The Civil War

At first the county wanted to successed as most of the people were from southern states.  They drew up a resolution to that effect with James D Mann as president, GW Goddard, James M Washburn, Henry C Hopper, John M Cunningham and Wm R Scurlock.  This resolution was repealed, some said that John A Logan was behind the original resolution, however he was not in the county at the time.  When Logan did return, the county was divided.  General Prentiss had left a company of men at the Big Muddy Bridge to keep an eye on thigns.  Throndike Brooks and Harvey Hays raised hell about this and people were called into Marion,  Isaiah Harris went to spy on the troops and found they had cannons.  Gen Prentiss then sent another company to the area.  William Crain said he could have taken the troops out.  In April, John A Logan, George W Goddard, John H White and John M Cunningham meet to keep the county together and form a company.  01 Jun 1861, Charley Goodall raised the confederate flag at a BBQ.  24 May 1861 Col T Brooks and Harvey Hays wanted to raise a company for the CSA.  They met at Delaware Crossing on the Saline with about 35 men.  Robert Kelley went off to the Linn Hotel to get rooms.  The home guard found the group and took 6 prisoners, which the boys did get back.  Col Brooks' group went to Mayfield, KY and joined Co G 115th TN.  Some people charged that John A Logan had advised this group, which he had not. 

(What happens next is confusing but it seems)

James D Pully and MC Campbell went to Paducah, KY the day before the soldiers.  About a month later, it was said they were with the group headed to the CSA.  James Pully was arrested in Carbondale and taken to Springfield.  AP Corder of Carbondale came to Marion and said a company of troops was coming to arrest Logan and W J Allen.  So Logan and Allen along with 30 men go to the fair grounds.  GW Goddard was to stand guard, but it appears most of his men got drunk.  Then they went about ½ miles SE to Goodall Bridge.  In the mean time JM Campbell and JM Prichett went to find GW Goddard and these 3 started off for Marion.  At the same time Logan sent R Mallen to find Goddard, he saw him with the other 2 men and reported back to Logan that the enemy had Goddard.  Well Logan and Allen only had 12 men who were not drunk.  Allen lined his up parallel to Logan's.  Logan didn't like this, so he and Allen began to argue over the arrangement.  It had begun to rain when RJ Pully arrived, to find most of the men asleep in the mud.  Logan and Allen just went home.  The next morning Clemison found the others and brought them back to Marion, after he stopped at Negro Sam's for breakfast. After this the Union called for troops but no one answered the call. 

John A Logan met with Congress, and took part in Bull' Run, then returned to Southern Illinois to organize the 31st IL.  After this PH Lang the Post Master was threatened and moved to PO to Bainbridge. 14 Aug 1862 AD Duff, WJ Allen, AP Corder, John Clemison and AC Nelson were arrested and taken to Cario for 3 weeks.  They were then taken to the Old Capital Prison in Washington DC for 3 months then released.  They had been arrested for treason and speech making. Writ of Habeas Corpus was suspended at the time by President Lincoln.  They had no trial.  During this time the Knights of the Golden Circle flourished.  RM Hundley and James D Pully raised the 128th IL in Sep 1862. This unit was not treated well and half deserted.  IM Lewis, GL Owen and AT Benson went to see the governor.  Dr Burgis of DuQuoin went with them. Part of the unit was furloughed home and did not return.  In 1863, a compnay of the 35th IA was in the county with paroled prisoners.  In Aug 1863 the 3rd Batt of the 16th IL was camped at the fair grounds under Maj Biers who put Marion under marshal law. Capt Wilcot was the Provst-Marshal. A man named McDaniel had sold whiskey to the soldiers.  So Wilcot had all the whiskey at Lowe's thrown away.    George Aikin's swore at Maj Biers and some of his  men whip Aikin and left him tied to a tree. Maj Biers was arrested but his soldiers came and got him.  Aikin was then arrested and sent to Springfield for about a month.  He was later the leader of the Aikin Gang.  John Wheatly and Wm Davis were wounded at Shiloh, Davis is now 35 and the city marshall. After the War, about half came home from the 115th TN.  Col Brooks became a Lt Colonel and is now a merchant in Baltimore, MD.