A Determined and Daring Soldier and Prominent Horseman
His gravestone in Galesburg’s Hope Cemetery is unimposing and easily overlooked. As often is the case, the size of a monument gives little indication of the actual measure of the man. A better barometer of his worth to the community can be gauged by the headlines in the June, 18th, 1906 Galesburg Republican Register. “A PROMINENT CITIZEN” is featured in large letters, then underneath it goes on to say “Was Conspicuous in Civil War and Also In Local Affairs.”
The newspaper goes on to pay him glowing tribute to him in the first paragraph of his obituary. “In the death of Colonel Horace H. Willsie Sunday evening at 8:30 at his home at the corner of Oak and Conger Streets, Galesburg has lost one of its oldest and most respected citizens, a man who had the distinction by his influence during the Civil War of filling Galesburg’s quota to the army, who since the war has served the city well in a civil way and who was one of the best read horsemen in the State of Illinois.
Horace Willsie was born in Lower Canada in 1827. His grandfather had fought for the Crown against the Americans in the War of 1812. Young Horace spent the first 14 years of his life on his father’s farm. At that time he was apprenticed to a businessman in Moore’s Junction, New York to learn the tanning and currying trade. Young Horace was content in the trade until the age of 24 when the spirit of adventure took hold of him. He worked for the railroad for a year in Missouri, then spent a year in Iowa, and eventually made his way to Galesburg where he worked for a time in a dry goods establishment. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff in 1855 and held that position intermittently until the war broke out. He married Betsy Nichols in June of 1855, a marriage that eventually brought the couple four sons and a daughter. When he wasn’t serving as a lawman he ran a livery business.
Enlisting in the early days of the war, his leadership abilities were immediately recognized, and he was selected to be a Captain in Company D of the 102nd Volunteer Illinois Infantry. He travelled with the regiment first to Peoria, then from there to Louisville. From there the regiment accompanied General Buell’s army on its incursion into Kentucky. The soldiers said that this was one of the hardest marches that they had to endure during any campaign of the war. Horace Willsie talks of this march in one of his letters home, copies of which can be found in the Knox College Collection. The letters that are quoted extensively from here on throughout this article are in italics and are written by Horace to his wife Betsy. He talks candidly about command squabbles, his health, his men, his ambitions and how much he misses his family. The letters give evidence of a very literate man who writes to his wife as an equal, never talking down to her or trying to couch military business in more simple language out of fear that she “wouldn’t understand.”
Letter dated Sept. 27th, 1862: “We were marched about the city nearly all day on Friday and then started south with eight other regiments about 5:00pm. We travelled fast and our men carried about 40lbs of baggage each. The General commanding, being a thorough going man and full of whiskey, as I have been told, made a remarkable march on that occasion. He travelled 15 miles that night, and when he camped he had but 300 men out of 7000. Myself and company camped in a field about 11 miles out and four from the camp. The nest morning we walked in. We loaded our arms and slept on them overnight. You must understand that we are now in the enemy country surrounded by guerrillas and liable to be surprised at any moment. …we lie on the ground and have no tents. The people in the north have no idea how their soldiers are exposed and destroyed by the management of southern generals. Our generals are both Kentucky men and they can make a good march by riding on horseback and keeping soaked full of whiskey and the men are compelled to follow. We are now getting so far from home and friends that we dare not fall out of the ranks for fear of being picked up by the enemy. Consequently, we must trudge along.
