When the war closed, and Gen Logan returned home and again entered the field of politics, some of his enemies outside of Wmson Co reported that he (Logan) was present and participated in the meeting of 15 Apr 1861, when the secession resolutions were passed, adn that he also enlisted men and encouraged others to enlist for the Southern Army. At the time these resolutions were passed Gen Logan was not in the county, and both of these charges were so utterly false, and have been so throughly refuted by Logan's political enemies, as well as by his friends, that no extended mention of the matter need be made here, except to insert the following statement mad eby citizens of good reputatution, of Marion, Wmson Co, at this time:
Marion, Wmson Co, IL 17 Oct 1866
We, the undersigned, are politically opposed to Mr Logan. Part of us have been in the Southern Army, in Capt Thorndike Brook's company, and have returned since the Rebellion. Being acquainted with all the facts in the case, we make the following statement: Having noticed in the newspapers, particularly in the Cairo Democrat, an article charging Gen Logan with having participated in a meeting held in Marion in Apr 1861, for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of attaching southern ILL to the Southern Confederacy, in the event of said confederacy being formed, and also charging Gen Logan with having endorsed the resolutions of that meeting, and further, that Gen Logan furnished means and encouragement to persons to leave ILL and join the Southern Confederacy, etc, we hereby pronounce all of said charges untrue. Gen Logan not being in Marion at the time, nor having any knowledge of persons leaving here (Marion) at the time for the Southern Army, all statements to the contrary notwithstanding.
JM Cunningham, WR Tinker, RJ Pulley, GC Campbell, Joshua Lowe, George W Lowe, BF Lowe
JD Manier, who was president of the meeting of 15 Apr 1861, DR Pulley, William Cook and other well acquainted with the facts, amde written statements similar in substance to the above, refuting the false charges.
In the Spring of 1861 a company of Federal soldiers was stationed at the bridge where the ILL Central RR crosses the Big Muddy. This increased the anxiety and excitement of the Southern sympathizers, who finally concluded that the bridge should be destroyed to prevent the Government from sending troops and munitions of war to the South. Thorndike Brooks and Harvey Hayes, of Marion, assumed the leadership in this movement. Runners were sent out in May 1861, to notify the people, a great number of whom assembled armed with shot guns and rifles, and proceeded to a point about 5 miles from the aforesaid bridge, where they went into camp for the night. During this night Campbell's battery from Ottawa passed over the road, and dropped off at the bridge 2 field pieces and men enough to man them. The soldiers put the guns into position for use. The next morning the army of citizens assembled for the destruction of the bridge, sent out a party to reconnoitre and "take in the situation". This party approached near enough to the bridge to see the brass cannons glistening in the sun, then returned to camp and reported, and then the army of would be bridge destroyers, melted away like a June frost, and by night nothing was to be seen of them; thus ended the attack on the bridge. On 24 May 1861, Brooks and Hayes, disgusted with their former success, resolved to raise a company of soldiers, take it South and join the Rebel Army. They sent men out to recuit, with orders to assemble the next day at the Delaware Crossing on the Saline, a few miles south of Marion. Accordingly by the next evening about 35 men assembled at the appointed place. They then started on foot for Dixie Land, recieving a few recruits by the way, and finally arrived at Mayfield, KY, where they joined a Tennessee regiment, and served during the war in Gen Cheatham's command. Brooks was promoted to the office of Lt Colonel. (Note: This group of men from Marion were in Co G 15th TN Inf)
The excitement continued with some unintersting episodes, until John A Logan, then representing this district in Congress, was called to meet that body in the special session commencing 04 Jul 1861. After returning from Congress, and on 03 Sep 1861, Logan made his first speech in the county to encourage men to enlist and organize a regiment to assist the Government in suppressing the Rebellion. Here in the midst of Southern sympathy, and of intense excitement and danger of personal injury he boldly advocated the cause of the Union, and at once began the work of organizing a regiment. His first effort was crowned with success, as many enlisted immediately after he closed his speech. Political excitement continued to increase, and became to intense toward the latter part of the year, that PH Lang, the postmaster of Marion became so alarmed on account of threats of personal injury that he moved the postoffice to Bainbridge, where it was kept a few weeks, and then returned, on promise of protection, to Marion.