsburg).  There he practiced law and formed a co-partnership with Paine & Carter, an established law  firm of that town.

He was an especially gifted orator and advocate, a man of great generosity and had many admirers.

In the summer of 1868, he took a severe cold and along with lasting effects of his military career caused his demise on April 2, 1869, at age 31.

His body was taken to  Sandwich, Illinois, where he is buried on the family plot at Pine Mound Cemetery in LaSalle County.

It is described as a very old and well-maintained  cemetery, but difficult to spot during corn-growing season.

--Old Secesh

William Loring's History-- Part 1: First and Second Seminole Wars, Texas War of Independence

From the previous post source.

William W. Loring has certainly been in the news lately with the removal of his monument and remains from St. Augustine, Florida.  Here is some more of his history.

**  Loring was born in 1818 in Wilmington, North Carolina.  At the age of 4, his family relocated to St. Augustine, Florida.

**  His military career began at a young age; at the age of 14 he joined the Florida militia fighting in the Seminole Wars.

** It is believed he was 17 when he ran away to Texas after the fall of the Alamo where he fought in the Texas War of Independence.  His father reportedly forced him to return to Florida.

**  Back in Florida, Loring fought in the Second Seminole War  At around the age of 19, he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant.

**  He studied at Georgetown University from 1839 to 1840 in Washington, D.C., but returned to study law in Florida.  he was admitted to the Florida  bar in 1842.

**  Loring was elected to the Florida House of Representatives from 1843 to 1845 before Florida became a state on March 3, 1845.

Quite a Busy Life at This Young of an Age, 27.  --Old Secesh

William Loring Monument Removed in St. Augustine By Descendants' Request: First Hurricane Isaias, Now This. A Bad Month for the General.

From the August 24, 2020, News 4 Jax (Jacksonville, Fl.)  "UF  has Confederate statue removed from St. Augustine before dawn" by Zachery Lashway.

St. Augustine, Florida.

The University of Florida had it removed as it is on land leased by them.  The monument stood there since 1920.  His remains are under the monument and will also be removed and re-interred along with his monument on private land with "respect and dignity."

Loring was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, (see the previous blog entry), but grew up in St. Augustine.  According to Wikipedia, he joined the Florida militia as a teenager and fought in the  early skirmishes of the Second Seminole War.

He became a lawyer and served  in the Florida legislature before joining the U.S. Army.  When the Civil War started, he resigned and joined the Confederacy where he rose to the rank of general.  After the war, he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate from Florida, then lived in New York until his death.

A Bad Time for William Loring Stuff.   --Old Secesh

Jesse Merrill-- Part 5: A Teacher, Then Lawyer Before the War

From Civil War Signals.org.

General Jesse Merrill, was born in New Berlin, Union County, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1836.  He was the son of James Merrill, a prominent lawyer of Union County, and a member of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1838.

Jesse Merrill attended  public school in New Berlin until age sixteen, then attended a year at the Tuscarora Academy in Juaniata County, Pennsylvania, after which he began teaching for four years.  he then began the study of law with his brother in New Berlin.

The following year he entered the law office of Lawson & brown in Milton, Pa., where he remained at his studies until 1859, when he was admitted to practice law in the courts of Northumberland County, Pa.,

He shortly afterward came to Lock Haven, where he has remained ever since.

--Old secesh

Jesse Merrill-- Part 4: Obituary

GENERAL JESSE MERRILL

General John Jesse Merrill died at his home in Lock Haven on Saturday night last, of paralysis.  General Merrill was born  in New Berlin and was the son of the late James Merrill and was sixty-five years old.

He studied law with with Hon. W.C. Lawson of Milton and located in Lock Haven. 

During the Civil War he enlisted as a member of Company D, 7th Pennsylvania Reserves, and was detailed for duty with the Signal Corps. In 1862, he organized the Signal Service for the Army of Ohio., of which he took command shortly after.

He also served on the staffs of Generals Buell, Rosecrans and Thomas.

In 1871, he was appointed by Governor Geary major general of the National Guard of Pennsylvania.  While serving in the latter position he had charge of the Eleventh division, which he called out to quell the Williamsport riots in 1872.

He was married in 1866 to Miss Julia McCleerry, sister of Col. John McCleery.  Mrs. Merrill died about five years ago.

The deceased enjoyed a large practice in Clinton County., and was at one time postmaster of Lock Haven.

He was buried at Milton on Tuesday.

--Old Secesh

Jesse Merrill-- Part 3: Of Pennsylvania and U.S. Signal Corps

From Find A Grave.

MG JESSE MERRILL

Brother of Lewis Merrill

Birth:  28 March 1838 New Berlin, Pa.

Death:  14 January 1899  Milton, Pa.

Buried:  Milton Cemetery, Milton, Pa.

During the Civil War, he was commissioned  as First Lieutenant of Co. D, 36th Pa. on April 24, 1861.  Promoted to Captain and transferred to U.S. Signal Corps in 1863.  Mustered out in 1865.

He was a lawyer by profession.  In April 1871, he was appointed Major General of Pennsylvania National Guard.

I was wondering where they got the major general from.

--Old Secesh

Elijah Haines Tasted the Ups and Downs of Politics

From the August 7, 1994, Chicago Tribune by Marc Davis.

This was one really busy man in the early days of Lake County, Illinois.  He was a lawyer, writer, book and newspaper publisher, surveyor, school teacher, politician, justice of the peace, state legislator, speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and Founder of lake County's first village, Hainesville (named after him).

He was also a historian and author of scholarly  volumes, including "The Past and Present of Lake County, Illinois, Illustrated," published in 1877.  Another of his books, "The American Indian," published in 1888 is a book on their character, languages and traditions which he studied extensively.