Letter dated Oct. 10th 1862 Frankfort, KY: …”Our cavalry reached this place night before last about ten o’clock and found about 800 rebel cavalry here. They were tearing up the bridge across the Kentucky River and making preparations to burn it. We reached here just in time to save it. The bridge is a covered structure and cost about 15 thousand dollars. The calvalry had a little fight but the rebels did not hold out long. We lost one man and had several wounded. The rebels lost some. 5 or 6 killed and had about 20 wounded….I find but few real Union men or women through here. The ladies are more outspoken than the men. One lady got me a nice warm dinner yesterday. She was a doctor’s wife and they are wealthy. She favored the rebels but was very kind and would not take a cent for my dinner. She said that our Northern men did not fight as well as the men of the South. I asked here where that fact had been demonstrated but she could not tell and when I told her that we considered ourselves superior to the men of the slave states in fighting qualities and that the free states could turn out a million men more if necessary, she could hardly believe it and almost thought I was gassing. Some of the ladies shed tears when they see us pass and exclaim “who can withstand such an army!” I assure you that the Northern army astonishes them and I think that they are sick of their job. I have had a hard time but no worse than the rest. We have been compelled to sleep on the ground during the past week without covering excepting our blankets and I have taken a severe cold in consequence but I will try hard to keep up…………I will forward you money as soon as I draw my pay. I do not know how soon that will be for the government is sometimes tardy about paying the poor soldier. You will give my love to the friends and kiss the children for me. Tell them that I love them and that they must be good boys. Do not let Horace forget me. I can hardly refrain from crying when I look at the miniatures of my poor helpless little boys and consider the solemn chances of war. What will become of my children if I should be taken away and who would be a father for them are thoughts which often force themselves upon my mind…”
During this time in Kentucky an escaped slave took refuge with the Union Army and attached himself to Captain Willsie as a personal attendant, although specific orders had been given not to harbor such fugitives so as not to ruffle the feathers of the slaveholding citizens of neutral Kentucky.
Sure enough, the owner of the slave, a Rebel general, appeared in the Union lines in citizen attire and demanded the return of his property. The Negro in question told Captain Willsie and his fellow officers of his master’s service in the Rebel army. The slaveholder was taken into custody as a prisoner of war. The incident didn’t end here though.
A Union Colonel detailed a company to visit the Officer’s quarters and to drive all the negroes out. When they approached Captain Willsie’s company, the young Captain ordered them to halt, and was supported in his defiance of them by the men in his company. The Colonel was appealed to. He reiterated his order, specifically calling upon Willsie to hand over the Negro.
Captain Willsie refused; flatly stating that he would give up his life before he would give the black man up into a live of slavery again. This apparent incident of insubordination was reported to General Buell, investigated, and the end result was that the former slave was permitted to accompany his benefactor, Captain Willsie throughout the war, and proved himself to young Willsie by the respect and devotion that he showed to him. Several further attempts were made to recapture the negro, but all were foiled; one by a cocked pistol in the hand of the stalwart Captain. This menacingly eloquent gesture persuaded the would- be slave-catchers to flee, weighing their own lives to be worth more than the reward offered by the slave’s former owner.
Letter dated Nov. 23rd 1862 Camp near Scottsville, KY: “We expect to move forward soon but how soon we cannot tell. It may be within the next 24 hours and we may not move within a week or even a longer time. A soldier’s next day’s work is more uncertain than a Constable’s and you know I never liked that branch of business because I could never lay out my work in advance. We are governed entirely by circumstances and (bad generals). My company present now numbers seventy one including officers and I expect a few more along soon. I still retain my colored man. He is a good one and I may keep him through the war if we both live and the boys don’t spoil him. …..I would like to visit you but the next parting would be worse than the first for I know more now about a soldier’s mode of living than I did before I came away. I visit you and the children often in my dreams….”
Letter dated Nov. 29th 1862 Gallatin, TN: “I am unable to inform you how near the enemy may be to us now but presume that Morgan is not far off. He was within 10 miles of here with 8000 troops the night before we reached here. His command is mounted and can travel from place to place with dispatch. I do not think that he is much of a fighting General but a might good stealer. He is as great a thief as Floyd so the natives say, and if that is the case he cannot be beat. …..Give my love to all my friends that you see and kiss the children for me. Tell them that I think of them a great deal of the time…..”
