15th Ill. Vol. Inft.
From the Report of the State of Illinois, Revised in 1900 by Brig. Gen. J. N. Reece
Regimental History;
The New Regiments.
The regiment of the 1st District goes into camp on Saturday at Freeport. Old Col. Henry, of Algonquin, is here getting up uniforms for himself and company. He seems ten years younger than he did before the war commenced.McHenry county has three companies in the regiment. The one from Algonquin, Capt. Kelly; and one from Union and Marengo, Capt. Harley Wayne.
From the May 16, 1861 issue of The Elgin Gazette
EN ROUTE FOR CAMP.
Saturday morning the military spirit of our town was aroused again by the arrival of the Algonquin company of volunteers, en route for the camp at Freeport. Capt.Henry in full uniform, his white locks flowing grandly out beneath his military cap, marched his company from the depot on the East side to Davidson's Hall to await the arrival of the train for the west. The lieutenants, Thomas and Sears, are prominent business men who take great pride in showing up their boys. The company is made up exclusively of laboring men, farmers and mechanics. They are stalwart sons of toil who can endure hardness as good as soldiers. They were all in a sort of undress uniform, consisting of grey flannel shirts and blue overalls, just the thing for a thirty days drill. About an hour be fore train time, they were brought out and paraded our streets, led by the Elgin Brass Band, and by the Silver Cornet Band of the "original Swiss Bell Ringers," who being in town, kindly volunteered their services for the occasion. They discoursed some of the finest music we ever listened to. Being requested to preform "Diie" the leader declined, on the ground that the traitors had adopted it as a national air, and they had, therefore discarded it. We admire their patriotism; but we are not quit sure that we ought to surrender the tune to the rebels.Capt. Henry was much pleased with the attention bestowed upon his company, and desired us to express his obligtions to the bands and the citizens of Elgin generally.
We attended them as far as Rockford. At Marengo, Capt. Harley Wayne's fine company, in full uniform, were taken up; at Belvidere, Capt. Hurlburt's and at Rockford, Capt. Ellis's. At those towns, thousands were assembled to see their friends off - Speaches, songs, and in one instense, prayer was offered. The whole country was alive with interest and exceitement.
From the June 19, 1861 issue of Elgin's Weekly Gazette
- The regiment at Freeport has in it three companies from McHenry county, one from Woodstock, one from Marengo, and one from Algonquin. This regiment started yesterday for Alton, to be ready to enter Missouri if necessary. Rev. D. E. Halteman, of Marengo, is Chaplain, and takes his bride with him to the wars.
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