He also founded one of Lake County's first weekly newspapers, The Patriot, and one of the state's first legal newspapers, The Legal Advisor, were published by him.

Elijah Haines was born in Oneida County, New York, April 21, 1822,  and came with his family in 1835 to Chicago and then moved to Lake County a year later.  Admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1851, he practiced law in Waukegan and in 1860 opened an office in Chicago, but continued living in Waukegan.

Among his earliest publishing efforts was a compilation of Illinois township laws.  Elected to the legislature originally as a Republican in 1858,  he drifted from them and served several terms as an independent.  Served as Speaker of the House in Illinois in 1875 and 1885.

At that point, his political star began to fall with once-ardent supporters accusing him of "arbitrary and unjust"  decisions.  He died in Waukegan in 1889.

--Old Secesh

Elijah M. Haines-- Part 2: Lawyer, Politician, Republican, Not-A Republican

Born April 21, 1822, in Oneida County, New York. At age 12, he and his brother John Charles Haines, moved west and settled in Lake County, Illinois.  In 1846, he surveyed and platted and named the town Hainesville in the western pert of the county.

He taught school in Waukegan, by Lake Michigan, and began studying law., admitted to the bar in 1851.    Opened a law office and began writing about the law.  From 1855 to 1860, he wrote three books on law and eventually two others after the war.

Early in his life, Haines was a Democrat, but in 1859 left that party and joined the Republicans because of slavery.  He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1858 and reelected for two more two-year terms later

During this time he increasingly found himself at odds with the party and in 1865, joined the Andrew Johnson movement and became involved in the anti-monopolists against large chains of warehouses.

I am not sure if the Andrew Johnson Movement was people supporting President Johnson or wanting him impeached.

ELIJAH HAINES IN THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

All of his 6 terms were in the House of Representatives where he also served twice as Speaker of the House (SoH)

The first number is of the General Assembly and second the year elected:

21st   1859   As the nation was careening toward the Civil War.
27th   1871
29th   1875  (SoH)

33rd  1883
34th  1885  (SoH)
36th  1889

--Old Secesh

Elijah M. Haines of Lake County, Illinois--Part 1: Founder and Namesake of Hainesville

I wrote earlier this week about my friend Bob's playing the role of Hainesville founder Elija Haines.  He had a role in the Civil War as well.

From Wikipedia.

Elijah Middlebrook Haines (April 21, 1822 - April 25, 1889)  American politician and author.  Born in New York, he came to Illinois with his brother John Charles Haines (future mayor of Chicago)  Elijah established one of the first villages in Lake County, Illinois, Hainesville.  Admitted to the bar in 1851, he wrote several notable law books.

He was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1858 and served eight intermittent terms, including two as Speaker of the House.

Staunchly independent after 1865, Haines was a leader of the movement against the Republican Party in  Illinois until his death in 1889.

--Old Secesh

Theophilus Lyle Dickey-- Part 1: Lawyer and Mexican War Captain

This man was quite involved with the lives of all four of the Wallace boys who I have been writing about this month.  He also commanded the 4th Illinois Cavalry for awhile and three of the Wallace's were in that outfit.

From Wikipedia.

THEOPHILUS LYLE DICKEY  (October 4, 1811-July 22, 1885)

Illinois jurist and military leader.

Born in Paris,, Kentucky,  moved to Macomb, Illinois, to study law and was admitted to the bar in 1835.  The next year he moved to Rushville, Illinois, and worked on his law practice and was editor of a newspaper and worked in real estate.  In 1839, he moved to Ottawa, Illinois, where he continued his legal career.

During the Mexican War, he raised a company of soldiers (which included William H.L. Wallace) and received a captain's commission.

After the war, he returned to Ottawa, continued his legal career and  was elected judge of Illinois'  Ninth Judicial District in 1848.  He resigned in 1851 and continued with his legal career.  He was a big supporter of Stephen A. Douglas and made many speeches for him in 1858 and 1860.

--Old Secesh

William P. Black-- Part 6: His Role In the Haymarket Square Riot Case

In 1886, William Black agreed to lead a defense team for the Haymarket Square Riot conspirators.  His co-counselors included William Foster, Moses Salomon, and the radical attorney Sigmund Zeisler.  In 1887, Black led an unsuccessful appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Former Major General Benjamin Butler and former Confederates John Randolph Tucker and Brigadier General Roger Atkinson Pryor were co-counsels.

On November 13, 1887, Black delivered a compassionate eulogy at the funeral of the executed defendants.

Zeisler said of Black's association with the case as "nothing short of an act of heroism" which had a negative impact on Black's career.  Black was inspired by a desire to  uphold the ideals of legal principle of due process rather than sympathy for the anarchist politics of the defendants.

His role in the case brought about the dissolution of his partnership with Dent.  Afterwards, he established the law firm of Black and Fitzgerald and also practiced separately.

Originally a Republican, he switched parties in 1872 to support the candidacy of Horace Greely.  He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Congress on the 1882 Democratic ticket.

He was a longtime member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

--Old Secesh

William P. Black-- Part 5: Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Red River

William Black also was at the capture of Arkansas Post, the Vicksburg Campaign and the Red River Expedition.  He received an honorable discharge on September 29, 1864, and returned to Danville, Illinois.

After the war, he moved to Chicago and studied law at the firm of Arrington and Dent.  He passed the Illinois bar exam in 1867 and established a successful law practice with Thomas Dent, with clientele that included the Chicago Board of Trade.

He married Hortensia Mary MacGreal of Galveston, Texas, on May 28, 1869, and they had one son.

--Old Secesh