December 7th, 1862, Gallatin TN: “I have just come in from Picket duty. Have been out 24 hours with my whole Company. I slept out last night without shelter. The weather is cold here and the ground is frozen about three inches deep. Snow fell all day last Friday but melted so fast that there was not more than two inches of depth although it must have fell six inches deep. The old darkies here say that they have seldom seen it colder in this section than it has been for two or three days…..We do not have much leisure time here. We drill about five hours a day and have any amount of other duties to perform. Our boys are generally well. I now have one of the largest Companies in the Regiment, and the Colonel complimented me the other day for having the best company. Also said that I was the best drill Captain in the Regiment….”
When it came to his surmise that Morgan couldn’t be defeated, Horace Willsie’s own actions would prove him to be a poor prophet. When General Eleazer Paine took command at Gallatin, Tennessee, he sent for Captain Willsie and told him to take command of 350 picked men, encompassing 300 infantry, 30 cavalry and two sections of light artillery. They were ordered to launch a surprise raid to the Ferry near Hartsville. The feared Rebel cavalry raider John Hunt Morgan whom Captain Willsie had written of in a letter to his wife, was encamped near there with close to 7000 troops, guarding a large quantity of supplies. The object of the expedition was to load and make away with about 40-50 wagon loads of supplies and discourage pursuit by the far numerous enemy encamped there by destroying the ferry.
Embarking on the raid at midnight in order to avail themselves of the cover of darkness, they soon were behind enemy lines, capturing and placing under guard any civilians that they encountered so they could not alert the Rebels as to their presence. They reached the ferry just before daybreak, completely surprising the guards who were posted there. Morgan and the bulk of his men were camped a few miles away. The guards gave up without resistance. Unmooring the ferry-boat, Captain Willsie placed it in charge of Lieutenant Clay, who with 15 men started it down the river. The remaining men lost no time in loading the wagons with supplies, then returned to camp, taking the individuals they’d captured along the way back with them in order to prevent them raising an alarm. His command arrived back in the Union lines by evening, without the loss of a man or even having to fire a gun. He was immediately recommended for promotion and became Major of the regiment.
During the winter months, inactivity and bitter cold weather wore the men down. Morale became a problem, as did political infighting and backbiting. Horace talks of it in the following letter to his wife…
January 30th, 1863, Gallatin, TN: “We are yet guarding this place and getting along badly. Our Generals are jealous of each other and we have to suffer in consequence. General Ward, who is a very smart man feels aggrieved at being placed under General Paine who is not so near smart a man, and on the other hand General Paine feels jealous of General Ward and is fearful that he will supercede him. He vents his spite and spleen on the field officers of Ward’s Brigade and is doing all that he can to injure them in the estimation of our commanding General Rosecrans. I do not know how seriously he may affect us….I cannot complain about the manner in which he has treated me. Only all that he does to injure the regiment is a damage to its officers…I weigh but 156 lbs, very light for me but I do duty whenever called upon. I now keep a horse. Am allowed to keep two and will get another soon. I do not know if I see a prospect of getting away. I have the good will of those over and under me in the Regiment, and if any of us can get a leave of absence, I can. But should we be ordered to the front or get into some difficulty with General Paine I may get no favors. In consequence I intend to avoid the quarrel if possible but may be compelled to take an active part in order to do justice to others. But I hope not…..”
Shortly afterward, while still in Gallatin, the field officers of the regiment. Including Major Willsie, all became sick. Major Willsie attempted to perform his military tasks, which included, as Officer of the Day, every 4th day having to ride the entire length of the Union lines (16 miles) unaccompanied. He talks about his illness in the following letter to his wife.
