CHAPTER XVII.

BIOGRAPHIC.

HON. RICHARD JAMES OGLESBY.

A MAN who has served with distinction in two of his country's wars; who has occupied the leading position within the gift of his State; who has won distinction at the bar and in the forum; who has accomplished all this, and more, by the dint of his own ability and energy—such a man, statesman, and orator, is Richard James Oglesby, late Governor of the State of Illinois. Governor Oglesby is justly entitled to a prominent place in that roll of honor where patriots' names are written in letters of gold, and in those annals where the lives of great men and good men are pictured for the gratification and benefit of their people. His life is one of those upon which a nation lays claim; but, as in the case of Lincoln and Grant, the people of Illinois have a special interest, and a sort of family pride, in contemplating the noble character which that life encircles, the development of which has been coincident with the growth and prosperity of the leading States of the North-west.

Governor Oglesby is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Oldham county of that State, July 25, 1820; so that he is still in the prime of life, and his career, which has already been so brilliant, can scarcely be said to have as yet begun. Though

born in Kentucky, he came to Illinois when he was about twelve years old, settling at Decatur, which place he has always regarded as his home since that time. If space permitted, nothing would be more interesting than to trace the rise and progress of the young Kentuckian. Governor Oglesby is a perfect type of a self-made American statesman. Both of his parents had gone to their long home before he had arrived at an age to appreciate a mother's love or profit by a father's advice and aid. His early life was passed in a country and in a time in which education, in its present significance, had not yet become popular, and Richard Oglesby never had the advantage of so much as eighteen months of schooling in the whole course of his life. From the age of twelve years to that of sixteen years his character was forming in the trying situation incident to an orphan's desolation. At the latter period he returned to his native county, where he learned the carpenter's trade, and afterward worked at it in Decatur until the year 1844.

It was at this time that young Oglesby first indulged his inclination for the learned professions, and commenced the study of law with Judge Robins, of Springfield, afterward practicing it in Sullivan, Ill. His professional duties were soon interrupted, however, by the Mexican war, and, returning to Decatur, he was the most active man in raising a company, which was assigned to the Fourth regiment Illinois volunteers, and of which he was elected first lieu tenant. He took part in the siege of Vera Cruz, and

commanded his company at Cerro Gordo, showing, throughout the campaign that martial spirit which was afterward so effective in his espousal of the cause of the Union in the rebellion of the Southern States. Returning from the Mexican war, Oglesby took a full law course, and received his diploma at the Louisville Law School. He then developed an ardent desire for travel and adventure. He crossed the Plains to California, at a time when crossing the Plains was a hazardous undertaking, and subsequently visited Europe, Egypt, and the Holy Land. Oglesby's political career began in 1852, when he was an elector on the Whig ticket. In 1858 he was a candidate for Congress on the Republican ticket of his district, against Hon. Jas. C. Robinson, and reduced the standard Democratic majority by several thousand. In 1860 he was elected to the State Senate by his party, but resigned his seat in 1861 to volunteer his services to his country in the war against the rebellion. He accepted the proffered colonelcy of the Eighth Illinois regiment, and from that time till ill health forced him to retire, he was one of the most active and successful commanders in the Western armies, always holding responsible positions above his rank.

Colonel Oglesby first commanded the forces sta tioned at Cairo, Ill., then those at Bird's Point, Mo. He was associated with the general movement made by Grant against the rebel army at Belmont. Transferred to the command of a brigade in the army of West Tennessee, he was the first to enter

Fort Henry, and led the advance from Fort Henry to Fort Donelson, through the thickest skirmishing of the war; and on February 15, 1862, his command was attacked by the rebel army, losing one-fifth of the brigade in its gallant resistance. After the evacuation of Corinth, Colonel Oglesby commanded an entire division for several months; but, on the return of the commanding officer, he took charge of his own brigade, and led it into the terrible battle of Corinth, on the 3rd day of October, 1862. It was from this battle-field that Colonel Oglesby was car ried, as it seemed, in a dying condition. A ball had entered his left lung, whence it has never yet been extracted. It was for his gallant conduct in this battle that he was promoted at once from a colonelcy to the rank of major-general, above his superiors in command, a distinction which he had merited before by his heroism and ability. Oglesby returned to his command as soon as he was able to do So, but the pains from his wound were so acute that he was forced to tender his resignation. This was accepted only six months afterward, when it was apparent that he could no longer endure the hardships of the campaign.

The people of Illinois, we are glad to chronicle, paid an immediate and hearty tribute to the patriotism of General Oglesby, by choosing him as Governor of the State by the largest majority ever given for any officer. He was inaugurated Governor on the 16th of January, 1865, for four years. The unanimity of the choice was well indicated in his

inaugural address: "I do not disguise the fact," he said, "nor do I desire to do so, that I have been chosen to this high position by the Union people of our State without regard to party, and am expected by them to administer its executive affairs with a view to no partisan or selfish purposes, and thus relieved of many of the burdens which usually attend a mere party triumph, am left free, with you, to follow the path of duty pointed out so clearly that I hope to be able to adhere to it." That he did so, well and ably, is a fact of too recent history to require any confirmation here. His term was one of the most trying and exacting, and he gave perfect satisfaction to the people who elected him. Another short extract from his inaugural address will show how uncompromising a Union man Governor Oglesby has always been: "The people of Illinois are not aiding in the prosecution of this war," he said, "with any view of at last, and when resistance to our laws is no longer possible, entering into any flimsy and deceptive compromise, to cajole ourselves and the rebels into a fallacious and senseless settlement of the difficulties. They are in hostile rebellion against the national Government, savagely and without cause waging a cruel and barbarous war on us, and should be made to feel the strong arm of the Government. When they lay down their arms and shout for peace, as they took them up and shouted for war, it will be time enough to arrange for them the terms upon which they shall be permitted to participate in the Government." How happy it would have been for our country if all men had felt and spoken like this!