Feb 22nd 1863, Gallatin, Tennessee: “I have no news but will send a few lines to let you know that I am alive and in tolerable health. I have been quite unwell for nearly two weeks. Was confined to my tent for three days but I am quite smart again now. I was almost inclined to tender my resignation, but concluded to wait a little longer. I am fearful that my health will compel me to leave the army, but I will not sign until I am satisfied that I must do so to save my life or until I become useless in the army. I feel that it is my duty to help fight this war through and although I miss the society of my little family and long to see you all very much. Still I must do my duty to you and my country and trust to providence for happiness in the future…….”Our Boys are in tolerable fair spirits. We have had trouble with General Paine, our commander here. I do not know what it will amount to. I hear that he threatens to have all the officers in the 102nd cashiered but I hardly think that he can do it. If he does, I will go home. He has been quite sick but is improving and I expect that he will give us fits when he gets well, but we don’t care such for him. We knew him at home and he didn’t amount any more than the rest of us up there ( General Paine hailed from Monmouth, IL) but he puts on style down here and does not seem pleased to meet old acquaintances. Perhaps he is suspicious that we do not appreciate his greatness and (indecipherable for a couple of words) like he is bound to compel us to bow to him and to do him homage……”
March 8th, 1863 Gallatin, Tennessee: ……”I would like to visit you but cannot get away at present without resigning, and I do not feel at liberty to do that while I am able to do duty. My health is better than when I last wrote you, but not very good yet. If it does not improve this Spring I will be compelled to give up and go home. I think that I can be released on the grounds of ill health at any time, but you need not make any calculations on my appearance there for the present…..We are sending any amount of prisoners up north all the time. They pop though this place on the cars very frequently and they are a motley crew- surely all sorts, sizes and colors. They evince a feeling of bitter hatred toward northern soldiers. The majority of them are very ignorant. I stood upon the platform at the depot a few days ago when the passenger train from Nashville (going north) came in. There was about one hundred rebel prisoners aboard and the moment the train stopped they poked their heads out of the windows and commenced a perfect tirade of blackguardism upon our boys who were present. One of the prisoners- the main spokesman of the party- called out for us to take a look at them and claimed to be Morgan’s Mules. I told him that we had been laboring under a mistake. We had supposed them to be Morgan’s Jackasses. That exasperated him a good deal and he defied the Northern Army and said that said that we could not clean them out. I replied that we had no desire to do that because when a sesech was well cleaned out there was nothing left of him. He kept up the engagement for several minutes when he concluded that I was too big a blackguard for him and he hauled his head in and the entire crowd was as quiet as mice until the train left……I have never conversed with a rebel yet who could tell you what they were fighting for. All claim to be fighting for Southern Rights and when inquired of what those rights are they cannot tell. They will almost invariably change the subject. The greater portion of them are uneducated, ignorant men who are led on blindly by men of more influence and ability than they possess. Nearly all of them say that they like to fight the damn Yankees but we know better than that because they run too often. They are not as stout, able-looking men as the northern soldiers, and I think that they will not fight us unless they exceed us by far in numbers. The women here are quite as bitter towards us as the men. I seldom have the opportunity to speak with one. I have met but a few who are ladylike conversing upon the war….”
His illness grew steadily worse, and he continued to waste away, from an enlistment weight of 200 lbs. to 124 lbs. By this time his strength had for the most part fled him. He resigned his command in order to return home in early May of 1863 to restore his health.
April 26th, 1863, New Albany, Indiana: “ I reached this place last eve on the way home. I have two horses and am in company with a Mr. Collins from Monmouth, IL. He has twenty head of horses and mules. We will be sometime on the road and I may not get to Schoolcraft for two or three weeks, but I will go as soon as possible. My resignation was accepted and I am out of the service. My health is poor. I have a severe cough and am out of sorts. I have gained in flesh some lately but if I do not improve in health again I must lose all that I have gained….”
By spring of 1864 he was healthy again, and the citizens of Galesburg took advantage of his presence on the home front to elect him City Marshal. Galesburg’s city officials also asked him to aid them in raising its quota of men for military service. Agreeing to do so, he placed his duties in the hands of a deputy, and in 4 days had raised 114 men and had travelled with them to Peoria. They also brought letters from the business community of Galesburg to Robert Ingersoll recommending Horace Willsie for the position of Lieutenant Colonel of the 139th Illinois. These men were raised for 100 days service.
They did duty in Kentucky and Tennessee, and after 5 months were on their way back to Peoria to be mustered out according to their enlistment conditions. They received orders though to travel to St. Louis instead, as Confederate General Sterling Price and his men were moving toward the city. By this time Horace Willsie had returned home, and Colonel Peter Davidson had command of the regiment. The men rebelled at having their return home rescinded by the orders to move to Saint Louis instead, and were threatening bloodshed. Colonel Davidson took refuge in the Peoria House. Horace Willsie was sent for to try to use his influence on the men. He arrived in Peoria, marched into their camp alone, gathered the unruly mob of men around him, talked to them, and within an hour had the boys in military formation and marching on their way to St. Louis. He accompanied them there, and when Price’s threat to the city ceased to be one, he took the regiment back to Peoria where he and his men were mustered out.
In the winter of 1864-65 he raised another company and sent it to Springfield, and a few days later he was offered the Colonelcy of the regiment, which he accepted and he travelled with the regiment to Nashville where he reported to General Thomas. The train upon which his horses and some of his men were travelling was captured near Franklin, Kentucky. Three of the Union soldiers that were captured on the train were made to stand up and were shot by the Rebels.
The Colonel did duty at Tullahoma, Tennessee, where he was appointed Post Commander of Dechard, by special request of the town’s citizens, and subsequently he was singled-out and complimented by old “Pap” Thomas himself, at a banquet given by the General nicknamed the “Rock of Chickamauga” in Nashville. General Thomas said that Colonel Willsie had the best-drilled and disciplined regiment in the Department. Colonel Willsie suffered his only injury of the war while in Tullahoma. He suffered a fractured skull when he fell from his horse.
Colonel Willsie returned from the war in the fall of 1865. In the spring of 1868 he was again elected as the City Marshall, and was re-elected, holding the office for six years. He had the distinction of catching more horse thieves than any other man in Knox County, and it was said that he had the reputation of catching every man that he started after and never letting a man escape from his custody once he had caught him. After his terms as City Marshall ended he started a livery business on Main Street which he ran successfully for nearly twenty years when he finally retired from active life. He was very fond of horses and was recognized as one of the best informed individuals in regards to pedigreed horses in the State. Until his final years he always kept several horses around him, and he was responsible for laying out the first race track in Galesburg, which was north of Lombard College. He has the distinction of having driven the first mile in three minutes on record in Galesburg. Often during the racing meets his expertise would be called upon, as he would be asked to come down from the grandstand to drive in a race or to officiate as a judge or as a starter.
That he was a man of strong constitution was evidenced from the fact that during the years in which he handled horses he was often injured in accidents. On one occasion he sustained a fractured skull, and on other occasions he suffered broken ribs, a broken collar bone and a number of nasty bruises.
For many years he was active in Post 45 of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was also a member of the Alpha Lodge A.F. and A.M., a Mason and a member of the Republican Party. He also served three terms on the City Council as a representative from the 4th Ward, and was said to be diligent in working for the City’s interest. On several occasions he was responsible in thwarting schemes aimed more at personal gain rather than the good of the community from being carried out.
Death finally summoned the old warrior after an illness of a few days, heart failure being the suspected cause. He had been stricken while crossing the street to visit his son. He grew sick to his stomach, then attempted to return home but fell unconscious before he reached his door. Since then he had been confined to his bed, lapsing into unconsciousness much of the time.
The news of his death was learned with much sadness by his many friends, and by the many veterans of the Civil War who had served with him, among them being Mayor Sanborn. His death was front page news at the time in Galesburg. One hundred years later his name has been all but forgotten. Maybe this article will help to restore some of the renown and honor that the brave soldier and lawman deserves.
Bibliography
Obituary: June 18th, 1906 Daily Republican Register
Soldiers and Patriots of Knox County Biographical Album
Knox College Manuscript Collection: Cornelius Crawford SC-75, Horace H. Willsie SC-100, SC-99
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